Our Patron

Mr Yohan Poonawalla
Billionaire Indian Industrialist and Philanthropist, he owns the world renowned ‘Yohan Poonawalla Collection’ which is home to one of the most diverse assembly of prewar, postwar, classic and modern bespoke Rolls-Royces in the world. His collection houses historically significant cars of all makes with provenance & pedigree as the underlying theme. Calling Dubai his second home, he has been visiting the UAE for over three decades, admiring always the lightening pace at which world-class developments take place. With multiple concours wins, in addition to several other awards, he is the first and to-date only Indian to feature in the ranking of ‘Top 100 Classic car Collectors of the World’ published by the Classic Car Trust in Europe, and the first & only Indian to win ‘Classic Ambassador of the Year Award’ in UK.
Rolls-Royces in his life include chassis ‘17EX’ the 1928 Phantom 1 Experimental/Protoype streamlined torpedo sports tourer by Jarvis which was developed and test-driven by Sir Henry Royce himself and was sold new to the Maharaja of Kashmir, ‘144MY’ a 1933 Phantom II Sports Saloon by Barker which was delivered new to the ‘king of speed’ Sir Malcolm Campbell, ‘3CM37’ a 1937 Phantom III by Park Ward bought new by Maharaja of Panchkote, ‘5LCG25’ a 1962 Phantom V Seven-Passenger Enclosed Limousine by James Young which was the star car of the 1962 and 2023 Geneva International Motor Shows, owned new by the Emir of Qatar, ‘PGH 116’ a 1979 Phantom VI by H. J. Mulliner Park Ward, originally the company’s flagship demonstrator and press car, later used on state and overseas visits by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and a 2005 Phantom VII which was the very first Rolls-Royce delivered to India when the carmaker returned after almost 50 years. Amongst a host of several other models he also owns a pair of Silver Wraiths, a trio of Silver Clouds including one that was the official car of the President of India, a pair of Silver Shadows, a Saphire Edition Phantom, and a pair of Drophead Phantom Coupes, to name a few from his vast collection. The Collection is also home to award-winning Bentleys such as the famous ‘Rhubarb & Custard Car’ the 1949 Bentley Mark VI coachbuilt by Hooper for the Maharajah of Mysore, a one-off 41/4 Derby built all-weather Bentley by Park Ward with disappearing top which was delivered new to Prince Moazzam Jah Bahadur, son of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the then ‘richest man in the world’, four Flying Spurs and a Centenary edition Bentayga.
Rolls-Royces in his life include chassis ‘17EX’ the 1928 Phantom 1 Experimental/Protoype streamlined torpedo sports tourer by Jarvis which was developed and test-driven by Sir Henry Royce himself and was sold new to the Maharaja of Kashmir, ‘144MY’ a 1933 Phantom II Sports Saloon by Barker which was delivered new to the ‘king of speed’ Sir Malcolm Campbell, ‘3CM37’ a 1937 Phantom III by Park Ward bought new by Maharaja of Panchkote, ‘5LCG25’ a 1962 Phantom V Seven-Passenger Enclosed Limousine by James Young which was the star car of the 1962 and 2023 Geneva International Motor Shows, owned new by the Emir of Qatar, ‘PGH 116’ a 1979 Phantom VI by H. J. Mulliner Park Ward, originally the company’s flagship demonstrator and press car, later used on state and overseas visits by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, and a 2005 Phantom VII which was the very first Rolls-Royce delivered to India when the carmaker returned after almost 50 years. Amongst a host of several other models he also owns a pair of Silver Wraiths, a trio of Silver Clouds including one that was the official car of the President of India, a pair of Silver Shadows, a Saphire Edition Phantom, and a pair of Drophead Phantom Coupes, to name a few from his vast collection. The Collection is also home to award-winning Bentleys such as the famous ‘Rhubarb & Custard Car’ the 1949 Bentley Mark VI coachbuilt by Hooper for the Maharajah of Mysore, a one-off 41/4 Derby built all-weather Bentley by Park Ward with disappearing top which was delivered new to Prince Moazzam Jah Bahadur, son of the Nizam of Hyderabad, the then ‘richest man in the world’, four Flying Spurs and a Centenary edition Bentayga.