HEH Nizam of Hyderabad's Rolls-Royce Throne Car

One vehicle which fit this bill at the Cartier event in New Delhi was the ultra low mileage and highly distinctive 1911 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost commissioned by His Exalted Highness Mahbub Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad. Ordered as a state limousine by the Nizam, it was entrusted to noted coachbuilder Barkers to develop a special body which was to epitomize a throne on wheels while yet retaining the regal splendor of the Nizam’s grand court. Sadly HEH Mahbub Ali Khan couldn’t get to see or be driven in this exquisite automobile for he passed away in August 1911 before the car was delivered.

His successor got the car in 1912 but it was very sparingly used and in fact legend has it that more often than not it was towed by thoroughbred horses whenever the Nizam felt inclined to go and visit someone. The car would only be fired into life once near the intended destination so as to make for a regal arrival. Ditto for the return journey and it is therefore no wonder then that this car had just under 400 miles on its odo when curator Manvendra Singh Barwani got his hands on it! For over six decades this first series Silver Ghost with its low slung bonnet line lay dormant in the Nizam’s garage until Cartier decided to get it back into shape for this year’s concours.

Manvendra Singh and his team have done a remarkable job with this car given its enormous provenance as also the fact that this was the very first state limousine ever on a Rolls-Royce! The domed roof canopy was topped off with the Dastar-i-Mubarak, a shiny gold and silver crown and below it, in the royal cabin was turned out in top quality French brocade for His Exalted Highness to savour whenever he went motoring. Not only did this grand old centurion bag top honours in its class, it also went on to take the best of show award.