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

travancore · 20th September 2009, 04:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasif

This is a picture of a 1921 Alfa Romeo RLSS featuring a "engine turned"steel body by Castagna ordered by an Indian Maharaja.

This car is on display at the Alra Romeo Museum. Does anyone have any idea who was the Maharaja in question, was it the Maharaja of Indore ?

Picture is from an old Automobile Quarterly Volume 24 No 2

Yeshwant Rao Holkar had 2 Alfa Romeo 8C-2900B's. One was shown at Pebble Beach (2005 ?). I had posted pictures on this thread somewhere. Have not heard of an RLSS that he owned. Cheers

v12 · 20th September 2009, 23:31

Not sure if this has been posted. A pic of the Maharajah of Rampur's garage - found on Flickr.

the mole · 21st September 2009, 20:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

Not sure if this has been posted. A pic of the Maharajah of Rampur's garage - found on Flickr.

What a stunning picture, I have never seen this before. Who can identify the cars?

IndrojitSircar · 21st September 2009, 20:41

Do they look like the earlier rolls or are they some other cars ?

bentleyrob · 21st September 2009, 21:27

Only the third from the left is a Rolls Royce, a pre-war Silver Ghost

harit · 22nd September 2009, 10:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by the mole

What a stunning picture, I have never seen this before. Who can identify the cars?

The car on the left could be a Wolseley Siddley, one has to sit and compare with the blue one in Bangalore.
The second car from the left could be a Lanchester.

But what a lovely photo!

Cheers harit

wasif · 22nd September 2009, 11:14

Indeed a great picture. The third car from the left is a RR Silver Ghost and those two cars with the round bonnets must be Delauney-Belleville cars which were quiet popular in those days.

An unusual point about the second car from teh left is taht it appears not ot have a standard bonnet or for that matter an engine in the front.

A picture of a similar car is attached.

harit · 26th September 2009, 13:26

Attached please find an article on a Maharajas Crossley. Only this Maharaja was not in India, he was in Nepal. Magnificient beast. Nepal had a few cars which were literally hauled up the mountains and there they really had limited road space. This article appeared in the Classic and Sportscar magazine July 1992.
Crossleys were popular with royalty, Bhawalpur had one, there is one still in Gujrat, one in Mumbai but there must be more.
This magazine has come from a fellow bhpian

Cheers harit

harit · 26th September 2009, 14:40

Attached is a letter from Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal concerning a Sunbeam. This car was smuggled out of India.
Sometime in 1990/91 this car was brought to Bombay by Kanoria for a Rally which was held outside NCPA at Nariman Point. After the rally she went to a famous dealer in Mumbai at Juhu and then vanished. After some time this car appeared in the 'Discovery' section of a magazine, saying that she was found with a Maharaja in Indonesia. I had given this magazine and some photos to Nitin Dossa, but nothing could be done. The bird had flown from the cage.
The car was brought freshly restored to the Rally. Apparently it was a rare model, memory says that she had three carbs or so. There was a slight damage to the paint, that had happened while unloading. Mr. Kanoria had also carried with him photographs of the car as found, while being pushed out of the garage, etc.
Note a feature of this car, peculiar pair of horns it sported in Mumbai and again in the photo where she is in UK.
The photo of the car in the Bombay rally was by Kasli, perhaps he can post a clear picture.

harit

Star man · 28th September 2009, 13:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12

Not sure if this has been posted. A pic of the Maharajah of Rampur's garage - found on Flickr.

Definitely a Lanchester in there next to a very early Rolls. Lanchester were the mechanical leaders of the day with things like a crankshaft harmonic damper,something most other manufacturers didn't have for decades.

the mole · 28th September 2009, 17:58

So when can we date this pic to? Early 20's maybe?

bentleyrob · 28th September 2009, 18:38

Pré 1914 I'd say. Kindest regards

wasif · 28th September 2009, 20:44

Found this picture of a RR, 1920 Silver Ghost 55CW Alpine Eagle which was on sale with Real Car company posted as belonging to the Maharaja of Hyderabad featuring a body by Barker.

Is there any info on this car available ?

travancore · 29th September 2009, 04:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasif

Found this picture of a RR, 1920 Silver Ghost 55CW Alpine Eagle which was on sale with Real Car company posted as belonging to the Maharaja of Hyderabad featuring a body by Barker.

Is there any info on this car available ?

This car (originally owned by Raja Pratapgiriji of Hyderabad) was earlier featured in the RR in India thread (posts 308-310). I am reattaching the pictures below, so you dont have to hunt (oops shikar!) for it.
Car was brought from India by Mr. de Jounge with atleast one other Rolls Royce. In Poona he owned and restored Silver Ghost 1921 (Chassis 180-LG); Phantom I (87-RC) and a 1934 Invicta. Believe he was allowed to export two cars. Info from the "Flying Lady" pg 902. I believe Mr. de Jounge was responsible for setting up the Larsen Toubro facilities in India and was a friend of many Maharajas

Name: Hyderabad Pratapgiriji RR SG 55CW Pic 1.bmp
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Size: 619.9 KB

Name: Hyderabad Pratapgiriji RR SG 55CW Pic 1.bmp
Views: 2867
Size: 619.9 KB

Name: Hyderabad Pratapgiriji RR SG 55CW Pic 2.bmp
Views: 2300
Size: 867.6 KB

wasif · 29th September 2009, 10:46

Raja Pratabgirji would be DKG's grandfather or grand uncle I guess.

DKG comments please and some further info on this car.

20th September 2009, 23:31	#377
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,739 Thanked: 7,213 Times View My Garage	Not sure if this has been posted. A pic of the Maharajah of Rampur's garage - found on Flickr. Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

21st September 2009, 20:41	#379
IndrojitSircar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Kolkata/Delhi Posts: 2,318 Thanked: 972 Times	Do they look like the earlier rolls or are they some other cars ?
	() Thanks

21st September 2009, 21:27	#380
bentleyrob Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Utrecht Posts: 12 Thanked: 2 Times	Only the third from the left is a Rolls Royce, a pre-war Silver Ghost
	() Thanks

22nd September 2009, 11:14	#382
wasif Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Abu Dhabi (for now) Posts: 2,957 Thanked: 414 Times	Indeed a great picture. The third car from the left is a RR Silver Ghost and those two cars with the round bonnets must be Delauney-Belleville cars which were quiet popular in those days. An unusual point about the second car from teh left is taht it appears not ot have a standard bonnet or for that matter an engine in the front. A picture of a similar car is attached. Attached Thumbnails Last edited by wasif : 22nd September 2009 at 11:16.
	() Thanks

26th September 2009, 13:26	#383
harit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,033 Thanked: 3,281 Times	Attached please find an article on a Maharajas Crossley. Only this Maharaja was not in India, he was in Nepal. Magnificient beast. Nepal had a few cars which were literally hauled up the mountains and there they really had limited road space. This article appeared in the Classic and Sportscar magazine July 1992. Crossleys were popular with royalty, Bhawalpur had one, there is one still in Gujrat, one in Mumbai but there must be more. This magazine has come from a fellow bhpian Cheers harit Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

26th September 2009, 14:40	#384
harit Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 4,033 Thanked: 3,281 Times	Attached is a letter from Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal concerning a Sunbeam. This car was smuggled out of India. Sometime in 1990/91 this car was brought to Bombay by Kanoria for a Rally which was held outside NCPA at Nariman Point. After the rally she went to a famous dealer in Mumbai at Juhu and then vanished. After some time this car appeared in the 'Discovery' section of a magazine, saying that she was found with a Maharaja in Indonesia. I had given this magazine and some photos to Nitin Dossa, but nothing could be done. The bird had flown from the cage. The car was brought freshly restored to the Rally. Apparently it was a rare model, memory says that she had three carbs or so. There was a slight damage to the paint, that had happened while unloading. Mr. Kanoria had also carried with him photographs of the car as found, while being pushed out of the garage, etc. Note a feature of this car, peculiar pair of horns it sported in Mumbai and again in the photo where she is in UK. The photo of the car in the Bombay rally was by Kasli, perhaps he can post a clear picture. harit Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 17:58	#386
the mole Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,189 Thanked: 825 Times View My Garage	So when can we date this pic to? Early 20's maybe?
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 18:38	#387
bentleyrob Newbie Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Utrecht Posts: 12 Thanked: 2 Times	Pré 1914 I'd say. Kindest regards
	() Thanks

28th September 2009, 20:44	#388
wasif Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Abu Dhabi (for now) Posts: 2,957 Thanked: 414 Times	Maharaja of "Hyderabad" Rolls Found this picture of a RR, 1920 Silver Ghost 55CW Alpine Eagle which was on sale with Real Car company posted as belonging to the Maharaja of Hyderabad featuring a body by Barker. Is there any info on this car available ? Attached Thumbnails
	() Thanks

29th September 2009, 10:46	#390
wasif Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Abu Dhabi (for now) Posts: 2,957 Thanked: 414 Times	Raja Pratabgirji would be DKG's grandfather or grand uncle I guess. DKG comments please and some further info on this car.
	() Thanks