1937 Maybach SW38

The greatest vintage and classic car collection in India is at an innocuous sounding place called Kathwada, just a half-hour drive from Ahmedabad.

Placed within the over 2,200-acre estate, this amazing assembly of superb automobiles is set amidst manicured lawns dotted with fountains and sculpture, evergreen foliage and bright flowers, and with peacocks for company. The setting itself -- called Dastan -- is as overwhelming as the mind-boggling cars on display.

While Kathwada hosts the lion's share, there's more to the Bhogilal collection. More cars are at Daskot in Mumbai and at the Dashiana palace in Ahmedabad.

About 90 cars rest under protective roofs at Kathwada, the oldest being the 1906 Minerva and a Mors of the same year to the 1964 Wolseley 6/110 Mk 2 twins. In between there are a host of European and American marques -- some alive, some dead -- roadsters and grand tourers, handcrafted coachwork and mass-produced examples, all of them painstakingly put together over decades, for future generations to see.

Business Standard Motoring is privileged to be the first publication ever to feature the priceless Pranlal Bhogilal collection.

Here then, are some highlights of the collection.

1937 Maybach SW38

The last of the Maybachs, the SW series were distinguished by swing axles and over six years, were powered by sublime straight six engines -- of 3500cc, 3800cc and 4200cc displacements, all developing 140 bhp.

This elegant sports saloon, with coachwork by Spohn, was one of two ordered by the Maharaja of Kota, Rajasthan. It was bought from the Jetpur royal family and added to the Bhogilal collection. How it reached Jetpur from Kota remains a mystery.

Text: Srinivas Krishnan / Business Standard

Photograph: Maybach Web site

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