1934 Rolls-Royce poised to become most expensive car

Called the "Star of India" and built to order in 1934 for the Maharaja of Rajkot, this Phantom-based Rolls-Royce is set to become the world's most expensive car, with experts predicting it could bring as much as £8.5 million pounds (A$16.91 million) at auction.

The Star of India is part of a sale of the entire Rolls-Royce museum in Muhlheim in Germany, owned by collector Hans-Gunther Zach.

Predictions suggests the 1934 Phantom II 40/50 HP Continental "All-Weather Convertible" will trump the sale of a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that sold at auction in May for a mere £7.2 million (A$14.32 million).

The unique Star of India has several standout features including is extra headlamps 'obey' the steering wheel when the car is turning corners. Its pioneering technology was a precursor to the adaptive lighting offered increasingly on today's premium passenger models.