Owner Yashwardhan Ruia restored the dilapidated car to its original glory.
The Silver Wraith Rolls Royce given by Queen Elizabeth to the last Viceory of India, Lord Mountbatten, and later used by several prime ministers, presidents of India and foreign heads, will run at the vintage car rally in Mumbai on Sunday.
Besides this, the Hudson Phaeton 1933, a seven-seater and eight-cylinder vehicle, the only such surviving car in the world, will also be a part of the annual rally organised by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India.
“The Silver Wraith Rolls Royce is of great historical significance. It was given by Queen Elizabeth to her last Viceroy in India, Lord Mountbatten. Later, it was handed over to the Government of India by Mountbatten on India’s Independence to become the state car of the government,’’ Nitin Dossa, president of the VCCCI said.
‘’It was also used by the first president of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad, prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri and has also serviced foreign heads of state like the Shah of Iran, Jinnah and the likes, on their visit to India. The Government of India used the Rolls till late 1960s,’’ he added.
‘’It was secured by the present owner Yashwardhan Ruia in a dilapidated condition and has been restored to its original glory. Post-restoration, the car will now participate in the VCCCI Rally 2012,” he said.
We have received more than 140 applications so far. The vintage fiesta, to be held on March 4 at Horniman Circle, where more than 100 rare cars and motorcycles will be participating. The run will be in Mumbai for around 50 kms,’’ he added.
The first car rally in the country was held in the late 1920s. Today, the tradition has been maintained by the Vintage and Classic Car Club of India. The club regularly organises car rallies and exhibitions all over the country.
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