[Julian UK]

Lovely Travencore looks great! Any others?
In the late 60s I used to build slot racing cars 1/24, professionally and race them on 8 lane tracks 24 hour races etc, 2 drivers, all Can Am stuff mainly. Didn't do much for my studies but won a few trophies

[Julian UK]

Is it one of these?
When I get time I’d love to build one of these Pochers, though apparently you have to redo a lot of it yourself
www.pocher.net: Pocher models; exclusive Pocher model car kits scale 1/8


Don't like the wiring and the starting carburettor feed pipe is missing.

I'd love to do one of these when time premits
Sorry can't get rid of the double image, tried 4 times...

[travancore]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

Is it one of these?
When I get time I’d love to build one of these Pochers, though apparently you have to redo a lot of it yourself
www.pocher.net: Pocher models; exclusive Pocher model car kits scale 1/8

Julian, thanks for the lovely prictures and links to some great models!

Wish mine were one of thes ($700) Pocher kits......no they are more affordable ($25) Jo-Han and Monogram

Got some pictures of the Orchha Cadillac (1/25 scale) under Cars of the Maharajas thread

[DKG]

Originally Posted by GTO

Thanks for the suggestion, DKG. Julian has brought it to our notice, and the mod team is currently in discussion over this.

GTO thanks for your prompt acknowledgement and consideration

[travancore]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Here is Telco's famous Rolls. Bought donkeys years ago as junk from an erstwhile Maharaja, the car was restored ground up by the trainees and others at Telco. My father recalls that Moolgaokar spearheaded the project to train the apprentices. They seemed to have done a great job, and the car was a regular prize winner. I last saw it at a rally in 93.

I was told they later opened the engine to overhaul, and the job of sleeving was outsourced to local turner, who cracked the block. Why the Tata Rolls should be opened outside I have no idea! And Im sure they have the capabilities to cast a new block as well, but nothing seems to be happening. I shot these pics exactly a year ago.

Karlos, great photos!
Did you by any chance happen to (or could you) note down the chassis # ? Any idea of the original owner ? Thanks!

[Julian UK]

Originally Posted by travancore

Karlos, great photos!
Did you by any chance happen to (or could you) note down the chassis # ? Any idea of the original owner ? Thanks!

Do pardon me for butting in but...
I bet its one of these:

Maharajah of Kashmir
1925 GPK 20 Eng. No. G1391 Barker Tourer
Maharajah of Jaipur
1923 GAK 60 Eng. No. G902 Barker Tourer
Maharajah of Jodphur
1924 GLK 21 Eng. No. G1174 Barker Tourer
Maharajah of Patiala
1923 54 S1 Eng. No. G132 Barker tourer
Maharajah of Udaipur
1923 42 G0 Eng. No. G121 Barker tourer
1923 64 H9 Eng. No. G349 Barker tourer
Maharajah of Banswara
1925 GPK 6 Eng. No. G1337 Barker Tourer
Maharajah of Nawanagar
1927 GAJ 52 Eng. No. A6A Barker Tourer
Raja of Sarangarh
1923 GAK 39 Eng. No. G859 Barker Tourer
Nawab of Bahawalpur
1923 81K2 Eng. No. G495 Barker Tourer
Nawab of Sachin
1927 GRJ1 Eng. No. W8E Barker Tourer
Nawab Moinud Dowla
1923 66 H9 Eng. No. G361 Barker Tourer
Ruler of Nandgaon
1927 GAJ 19 Eng. No. E4V Barker Tourer
Sir Hormasji Wadia
1923 85 K0 Eng. No. G505 Barker Tourer
Col. A.B. Minchin
1925 GPK 71 Eng. No. G1368 Barker Tourer
Dr. Rangachary
1923 68 H2 Eng. No. G370 Barker Tourer
T.Ross
1923 72 A2 Eng. No. G365 Barker Tourer
B.J. Desai
1924 GMK 5 Eng. No. G905 Barker Tourer

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by travancore

Karlos, great photos!
Did you by any chance happen to (or could you) note down the chassis # ? Any idea of the original owner ? Thanks!

I forgot which state the car came from, but I can find that out provided my friend at Tata (and on the forum) gets his lazy posterior over to the shop to get the details for us

Originally Posted by Julian UK

Do pardon me for butting in but...
I bet its one of these:

Maharajah of Banswara
1925 GPK 6 Eng. No. G1337 Barker Tourer
Nawab of Sachin
1927 GRJ1 Eng. No. W8E Barker Tourer

I think we can rule out these 2, they are present and accounted for in Pune. Banswada car now bears regn mark RJB 9 (though it was recently transferred to Pune giving it an official MH 12 DS something number, thankfully not fitted to the car). Incidentally, the same car featured in Manvenders book has another number in the picture "as found", I think it was RJY 1 or RSY 1 or thereabouts.

The Sachin car is MRJ 1215, which I remember you telling me was earlier GJ something 1. Am I right? Both the above cars are featured extensively on the forum earlier.

[travancore]

Rolls Royce Silver Ghosts in India

Here is a list of Indian Silver Ghosts I have been able to compile:

Chassis# / Year / State / Coachwork

60576 / 1907 / Gwalior / Cockshoot "Pearl of the East"
??? / "Eastern Gem"
60970 / 1909 / India / Short Chassis
1669 / 1911 / Bhopal / Landaulette (ex-Delhi Durbar)
1672 / 1911 / Hooper Landaulette (Delhi Durbar)
1683 / 1911 / Mysore / India Body / Throne Car
1948 / 1912 / Puducotta / Holmes / London-E'burgh
1958 / 1912 / Patiala / Holmes / London-E'Burgh (now owned by Michael Kadoorie)
2117 / 1912-13 / Hyderabad / Ceremonial - Throne Car
2154 / 1912 / Nabha / Barker "Taj Mahal"
??? / 1912 / Ajudhia
2366 / 1913 / India / Khan (Indian Body)
2600/ 1912-13 / India
???? / 1913 / Alwar / Regent Carriage / Saloon
???? / 1913 / Alwar / Regent Carriage / Coupe with dicky seat
???? / 1913 / Patiala / Barker or Mulliner
60-LB / 1914 / Baroda / H.J. Mulliner / State Landaulette
???? / 1919 / Patiala / Barker ? / Flared Wings & Pointed Wheel Discs
50-RE / 1920 / Jodhpur / Barker / Polished Aluminum "Ghost of India"
???? / 1920 / Ex-Viceroy & Monghyr / Silver Filigiree Work
50-UG / 1921 / Charkari / Hooper / Polished Aluminum
???? / 1921-22 / Rampur / Grosvenor Carriage / Trio of 3 cars
???? / 1921 / Rampur / Grosvenor / Cabriolet
47-AG / 1921 / Raja of Santosh / Stuarts of Calcutta / Wings modified 1930's
18-KG / 1922 / Patiala / Barker #4790
???? / 1922 / Udaipur
???? / 1922 / Bharatpur / Vee-Front Cabriolet
???? / 1923 / Hyderabad /
76-RM / 1924 / Bhopal / Hooper # 6120 / Hunting car
70-TM / 1924 / Bahawalpur / Barker / "BWP-31"

The following cars are referenced in the "History of Windovers":

107-BW / 1920 / Kashmir / Windovers
118-MG / 1921-22 / Mayurbhanj / Windovers
88-AU / 1924-25 / Kashmir / Windovers
45-EU / 1924-25 / Kolapur / Windovers

Julian, any access to Silver Ghost Chassis #'s ? I am also wondering if "The Edwardian RR" by John Fasal covers the Silver Ghost

[Julian UK]

Originally Posted by travancore

Julian, any access to Silver Ghost Chassis #'s ? I am also wondering if "The Edwardian RR" by John Fasal covers the Silver Ghost

I'm saving up for these very expensive books

If you have the time to wade through this lot.. there are some entries here.

Silver Ghost - Chassis Register

[travancore]

Originally Posted by Julian UK

I'm saving up for these very expensive books

If you have the time to wade through this lot.. there are some entries here.

Silver Ghost - Chassis Register

Thanks Julian, been through quite a bit of this site. Indeed, did get some of info there. They do have some good info on the Bhahawalpur cars. Cheers

There is also a similar site on vintage Bentleys (the real ones 1919-1931) -pretty good info on chassis # and owners - lacking on pictures for India cars
www.vintagebentleys.org

[Julian UK]

Originally Posted by DKG

Looks quite like the Nizam's 1912 Ghost ought to look

Extract from Time magazine article Mon Feb 22 1937:
Silver Jubilee Durbar - TIME

26-Year-Old Rolls. Attempts by correspondents to get advance stories on the Nizam's Jubilee drove them frantic as His Exalted Highness kept paring down his Durbar budget. Elephants cost a good deal more as a means of royal transportation than Rolls-Royce cars and while a lesser Indian potentate simply must ride out with elephants galore, one elephant has always seemed enough to the Nizam. (see cut below). Of late he has given careful thought to whether the World's Richest Man need ride an elephant at all. Suddenly last week the Hyderabad State Railway Shops received rush orders to spend not a penny more than $500 putting streamlined fenders on a Rolls-Royce which gives only eight miles to the gallon and so has been run but 300 miles by His Exalted Highness during its career of 26 years in Hyderabad. While putting on the streamlined fenders, Hyderabad artisans were instructed to build the centre of the body up much higher last week into a sort of throne topped by a gilt dome. In this way the Rolls was made practically as good for a parade as an elephant & howdah.

Read the whole article

[Julian UK]

Too late to edit/add to the last post (a little more time would be nice) so a little extract from Time magazine Mon Nov 23rd 1931

Nizam's Azam and Moazzam - TIME

"Why do you always arrive at the Palace in a Ford?" replied, "I am afraid that His Exalted Highness might consider my Rolls Royce a present to himself." By this and other means the Nizam has acquired 400 motor cars. His favorite Rolls Royce and his private railway car are both covered with thin strips of ivory, not paint. Both have solid gold hardware. Last week the earthy Nizam bought spiritual kudos for a thumping big price which he paid for the marriage of his sons at Nice.

Any experiences of this anyone?

[DKG]

Fantastic julian. Simply brilliant work to dig this out. While we knew through hearsay the RR was modified for the Silver Jubilee celebrations we now have this report. Simply fantastic. Thank you very much.

Wonderful to learn this job was carried out by the Railway workshop!!!

Only point to note though is, the car was finished as a throne car by Barker and this was in 1912 when it was delivered new. We have the original picture here earlier posted of the car when new (thanks to Travancore).

It does all tie in though. The Nizam was frugal and he would have agreed to have the RR modified as he didn't want to spend money for a new RR

Now in context of this we can imagine his horror as his elder son went ballistic ordering the most fabulous cars Duesenbergs, Mercedes SS, RR's, Bentley, Jags, Delahaye and many more. This may have been one of the many issues that set in the slow decline in their relationship leading the Nizam to eventually sidelining his son and declaring his grandson as heir apparent.

Great work Julian. I will have this material used for the display. Fantastic

[travancore]

Originally Posted by DKG

Fantastic julian. Simply brilliant work to dig this out. While we knew through hearsay the RR was modified for the Silver Jubilee celebrations we now have this report. Simply fantastic. Thank you very much.

Wonderful to learn this job was carried out by the Railway workshop!!!

Only point to note though is, the car was finished as a throne car by Barker and this was in 1912 when it was delivered new. We have the original picture here earlier posted of the car when new (thanks to Travancore).

The car was indeed modified for the Silver Jubilee...at least according to two more sources:
source: maybe Autolit.com




Look closely at the caption for the "modified" car and you can faintly make out the word Silver (25th) Jubilee!

Also quoting from "The Automobiles of the Maharajas" (page 122):

"The Nizam of Hyderabad had his 1911-1912 Rolls Royce, which belonged to his father rebodied and modified with streamlined wings and modern fittings, specially for his Silver Jubilee celebrations held in 1937".

It also goes on to say "However during the festivities, he himself used an ordinary Humber touring car with no pretensions to magnificence, no coat of arms, no pennant, and no room for a lackey"

[Julian UK]

Great find Travencore, a picture is worth a thousand words etc. Autolit.com seem to keep their secrets well hidden, as does chassisregister.com

I am sure that there are many who might say that the present condition of the car is the most valid historical record of this car as it was altered so long ago and maybe it is better left as it is or restored to the "style" as shown in Travencore's photo as a complete restoration to its 1911/12 condition might be impractical and less worthy of preservation than the Silver Jubilee condition which at least has a great deal of genuine history associated with it despite its rather "unusual" style. Better a Silver Jubilee relic than an attempt to re-create the factory condition with possible budget limitations??

Where did they get those mudguards from? The front doors appear different in Travencore's picture from the present day photos. This car has really been through it all...in only 364 miles or so.

Thank you
Regards
Julian UK