The kings and maharajas of India have a deep fascination with luxury cars, especially those imported from abroad. The most coveted of them all are Rolls-Royce cars. Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala was no exception – he owned an entire fleet of Rolls-Royce cars. However, what made him special was the fact that he owned a unique car that was personally gifted to him by Adolf Hitler: the famous Maybach of that era.
The gift raises an interesting question: What was the connection between Maharaja Bhupinder Singh and the German dictator? Why did Hitler choose to give him such a generous gift?
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, Baba Ala Singh established the princely state of Patiala in 1763, which had close relations with the British, especially during the 1857 revolt. British support.
The fertile plains of Punjab brought immense wealth to the region, making it one of the richest and most powerful states in India. Patiala's rulers strengthened ties with Britain by supporting British military operations in Afghanistan, China and the Middle East.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala, who ruled from 1891 to 1938, was known for his majestic demeanor and reputation for excellence. His passion extended to luxury goods ranging from wine and jewelry to sports cars. He owns more than 27 Rolls-Royce cars and has a large jewelry collection, including the famous “Patiala Necklace” made by Cartier in Paris. In addition to his love of luxury, Bhupinder Singh was an important political figure and an influential member of the Prince's Chamber of Commerce.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was also a key figure in the history of Indian cricket. He is one of the founding members of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the governing body for cricket in India. He also established the Ranji Trophy, the premier cricket competition in the country, in memory of his friend Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Navnagar.
Maharaja Bhupinder Singh was also a figure with considerable political influence. As a prominent member of the royal family, he had immense influence not only in India but throughout Europe. His personal friendship extended to the kings of England, Spain, Sweden, Norway, and several other countries.
Adolf Hitler's gift
In 1935, during his visit to Germany, Adolf Hitler gifted a Maybach car to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh. This was a rare honor, as Hitler had only given cars to two other rulers: King Farouk of Egypt and King Judah Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana of Nepal. It is believed that Hitler wanted to ensure the neutrality of the Grand Prince in the event of conflict between Germany and the British Empire.
Raja Malvinder Singh, grandson of King Bhupinder Singh, narrates in the book “The Maharaja's Car” by Sharda Dwivedi The story of how he received this extraordinary gift. According to him, in 1935, when his grandfather visited Germany and asked to meet Adolf Hitler, Hitler was reluctant and only agreed to a brief 10 to 15-minute meeting with the Maharaja. However, when they started talking, the 15 minutes extended to 30 minutes, and then to an hour. Their conversation made a deep impression on Hitler, who invited the Maharaja to stay for lunch, then asked him to come back the next day, and again the third. On the last day, Hitler presented him with German weapons, including Lignos, Walther and Ruger pistols, and a luxury Maybach car.
Rare and powerful Maybach
The Maybach given to Maharaja Bhupinder Singh is one of only six Maybachs ever built. It was an incredibly powerful vehicle, with 12 Zeppelin engines making the hood quite large. The car is maroon in color and has seats for the driver and one passenger in the front and room for three more passengers in the back.
This extraordinary Maybach was shipped to India and stored in the garage of the Moti Bagh Palace in Patiala along with the Maharaja's vast collection of luxury vehicles. At the beginning of World War II, Maharaja Bhupinder Singh took the precaution of hiding the Maybach in the palace and never used it.
The car’s unique registration number
After the death of King Bhupinder Singh, his son King Yadavendra Singh succeeded to the throne. When India became independent in 1947, the princely states including Patiala merged to form PEPSU (Patiala and East Punjab Union). During this period, the Maybach car was registered in Punjab for the first time with the license plate number “7”.
Like many royal families that adapt to changing times, the Patiala royal family eventually sold off most of their property along with the Maybach. Bhupinder Singh eventually handed over the car to his ADC (Aide-de-Camp), who subsequently sold it. The car is now owned by a private collector in the United States and is worth nearly $5 million (approximately Rs. 50 crore). Bhupinder Singh was also the first Indian to own a private jet when he built an airstrip in Patiala.
