The vintage cars in the Queenie film 1986

Julian UK · 27th February 2008, 04:55

This is in 1986 when a certain Lagonda M45 owner in Delhi (one of the major driving forces of the vintage car movement since the beginning in Delhi) and I took a dozen Delhi cars down to Jaipur for 6 weeks for the filming of a US TV film called “Queenie” Queenie (1987) (TV)
The life of Merl Auberon, an Anglo Indian film actress Merle Oberon
Had to take them by truck as in those days some of the cars were not quite as sorted as their owners believed them to be..
So 6 weeks of hard graft unfolded, trying to get 12 cars running and ready for film sets miles away at 7 am every day. (Not my best time of day)
The nicest car, unfortunately all the best photos have gone astray over the years, was the beautiful Derby Bentley 4 ¼ French body (fastback) of the Maharani of Jaipur (Gayatri Devi). It was totally original and ran beautifully, lovingly maintained by her awesome driver who polished the “dashpots” of its SU carbs daily with great care. (I presume the needles were still straight..) I drove the RR Phantom II Limo (now in Delhi) in the film which I’d extricated from a garage in the University of Jaipur, got it running, and the film chaps gave it an instant paint job to tidy it up and and the much loved and respected Delhi Lagonda owner drove his 1923 RR Silver Ghost Hooper torpedo tourer (the same one as in the Gandhi film) in the film as well. Hilarious dramas unfolded throughout the film a lot of which was at the Ram Bagh Hotel.
Yes 6 weeks of filming resulted in about 30 seconds of actual car shots in the film. But we all got to wear pugris and I earned 200Rs a day ha ha.

The RR Phantom II 1934? I drove

The same in the University campus.

Backsides of the Ghost and a Cadillac and a Packard. Damn American trucks Ha Ha.

The lovely 30s Lancia Astura, which was still in Delhi at the time. Had a brief drive, lively but this one rattled a bit. Lancia Astura Pictures

Cadillac from Jaipur, Ghost and elephants in the Ram Bagh Hotel

American truck in the compound

1920 RR Silver Ghost 40/50 Hooper torpedo tourer on the Gurgaon Road just south of Delhi.

Lancia, Stupid Chrysler Royal, RR PII and the Maharani’s Bentley and the Cadillac truck under a cover. Ghost in the background.

[FONT=Arial]That RR PII was like a truck too…Ha Ha.[/FONT]

DKG · 27th February 2008, 10:16

You are without a doubt a veritable treasure trove. Thanks again for sharing. Is the 34 Packard the Delhi car too?

awini · 27th February 2008, 22:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by DKG

You are without a doubt a veritable treasure trove. Thanks again for sharing. Is the 34 Packard the Delhi car too?

yes the packard is a delhi car, recently sold to a friend of mine.

Julian UK · 27th February 2008, 23:00

I must apologize for not writing much but the time I have spare has been spent in scanning, hosting and uploading etc which takes time. Some more to come though the most exotic stuff is getting thin now.
Regards
Julian

Julian UK · 27th February 2008, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by awini

yes the packard is a delhi car, recently sold to a friend of mine.

And if I remember its crank/main bearing/big end bearings were very loose then and it had already had metal filed off the bearing caps to reduce the play (UGH!!) It needs remetalling and crank grinding. It used to smoke a bit as well. The whole engine needs rebuliding.

DKG · 28th February 2008, 00:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian UK

And if I remember its crank/main bearing/big end bearings were very loose then and it had already had metal filed off the bearing caps to reduce the play (UGH!!) It needs remetalling and crank grinding. It used to smoke a bit as well. The whole engine needs rebuliding.

Yikes!!! That is a total NO NO with Packards. Under no circumstances can you use shims or worse fiddle with bearing caps to reduce play. All manuals strongly recommend against any such ploy. The best option is to source new bearings, they are available from the US and only if you have no option must you consider re-metalling.

However I am not too sure about the quality of re-metalling done here in India. I doubt if the bigger bearing manufactures would indulge us on some remetalling.

Julian UK · 28th February 2008, 01:08

Fry - Altoona, PA USA

Fry's metals bearing white metal was available in Delhi from their outlet. As long as you personally buy it and have it done in front of you, in the right place its ok, I've had it done many many times in Delhi and its the same stuff you buy in the UK. I just never trusted anyone to buy it and you must see it melted in front of your eyes. The machining being done on new equipment is as much of an issue. Too many machine shops have worn out machinery.

C.ARPIT · 13th March 2023, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Julian UK

This is in 1986 when a certain Lagonda M45 owner in Delhi (one of the major driving forces of the vintage car movement since the beginning in Delhi) and I took a dozen Delhi cars down to Jaipur for 6 weeks for the filming of a US TV film called “Queenie” Queenie (1987) (TV)

Hi Julian,

By any chance, do you still have the picture of the first blue car you have posted. It's a Chevrolet I believe. I am unable to see these pictures because the post is very old.

Thanks

travancore · 17th March 2023, 04:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by C.ARPIT

By any chance, do you still have the picture of the first blue car you have posted.

The vintage cars in the Queenie film 1986-packard-super-eight-1934-queenie-movie-tbhp.jpg

It is a Packard (1934 Super Eight, I believe). Registered DHL-67 in the movie.

travancore · 2nd April 2023, 01:06

The vintage cars in the Queenie film 1986-packard-super-eight-1934-queenie-movie-frt-3q-l.jpg

The Packard as seen in the movie "Queenie"

27th February 2008, 04:55	#1
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	The vintage cars in the Queenie film 1986 This is in 1986 when a certain Lagonda M45 owner in Delhi (one of the major driving forces of the vintage car movement since the beginning in Delhi) and I took a dozen Delhi cars down to Jaipur for 6 weeks for the filming of a US TV film called “Queenie” Queenie (1987) (TV) The life of Merl Auberon, an Anglo Indian film actress Merle Oberon Had to take them by truck as in those days some of the cars were not quite as sorted as their owners believed them to be.. So 6 weeks of hard graft unfolded, trying to get 12 cars running and ready for film sets miles away at 7 am every day. (Not my best time of day) The nicest car, unfortunately all the best photos have gone astray over the years, was the beautiful Derby Bentley 4 ¼ French body (fastback) of the Maharani of Jaipur (Gayatri Devi). It was totally original and ran beautifully, lovingly maintained by her awesome driver who polished the “dashpots” of its SU carbs daily with great care. (I presume the needles were still straight..) I drove the RR Phantom II Limo (now in Delhi) in the film which I’d extricated from a garage in the University of Jaipur, got it running, and the film chaps gave it an instant paint job to tidy it up and and the much loved and respected Delhi Lagonda owner drove his 1923 RR Silver Ghost Hooper torpedo tourer (the same one as in the Gandhi film) in the film as well. Hilarious dramas unfolded throughout the film a lot of which was at the Ram Bagh Hotel. Yes 6 weeks of filming resulted in about 30 seconds of actual car shots in the film. But we all got to wear pugris and I earned 200Rs a day ha ha. The RR Phantom II 1934? I drove The same in the University campus. Backsides of the Ghost and a Cadillac and a Packard. Damn American trucks Ha Ha. The lovely 30s Lancia Astura, which was still in Delhi at the time. Had a brief drive, lively but this one rattled a bit. Lancia Astura Pictures Cadillac from Jaipur, Ghost and elephants in the Ram Bagh Hotel American truck in the compound 1920 RR Silver Ghost 40/50 Hooper torpedo tourer on the Gurgaon Road just south of Delhi. Lancia, Stupid Chrysler Royal, RR PII and the Maharani’s Bentley and the Cadillac truck under a cover. Ghost in the background. [FONT=Arial]That RR PII was like a truck too…Ha Ha.[/FONT]
	(3) Thanks

27th February 2008, 10:16	#2
DKG Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 3,711 Thanked: 1,389 Times View My Garage	You are without a doubt a veritable treasure trove. Thanks again for sharing. Is the 34 Packard the Delhi car too? Last edited by DKG : 27th February 2008 at 10:19. Reason: to prevent one more post
	() Thanks

27th February 2008, 23:00	#4
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	I must apologize for not writing much but the time I have spare has been spent in scanning, hosting and uploading etc which takes time. Some more to come though the most exotic stuff is getting thin now. Regards Julian
	() Thanks

28th February 2008, 01:08	#7
Julian UK BHPian Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: London UK Posts: 709 Thanked: 254 Times	Fry - Altoona, PA USA Fry's metals bearing white metal was available in Delhi from their outlet. As long as you personally buy it and have it done in front of you, in the right place its ok, I've had it done many many times in Delhi and its the same stuff you buy in the UK. I just never trusted anyone to buy it and you must see it melted in front of your eyes. The machining being done on new equipment is as much of an issue. Too many machine shops have worn out machinery.
	() Thanks

2nd April 2023, 01:06	#10
travancore Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ann Arbor Posts: 2,934 Thanked: 8,551 Times	Re: The vintage cars in the Queenie film 1986 The Packard as seen in the movie "Queenie"
	(3) Thanks