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Rolls-Royce 1934 for the Maharaja of Rajkot iThe Telegrap |
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Rolls-Royce built in 1934 'Star of India' VCCCI |
Even today the love for this high quality RR car has not come down in India. Many of the descendants of erstwhile rulers own RR, so are the privileged connoisseurs and people with real taste. Loaded with money, they want to stand apart in the society - a legacy they inherited from the colonial colors. Since the Indian economy has been booming in the past decade, the demand for RR in India is quite encouraging.
Do you know the costliest car in the world in the 1930s? It was the heritage custom-built RR car ("1934 Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental "All-Weather Convertible") called the Star of India owned by the late Maharajah of Rajkot (Gujarat) Dharmendra Sinhji Lakhajiraj in 1934. In 1968, it was sold to Bill Meredith-Owens, a British collector of vintage cars.
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Rolls-Royce 1934 for the Maharaja of RajkotIndian Cars Bikes |
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Star of India. Interior RR 1934 dailymail.co. |
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Crest of Rajkot, RR 1934 dailymail.co.u |
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Rajcot scion & RR car Star of India rediff.com |
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Dash board, Rolls-Royce 1934 dailymail.co. |
The star of India. once billed as the costliest car in the world is steeped in history. Many dignitaries traveled in this including Mahatma Gandhi and the Queen of England. Yet another specialty about this car is “it was the last design by Henry Royce", before he passed away in 1933. The car with the British registration RRR65 was a major attraction at the museum at Stafford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire.
This 1932 custom built RR car returned to its earliest home, Ranjit Vilas palace,Rajkot after a hiatus 42 years in exile (after 1965). Shri Mandhata sinhji Jadeja, acquired the Star of India for €644,000 at the 2010 RM Sotheby’s Monaco auction.
It was part of well-known Rolls-Royce collector Hans-Gunther Zach's private collection, the luxury car was expected to fetch a bundle for him and bids for the RR were invited by Zach's Rolls-Royce museum in Muhlheim in Germany until September 15. When sold, the sale of 1934 Phantom overshot the then highest bidding for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that fetched in the May auction for £7.2 million.
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Prince Jadeja of Rajkot acquired RR 1934 in 2010.obbreport.com |
Tit-Bits:
01. Year: 1939: Former owner: Ex-Maharajah of Jodhpur. One of the last cars exported out of Britain before all its efforts were redirected towards winning the Second World War.
02. The game of pomp and personal oddity among India’s royalty began with maharaja Patiala who had a big harem and vast costly jewelry collections. When he bought a French-made De Dion-Bouton in 1892, to establish his individuality, he had a registration number plate of “0”.
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Maharajah Jai Singh of Alwar. WowGK |
"It has always been a mystery to me how men can feel themselves honored by the humiliation of their fellow beings ” – Mahatma Gandhi
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-1212517/Live-like-Maharajah-soon-worlds-expensive-car.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/4193893/Bejewelled-carriageways.html
http://robbreport.com/motors/cars/the-marque-of-the-