Vadodara, Jan 6: A rare 1922 Daimler originally owned by the then Maharaja of Mysore, a 1937 Rolls Royce limousine that was custom-built for a Maharani of Baroda and other rare vintage cars will bask in restored glory for three days in the premises of a royal palace here starting Friday.
Over 200 automobiles of yesteryears, some of which have undergone painstaking restoration in the last few years, went on display in the Vedant lawns and golf course of the 19th century Lukshmi Vilas Palace – the royal home of erstwhile Baroda State in Vadodara – as part of a grand car show.
Rajmata of Baroda Shubhanginiraje Gaekwad took a short ride in the 1922 Daimler, originally built for the Mysore royals, fitted with their royal insignia in the front and a metal peacock that sits over the bonnet.
The titular king and queen of the erstwhile royal family Samarjitsinh Gaekwad and Radhikaraje Gaekwad sat in a light grey car labelled ‘Baroda 1’ car, in the palace premises, before the Rajmata formally inaugurated the event – 21 Gun Salute Concours d’Elegance. “The car in which the Baroda king, queen and their daughter took a ride is a 1938 Rolls-Royce 25/30. For the first time in motoring history, the Maharaja cars of Baroda are also on display as part of the show which has participants from all corners of India, besides the jury members and international guests,” a spokesperson of the organisers said.
Other vintage cars that originally belonged to the Baroda State, which are part of the display, include a Wolseley (‘Baroda 45’), an old car labelled ‘Baroda 23’, a 1948 Bentley Marc VI (‘Baroda 2’) and a 1937 Rolls Royce Phantom III in mauve, light purple and white colours combination.
“This 1937 beauty is a Maharani car, as it was custom-built for Maharani Chimnabai of Baroda, who took a personal interest in its details. The car was sent from England to a coach-building firm in France before being shipped to India,” said Delhi-based Asheesh Jain, who currently owns it.
“This graceful beauty was also featured in the Hindi film Shatranj (1956) starring Ashok Kumar. I am proud to have this car,” he told a group of reporters, as he waited for the jury to assess his car. (PTI)
