New attraction at Sudha Cars

Hyderabad: There is a new addition to Sudha Cars Museum, which is inspired by the vintage Swan Car masterpiece built back in 1910 by JW Brooke and company. "It took us two-and-a-half years to complete the replica which cost around 2.5 to 3 lakh and three workers to finish the task. We faced a lot of challenges while building the replica as we had to match each and every detail with the vintage model," said K Sudhakar, owner of Sudha Cars Museum. "I am very happy how the car has turned out; hope it will attract more people," he said.

Sudhakar is soon to launch jewellery and bridal edition cars.

Specifications

The replica is built on a jeep chasis, which is shaped as if a swan is gliding through water. The rear cabin has the luxury of air conditioning, a tray, armrest, and silk upholstered with four seats. It is powered by an Isuzu 2000 cc petrol engine which can reach 100 kmph

History

The original car was specially made for a Scottish gentleman Robert Nocoll Matthewson who was back then residing in Calcutta. It was cost then thrice as much as a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost.

The car arrived in Calcutta in April 1910. The amber lighting of the car glowed dissonantly in the dark, coupling the level of un-comfortableness with the multi-note Gabriel exhaust horn and a hot water spray in the swan's beak that enabled the chauffeur to clear passage through Calcutta's crowded streets.

Mathewson was compelled to sell the car to the Maharaja of Nabha whose family owned it for more than seven decades; owning to the distractful nature of its. The car was then purchased and restored by the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands, in 1990.