Rolls Royce
40-50 HP
("Phantom II")

Model 1934
Chassis No. 181 RY
Engine No. TT 65
Coach Work by Windovers London

Looking Back
One hundred years ago, in 1904, a motor car enthusiast Charles Rolls and a well known engineer named Henry Royce met at the Midland hotel in Manchester, England. Royce agreed to manufacture a range of cars, which would be sold exclusively by Rolls. In 1906, the Rolls Royce Company launched the "Silver Ghost". This six-cylinder luxury car was soon voted "BEST CAR IN THE WORLD". It could handle rough, hilly terrain without any trouble and its engine was whisper smooth.
Subsequently, Rolls Royce has gone on to become a world-renowned manufacturer not only of cars, but also of aircraft engines both for military and civil aircraft's.

A car fit for kings
Rolls Royce was the preferred car for Indian Royalty between 1907 and 1947. A total of 36000 Rolls Royce were produced in Britain out of which 1000 were exported to India.
The craze for the Luxury Car started in 1908 when the Maharaja of Gwalior bought a Rolls Royce that won the Bombay-Kolhapur rally. Soon it became a status symbol. The Maharaja of Patiala owned 38 and Nawanagar had a garage that could hold 450 cars, including 8 Rolls Royce. The Nizam of Hyderabad, one of the world's richest men, had 50 Rolls Royce. In Baroda, the Maharaja had the interior of his Rolls Royce plated with 24-carat gold and fitted with solid silver door handles. A number of Rolls Royce's were also adapted to serve on 'Shikaar' (Hunting). These had footboards on which servants could stand as the car

raced through the jungle and were fitted with a high power 'Shooting Lamp' to dazzle the animals.
The House of Mewar once owned a fleet of six Rolls Royce's and presently has 4 Rolls Royce. These are a 1924 model 20hp, 1930-31 model 25hp, the 1934 model 'Phantom II' 40-50hp and a 1934 model 25hp and can be seen at the Vintage and Classic Car Collection.
Amongst all four models, the 1934 'Phantom II' 40-50hp is considered to be the most prized in the Rolls Royce family of cars. The car is still in immaculate condition and has undergone restoration work including rewiring and clutch related work. The task of complete rewiring was an immense challenge for all concerned and involved procuring original wires with specific colour coding and working precisely to a diagram obtained from Rolls Royce in the UK.
The wiring featuring a special cotton coating was obtained from Hoffman's of Henley, in the UK who also provided technical support for the renovation work.
The Phantom II has a chassis lubrication system operated by a foot pump inside the car so the driver can lubricate the chassis whilst it is being driven.
The Rolls Royce Phantom II 181 RY was used in the James Bond film “Octopussy” which was largely filmed in Udaipur.

Rolls-Royce special tools