It was the creation of the eccentric and wealthy Scot Robert Nicholl "Scotty" Matthewson, who lived in Calcutta, the capital of what was then British India, in the early 20th century

Matthewson wanted to shock the local elite with his car, which he succeeded in doing.

The body depicts a swan gliding through the water. The back is decorated with a lotus flower pattern finished with gold leaf, an ancient symbol of divine wisdom. Aside from the normal lights, there are light bulbs in the swan's eyes that glow eerily in the dark. The car features an exhaust-driven, eight-note Gabriel horn that can be operated via a keyboard at the rear of the car. The ship's telegraph was used to give orders to the driver. Brushes were installed to sweep away elephant dung collected from the tires. The swan's beak is connected to the engine's cooling system and opens wide to allow the driver to spray steam to clear a passage on the road. Whitewash could be thrown onto the street through a valve at the rear of the car to make the swan appear even more lifelike.

The car caused panic and chaos on the streets on its first use and the police had to intervene. Matthewson sold the car to the Maharaja of Nabha, whose family owned it for over seventy years.

The car was discovered years later in its original condition, albeit in poor condition. The magnificent Indian silk upholstery had been eaten by rats.

In 1991 it became the property of the Louwman Museum and was completely restored. New upholstery was commissioned from an Indian mill after remnants of the original material were discovered under the seats. All devices have been made functional again. In 1993, the swan won the Montagu Prize at the prestigious Pebble Beach Concours d'Élégance in California.