Brooke 25/30-hp Swan Car

A bizarre sight, this Brooke 'Swan Car'. It is, after all, the brainchild of an eccentric man, Robert Nicholl 'Scotty' Matthewson.

A bizarre sight, this Brooke 25/30-HP Swan Car. No surprise, since it was the brainchild of an eccentric man, Robert Nicholl 'Scotty' Matthewson. This wealthy Scot lived in the early twentieth century in Calcutta, the capital of what was then still called British India, later India. Matthewson wanted to shock the local elite with his car. And he succeeded. The bodywork represents a swan gliding through the water. The rear shows lotus motifs, an ancient symbol of divine wisdom. In addition to the regular lighting, small lamps were fitted behind the swans eyes, which glow a little eerily in the dark. The car has an eight tone Gabriel horn that works off the exhaust and is operated by a keyboard in the back. The driver can be communicated with by means of a ships telegraph. Brushes are mounted by the wheels to sweep away elephant droppings. From the swans beak, which is connected to the engines cooling system, the driver can spray a cloud of steam to clear the way. Through a flap at the rear, whitewash can be poured onto the road to make the whole thing look even more like a real swan. On its very first outing the car causes panic and chaos, prompting the police to intervene. Matthewson then sells the Swan Car to the Maharaja of Nabha, in whose family the car remains for more than 70 years. Years later the car is rediscovered in original but poor condition. The precious Indian silk upholstery has been eaten by rats. In 1991 the car comes to the Louwman Museum and is completely restored. The upholstery is remade by an Indian weaving mill following the original pattern, after remnants of the original material were found under the seats. All the equipment is also put back in working order. In 1993 the swan wins the Montagu Prize at the prestigious Pebble Beach concours delegance in California.