Car & Classic Verified Dealer

Vintage & Prestige Fine Motorcars

Viewing by Appointment Only Northampton

1923 MAHARAJAH OF GWALIOR ROLLS ROYCE 20HP BARKER ALL WEATHE For Sale

1923 Maharajah of Gwalior Rolls Royce 20hp Barker All weather Cabriolet

Chassis Number: 71A6

Registration Number: EL1017

The best of the best. This car was ordered new by The Maharajah of Gwailor & was shipped to India in 1923. In 1928 he sold it to the Nirzam of Hyderbad, reputedly the richest man in India at the time. It was fitted when new with the current coachwork by Barker (Body Number 5055) taking the form of a very versatile all weather cabriolet: about the most expensive coachwork available at that time. Being an early car it has the 3 speed centre change gear box & rounded radiator edges.

The car comes to us with a massive history & impeccable provenance including a hand written letter from the son of The Nirzam of Hyderbad recounting his memories of taking the car Tiger hunting back in the day & also driving it along the edges of rice paddies whilst hunting snipe & waterfowl.

The exterior paint is Dark Green over Black & in fine order. To the interior is dark green lightly patinated leather with the roof being lined in West of England cloth. The wind up division has angled windows & makes the front cabin quite snug when driving with the roof down.

From the history file we glean the following:

THE PRINCE'S "BABY ROLLS'

71A6 is an early 1923 2Ohp with original Barker cabriolet body. The first owner was the Maharajah of
Gwalior and the car remained in India until 1967. In 1928 the car was given to H. H. of Gwalior when
she bore a son: Prince Nawab Habeeb Jung the Ameer of Paigah of Hyderabad'. The prince and his
family affectionately referred to the car as our Baby Rolls as it stood alongside a 1925 Silver Ghost
seven-seater tourer, later sold to Bill Meredith Owens and in which Her Majesty the Queen rode
during Jubilee year.

The above information was gleaned from a letter the Prince senf to a previous owner and I quote:
"l've taken this car into the jungle on Tiger Shoots and chased buck across country. She went
through paddy fields on snipe and duck shoots.'.
I purchased the car in London in July 1980. The run home to Wiltshire down the M4 proved that
Perhaps the brakes needed attention, although a new MOT came with the car! Temporary
adjustments were made until the brake system was completely overhauled during the 1980/ 81
winter.

Although basically sound, both mechanically and bodily, much work was needed to restore
the car to her former glory.
Front wheel hubs, gearbox and clutch have received attention and the car runs much smoother
with taut spokes. When purchased, neither the windows~ the split windscreen or the three part
centre division operated correctly. After attention to window mechanisms and with new safety glass
all round, another job was done. Door hanging has been adjusted and new hood frames made. A
visit to Cirencester Park in pouring rain, with the afternoon spent catching drips (torrents in bowls
etc), quickly convinced me that new hooding might ease frustration!
Resplendent with new hood and most brightwork renicke!led 71A6 now looks very elegant. The
radiused front edge to the radiator and the scuttle mounted Stephen Grebe! tiger tights are unusual,
likewise the silver faced instruments with nickel bezels as per original order card.

Most mechanical and bodywork has been carried out by Ashton Keynes Vintage Restorations, and Tony Cobum of Blunsdon, Swindon, was responsible for trimming; first class workmanship as usual.

More recently the engine has had a full rebulid wich new pistons, a reground crank & new big & little ends along with a new aluminium cylinder head. A new clutch has just been fitted. As a result the car runs beautifully in perfect silence with oil pressure at 28 PSI even when hot & the temperature gauge never reading over 80 degrees even on long climbs in hot weather. The car runs readily at 45 to 50MPH up hill & down dale.

This is a rare opportunity to purchase what is possibly the best 20HP we have had the pleasure to handle with the added bonus of being a Maharajas car that escaped from India prior to the ban on exports coming into place from that country. It abounds with period details & is in superb order needing nothing having been supplied to the current onwer by the brothers P & A Wood & having covered a scant few miles since then.

There are huge & meticulous bills from Ashton Keynes restoration for a massive refurbishment of the car undertaken upon its return to these shores from India in the 1980's. An interesting Magazine article about Princess Ezra, The Nirzams descendent comes with the car, detailing her restoration of the Nirzams Chowmahalla Palace & having to deal with the Nirzams 42 elderly concubines who were still in residence when she took over the running of the palace.

Call Richard Biddulph. Mobile ++44 (0) the details below

Simone Della Corte Mobile ++44 (0) the details below

Sales & Valuations

Vintage & Prestige of Northampton Ltd.

using the button below

- details above

Showroom:

2 Ryehill Ct, Lodge Farm Industrial Estate, Northampton NN5 7UA

Service & Trim:Unit 29, Globe Industrial Estate. Grays Essex, RM176ST

Viewings & Visits Strictly by appointment only please. We have on site long term storage for over 200 cars with 24 hour security & covered trailer delivery to customers anywhere in Europe.

This advert has now been removed through sale or otherwise.
Please see the list below for similar live adverts.

Similar Adverts

For your consideration from a deceased estate is a Rolls Royce Silver Spur 6.7 Auto registered 9.6.1982 Showing 114,000 miles. Mot expired 26th May 2015. Finished in Metallic Blue complimented with Sand Beige leather upholstery. With all good intentions the previous keeper garaged the Rolls Royce, but due to ill ...

114,000
24 Feb 2024
Wales
Private

Wonderful 1970 Rolls Royce Silver Shadow 1 Presented in a lovely grey paint with the original red leather inside Drives very well indeed….. Recent expenditure of almost £8000 on the brake and suspension system and an engine service…. Lovely old rolls…recent carpet coverings front and rear inc footrests and ...

96,300
20 Mar 2024
Kent
Private

1928 Rolls Royce 20hp Weyman Saloon. Chassis number: GYL49 Registration Number: IJ8851 Probably the Best driving 20hp I have ever had the pleasure of taking down the road. GLY79 has been in the custody of a retired railway engineer for decades. During this time he has exhaustively gone though the car rebuilding ...

70,726
24 Mar 2024
Northamptonshire
Verified Dealer (see stock)

1968 Rolls Royce silver Shadow look off road higer suspension all original car very cheap car, this work was very expensive car located in Portugal, on Portugues plates perfect car for a farmer or beach house i will help shipping worldwide<br><br>

70,000
16 Feb 2024
Portugal
Private

This is a rare opportunity to acquire a stunning 1930 Rolls Royce Phantom 2 Cabriolet by Kitchener & Woodiwiss. Having been originally delivered to France and then owned by several collectors. The cabriolet bodywork by Kitchener & Woodiwiss is elegant and refined, with a spacious interior and a folding roof. The engine ...

14 Feb 2024
West Midlands
Private

A Super Low-Mileage Example Of Rolls-Royces Lesser-Known Luxury Saloon, The Silver Seraph. Under The Bonnet Sits A 5.4-Litre BMW V12, Which Sends 322bhp To The Rear Wheels Via A Smooth Five-Speed ZF Automatic Transmission. This Vehicle Was First Registered In August 1998 And In Total, Only 1,570 Examples Of The Silver ...

26,000
11 Mar 2024
Essex
Verified Dealer (see stock)

Early silver spirit in a rare lovely colour,with all the original features working correctly,the car is in very good condition throughout with recent new avon whitewall tyres ( as original factory specification) and recent service ,wood door cappings revarnished.the paintwork has been ceramic coated and the origunal cassette ...

68,000
10 Mar 2024
Essex
Private

A beautiful drive. Smooth running and starts up immediately. Has been in storage conditions for 10 years and given regular run outs. Full MOT and service history as well as factory build record Bought from a small classic car dealer 10 years ago as a treat and now looking to replace Inside condition is excellent with ...

102,000
21 Feb 2024
Yorkshire
Private

The last of the Big Six models and widely considered the finest achievement of the master, Sir F.H. Royce. The chassis card accompanies the history file and shows this magnificent PII with coachwork by Hooper & Co Ltd to have been sold by Car Mart Ltd of Park Lane in October 1929, at a cost of £2,586, to a Mrs E F Mayers ...

8 Mar 2024
Shropshire

White 1982 Vintage Rolls Royce Silver Spirit. The car starts and drives beautifully, has low mileage, the interior is in great condition and is a great project for the right person as requires some body work. A lovely car to enjoy and has been in our family for decades, selling due to health reasons. Open to ...

61,175
3 Mar 2024
Cumbria
Private

RR CORNICHE COUPE 1971. PURCHASED IN THE USA IN GOOD GENERAL CONDITION<br><br>THE CAR RUNS WELL BUT NEEDS A MECHANICAL SERVICE BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN STOPPED FOR 4 YEARS. THE BRAKES WORK WELL AND THE GEARBOX TOO NEEDS SOME COSMETIC TOUCH-UPS<br><br>

60,000
17 Feb 2024
Spain
Private

1929 Rolls Royce 20 HP Coupe I have decided to sell my Rolls Royce, it’s a car I bought for myself although i am a classic car dealer. I have only decided to sell because I have purchased a 1935 Derby Bentley that I’m currently renovating, pictures attached. It’s a good opportunity to purchase a fabulous 1929 ...

16 Feb 2024
Essex