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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-63.html)

Hi,

I was forwarded some old pictures in the form of a video. I found two cars in the lot. I have seen the second picture here before, if the first is a repeat too, kindly excuse.

Regards,

Srinand.

The Britisher and American businessmen have indeed been very very smart...


Keeping the Royal Maharajas busy in buying all expensive Cars,artifacts made in Europe and US to propel and prosper their Industries, siphon money back to Britain and Europe

Any conservative estimate of Phofitability in selling of these cars ? more than 300-400% ???


I am told more than 40 % of global premium market in pre-independence happened to be our then luxury indulging Maharajahs...

and more important primarily keeping the Maharajas busy in oneupmanship between each other, be that cars, indulgence in luxuries or game of Polo and Cricket...

so that they would feel always euphoric being close with Gori chamdi and remain distracted from revolting against the British Rulers....

Truly, I feel Britishers have been the masters in the field of Psychology ... no wonder they ruled across the world with so few of them in number... making the world dance to their tunes... and making the world puppetting to think their way...

Does that attitude still exist in the deeply rooted DNA of consumers and business world too even today...??? I wonder...

Obviously you were born in independent India.

Before you run down the British, think. They gave us industry, governance, roads, railways, bridges that have still not fallen down, though never expected to cater to todays traffic, a legal framework that has stood the test of time,etc etc.

Since this forum is mainly about cars, during British rule we had a choice of cars, imported from all countries, not only England.

Post independence what happens? We are compelled to buy only Indian cars, never upgraded, just the same cars made by a handful of industrialists close to the ruling party, who ensured no other car could come in.

Were we better off with that type of rule??:OT

Please stick to a discussion on cars rather than on British rule.

ex-Kashmir Vauxhall 30-98 OE Velox, 1926

pic courtesy of GM / Vauxhall Heritage Center

http://media.vauxhall.co.uk/media/gb...107644508.html






I believe we have seen the same car before in polished aluminium (Alwar Hispano H6B in background)

pic courtesy of traum auto:

It would be interesting to know if General Motors sold any examples of the Maharajah or Maharani to the Indian nobility. And what was the difference between the "genders" anyway? Perhaps they followed the example of the Daimler Ladies' Model which was distinguished only by having lengthened control knobs extending from the fascia. They were generally regarded (by men) as being convenient handbag hooks!

In any event, the Cadillac was a very restrained offering compared with the vulgarity offered by Lady Docker's contemporary London Motor Show Daimlers no doubt intended for a similar market but given that this was all post Independence, they both rather missed the boat!

It was just a matter of time, and here it is - the all new Rolls-Royce Maharaja :D

http://www.autocarindia.com/auto-new...ed-391677.aspx











Doesn't the blue inside remind you of the 'Nile Blue' we saw in some Bahwalpur and the Nandgaon car?

I have now conclusively identified the Lancia Lambda at No. 13 in the line up previously mentioned as not in picture . i.e after the Armstrong Siddley is an unidentified car then is the Lancia Lamda with straight jutting fenders and the peculiar bumper.

A BAHAWALPUR DAIMLER
BWP 378 (U.K. registration), a Daimler DK 400 Fixed Head Coupe by Hooper, Body No.10235, Engine No. 92716, belonging to the Nawab of Bahawalpur. It had a Perspex roof which was normally used with a canvas cover.
This car was presented to the President of Pakistan, Field Marshal Ayub Khan, in 1961, while he was a guest at the residence of the Nawab of Bahawalpur in the U.K. To the best of my knowledge the car was in the Presidency garage until 1970.

Beautiful car! Thanks for sharing these precious Bahawalpur gems.

Shyml, any current pictures of the car ?

Eventually the car was acquired by the Junejo family in Karachi, as I wrote #2086 in the Rolls Royce thread . This is the " what are you growing in there Guvnor' tomatoes?" car. Ayub Khan replaced Sikander Mirza and the dates by Falahuddin Sahib fall in place. Will try to get a latest picture.

Just noticed the pelican hood ornament - the first I have seen on a Bahawalpur car.

I am just intrigued by the structural roof system on this car, what is the B pillar made of? Do we have references of similar cars elsewhere?

Heres a reference of a similar car but this one only has a part of its roof in Perspex https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/14267/lot/632/

Notice the Pelikan is replaced by a Zebra

Here are a couple of Hooper bodied RR SW and a Daimler.

All courtesy RREC

The Maharaja of Jodhpur in 1937 had a Rolls-Royce Phantom III delivered to him - chassis number 3BU102. What is interesting is that the Maharaja ordered this car through Lagonda Motors (which must have upset them, as they were by then planning to produce their own V12 model). Did the Maharaja have Lagondas? Best wishes

Yes. Jodhpur had at least one V12, now owned by one of our own (?)

Picture courtesy TBHP / Faster789



This may have been the personal car of Mr.A.P.Good, Chairman of Lagonda - to be confirmed.