Anant Ambani has added one other masterpiece to his intensive car assortment – a Rolls-Royce Phantom VIII Collection II Prolonged, in a hanging ‘Star of India Orange’. Priced at round ₹10.5 crore earlier than bespoke choices, the trendy Phantom isn’t simply one other luxurious acquisition however a revival of India’s wealthy legacy of automotive heritage.
Priced at round ₹10.5 crore earlier than bespoke choices, the extended-wheelbase mannequin embodies Rolls-Royce’s signature mix of heritage and innovation – from its hand-built craftsmanship to its whisper-quiet V12 efficiency. Inside, the cabin gives an indulgent sanctuary of positive leather-based, open-pore wooden veneers, and customizable detailing, reflecting the marque’s philosophy of “luxurious past time.”
For Ambani, this automobile is extra than simply one other joyride to take pleasure in. The car has been reinterpreted for the trendy age, whereas paying tribute to its royal roots.
The uncommon orange shade is a tribute to the legendary 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II commissioned by the Maharaja of Rajkot (Supply: Instagram/@super_car_in_mumbai)
What makes this Phantom so particular?
The uncommon orange shade is a tribute to the legendary 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II commissioned by the Maharaja of Rajkot, one of the crucial iconic automobiles ever crafted in India’s royal motoring historical past. This all climate coachwork was carried out by Thrupp & Maberly, and was famously referred to as the ‘Star of India’. The Maharaja’s custom-crafted Phantom II had a seven-seater cabriolet design and was completed in saffron and silver color scheme.
Quick ahead to 2025, we’ve got the reborn ‘Star of India’ in Ambani’s storage. Right here’s a bit historical past of the enduring automobile.
The legendary car was commissioned in 1934 by Thakore Sahib Dharmendrasinhji Lakhajiraj, then ruler of Rajkot. The not too long ago commissioned mannequin packs the identical color scheme, however the unique was impressed by the 563-carat star sapphire – the most important gem-quality star sapphire on this planet, at the moment housed within the American Museum of Pure Historical past. Whereas the jewel nonetheless stays offshore, the automobile returned again to its roots, because of Yuvraj Mandhatasinh Jadeja of Rajkot who purchased it again from the British collector at a Monaco public sale 4 many years after it was offered to by the erstwhile Maharaja.
The posh automobile had various options which had been thought of distinctive on the time, together with headlights, that are managed by the steering wheel and will observe the automobile’s progress on the highway. Comparable expertise, now referred to as “adaptive curve lights”, is featured in various automobiles in the present day, together with BMW’s and Mercedes’.
