India is a very unique country, unlike any other on the planet. And the cars that were purchased and ordered by our Maharanas or Maharajas were also quite distinctive, as was the Rolls-Royce 20 HP GLK 21 of Mewar.
Barker was specially commissioned to build its tourer-style body and the car still sports the original plate reading ‘Coachwork by Barker’. It also has a Barker ‘Body No. 5561’ plate along with the original chassis number and new engine number plates. There is even a plate that shows the Rolls-Royce radiator and bonnet numbers. Of course, all the original instruments with their various markings are intact as are the wheel hubs.
Being a car owned by a princely state of India and used by Shriji Arvind Singh Mewar, RR GLK 21 is also adorned with the state flags, lights and emblems.
Right behind the Rolls-Royce Spirit of Ecstasy mascot there’s a flag of the State of Mewar bearing the symbol of Surya, the Sun god, from whom the Mewar dynasty traces its origins. In fact, several other flags with the symbol of the Sun can be found on RR GLK 21. There are also prominent red plates with this symbol mounted on the bumper, fenders, etc. The lights too are very unique, bearing the symbol of the Sun. These lights are generally switched on when the Maharana is himself seated in the car. In the past, this helped the subjects of the state to pay their respects to the ruler and if someone waved out, very often the Maharana would stop to greet and hear them out. In fact, much of the state’s business was conducted with the people standing on the running boards and sharing their grievances or problems with their ruler and justice was delivered by the Maharana almost instantly.