Team-BHP - How rich were the Maharajas before Independence! Cars of the Maharajas

Quote:

Originally Posted by karlosdeville (Post 2809706)

A Junagadh Chevy is offered for sale here.... Going by the proportions of the hood it is likely to be a local conversion to soft top.

The story of this car is in PakWheels, picture below lifted from their site. It was indeed a conversion, car came to Pakistan after the partition, and an American took her away from there.

Restored quite well, but some features have been changed.

Cheers harit

I was wondering if this thread is only for Maharaja cars, or whether cars belonging to Nawabs and the Nizam could be included. There is a thread on Nizam's cars, but in this thread many Nawabi cars are mentioned.
All were rulers of some territories in India, most had British support, all seemed to have loved their cars, palaces, novelties, many had good taste, many were hunters, so many common points. Difference was the religion.
I am asking because if there is to be an event associated with Maharaja's, would a Nawabs car be eligible?
Just wondering.

Cheers harit

Quote:

Originally Posted by harit (Post 2819427)

C'mon Harit stop teasing us , you know you can post pics of the Nawabs and Nizams cars here....please post them right away.

Site has been quiet dull of late....stir up the pot please

Quote:

Originally Posted by wasif (Post 2819501)

C'mon Harit stop teasing us , you know you can post pics of the Nawabs and Nizams cars here....please post them right away. Site has been quiet dull of late....stir up the pot please

I was wondering if the Nizamz Rolls would have been eligible for the Maharaja class at Pebble Beach and why the curator did not propose that car. Maybe not upto standard?

Here is a car which made an appearance in Europe recently, The Nanpara Rolls. As the car is not in India, posting in the Maharaja thread.

Cheers harit

Quote:

Originally Posted by harit (Post 2839496)

Here is a car which made an appearance in Europe recently, The Nanpara Rolls. As the car is not in India, posting in the Maharaja thread.

Cheers harit

There is a lot of wishful thinking about the "Nanpara" RR PI (Chassis 94-MC), the famous round door Jonckheere coupe.

It is true that Nanpara once owned this car, probably with its original Hooper Cabriolet body. There is no documentation that he commissioned this unique body.

Here is a history of the car seems plausible, courtesy cardomain.com

"The exotic “Round Door” Rolls-Royce was delivered new in 1925 with a Hooper Cabriolet body to its first owner, a Mrs. Hugh Dillman of Detroit. It appears never to have left England and was re-sold when still virtually new to the Raja of Nanpara. In about 1934 a subsequent owner sent the car to Jonckheere of Belgium to be fitted with fashionably aerodynamic coachwork complete with twin sunroofs, round doors, a large fin, and a sloping radiator shell. Once thought to have been owned by the Duke of Windsor, the concours-winning car then passed through the hands of several other owners before being discovered in New Jersey in the early-1950s in near derelict condition. Max Obie later acquired the unusual Rolls-Royce, had it painted gold, and charged curious individuals one dollar to enter a special enclosure to look at the car. The Phantom I then spent time on the East Coast of the United States and in Japan before coming into the possession of the Petersen Automotive Museum in the spring of 2001."

Hugh Dillman as the original owner is documented in the "Derby Phantoms"

Quote:

Originally Posted by v12 (Post 2801971)

The only Rolls Royce in the world which had a slanting grille and round doors. And the modifications were ordered by the Maharaja of Nanpara.....

I am afraid there was only one Maharaja in Uttar Pradesh. That was Tehri Garhwal. The entire system of princely states was created by British through their subisdiary alliance system. In Uttar Pradesh, formerly United Provinces, there were only two princely states, Tehri Garhwal and Rampur. Benares was probably given this status but I am not certain. The remainder were zamindars called taluqdars in the part of UP known as Awadh or Oudh. Nanpara was one of these taluqdars. Some taluqdars and zamindars were given the courtesy title of Maharaja. In Awadh, perhaps Balrampur was given this status.
Chhayanat

Chhayanat, Is the current maharaja of Tehri Garhwal a relation of Manvinder? I recall the days when he had some really nice caddys which he used to strip down to bare chassis and rebuild. My favourite was the early fifties convertible. Used to be a lovely deep red, later on changed to white, as shown in the bombay Cartier bash some years ago. A simple , soft spoken gentleman, warm , hospitable and ever willing to discuss cars. Later on I believe he was not in good health which led him to part with most of his cars. Diljeet was lucky to have the first pick, but I have no idea where the other cars have gone. Do you have any information?

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Originally Posted by kasli (Post 2869651)

Found this article in one of the Hispano Suiza books at home. I don't know which car this is either Alwar or Baroda......Cheers

Isn't this the Kellner bodied Alwar car which was with Pratap Roy? And restored a few years ago in Europe, maybe Germany in most garrish colours?

Cheers harit

Thank You for posting the Delahaye info on my behalf, Wasif..I have had problems posting on this forum. My family owned 4 Rolls Royce's. My father's father, The late Nawab Wali-ud-Dowla's Rollers have been mentioned here. I will post pics of the two Rolls Royce's my mother's father had. Hope we can trace them. Any idea of the Prince Azam Jah blue and silver Bentley that Prince Mukkaram Jah took to Australia? Heard it was swindled by his one time caretaker....? Mukkaram Jah Bahadur hit a cart at 80mph while driving back from Calcutta in it...back in the sixties. I have some pics of him with his Austin Champ...(now with Shadaan College people, Hyderabad)...Will post them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mohammed Jung (Post 2870860)

Mohammed - Welcome to the Forum. We all loved the Delahaye and R-R photos. Absolutely nostalgic.

I believe the "Silver & Blue Bentley" (Chassis B104-MR) is still in India, though a different colour. Picture is attached. Unless of course, you are describing a second car.

It was discussed in the Bentleys in India Thread:http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vintag...tml#post934085

How rich were the Maharajas before Independence! Cars of the Maharajas-hyderabad-bentley-b104mr.jpg

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And here is a picture of the Nizam's fleet including the Austin Champ.

How rich were the Maharajas before Independence! Cars of the Maharajas-nizam-fleet-1970s.jpg

Cheers

Pleasure was all mine Mohammed Bhai ....those pics were awesome .....look forward to more.

Your Delahaye pics helped to clear up the history and provenience of that car forever.

Is the Bentley in the pics Travancore posted the one you are talking about.? It's in Calcutta now.

I am also aware one Bentley was taken to Australia by the Prince. Any idea which one it was ....some details would be great to hear.

Do you have any pics of the Horch baba!s grandfather owned?

Also are you aware of any Alfa Romeo or Hispano Suiza ever being in Hyderabad.