The Cartier Concours d’Elegance event that took place in Mumbai in November 2008 was quite definitely a historic moment in the history of Indian motoring. Never before had India seen such a magnificent classic car show. While it was known that India has a rich history of automobiles, the show was an eye-opener about the extent of this rich heritage. Sixty of the most rare and historically significant cars were on display, many being shown in public for the first time ever.
Among this very select set was the House of Mewar’s Rolls-Royce 20 HP bearing chassis number GLK 21.
All the cars were handpicked and their owners invited by renowned automotive historian and curator of the show, Manvendra Singh Barwani. With numbers limited to only 60, choosing the cream of the crop was obviously a difficult task. The cars assembled for the show were some of the rarest cars not only in India but also in the world.
Given all this, the fact that RR GLK 21 was there was no small feat. What’s even more amazing is that RR GLK 21, the once forgotten 1924 Rolls-Royce 20 HP of Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, won the ‘Best of Class’ prize in the Classic Class category. Shriji’s vision and commitment in restoring and resurrecting RR GLK 21 had been proved right, and what’s more, RR GLK 21 now had a very prestigious award to show for it.
At this event, there was also a category for Indian re-bodied cars according to the somewhat unique requirements of their princely owners. Two other Rolls-Royces of Mewar were participating in this category. One being a Rolls-Royce with a body specially made to carry the Udaipur state cricket team. The other that also took the top honours in this category was another 20 HP Rolls-Royce—with hand controls, built for the late Maharana Bhupal Singh, who was paralysed waist down after an attack of tuberculosis at the age of 16.