- A 1925 Rolls-Royce New Phantom Torpedo Sports Tourer, better known as the ex-Maharaja of Kotah's "Tiger Car," heads for auction during Pebble Beach Car Week later in August.
- The antique car, complete with a hand-cranked machine gun, cannon and rifle stand, is expected to fetch upwards of $1 million, according to Bonhams auction house.
- The one-of-a-kind car was equipped for hunting Bengal tigers and other wild game.
SAN FRANCISCO — A custom 1925 Rolls-Royce New Phantom made to hunt Bengal tigers and equipped with a hand-cranked machine gun will cross the auction block August 18-19 during Pebble Beach Car Week, according to Bonhams auction house.
It is known among collectors as the ex-Maharaja of Kotah's "Tiger Car."
The antique car features a Lantaka cannon mounted to the rear bumper that serves as an elephant gun, a rifle stand and two large searchlights used to locate and startle big game. A nickel-plated horn in the form of a snake adds to the ambience. Other onboard firearms include a "Howdah" gun — a large-caliber short-range firearm said to be "useful for repelling beasts bent on attacking the car's occupants." Unusual touches include an ammo box, original copper-mesh side curtains and two Thermos bottles.
The New Phantom also has a small safe used to "compensate families of hunting assistants killed while stalking big game," noted Bonhams in the online description of the car.
The car is outfitted with an 8.0-liter straight six-cylinder engine linked to a four-speed manual transmission. It was originally painted medium gray with a black crocodile hide interior.
Bonhams describes the one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce as "a truly extraordinary relic of a splendorous and lost age."
Inside Line says: Could totally redefine "road rage."
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mrbacon says:
12:47 PM, 08/03/2011
I just want the gun.
k55 says:
09:58 AM, 08/03/2011
wow.....what luxury for 1925........in car bar (with Slurpy dispencer).......picnic basket (with curry -no utensils), sandle shiner, huge trunk (big enough for spare sari's)..........AND a machine gun.
Those crazy Marhariaja's could really get jiggy with it.
coloradosilver says:
09:39 AM, 08/03/2011
Pay attention Detroit... this is how you build a car!
farvy says:
09:35 AM, 08/03/2011
@icecubefosho
This is a sharp car. But I prefer the Duesenberg Gurney-Nutting coupe (J-585) built for the Maharajah of Indore!
a1c_scg says:
08:34 AM, 08/03/2011
Damn, imagine if a blood or crip got their hands on this!! The perfect driveby-mobile!!
icecubefosho says:
07:57 AM, 08/03/2011
Pretty much all of the Maharajahs had custom tailored Rolls Royces but this one is arguably the coolest.