Maharaja's Cars to Go on Show at 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Rolls Royce Phantom II Star of India; image via JamesList

The 62nd annual Pebble Beach motor show, better known as the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, takes place in California this weekend. Described as the 'Super Bowl of the automotive world' by the New York Times, the exclusive car show has for years boasted an impressive line-up of Bugattis, Mercedes-Benzs, Jaguars, Daimlers, Delages and even Alfa Romeos and Aston Martins.

Besides the vintage and custom-built Mercers, Shelby Cobras, Fiats, American 'sports customs', and German motorcycles that will be showcased at the ultra-exclusive Pebble Beach Golf Links on Sunday, the cars that are apparently generating the most excitement are the Cars of the Maharajas.

Expect to see custom-built royal Rolls-Royces as well as cars by Daimler, Hispano-Suiza, Maybach, Bugatti, Duesenberg and Minerva among others. According to The Wall Street Journal, seven Rolls-Royces built between 1924 and 1937 will be on display, including one belonging to the Maharaja of Udaipur and the Star of India, a one-off 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental that once belonged to the Maharaja of Rajkot. 

They will all be competing to win the Best of Show award, which last year, went to a 1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne.