Search for old cars for sale and sooner or later a royal-era convertible turns up, with a big grille and a palace somewhere in its past.
Now the reality check. The biggest sales of cars with an Indian link did not happen in India. They happened in Italy, Monaco, England and Denmark, where collectors paid far more than anyone has at home. This listicle names a few of the most expensive ones currently in India.
How We Ranked Them
We counted completed sales only, not estimates or asking prices while formulating this list. We also took into account the definition of “Vintage Cars” as per MoRTH; Under the rules the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified in July 2021, a vintage vehicle is more than 50 years old from first registration, kept in original form without substantial overhaul, and not used for regular or commercial work.
Age is easy to check. Originality takes build records and restoration notes.
The 5 Most Expensive Vintage Cars: At a Glance
| Rank | Car | Owner | Price paid | Approx. in rupees at the time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A | Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore | EUR 1,400,000 | Rs 9 crore |
| 2 | 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Tourer | Krishnakumarsinhji of Bhavnagar | GBP 471,900 | Rs 4.1 crore |
| 3 | 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 OE Velox | Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir | GBP 437,000 | Rs 3.9 crore |
| 4 | 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost | Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala | DKK 3,910,000 | Rs 3.9 crore |
| 5 | 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II "Star of India" | Thakore Sahib Dharmendrasinhji of Rajkot | EUR 644,000 | Rs 3.8 crore |
1. 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A
Yeshwant Rao Holkar II of Indore ordered this car, chassis 154081, in 1937. RM sold it for EUR 1,400,000 on May 21, 2011 at Villa Erba in Cernobbio, during the Villa d'Este concours. A Cabriolet A is the factory two-seat convertible, and supercharged means a compressor forces extra air into the engine. Only 83 Cabriolet A bodies were built, and this one keeps its original engine.
A 2002 restoration, which changed the paint from light blue to midnight blue, went on to win Best of Show at Meadow Brook Hall in 2003. So it is a top-level restoration rather than a preserved original.
2. 1929 Bentley 4½ Litre Vanden Plas Tourer
Krishnakumarsinhji of Bhavnagar ordered this Bentley at 17, with an open four-seat body by coachbuilder Vanden Plas. It reached India in 1930 and stayed with him until his death in 1965.
Bonhams sold it at Goodwood on June 29, 2012 for GBP 471,900, a price built on 35 years of documented single ownership.
3. 1924 Vauxhall 30-98 OE Velox Tourer
Maharaja Hari Singh liked symmetry, and this car shows it. It has a dummy second handbrake on the passenger side, an extra driver's door that is sealed shut, and a split V windscreen. The polished aluminium body was standard on the Velox.
Bonhams sold it in London on December 1, 2018 for GBP 437,000, above its GBP 330,000 to 390,000 estimate.
4. 1913 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Tourer “The Patiala Car”
Silver Ghost was the name for Rolls-Royce's quiet 40/50 hp model. Chassis 2517 was built for Maharaja Bhupinder Singh of Patiala and rediscovered in 1970. During restoration it got a new body built in the style of the original.
It sold for USD 1,870,000 at Pebble Beach in 2007. Bonhams later sold it in Ebeltoft, Denmark, on September 26, 2015 for DKK 3,910,000. The recreated body is the likeliest reason for that drop.
5. 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II "Star of India"
Thakore Sahib Dharmendrasinhji of Rajkot ordered chassis 188PY with an All-Weather Cabriolet body, a convertible with wind-up windows. RM sold it in Monaco on May 1, 2010 for EUR 644,000 including premium. It has since gone back to the Rajkot family.
Vintage Cars for Sale in India: What to Check Before You Buy
If you are browsing vintage cars for sale in India in October 2026, run these checks first.
Registration: Since the July 2021 rules, vintage cars get a "VA" registration mark. The fee is Rs 20,000, valid for 10 years, and renewal costs Rs 5,000. Check your state RTO's process.
Use limits: A vintage-registered car cannot be used on public roads for regular or commercial driving. Think of rallies and exhibitions, not commuting.
Documentation: Ask for old registration papers, matching chassis and engine numbers, the ownership chain, restoration photos and any import papers.
Originality: Ask whether the body, engine and gearbox are original. A recreated body changes the price.
Running costs: Budget for transport, dedicated garage, spares, specialist labour and insurance. Your city quotes will differ.
A Final Word
Paper, rarity and condition set these prices, and the Indore Mercedes leads because it has all three. So when you next browse old cars for sale, look past the palace name and ask what the file proves. Before you commit to any of the vintage cars for sale in India, We recommend an independent inspection and a check of your state's vintage registration process.
FAQs
1. Which is the most expensive vintage car with an Indian link ever sold?
The 1937 Mercedes-Benz 540K Cabriolet A ordered by the Maharaja of Indore. RM sold it for EUR 1,400,000 in Cernobbio, Italy, on May 21, 2011, roughly Rs 9 crore at the time.
2. Were these royal cars sold in India?
No, not the top five, which are all sold abroad. Only the Silver Wraith, Chrysler Airstream and Mercedes-Benz 170S sold in India, in a November 2018 online auction.
3. What counts as a vintage car in India?
A vehicle more than 50 years old from first registration, kept in original form without substantial overhaul. Under the July 2021 rules it gets a "VA" registration mark, costing Rs 20,000 and valid for 10 years.
4. Does royal ownership guarantee a high price?
Not by itself. The 1913 Patiala Silver Ghost sold for USD 1,870,000 in 2007 but only DKK 3,910,000 in 2015 (approx USD 572,000) as its body is a recreation.
5. What should I check when looking at old cars for sale?
Start with matching chassis and engine numbers, ownership history and restoration records. Then confirm whether the price includes fees, and budget for transport, storage, spares and registration.
