Team-BHP > Vintage Cars & Classics in India


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Old 10th March 2009, 16:21   #1
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Top Ten Collectible Cars Located In India

Hi Everybody,

With reference to the discussion with DKG, this thread has been started to bring out the top 10 cars in India. Top 10 is not only in terms of value, but the Marque, body styling, rarity, uniqueness should be considered.This will be fun with lots of discussions. After perhps 5 pages of the thread we can draw up a list. To this list we can continuously add and delete. Let me begin the fun by naming a few contenders:
1) Delahaye Jodhpur
2) Daimler Double Six UP
3) Daimler Golden body Indore
4) Bentley Advocatus
5) Marmon Indore
6) 540K Pune
7) Lagonda (Seth)

Now please add and discuss.
Cars which would have been eligible but have left the country would have been cars like the Farman, Brookes - Swan, Cadillac V-16 Pinninfarina (or only Farina?) of Orchha, Duesenberg etc.
I am hoping that some members who have been silent will come back on the forum.

Harit
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Old 10th March 2009, 16:30   #2
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Great thread Harit and interesting list to start with.

Would like to add

8) RR Phantom II Continental
9) V12 Lagonda with Bhogilal
10) V12 Lagonda with Awini
11) Packard Twin Six with Mallya
12) Invicta with Bhogilal
13) 6 1/2 litre Bentley
14) 8 litre Bentley with Bhogilal
15) Bugatti with Mallya
16) 1912 RR Throne Car of the Nizam
17) 1906 Napiers of the Nizam

Last edited by DKG : 10th March 2009 at 16:38.
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Old 10th March 2009, 16:33   #3
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Some more nominations from my side
  • Mercedes Type K of Mallya
  • Lagonda of Awini
  • Mercedes 300SL of Gondal. Late car, but still noteworthy.
  • Maybach of Kolhapur
  • Rolls P2 Continental of Jetha
  • Bugatti of Mallya
  • Cord of Bhogilal? 50-50 on this.
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Old 10th March 2009, 17:04   #4
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And so the thread had seen some motion. It is easy to add, difficult to delete. But delete we must.
No Indian Bugatti to be put. None of them are significant in any way. All three are tiny Bugatti's.
Bhogilal Bentley is not original, Advocatus Bentley has mechanical packages which makes it a world beater.
Cord, if you want to put, then Indore because that is Supercharged and open top.
I believe the 540K superior to any type K in India, but keep on discussing.
Lagonda Awini, why not. But not Bhogilal's, because of the body style. Remember, its top 10.
300SL, not in top 10
Maybach? Too plain. Actually the later models of Maybach were the most handsome cars. But debatable.
Rolls Jetha sure I think DKG refers to this.
Packard Twin Six with Mallya why not, but keep on discussing
Invicta with Bhogilal sure, and it is ahead of SS 100 Mr. Shroff
6 1/2 litre Bentley keep on discussing
1912 RR Throne Car of the Nizam This must be in top 10
1906 Napiers of the Nizam normally cars of this age do not find place in top 10. But keep on discussing.

So, updated list:
1) Delahaye Jodhpur
2) Daimler Double Six UP
3) Daimler Golden body Indore
4) Bentley Advocatus
5) Marmon Indore
6) 540K Pune
7) Lagonda (Seth)
8) Cord Indore
9) 1912 RR Throne Car of the Nizam
10) Invicta Bhogilal
11) Packard Mallya
12) Rolls Jetha
13) Lagonda Awini
14) Bentley 6 1/2 L

May the list grow and decline, we need only 10 cars.
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Old 10th March 2009, 17:41   #5
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I am not sure if it survives.

In case it does, how about the Alwar Lanchester?

Aditya
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Old 10th March 2009, 17:44   #6
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Lets have some pictures please of the cars being discussed.

What is the Bently Advocatus please advice. Also the Golden body Daimler.

Can we learn more about the Indore Marmon,the 6.5 Bently, the Indore Cord, Pune 540K and the Rolls.
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Old 10th March 2009, 20:10   #7
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I agree to make this intresting put up pictures of the respective car, your nominating.
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Old 10th March 2009, 23:59   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by harit View Post
And so the thread had seen some motion. It is easy to add, difficult to delete. But delete we must.
I would be surprised if the followng are not in the list:

Mercedes 680 K - Ranjit Malik
Minerva - Diljeet Titus

Last edited by Rehaan : 11th March 2009 at 02:56. Reason: Quote fixed.
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Old 11th March 2009, 10:42   #9
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The 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost specially ordered by the Nizam as a Ceremonial carriage has to be one of the most precious Rolls Royces in the world. It is a one of a kind special order car built by Barker on a London Edinburgh ghost chassis and most of the trim items are in silver. Further the car has barely ever been driven with only 356 miles on the odo.

The car was modified in 1936 in preparation for the historic Silver Jubilee celebrations and perhaps the modifications are as much a part of history as the event itself.

The car is a RR which meant exquisite standards of contruction for the times, one of a kind special order car, 1912 vintage and with low mileage. My personal view is this is the most precious car in India.



The Jodhpur Delahaye 135 MS Geo Ham roadster by Figoni et Falaschi is a highly desirable and valuable car in India. Very rare (less than 16 cars made?) high performance machine and a stunning car to look at. The owner claims it was originally Prince Azamjah of Hyderabad's car.




The first time I saw pictures of this car my jaw dropped. Its a stunning car and definitely a worthy contender for the top ten spot. The car is a fabulous Daimler Double Six drophead coupe.


In 1906 Napiers were amongst the most luxurious and fast cars made. Rolls Royce was just about building their reputation when Napier already had theirs established. It was the car of choice for royalty and heads of state. The Nizam of Hyderabad had ordered no less than 6 cars in one lot of which two survive in India. By virtue of its vintage and exclusivity the Napier I feel deserves a spot as one of the 10 most desirable cars in India.



Last of the highly desirable Rolls Royce Phantom II Continentals this strikingly handsome Gurney Nutting Aerofoil coupe is a worthy contender for the top ten spot. With only 262 (or 261) cars made its rarity, styling and pedigree makes this car special. It was formerly owned bythe Maharajah of Jodhpur.





Of the 100 8 litre Bentleys ever made 2 fabulous cars survive in India. The first, originally one of three fixed head coupe's made, has had its roof chopped. But an interesting feature of this car is what appears to be a Mckenzie modded engine with the triple carb setup. My take on this car is it may not have received all the mods characteristic of the Mckenzie modded cars, just the engine. This is without a doubt a very special car and India is fortunate to have one gracing its shores.



The second of the rare 8 litre Bentleys in India. Originally a sedan its body was modified to make for a touring body. It remains a very special car and a worthy contender for the top 10 category


Last edited by DKG : 11th March 2009 at 10:50.
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Old 11th March 2009, 11:15   #10
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A worthy contender is this beautiful V12 Lagonda, formerly Maharajah of Jodhpur's car.



I would like to include what I consider the most beautiful convertible Rolls Royce I have ever seen. Its a 1937 Rolls Royce 25/30 cabriolet by Gurney Nutting. One of apparently only three cars made in this body style, by dint of sheer beauty I feel its worthy of being considered.



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Old 11th March 2009, 11:26   #11
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This thread is an education

This thread is an education in itself. Thank you DKG, TractionAvant, harit & Karlosdeville.

There was a rare (limited edition) Mercedes Sports in Hyderabad or Mahabubnagar. It is seen in photographs of one of Nehru's visits to Hyderabad. Can anyone throw any light on it.

Cheers,
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Old 11th March 2009, 12:07   #12
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Here are some pictures of the Lanchester (borrowed from Julian UK's posts on Team-BHP, hope you do not mind sir ).

It appears to be the same car. What is not clear is if it is still in India.

I think this car should be on the list for the sheer audacity of the coachwork.

Kind regards

Aditya


Ps. This is my 'coming-of-age' post. It's nice to not have a nanny (mods: no offence intended ) going through one's post everytime.
Attached Thumbnails
Top Ten Collectible Cars Located In India-lanchesterhs4.jpg  

Top Ten Collectible Cars Located In India-lanchesterwa3.jpg  


Last edited by TractionAvant : 11th March 2009 at 12:14.
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Old 11th March 2009, 12:40   #13
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This is the Maharaja of Alwars Lanchester if I am not mistaken.

Was said to have left the country a long time ago.
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Old 11th March 2009, 14:13   #14
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I remember reading this article in BSM about this really rare Invicta in the Bogilal collection. if i rememebr correctly this was also coined the "Widow Maker" back in the 30s.

i know the term "Widow Maker" was given to 300 sl gullwing, but i remember reading that this was also referred to as a "Widow Maker". not sure why though. shud dig up my BSM collection.

This Invicta, would surely be a worthy contender.
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Old 11th March 2009, 15:18   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wasif View Post
This is the Maharaja of Alwars Lanchester if I am not mistaken.

Was said to have left the country a long time ago.
Prince Jeetendra has a Lanchester still, if I'm not mistaken. My last physical sighting, and ride in it, was 17 to 20 years ago. The coachwork was possibly different from my faint recollection, but quite ornate for sure.
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