[KartikeyaL]

The Faridkot royal cars have been in news over the last few years, I thought it would be a good idea to document the collection in a separate thread.

An old picture of Maharaja Brijinder Singh of Faridkot




Brief history of Faridkot State

Kapura, (descendant of founder of Jaisalmer) founded the principality of Kot Kapura in 1643 which, in 1763, split into two states: Kot Kapura, the parent state, which was conquered by the Sikhs of Lahore in 1807, and Faridkot, which remained with the Jaisal dynasty.

In 1808, Faridkot submitted to Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Lahore, and the territory was granted to Diwan Mokam Chand, the Lahore General. But in 1808-9 the British Government demanded from the Maharaja the surrender of his conquests on the left bank of the Sutlej, and Faridkot was given back to its original possessors. The state ranked 13th in the Punjab Darbar (1918).

More about pre independence history can be found here

Post independence :

The Maharajah of Faridkot acceded his state to the new Union of India, it became a part of the Patiala & East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) in 1948.

The Last Maharaja of Faridkot

HH Maharaja Sir Harindar Singh Brar Bans Bahadur, was the 12th Maharaja of Faridkot (1918-89), born in 1915, he died in October 1989.

The Maharaja had the following issues :

Rajkumari Amrit Kaur, born 1934/1935. She married Harpal Singh, who was her father’s aide-de-camp, the princess decided to start a life with Singh, a commoner, breaking a sacred class taboo. Stung by this, the raja cut her out of his will and the family estate.

Maharani Deep Inder Kaur, born 1936 died November 2018, (married to Maharaja of Burdwan.)

Tikka Harmohindar Singh Brar, born 1937, he died in 1981 in a car accident.

Rajkumari Maheep Inder Kaur, born 1944, she died unmarried, in July 2001.

After the death of the Maharaja the property and the estate were embroiled in a bitter dispute, excerpts on that from Indian express below :

When his son died in a road accident in 1981, the Maharaja went into depression and his will was executed 7-8 months later. In his will, the Maharaja appointed the Maharawal Khewaji Trust to take care of his properties and Deepinder Kaur and Maheepinder Kaur were appointed as trust chairman and vice-chairman respectively. Maheepinder died in Shimla in 2001 under mysterious circumstances.

In 1992, Amrit Kaur moved the court against the Maharawal Khewaji Trust, claiming that the Maharaja was not in a fit state of mind and the alleged ‘will’ was created under influence and pressure. Meanwhile, Manjit Inder Singh, brother of Harinder Singh, also claimed his part in the property.

In 2013, the court held the trust “illegal and void”, while mentioning that the claim of Maharaja's brothers family was not applicable in the property share. The court then divided 50 per cent share of property each to Amrit Kaur and Deepinder Kaur, being the two daughters of Harinder Singh. But, the trust, Amrit Kaur and Deepinder Kaur filed their respective appeals in the sessions court against the trial court order, which was dismissed.

Story so far, credit Fortune India research

[KartikeyaL]

Coming back to the cars, all the years during the legal dispute most of the Faridkot cars were locked up at the Kenilworth and Sherwood Estate also known as Mashobra palace of Faridkot royal Family.



RR locked up at Mahobhra


Not really sure but sometime in 2010-2011 most of the cars were moved to Fort Qila Mubarak, (The Faridkot palace, Faridkot)

Some pictures of the cars surfaced everywhere including on our forum, here

Packards, 1940's.

Originally Posted by DKG

Apart from these beauties there should be 4 Jeeps, 2 Jags, a Rolls, Bentley, a Vanguard, a Daimler and 2 other cars as reported in a article some years ago. The cars escaped a fire that gutted some of the building where these cars were housed in Simla. They were to have been shifted back to Faridkot

Cars parked at Faridkot Palace
Packard, Daimler, Vanguard, Jaguar, Graham and Bentley (L to R)



Some more pictures from when the cars were moved to Faridkot

Rolls Royce Silver Wraith WTA47






Graham, Bentley and Jaguar (L to R)


The cars were left in the open for a few years with just covers on.

[KartikeyaL]

The cars have now been moved to a covered shed, where they have been kept for display.

Some pictures, excuse the picture quality.

Bentley "Faridkot 422"


Daimler "Faridkot 451"


Jaguar "Faridkot 445"


Packard "Faridkot 84"


Packard Sedan "Faridkot 85"


Vanguard "Faridkot 423"


Vanguard "Faridkot 424"


Dodge "Gun carriage" "Faridkot 138"


Sometime in 2017 the Packard sedan was spotted on the streets of Faridkot.


Planning to visit Faridkot sometime in 2019, until then hope someone can get better pictures.

It would be great if all ex-Faridkot car's pictures & old period pictures as well could be added to this thread.

cheers

[Rudra Sen]

Mod note: Thread moved from Assembly Line to Vintage Cars & Classics in India. Thanks for sharing.

[travancore]

Lovely coverage! Thanks. Do we know the chassis number of the Bentley ?

[KPS]

Thanks Kartik for consolidating these cars. Guess the Faridkot family must have owned a lot more cars.

The Packard Twins are to die for. What a great pair.

Thanks again

KPS

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by KPS

The Packard Twins are to die for. What a great pair.

And (IMHO) what a great patina!

That said, are the cars going to remain displayed thus or to be restored eventually?

[KartikeyaL]

Originally Posted by travancore

Lovely coverage! Thanks. Do we know the chassis number of the Bentley ?

Thank you, will try to find out the chassis number.

Originally Posted by KPS

Thanks Kartik for consolidating these cars. Guess the Faridkot family must have owned a lot more cars.
KPS

Thank you, there might be more cars as you say. It seems that many cars were bought in pairs, like the Packard twins and the two Vanguards, I still have to find a complete picture of Jaguar no. "Faridkot 444",



the other Jaguar is "Faridkot 445"

Originally Posted by Stanher

And (IMHO) what a great patina!

That said, are the cars going to remain displayed thus or to be restored eventually?

Recently one of the two surviving daughters of the last Maharaja passed away, the other daughter is 83+ years old, unless their children get involved nothing might happen, on the other hand it would be great to leave the cars as they are, they look great and should be preserved like this, IMHO.

[karlosdeville]

Superb thread, for a superb collection. Thanks for sharing, the cars are a treat. Especially to see so many pairs!

Originally Posted by travancore

Lovely coverage! Thanks. Do we know the chassis number of the Bentley ?

The Bentley is probably B330EY

[Samanyu]

Thank you so much for posting the photographs of these beautiful cars.My favourite car in the collection is the packard.

[avjinder]

Super post, really like the build up with history and final showdown with some real beauties from the past. I wish someone will restore these cars to their prime!

[Bulldogji]

Behind the Daimler is a very interesting car, perhaps pre 1900.

Any guesses?

Are my eyes playing tricks, perhaps a horse carriage?

[awini]

they also have at least three more cars, a very low milage 1960 Ford saloon, and an Alvis TC or TD21 convertible with a Park Ward Body, both under a tarp out in the open for decades, and a WW2 White M3 Scout Car, most likely used for shikar, in a garage!

[KartikeyaL]

Originally Posted by Bulldogji

Behind the Daimler is a very interesting car, perhaps pre 1900.

Any guesses?

Are my eyes playing tricks, perhaps a horse carriage?

Looks like a horse carriage.

Originally Posted by awini

they also have at least three more cars, a very low milage 1960 Ford saloon, and an Alvis TC or TD21 convertible with a Park Ward Body, both under a tarp out in the open for decades, and a WW2 White M3 Scout Car, most likely used for shikar, in a garage!

It would be great to get some pictures.

[KartikeyaL]

Cross posting

This Bentley with Faridkot connect is up for sale in UK

Bentley Mark VI Park Ward Convertible

She was spotted by a young Indian Prince who persuaded the owner to sell her to him. Prince Harmohinder Singh of Faridkot became a familiar sight in his rare prized Bentley at Cambridge university

Enjoyed the Bentley so much that the young Prince acquired a standard Bentley MKVI which he retained at the family Palace in India. Which we understand is still in their Royal collection.

The Bentley in Fardikot collection is

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

The Bentley is probably B330EY

and the one for sale in UK is chassis #B256EY

and here is a copy of the Bentley Motors Ltd factory record which I am sharing with permission from Mulliner Ltd.