[Steve Stuckey]

This car, the third Phantom III to go to the Baroda family, has been shown already in post #312 in this thread. The chassis left the factory on 22 June 1937. It had engine C58A, steering at the middle E rake, and was set up for touring work in India. For some reason, the chassis was not delivered to the coachbuilders until nearly two months later, on 20 August 1937, when it was shipped by rail from the RR London depot at Lillie Hall.

Windovers Ltd built a saloon to design 5047 on this chassis, with body number 6465. Unusually for a RR of this period, the spare wheels were carried in the boot (trunk) of the car, which explains why it was so high. As it was a saloon, there was no division, nor were there occasional seats; there were two bucket seats in the front. The upholstery, and the rooflining, were in leather, and the carpets and door interiors were in skins from leopards shot by the owner! It had a special mascot. It was registered BARODA38.

The chassis was ordered on 22 April 1937 by Windovers for sale to His HIghness Major-General Sir Pratapsingh Sinha Gaekwar Sena Khas Khel Shamsher Bahadur, Crown Prince of Baroda (29 June 1908 - 19 July 1968). He succeeded his grandfather as 12th Maharaja and ruled between 6 February 1939 and 1951, when he was deposed. His father owned 3AX201 and his step-mother owned 3BU106. As Maharaja the Prince also owned Bentley Mark VIs B8AK (the fourth production Mark VI), a Vanden Plas saloon, and B42AK, an H J Mulliner drophead coupe.

Because of its Royal owner, and the unusual interior, the car appeared in a number of 1930s publications: the RR Bulletin on December 1937; The Autocar on 26 November; The Illustrated London News of 27 November, and Country Life on 4 December.

The car was shipped to Bombay aboard the ss "Cathay" on 27 November 1937, and I did not hear of it again until early 2002. At that time it was missing its clutch plate, carburettor and starter. It was registered GBJ.3319

The photos below are from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (the car picture), and the Bowers archive (the interior).

[karlosdeville]

So who would have fitted this exotic interior? The coach builders themselves?

Originally Posted by Steve Stuckey

It was registered GBJ.3319.

The regn would more likely have been GJB, not GBJ. Can you confirm this? GJB is a Baroda regn, I haven't come across a GB regn as yet.

Do have a look at this too.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/940866-post179.html

[Steve Stuckey]

Sorry, a typo on my part. Definitely GJB.3319

And, I imagine that the Prince would have sent the leopard skins to Windovers, who would have fitted them. Such a package would not make it through Customs these days though!

[park-ward]

Amir told me that after the Raja of Jodhpur, the next owner in 1944 was the Raja of Rewa who kept the car until 1955. He then sold it to Mohammed Currim of Mumbai who, in turn, sold it to Amir's father in 1962. The car has been with the family ever since and the Alpha Motor C° certainly ordered parts for it, that's why they appear in the RR records but never owned it.
Andre Blaize

Originally Posted by travancore

According to The RR Continental by Raymond Gentile:

Continental Unit # 281 (last listed)
Chassis # 62-UK
Original Engine # QY-15
Steering: F (I assume that is the rake)
Off Test: 1-8-35; Sold: 5-6-35
Original Owner: Maharaja of Jodhpur, Jodhpur
Body: Gurney Nutting; Streamline Coupe

At the time my book was pulished (1980):
Original Body, Owner: H.H.Jetha, Bombay, India (assume that is Amir's father)

The writeup on the car says " The last PII Continental Chassis produced was 62-UK which was off test on Aug 1, 1935. It was fitted with a Gurney Nutting "Streamline Coupe" (not the H.R. Owen design) for its new owner, H.H. the Maharaja of Jodhpur (India). The car still resides in Bombay, India. The last entry on the sales data card showed the car owned by Alpha Motor Co. of Bombay, India in 1965"

[Julian UK]

This link is to Rolls-Royce club bulletin B287 which has a feature on Rolls-Royces that went to Afghanistan and King Amanullah’s visit to the Derby works,

http://www.rrec.org.uk/Publications/...tin_Sample.pdf

A list of the cars that went to Afghanistan.

Silver Ghost 1913 2613 Unlisted Coachbuilder King Habibullah of Afghanistan
Silver Ghost 1922 10YG Cunard motor carriage co. Open Tourer King Amanullah of Afghanistan
Silver Ghost 1925 74EU Barker Saloon/Limousine King Amanullah of Afghanistan
20hp 1928 GBM 44 Barker 2D Saloon King Amanullah of Afghanistan
20hp 1923 52 S8 Barker Tourer King Amanullah of Afghanistan
Phantom I 1927 60YC Barker Sports Tourer King Amanullah of Afghanistan
Phantom I 1927 112NC Hooper Open Tourer King Amanullah of Afghanistan
Phantom I 1928 38UF Barker Landaulette Beatonson folding roof King Amanullah of Afghanistan
Phantom III 1939 3DL200 Park Ward drophead coupe King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan

[Julian UK]

2 additions to the list pointed out by Park Ward
20/25 #GRW 59 DHC, bought second hand by Prince Shah Wali Khan, it was rebodied by Graber of Switzerland in 1937.
Silver Ghost #2418 H J Mulliner tourer bought by King Habibullah

On further hunting here is an article about #GRW 59 and its new owner perhaps taking things a little too far? Also the Prince drove the car into Lake Leman in Switzerland in 1939 for reasons best known to himself…
Found: the lost Rolls of Kabul - Times Online

This article says that between 1910 and 1938, five Afghan kings ordered 13 Rolls-Royces. So that’s King Habibullah, King Amanullah, Prince Shah Wali Khan and King Zahir Shah. I wonder who the 5th owner was.

[speedy]

found some pictures of Amir's Rolls Royce PII.

[travancore]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

2 additions to the list pointed out by Park Ward
20/25 #GRW 59 DHC, bought second hand by Prince Shah Wali Khan, it was rebodied by Graber of Switzerland in 1937.
Silver Ghost #2418 H J Mulliner tourer bought by King Habibullah

On further hunting here is an article about #GRW 59 and its new owner perhaps taking things a little too far? Also the Prince drove the car into Lake Lema
n in Switzerland in 1939 for reasons best known to himself…
Found: the lost Rolls of Kabul - Times Online

Great work Julian. Here is a bit more to add to the story of GRW-59........

Courtesy: www.rrbew.co.uk and Richard Raynsford

GRW-59 with Major Jack Comyn, Vienna 1948:


GRW-59 around 1959-60:


GRW-59 being pulled from Lake Leman and a press article:




And for those who want even more history and pictures, check out the following link:
Richard Raynsford

[Julian UK]

I'm not sure where to post this but as it is an important photo of some of the pioneers of the Vintage car movement in Delhi I'm posting it here. Taken at the Delhi Golf Club in 1970.
From the left, The late Mr. Pesi Shroff Vintage car owner and rally judge, Mr Ronnie Khan, owner of some significant cars in India, Lord Montagu of Beaulieu Founder of the Motor Museum there on his visit to India in 1970, the late Major General Shiv Bhatia former President of the Delhi Vintage Car Club and Mr Raj Seth, judge of Delhi and Calcutta Rallies and owner of a Silver Ghost and a Lagonda M45 and a leading light in the Vintage car movement.

Photo courtesy of Mr. R.N.Seth taken by H H Raja S N Singh of Tirwa on 9th march 1970

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

I'm not sure where to post this but as it is an important photo of some of the pioneers of the Vintage car movement in Delhi I'm posting it here.

Oh boy, thats a priceless photo Julian! All the stalwarts together.

You could also put it up here.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vintag...s-cars-12.html

[Steve Stuckey]

This car was one of the most spectacular Phantom IIIs. It was sent off test on 7 July 1937, fitted with engine C68A and E type steering. The chassis was sent to coachbuilders Windovers Ltd. on 13 July, and they built a cabriolet body to design 5097 (body number 6483).

The car was finished in mustard yellow, with the rear wings, dual spare wheel covers, full rear spats and a broad side swage line in maroon. The hood (top) was in dark red material, stored in a dark red mohair envelope at the rear of the car. Crests and monograms in gold were painted on the front doors. The four external door handles were recesssed. A Lalique glass mascot could be illuminated either red or blue. The wheel discs were chrome-plated. The two-piece windscreen was made to fold flat onto the scuttle. From the front could be see the special bullet headlamps, spotlamps fitted to each side of the scuttle, parking lights flared into each of the special wheel covers, large floodlights flared into the front wings, and a centre-mounted spotlamp. Special reversing lamps were also fitted. Two four-note trumpet horns and two American police sirens completed the front hardware of the car, just in case you didn’t notice it coming!

Inside the interior was fitted in gold-coloured leather, piped in dark red. There was red leather flooring to the front compartment and red carpet to the rear. The dashboard was finished in dark red Cellastoid in milk finish (I am not sure what this in, but I assume a type of metal finish). The steering wheel rim was in ivory. All the side windows of the car were of red-tinted Triplex glass. There was a division behind the adjustable front seat, but not glass between it and the top of the car. The door handles and window winders were made to fold flush into the door linings. In the division there was a cocktail cabinet with a soda bottle and three large cut-glass tumblers. There were Thermos flasks to each elbow of the rear seat, and to the offside there was a detachable spittoon made to look like a speaking tube (!!). Revolver holsters were fitted to each side of the dash! There was a radio in the dash as well, with controls in both front and rear compartments. In the boot was provision for a portable radiogram.

On 28 February 1938, a full seven and a half months after the chassis was delivered, this well-equipped car was finished. On 2 April it was shipped to Bombay aboard the ss “Burdwan”. The car had been ordered from Windovers by His Highness Walashan Himayat Ali Khan Azam Jah Berar, Crown Prince of Hyderabad (21 February 1907 – 9 October 1970). He was the son of the 7th Maharaja but he never took the throne; his son succeeded his grandfather as 8th Maharaja in 1967. Prince Berar also owned 20/25HP GTK19, a Windovers drophead coupé, and Bentley 4.25 litre B104MR, a Park Ward allweather. His chauffeur of seven years, Krishnawaly, completed the RR School of Instruction course on 24 July 1937, where he would have learned how to look after the Phantom III. After the War Prince Berar was to own Bentley Mark VIs B197AJ (a standard saloon) and B6LJ, a Park Ward drophead coupé.

Not surprisingly this spectacular-looking car was shown in the motoring press: in The Autocar of 4 March 1938 and a full page in The Motor of 19 April 1938. It was also in the Rolls-Royce Bulletin of March 1939, in the snow in Switzerland.

In 1948 the car went back to Europe and in February 1950 was given English registration KYX56; in 1953 it was owned by a Captain J Radcliffe. In 1952 it was with coachbuilders Hooper, where it was repainted black and the floodlights in the front wings were removed (new wings were fitted). At this time also the car was reupholstered in black leather.

In late 1956 the car was back again at Hooper, who removed the spare wheels and prepared to car to be the State Car of Portugal (it is rumoured to be ready for a State Visit by Queen Elizabeth). It remained the State Car until replaced by Phantom V 5LAT84 in 1960, but was still used occasionally until the 1980s to transport Heads of State visiting Portugal. It was owned by Jorge Sampaio, who donated it to the Caramulo Museum run by Dr Joao de Lacerda. It is still there, having had a full restoration in 1999.

These photos show the car as it was when new and then at Hooper on 26 November 1956.

[Julian UK]

Great Steve, a wonderful car, I bet the spitoon was clogged up with betal nut, (when did Pan Prayag come on the market, anyone?) No red streaks down the sides of the doors..
A shot of 3CP 116 with the 2nd body in Portugal courtesy of Travencore ?


Post #42

Originally Posted by ritayan

Can someone through light in the picture of the Rolls below.

Post #44

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Im assuming this is the same car (green), perhaps this picture can help. Picture shot at a Calcutta Statesman Rally,

After consultation with its owner this 1931 20/25 Thrupp & Maberly Limousine 1st owner Sir John Anderson is confirmed as being chassis number #GBT 16.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by Steve Stuckey

This car was one of the most spectacular Phantom IIIs...

Wow Steve. Wonderful summary of a most ostentatious RR. My father remembers this car and apparently it went back to England with the Princess who may have eventually disposed it.

The convertible Bentley remained with Azam Jah and was passed onto Prince Mukkaramjah who eventually took it to Australia where the last I heard it had rotted outside in his mansion's yard (sad fate). This was the same car which the young Prince had a metal sheet fixed to the underside to crush rocks on the highway. He was to realise the added weight would wear out tyres much quicker.

Ironically Azamjah and Mauzamjah's father Mir Osman Ali Khan, reputed to be the richest monarch and man on earth in his time, was very tight on the purse and still the young princes managed to order some awesome machines. Had Azamjah succeeded his father early on we could have seen a wilder collection of cars flocking to Hyderabad.

[Julian UK]

Wonderful Steve, thanks for taking the time, I hope when you run out of PIIIs you will continue to enrich this collection with whatever India related material you can.



This is borrowed from the website mentioned, not sure where to post it. Yes I realise its in Spanish but the relevant names seem to be coherent. How about a cartology thread?

Click twice and it should enlarge.

Thank you to Indian Princely States - another subcontinent forums

[Steve Stuckey]

There are five more Phantom IIIs in India to come in these histories. This one, 3CM37, was sent off test twice - the first time on 13 September 1937, after it had been fitted with a new clutch on 30 August whilst being tested. The early Phantom III clutch gave a lot of problems. The car was taken back into the factory and was finally released on 11 November 1937. It was fitted with engine R18L, and steering at the low E rake. The chassis was set up for use in India.

The chassis was sent by rail to Park Ward on the day it came off test, used to fulfill an order dated 13 October. The chassis did not go to the body shop until 22 December, though. Park Ward built a saloon (with no division) on the chassis, body number 4390 (they called it a Continental touring saloon). This body was almost a duplicate of those put on the second and third Experimental Phantom IIIs, 32 and 33EX. It was finished in what Park Ward called 'Harbour Mist grey' duco with the wheels to remain in the original black finish. It had a large sunroof and a windscreen that was to open fully, as on 25/30HP GUL80 (see below). The upholstery was in grey leather throughout, to match the car, with grey carpet and headcloth. The woodwork was in Circassian walnut, and an electric fan was fitted to the rear compartment. Silver and enamel monograms to all four doors cost 12 pounds. The complete car cost 2,036 pounds.

The car was ordered by Allied Motors Ltd. for what RR and Park Ward records both say was the Raja of Panchote, who was His Highness Lieutenant-Colonel Mahi Mahendra Maharao Sir Umed II Singhji Bahadur of Kotah, Rajputna (5 September 1873 - March 1941); he ruled as 16th Maharaja between 1889 and 27 December 1940. He had owned Silver Ghosts 1693 (a Barker limousine) and 1809 (a Barker Roi-des-Belges), Phantom I's 10RC (a Hooper tourer) and 23RC (a Barker tourer) and 25/30HP GUL80 (a Gurney Nutting coupe).

The car was completed at Park Ward on 31 January 1938 and shipped to Calcutta aboard the ss "Matra" on 5 February. Nothing more is known of the car until the 1980s when it was reported as a wreck, owned by Italian Venerio Molari, but unable to be moved from India. It was then reported owned in quick succession by Ranjit Malik and Tom Roy. In 2000 it was owned by Yohan Poonawalla of Pune, who has it with a tourer body (see post # 67 in this thread). Discussion is that the Park Ward body was cut down into a tourer by the French Motor Car Co. in Calcutta, but comparison between the photo below and photos of the tourer in this thread convince me that most of the body is new.

This photo, an original Park Ward photo that I have owned for some years but which I only identified recently as 3CM37, has never been published anywhere before! Enjoy, and if anyone knows more about the tourer body I would like to hear it.