science and technology news: Visit The Cartier Travel With Style Classic Car

Friday, February 8, 2013

Visit The Cartier Travel With Style Classic Car - Mumbai Boss

Ah, maharajahs and their whims. To be like them was to embody a life of over-the-top shenanigans that ended perhaps a touch too soon. You can revel in their eccentric, expensive and visionary imaginings at the Cartier Travel With Style Concours D?Elegance, a gathering of 60-odd vintage cars, many of them belonging to royalty of yore, at the Taj Lands End on Sunday, February 10. Curated by fellow royal and auto expert Manvendra Singh of Barwani and organised by Mark Shand (aka brother to Camilla aka the Duchess of Cornwall), the last edition of this show was last held in Mumbai in 2008. Along with cars dating back to 1919, you can see post-war classics from America and Europe, ?heritage class? cars produced in India just after Independence, shikar cars (meant for hunting), roadsters, and for the first time, motorcycles dating from the pre- and post-war period. ?We wanted this to highlight India?s unique automotive heritage and culture,? says Singh, who co-authored Automobiles of the Maharajas along with Sharada Dwivedi. Perhaps most expressive of this creativity were the cars belonging to maharajahs that were appropriately modified to suit their very specific needs. The maharajah of Mysore, for instance, used his Rolls-Royce to transport the idol of goddess Chamunda during festivals, even switching out the leather upholstery for more cow-friendly velvet as a sign of respect. Others had their windows blacked out to allow ladies to travel discreetly, while the maharajah of Bikaner had the railway department lop off the top off his Buick, all the better from which to go grouse hunting. ?Back then autos were changed to suit our purposes,? Singh says. ?There?s a lesson to be learnt for new manufacturers today.??To register for the event, email rsvpcartier.vty@gmail.com.