Rolls-Royce Star of India to go on auction for €10,000,000
1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Star of India - click above image for high-res gallery
As if the adventures of Bernie Madoff weren't enough to convince you that we're living in the new Jazz Age, this might: A very custom, one-off 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental, known in high Roller circles as the Star of India, is being put on auction for the seriously astronomical price of ten million Euros. That's one Porsche Turbo over fourteen million Yankee dollars to you and me. Originally bodied by Thrupp & Maberly for the Maharaja of Rajkot, the Star of India has spent the last few decades in the private collection of Hans-Günther Zach at his Mühlheim/Main Rolls-Royce museum.
There's no indication if Herr Zach is feeling the pinch of the world wide economic meltdown -- or if he's just moving on to greener pastures -- but his entire collection is up for grabs. While there's no doubt other impressive cars up for sale (like the 1926 "Aluminum Sculpture" Phantom I Open Tourer) the star is without question the Star. Never mind the royal pedigree, how can you get past the aluminum on orange carriage work?
Should it sell for its asking price, the 7.7-liter pushrod straight-six Rolls equipped with two additional headlights to follow the path of the steering (fourteen headlights total), would be the most expensive car in the world. After all, rumors of the Japanese man that reportedly paid $15,000,000 for a Ferrari 250 GTO before Japan's economy imploded in the late 1980s have never been proved. Happy bidding. Thanks to Reddy for the tip!
Gallery: Rolls-Royce Phantom II Star of India
[Source: Born Rich]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
UCJR 6:48PM (8/07/2009)
I'm a total dork for making this connection, but it looks like the Naboo Starfighters in Star Wars: Episode 1. I remember that the Naboo(ians? -ites?) clad their royal starships in all chrome, and the support craft in partial chrome.
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gefinley 7:04PM (8/07/2009)
I don't know, I'm pretty dorky for knowing that they were just called the Naboo.
2004m3driver 6:54PM (8/07/2009)
Wow so directional headlamps that follow the steering was invented that long ago! And here I am thinking Lexus was innovative.
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Tony 7:12PM (8/07/2009)
A number of cars have had this feature over the years, one of the more famous was the Citroen DS which also had a hydraulic suspension allowing the vehicle to travel on only three wheels if necessary. One of my all time favourite cars. Having your headlamps move in tandem with the steering was for many years not allowed in North America due to the "We didn't invent it, so we won't use it" ideology of the U.S. Look at how long it took for the government to allow flush smooth European headlamps in N.A. This also applies to wood screws. Up here in Canada we have the Robertson screw which has a square recess in the head. A screw can be a-fixed to the screw driver and held horizontally without falling off. It has a far superior driving capability without stripping over slotted or Phillips screws but the U.S has never adopted this screw, why?
Brian 7:22PM (8/07/2009)
Also the 1948 Tucker.
Tony, the Robertson screw can be found in any hardware store here in the US. Where on earth did you get the idea that it wasn't used here?
P B 11:39PM (8/07/2009)
Robertson refused to license his screw design to Henry Ford to produce and use in his factories. I think we can safely say the rest is history after that.
cool_ozzyfromkalush 7:05PM (8/07/2009)
No offence but who would pay 10'000'000 euros for this...
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Judy Zik 10:33PM (8/07/2009)
Agreed. The sight of it would make me vomit. Don't at all see the attraction. Gaudy beyond belief. Thanks but no thanks.
Franz 7:09PM (8/07/2009)
Fourteen headlights?
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moop 7:11PM (8/07/2009)
talking about the world's most expensive car, aren't you forgetting a certain Bugatti Royale?
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drumhurrin 8:01PM (8/07/2009)
I have seen this car in person. It is stunning and other than the earliest Silver Ghost, perhaps the most famous Roller extant.
In the early 1980s it was on display at the Statford Upon Avon Motor Museum. Yes, in that same town where that Bill Shakespeare dude was born.
It was probably 12£ ($20+/-) or so each to visit Shakespeare's house or the Globe Theater -- I can't remember which. Way too rich for our blood. So we checked out the car museum. As a kid I think I only needed to pay 35 pence or so for a photo permit. Far better choice.
As strange as it sounds, checking out this car and a Bugatti in that museum was a big part of me becoming a car guy.
I usually don't envy the super rich, but I do today. Anyone got a spare $15,000,000 laying around?
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FanboyOfTheTruth 8:25PM (8/07/2009)
So... does it qualify for cash for clunkers?
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Quattro 12:36AM (8/08/2009)
^ that's absolutely hilarious haha
Venom 12:56AM (8/08/2009)
I love cars to death and I appreciate history and all but $15 million for a car is ridiculous.
You could buy a magnificent mansion anywhere for that or even a great yacht and a plane to go different places.
This car just makes no sense.
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Swede 5:20AM (8/08/2009)
I'm quite confident the prospective buyer of this automobile already have at least one magnificient mansion, a yacht and a plane.
Aloysius Vampa 7:18AM (8/08/2009)
Yeah, but what's its 'Ring time?
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Evan 8:44AM (8/08/2009)
A Honda has more luxury! Just look at the thin backs on those seats and the floor mats in the driver's foot-well, not exactly plush and well trimmed.
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Jason 9:47AM (8/08/2009)
Where are the pedals?
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Riddhish 12:16PM (8/08/2009)
Finally I see Rajkot in the Autoblog Post, And I am Rajkot, thanks Autoblog for the post.
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riddhish ruparelia 12:17PM (8/08/2009)
* Meant to say I am from Rajkot
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