SoCultures October 2018
Take the road…
India’s love affair with automobiles is over a hundred years old. The first
automobile to be brought into India was by Mr. Forster in 1897-98 in Mumbai. Mr.
Jamsetji Tata was the first Indian to import a car in 1901. In the years that
followed, the Maharajas, Rajas, Ranas, Jams, Nawabs, Mirs and Nizams in India
acquired some of the finest cars in the world. All the great marques like Rolls –
Royce, Mercedes, Minerva, Cadillac, Packard, and Arrow etc were well
represented among many others and all a glorious part of automotive history.
The epitome of luxury, elegance and comfort, limousine, coupes, cabriolets,
landaulettes, tourers, convertibles and speedsters, became the enthralling new
passion of the fabled Maharajas. The cars were used for purposes as varied as
ceremonial processions, weddings, hunting, and tours of the state and by women in
veil or ‘purdah’. They were the symbols of prosperity, power and prestige.
Let’s appreciate the artistry, sagacity of this nostalgic, epic beauty of cars, which
contains a wealth of details to classic cars, from the veteran and vintage.
1. 1927 Rolls-Royce, Twenty, Series K, Barker Tourer, GRJ-1, W8E
Previously owned by the Nawab of Sachin, Maharashtra, later owned by Ramesh
Thakkar and then by Mr. Balaji Rao of Shri Venkateshwara Hatcheries Pune.
2. 1930 Stutz Series M, 4 Passenger Speedster, Dual Cowl, LeBaron
First owned by Captain His Highness Maharawal Sir Ranjitsinhji Mansinhji
K.C.S.I. of Baria, Gujarat, it’s a prize winning car at the 2 nd Edition of the Cartier
‘Travel with Style’ Concours d’Elegance 2011 Show in March 2011, held at New
Delhi. The 1930 Stutz also drove Michael Schumacher at the First Indian Grand
Prix F1 held on October 30, 2011 at the Buddh International Circuit, India. This
Stutz is the only surviving Stutz in India and has won the second runner-up in
Motor Cars of the Raj Class at the 68 th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on
26.08.2018.
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