[wasif]

Originally Posted by IndrojitSircar

Tell me something karl,is importing a right hand drive car allowed in the US?

Yes you can import any car into the US. Plenty of RHD cars exist there.

Going by the known good taste of teh Holfar family I am sure this must have been with them as it is one of the best looking Bentleys of that time.

[wasif]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A stylish 1954 Bentley R Type Continental (Chassis BC10C) is offered for sale, reportedly ex Holkar. The car is reported to have always been in the US, and now UK.

Bentley R Type Continental BC10C

Attachment 223876
Attachment 223877

Hey Karl.

There is a reference to this car in Manvendra's book where they are discussing the Holkar cars.

It is stated that this Continental was in his Santa Ana house and was used exclusively in the US.

[bentleyrob]

Oddly enough right hand drive, car was originally ordered for a Swiss customer. Manual gearbox. Ordered in Velvet Green. Grey hide. Lightweight seats. Car chassis was completed 21 April 1953, completed car 28 October 1953. Later resprayed Ivory, then Heather Green.

Direct sale by Bentley Motors to H.H. the Maharajah of Indore (Sir Yeshwant Rao Holker). Shipped to Los Angeles, delivered 4 April 1954.
Car passed to the Maharani when Maharajah died. She remarried. Later the car went to her sister. Car was only used in the USA. First time sold in USA outside family in 1978. Recently sold to Real Car Company, then first time in the UK.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by bentleyrob

Direct sale by Bentley Motors to H.H. the Maharajah of Indore (Sir Yeshwant Rao Holker). Shipped to Los Angeles, delivered 4 April 1954.
Car passed to the Maharani when Maharajah died. She remarried. Later the car went to her sister. Car was only used in the USA. First time sold in USA outside family in 1978. Recently sold to Real Car Company, then first time in the UK.

Thanks for that detailed reply. Would you have access to any period pictures of the car?

[wasif]

Here is a pic of the famous Holkar Bentley.

This car was offered for sale to me and this pictue was given around the close of the last century for 6.5 L.

Is this car still in India now and if so who owns it.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by wasif

Here is a pic of the famous Holkar Bentley.

This car was offered for sale to me and this pictue was given around the close of the last century for 6.5 L.

Is this car still in India now and if so who owns it.

A most striking looking car - one of the smartest Bentleys we had around. Gurney Nutting coachwork I think. The art deco badge in the centre I think is "Y H" for Yeshwantrao Holkar. Last I heard it left India, but no confirmation or further details.

[wasif]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A most striking looking car - one of the smartest Bentleys we had around. Gurney Nutting coachwork I think. The art deco badge in the centre I think is "Y H" for Yeshwantrao Holkar. Last I heard it left India, but no confirmation or further details.

What a shame ! This car was in India till the end of the nineties and then to learn that it was whisked away abroad is indeed a great loss to India.

Any details on how this was accomplished and where the car might be now.

Harit seems to think it is lying in some embassy in Delhi.

[travancore]

Here are the two identical Holkar Cars by Gurney Nutting (fraternal twins ????) The Hispano is also posted on the Gurney Nutting Thread. The PIII picture is courtesy Steve Stuckey in R-R in India Thread.

Hispano Suiza (immediately below) photo courtesy of (currently for sale):
Ross Classic: Hispano Suiza J12 Once Owned by Maharaja of Indore - For Sale

Also check out the picture on the site of the car being towed in India. The photographs in "Autos of the Maharajas" identifies this car as a "Bentley"

[harit]

Originally Posted by travancore

Here are the two identical Holkar Cars by Gurney Nutting (fraternal twins ????) The Hispano is also posted on the Gurney Nutting Thread. The PIII picture is courtesy Steve Stuckey in R-R in India Thread.

Hispano Suiza (immediately below) photo courtesy of (currently for sale):
Ross Classic: Hispano Suiza J12 Once Owned by Maharaja of Indore - For Sale

Also check out the picture on the site of the car being towed in India. The photographs in "Autos of the Maharajas" identifies this car as a "Bentley"

The story of a great icon car of India now lost. This car was offered for sale sometime in the 1960's for around Rs 5000/-. The car had some connection to Dhadajee Dhakjee, either they were selling it or they were just storing it. Sometime later it became the joint property of Kotak and Sethna, the collector and the Apex Garage person. The car was lying for ages on Siri road at Chowpatti band stand near Kotak residence. Then it went to their bungalow in Lonawala, from there it went to Pune near the relocated workshop of Mr. Sthna and was lying to rot. From there this car was taken out probably dismantled, and not officially. For a long time I was told that it was lying with Blackhawk, but when I went to their site the car was not shown.
This is probably one of only two V12 Hispanos which came to India, the other was a Baroda car which at one time was owned by Mr. Cama of Ahmedabad and he sold it. That car is also abroad. As far as I know that car went before the export ban.
This Hispano has major mechanical issues. On one instance they tried to start her by rolling down a slope and engaging the gear, and the engine was destroyed, breaking the cam shaft or crankshaft.
The big question is, how did this car go out of India, she was in India atleast till 1990's. The tow truck is the later generation of Tata truck model which was introduced after the export ban. This towing is very likely to have been in Pune, does any Pune-ite recognise the building in the background? And save these pictures, they may be removed later on. And, is anyone to take up and follow up this question? Who took her out and how?
Nice find Travancore!!

Cheers harit

[wasif]

This is indeed a shame...who could have had the heart to let such a noble car deteriorate to this extent.

How it left India is someting to eb looked into.

Funny how all the Holkar cars look like left Indian under mysterious cicrumstances well after the ban was enforced.

The pic of the car being towed also needs to be put up here for posterity.

That design of the rear door which is pillarless at the rear is very interesting

[harit]

Have a look at the following links,

Pre War Car: All about Antique, Vintage, Prewar Cars and For Sale

A Hispano dressed in Tiger Skins PhotoZoom - PreWarCar.com

Now we know who owns her. And the car was "discovered" 25 years ago. I have already sent them some info similar to the post above.

Cheers harit

P.S. Any club or group of members interested to buy her jointly?

[wasif]

Below is an article with some pictures of the amazing Holkar Alfa 8C 2900

It appears it was one of only six such "road racers" on the short "Corto" chassis with Touring Spider coachwork.

Chassis: 412019

Chassis 412019 was the sixth and final short wheelbase 8C 2900B to receive the Touring Spider coachwork. Its first owner was the Maharajah of Indore, who took delivery of the car in London in 1938. Under his ownership, the Alfa Romeo was used in the United States and in the Maharajah's native India. In 1950 the car was acquired by an Australian working in Bombay. He brought the Touring Spider to Sydney and used it extensively in the following years both on the road and on tracks like Bathurst. He sold the car on in 1958 but it remained in Australia until 1969.

The 8C 2900B passed through various hands and was even raced in vintage events on tracks like Mosport and Watkins Glen. In the following years chassis 412019 was owned by noted collectors like Bill Serri and Ralph Lauren. The former had the car fully restored and showed at Pebble Beach in 1985 while the latter sold the car to the current owner in 2004. He immediately sent the Touring Spider to Wayne Obry, who carefully restored the car. The work was completed in time for the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Alfa Romeo was the featured marque. Here it was received the 'Best in Class' award in the special 8C 2900 class. (Source: The Immortal 2.9, by Simon Moore)

[travancore]

Originally Posted by wasif

The work was completed in time for the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where Alfa Romeo was the featured marque. Here it was received the 'Best in Class' award in the special 8C 2900 class. (Source: The Immortal 2.9, by Simon Moore)

Wasif, does the book "The Immortal 2.9" also show / describe the other 8C- 2900B owned by the Holkar ? Does it look anything like the picture in Post #1 of this thread (car with perforated rear wheel spats) ? Cheers

[wasif]

Originally Posted by travancore

Wasif, does the book "The Immortal 2.9" also show / describe the other 8C- 2900B owned by the Holkar ? Does it look anything like the picture in Post #1 of this thread (car with perforated rear wheel spats) ? Cheers

I don't have a copy of that book.

What I posted was from the link below.

1937 - 1938 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Corto Touring Spider - Images, Specifications and Information

If you look at the link teh car you described with teh perforated rear wheel spats is also mentioned but its ownership doesn't have any Holkar connections

[kasli]

This car also should feature here. now that it is for sale