Description
The advent of the automobile, with the very first ones arriving on Indian shores by the 1890s, triggered off a crazy love story—that between the rajas, the maharajas, the nawabs and a Nizam, and the horseless carriage. The arrival of the automobile changed the lifestyle of Indian royalty, and with it gave rise to an enthralling new passion that was to endure for decades. The choicest of cars with the most unusual of coachworks made their way to India to satisfy the varied tastes of the royalty. Some were ceremonial throne cars, others were hunting cars, then there were cars for wedding and state processions, and even special automobiles for the “ladies of the house” to travel in “purdah”.
Outdoing each other in terms of pomp, glamour and splendour, Indian princes and the wealthy merchant class ordered for cars specially constructed for them. For instance, a Ford Model A, a relatively “middle class” car at the time, was custom-made for a wealthy landowner in Gujarat, with silver repoussé decorative work and lace curtains. There was also the famous Swan Car of Calcutta, a 1910 Brooke with the front of the car made to look like a swan that would hiss steam from its nostrils.
Although a few books have been written on the automobiles of the maharajas, none have been comprehensive enough to include the cars from yesteryears as well as the ones that are extant today, with either the descendants of the princely families or the enthusiastic collectors of historic vehicles today in India considered to be the newer set of “maharajas”. Packed with extraordinary photography, this book brings together the most fascinating automotive jewels of princely India.
The advent of the automobile, with the very first ones arriving on Indian shores by the 1890s, triggered off a crazy love story—that between the rajas, the maharajas, the nawabs and a Nizam, and the horseless carriage. The arrival of the automobile changed the lifestyle of Indian royalty, and with it gave rise to an enthralling new passion that was to endure for decades. The choicest of cars with the most unusual of coachworks made their way to India to satisfy the varied tastes of the royalty. Some were ceremonial throne cars, others were hunting cars, then there were cars for wedding and state processions, and even special automobiles for the “ladies of the house” to travel in “purdah”.
Outdoing each other in terms of pomp, glamour and splendour, Indian princes and the wealthy merchant class ordered for cars specially constructed for them. For instance, a Ford Model A, a relatively “middle class” car at the time, was custom-made for a wealthy landowner in Gujarat, with silver repoussé decorative work and lace curtains. There was also the famous Swan Car of Calcutta, a 1910 Brooke with the front of the car made to look like a swan that would hiss steam from its nostrils.
Although a few books have been written on the automobiles of the maharajas, none have been comprehensive enough to include the cars from yesteryears as well as the ones that are extant today, with either the descendants of the princely families or the enthusiastic collectors of historic vehicles today in India considered to be the newer set of “maharajas”. Packed with extraordinary photography, this book brings together the most fascinating automotive jewels of princely India.
About the Contributors:
Gautam Sen: Founded India’s first automobile magazine Indian Auto in 1986, followed by Auto India in 1993, and the Indian editions of the German magazine Auto Motor und Sport and BBC’s Top Gear magazines. A serial concours judge and a Vice President at FIVA, he has also authored several award-winning books.
Makarand Baokar: Based in Mumbai, he is a globally acclaimed automotive photographer. He has established collaborations with leading automotive brands in India, including Volkswagen, Renault, Ford, Citroën, Chevrolet, Skoda, Hyundai, and Lamborghini. Baokar has also partnered with Gautam Sen on numerous book projects.
Vrutika Doshi: Has more than eight years of dedicated experience in the Indian automotive world, capturing images of cars, motorcycles, and individuals. She has photographed some of India’s most exceptional historic vehicle collections, and her photography has been part of several prestigious publications, including Auto India, deRivas & Ives, and Italy Magazine.
