Maharaja's cannon-equipped Rolls-Royce car could blast to $1m at Bonhams

A truly unique, handmade automobile will be auctioned by Bonhams at its forthcoming Quail Lodge sale, held each August in Carmel, California, during the world-famous Pebble Beach Car Week.

The custom-made 1925 Rolls-Royce New Phantom was originally commissioned by Sahib Bahadur of India, officially known as Umed Singh II, Maharaja of Kotah, for the purpose of tiger hunting.

The Rolls-Royce Limited company-then in Derby, England, employed preferred coachbuilders Barker & Company of London who created the highly specialised and bespoke Sports Touring body for His Highness the Maharaja.

It is estimated to sell for $750,000 to $1,000,000.

The custom-made 1925 Rolls-Royce New Phantom

The massive and impeccably crafted car is powered by an 8.0-liter, 6-cylinder engine with dual-spark ignition that's set to a low gearing ratio, allowing it to creep powerfully through the roughshod jungles of Rajasthan.

In addition the standard luxury fittings for which Rolls-Royce and Barker are renowned, the purpose-built motorcar contains more luxury than you can shake a stick at.

Its features include a hidden safe, a nickel-plated hissing snake horn, mounted Howdah gun (double-barrel shotgun in pistol form), rifle stand in the rear passenger compartment, two powerful searchlights for night spotting, and a mountable Lantaka cannon attached to the bumper.

Other highlights in Bonhams' sale include this 1979 BMW M1 Pro-car
painted to the Frank Stella 'Polar Coordinates' design

If that weren't enough, the car had a machine gun mounted on an attached, matching trailer.

Due to its distinctive history, it's been said that the Indian Consulate had once requested the car be repatriated to India to be displayed in a museum as a piece of national heritage.

Respectfully declined by the then owner, the car will now be available at auction for the first time and carries an estimate of $750,000-$1,000,000.

The car will be auctioned at Bonhams' annual two-day sale August 18th and 19th.