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Seventy-five years ago, this beauty waltzed the streets of Rajkot, stopping people on their tracks. Very soon, she will make heads turn across the world — a custom-built Rolls-Royce that belonged to the maharaja of Rajkot is set to become the world's most expensive car when it goes under the hammer in Germany.Known as the Star of India, it is expected to fetch £8.5 million at the auction being conducted by the Rolls-Royce Museum at Muhlheim. Old-timers in Rajkot remember the car moving with its 'Rajkot State No. 26' registration number and the emblem of Rajkot state 'prajadharmi raja'. "Thakorsaheb Dharmendrasinhji ordered this car to Rolls-Royce. He wanted the colour to be saffron, depicting the spirit of Hindutva. It was specially done as this colour was not in vogue," says Dharmendrasinhji's grandson Mandhatasinhji Jadeja.
"This car has high nostalgic value for us. Our family used this car during marriages and hunting expeditions. It has great heritage value and today it is not just the star of Rajkot but the country," he adds.The luxury car has a number of features which were considered unique at that time, including head lights controlled by the steering wheel. They could also track the vehicle's progress on the road. A similar technology, now called "adaptive curve lights", is featured in a number of models of BMW and Mercedes. The price raised for the 1934 Phantom-II 40/50 HP Continental "all-weather convertible" is expected to exceed the £7.2 million paid for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa at an auction in May.
It is part of the famed Rolls Royce collector Hans-Gunther Zach's private collection, and bids are being invited until September 15. Zach is accepting bids on 24 other rare Rolls-Royce and three Bentleys, including a 1926 Rolls-Royce 40/50 HP Phantom-I Open Tourer, built for the maharaja of Nanpara in India and known as the "Aluminium Sculpture" because of its natural aluminium body and chassis.
Maharaja's Rolls-Royce to be world's most costliest car video
