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-   -   How rich were the Maharajas before Independence! Cars of the Maharajas (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/pre-war/2653-how-rich-were-maharajas-before-independence-cars-maharajas-62.html)

Slightly off topic, but who knew that in the 1953 Chicago auto show Lincoln displayed a concept car called the Lincoln Maharajah, with gold paint and interior fittings



http://classiccarcatalogue.com/LINCOLN%201953.html

And there was a 1956 Cadillac Maharani Special too....

courtesy: NY Times



http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/24/au...CHEN.html?_r=0

When I was a kid, in the circa 70, I happened to be in Darbhanga, and in the kings palace, in their garage, there were multiple Rolls and other cars lined up. I had seen one being periodically maintained by their mechanic. I was told that they were auctioned of later, probably at peanuts

The Maharaja of Darbhanga was heavily loaded, as the land was fertile and there was no need to maintain any army, so lot of land revenue and no army to maintain

So money was getting splurged everywhere.

one can still find Darbhanga House in many key cities of the world

Hope this is not OT


Sent from my iPad using Team-BHP

Farhan shared this link from the Sunbeam Talbot Darracq register showing a Kapurthala car



http://www.stdregister.org.uk/Sunpics.htm

Does it survive?

Found this pic on the net on the Maharajah of Kotah's Phantom I a.k.a "Tiger Car".

A Baroda Buick (1930 ?) at a Boy Scouts function.
courtesy: Gaekwadsofbaroda.com

I have been forwarded this article and as Alwar and the Lanchester figured in the write up - I think this thread would be right place to post it.

As yours truly also figures in the write up, albeit in a minor role - I could not let the opportunity pass by

Though for the bhp-ians who read the article - it should have been my friend Akhilesh who was mentioned ahead of me - it was he alone who had the technical skills to do the restoration work.

Regards
Chauhan

Quoting from the article posted by vintageman

"The Maharaja died of a drug overdose during his
exile in Paris which was enforced by the British after the polo match incident.
In accordance with his will his dead body, dressed impeccably in a white silk suit and gold-rimmed sunglasses, protecting his dead eyes from the blinding rays of the summer sun, was strapped upright in the processional car. The huge Lanchester crossed the state to the burning ground where his corpse was ceremoniously dismounted from the car before being cremated on a pyre of sandalwood. Never again would India witness such eccentricity."

Interesting, though not strictly a "Maharaja" car

Hansa Advertisement 1913

A "coach" car 1908 - almost two decades before the Alwar Lanchester

This is a photograph taken in 1932 (?) of the cars in the personal use of the Nawab of Bahawalpur in the Motor Khana Nij at Sadiq Garh Palace, Dera Nawab Sahib, Bahawalpur, and excludes staff and Bahawalpur State vehicles. There would have been cars on duty at the time or in other garages in India and abroad (4 Rolls Royces were shipped to Barkers, London in March 1932). The two Packard Roadsters form part of this line up and are located 9th. and 10th. from the right.

Dear Nawab Sahib,

Can't thank you enough for the wonderful pieces of history you have shared with us.

I assume three of the cars (39MC, 41LK, and 82RM) were sent to Barker for rebodying.

The exception is 70TM which just seems to have been repainted.

45WR must have been rebodied at a different time.

Thank so so much Sahibzada Sahib for ending the everlasting debate on Packards. My research had not surfaced these cars.
His Highness is standing with a 1930 Packard series 7 roadster and the other car is a circa 1928-9 Packard series 6 ( I think) with drum lights and side lights on the cowl.
The Packard Club does not seem to know these cars also, and in RHD is a rare commodity and should have been outstanding in that aspect alone. I have the BWP 120 which I can see in the lineup in a light colour in your other post . ( #9 as indicated by your learned self.)
Amer Ahmad

What a grand lineup. I have labeled cars as I have identified on the picture posted by Sahibzada sahib.

In 1932 HH Nawab Sadiq Abbasi V was a 28 years old strapping young man, and had gifted a pair of Bengal Tigers to the London Zoo and RR PII Continental 180PY with Barker Sunshine coupe body was on order.

Each of these garages housed two cars in tandem. Interestingly each car is wearing BAHAWALPUR plates not the DNB or BWP plates.
Out for inspection are, R to L:
1. RR Phantom I Darbari 92YC Barker Boudoir ,
2. RR SG 70 TM Barker Cabriolet de Ville ,
3. RR SG 82 RM Barker torpedo tourer,
4. RR Phantom I 45WR Thrupp & Maberly Disappearing top tourer ,
5. RR Phantom I 39 MC Hooper two seater tourer with dickey seat,
6. Cadillac V-16 # 702298 Vanden Plas Belgium Sports Saloon,
7. Mercedes 38/250 shikar car,
8. Renault Type MC Ch # 189983 Windovers limousine,
9. 1930 Packard 740 limousine,
10. 1930 Packard 740 convertible coupe/roadster with dickey seat,
11. Armstrong Siddley limousine,
12. To 19? Un identified (Challenge to travencore!!! or perhaps Sahibzada sahib has other side photos too)
Not in picture:
a) RR SG 86CW
b) RR SG 41LK
c) RR Twenty 81K2
d) Mercedes SSK
e) Lancia Lambda
f) Packard 640 drophead coupe
g) Crossley Hunting wagon ( Haj Wagon)
Rumored but not yet seen in any picture, possibly in Europe or the Surrey UK estate and never brought to India/Pakistan : Alfa Romeo and Bugatti etc.

Sahibzada Falahuddins service to his house and the car community is immense. It is a great help to my compiling of the history of HH the Nawab titled "The days of the truthful" . Everytime I think I am ready to finalize, a new gem like these appears. Well Done Sir.
Amer Ahmad

Here is how those magnificent cars would have looked fresh from their rebody / repaint by Barker in 1932.



Left to Right: SG Chassis 82RM (Rebody); SG Chassis 70TM (Repaint); PI Chassis 39MC (Rebody)

82RM also sports ribbed wheel discs.