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One of my favorite subjects regarding the history of Rolls Royce is the important role these cars played in British ruled India. The first Rolls Royce was imported in the Indian subcontinent by a Lancastrian business man, Frank Norbury, in 1908. This Silver Ghost was named The Pearl of the East. It was purchased second hand by the Maharaja of Gwalior who, being very fond of pearls, gave the look of the car some extra shine by mixing ground pearls in the paint he applied. So the story goes.

The Pearl of the East (no longer existing) was the start of a Rolls Royce buying frenzy by the Indian maharajas.

The Pearl of the East

Rolls Royce was looking for a way to promote their cars in India and it was handed the best possible marketing tool on a silver plate: the Delhi Durbar, held in 1911.
The Delhi Durbar was the re-enactment of the crowning of King George V and his wife Queen Mary in India, an event of overwhelming colossal proportions. Representatives of all 600 Indian princely states were present to pay homage to their new king/emperor.

Rolls Royce voluntarily placed eight Silver Ghosts at the disposal of the king and his senior officials. A brilliant piece of product promotion; from that moment on, Rolls Royce had arrived in India.

Pictures from the Delhi Durbar

My conversion:

What Ghosty did say ? "What Matchbox should have done" ?
For sure they had.