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Of Rolls-Royce and Indian royal families

Last updated on: July 9, 2010 14:34 IST

India is a land of diversity. There are many strange folk tales and stories connected to the Indian royal families. Our illustrious erstwhile royals have been a part of numerous tales that entertain generations.

The obsession of the royal families for expensive things and their crazy spending habits are funny stories for the present generation. Their fancy for big, expensive cars too is well known.

Between 1907 and 1947, around 900 Rolls-Royce cars made their way to India. Most of these cars have very interesting stories linked with them. Some of them are outrageous, others funny.

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Royal familes and Rolls-Royce

Last updated on: July 9, 2010 14:34 IST

One such story is related to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. He got furious with the Rolls-Royce company's refusal to accept his order for a brand new Rolls Royce in 1930.

In retaliation the Maharaja ordered to put his old Rolls-Royce cars to pick up garbage, dung and filth in Patiala city.

The British ruling establishment forced Rolls-Royce to quickly adhere to the Maharaja's request.

Another story is about Maharaja of Bharatpur. He always bought three automobiles at the same time. Once Rolls-Royce company denied him mechanics to fix faults in his old cars.

Like the Maharaja of Patila he issued a threat to convert his cars into garbage carriers. The car-maker promptly sent a group of mechanics to Bharatpur to sort out the faults.

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Royal familes and Rolls-Royce

Last updated on: July 9, 2010 14:34 IST

Another Maharaja of Patiala bought an entire consignment of 50 Rolls-Royce cars and turned them into garbage trucks to avenge being snubbed by snooty British salesmen in the United Kingdom. The story made headlines in an English papers, with pictures.

Later, the company had to send its representatives to Patiala to rectify the error of the cars.

Another Rolls-Royce was converted into a garbage carrier by Maharaja Jay Singh of Alwar when he was told by a Rolls-Royce salesman that he could not afford a new model.

He purchased 10 cars and got them shipped home. Later, he tore their roofs off and used them as garbage colleting vehicles.

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Royal familes and Rolls-Royce

Last updated on: July 9, 2010 14:34 IST

The Maharaja of Mysore always purchased Rolls-Royce cars in sevens. The company lore calls it 'doing a Mysore'.

Another interesting story connected with Maharaja of Jamnagar. He had sent his Maharani's pink slipper so that his Phantom II could have exactly the colour he wanted.

The Rolls-Royce owned by Maharani Sethu Parvati Bai of Travancore in 1933 had a small stool on the floor where a dwarf used to sit and massage the queen's legs remaining invisible to people around.