Almost too absurd to be real, but it indeed was. It was conceived by the wealthy British engineer Robert Nicholl "Scotty" Matthewson in 1909, most likely because he was living in Swan Park, Calcutta. Matthewson travelled to England and commissioned the Brooke company of Lowestoft, Suffolk to make the car, with wooden body built by Savage of Kings Lynn, maker of fairground rides. The swan's head and body are carved with intricate feather detailing, and cover the radiator and hood.
Not only did it look bizarre, it also some unique (and frightening) mechanical details. Amber eyes glowed eerily in the night. Hot water sprayed from the swan's beak, scalding passersby so the car could navigate the crowded streets of India. The car even an exhaust driven organ so Mr. Matthewson could play chords an d bugle cars, and annoy the general public. Perhaps the most bizarre though was a dump valve the dropped splats of whitewash on the road. Yes - a car that s***s. Just to make it more lifelike. Just like a swan. That spits scalding water. And whose eyes glow in the dark. Not sure what kind of swans they have in India...
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