Art History

Romulus

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Prince Birabongse Bhanutej, Prince of Siam, first came to Europe in 1927 to complete his education at Eton and Cambridge University. At Brooklands in 1935 “Bira,” as he was known, had his first experience in motor racing driving a Riley Imp with White Mouse Racing, his cousin’s Prince Chula Chakrabongse’s team. It was in this car that Bira established the national motor racing colors of Siam: pale blue with yellow. Later that year Prince Chula presented Bira with one of the new ERA voiturette racing cars, R2B, for his 21st birthday. Bira nicknamed the car “Romulus” after the founder of Rome and son of Mars, the God of War in Roman mythology. In this painting entitled “Romulus” by Graham Bosworth, Bira is seen driving R2B at Crystal Palace in July 1939.

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Steve Natale has been playing with cars ever since he was old enough to first hold a matchbox car in his hand. A lifelong enthusiast of anything old with an engine in it or wheels on it, Steve has been active in the hobby for over 35 years. Currently he owns a successful marketing company with his wife Mary, is an automotive photographer, blogger and writer for several automotive magazines and regular contributor to various automotive websites. Steve has attended vintage car events and visited car museums and collections around the world.
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