How rich were the Maharajas before Independence! Cars of the Maharajas

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by vezj420

I found it infuriating that the whole Nikhil Gowda story was just sorta brushed under the carpet, even by the police! Where's the Lokayukta when u need him?!

Lokayukta has no power over politicians, the modern version of Maharajas. Anyway, this thread is about pre-independence maharajas.

[awini]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

The so called myth about the hunting tigers is from the internet...
( At a cost approaching 7500 dollars plus a 30% import duty

as for the burial in mud is what I remember reading clearly in the Motor Trend March 1985 issue.

i wouldnt bet on the accuracy of information on internet sites and magazines like motor trend..... i would rather rely on the word of the man whose father ordered that car...the car was in use with the orchha family at least till the late fifties, when it was used to drop and pick up the current maharaja from school.
i dont think maharajas needed to pay import duty.

[Indiaman]

The Maharaja of Mysore was the largest buyer of Rolls Royces , it is a fact that he always bought 7(seven) Rolls Royces at a time

[XCygon]

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by awini

..... i would rather rely on the word of the man whose father ordered that car...the car was in use with the orchha family at least till the late fifties, when it was used to drop and pick up the current maharaja from school.

you're right Awini. So do you have any more info on this car... like what colour it was when the Maharaja bought it. what was the engine specs....bodywork, etc.. I so glad I've come across someone who might know about this car. I've been trying for years to find out more of this car that I once saw. I bet the current Maharaj's school drive was a long one each day. any idea to which other Maharajas did the other V16's belong to...?? How many in all came to India?
Regards

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

you're right Awini. So do you have any more info on this car... like what colour it was when the Maharaja bought it. what was the engine specs....bodywork, etc.. I so glad I've come across someone who might know about this car. I've been trying for years to find out more of this car that I once saw. I bet the current Maharaj's school drive was a long one each day. any idea to which other Maharajas did the other V16's belong to...?? How many in all came to India?
Regards

These are a few pics I had found online some years back.





Tikari too had a famous V 16.

[iraghava]

Originally Posted by awini

I would rather rely on the word of the man whose father ordered that car...the car was in use with the orchha family at least till the late fifties, when it was used to drop and pick up the current maharaja from school.

And having met him must say that hearing these stories from him is a real pleasure! He's what most people would call a colourful character!

[greenhorn]

now we have the mobile store to buy Rolls Royces and ruin them :P

[awini]

Originally Posted by deutscheafrikar

you're right Awini. So do you have any more info on this car... like what colour it was when the Maharaja bought it. what was the engine specs....bodywork, etc.. I so glad I've come across someone who might know about this car. I've been trying for years to find out more of this car that I once saw. I bet the current Maharaj's school drive was a long one each day. any idea to which other Maharajas did the other V16's belong to...?? How many in all came to India?
Regards

will ask whenever i meet him next, apart from orchha and Tikari, i know that Bhawalpur had a pair of V16, at least one of them was still with the family(in pakistan now) till a couple of years ago. i have also met old timers who claim to remember a Marmon V16 in Bombay, but I cant confirm that..
P.S. the Tikari V16 and the Patiala V16 are the same car, it was apparently gifted to HH Tikari by Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by awini

i know that Bhawalpur had a pair of V16, at least one of them was still with the family(in pakistan now) till a couple of years ago.

Thanks for all the info Awini... I look forward to getting some new info. So this Bhawalpur (pakistan punjab???) V16 who was the owner... and any idea what type or who manufactured the body?

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

I am bit sorry that the Maharaja's would use RRs as garbage trucks to get even with the manufacturer. My way of getting even, if I was a Maharaja would have been by setting up company to manufacture better, more snobbish cars.

No wonder I am not a Maharajah.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by awini

will ask whenever i meet him next, apart from orchha and Tikari, i know that Bhawalpur had a pair of V16, at least one of them was still with the family(in pakistan now) till a couple of years ago. i have also met old timers who claim to remember a Marmon V16 in Bombay, but I cant confirm that.

I suppose this is the car?



The Marmon V 16 belonged to a Parsee in Bombay, but I have nothing to prove it.

[vintageman]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

I suppose this is the car?



The Marmon V 16 belonged to a Parsee in Bombay, but I have nothing to prove it.

Karl ,

Looks like a Marmon in India and if you could trace that - hats off to you for the research .

By the way, I sourced a Fairlane from Tikari.

[deutscheafrikar]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

I suppose this is the car?



The Marmon V 16 belonged to a Parsee in Bombay, but I have nothing to prove it.

Karl, Thanks for the pic. is this car still in Bombay/ or still in India?

[AMATMO]

Originally Posted by XCygon

great to see this car in this shape
i remember seeing tis car without the head lamps and the badges,the rest of the body was in the same state though