European Family With Their Car & Maid, British India Era, 1925 Photo

A 1925 photo of a European family with their car and Indian maid during the British India era. The car looks to be a beautiful convertible, most likely a British make. Not entirely sure of the brand, perhaps an Austin, Standard, Wolseley, Chevrolet, Chrysler, or maybe a Morris. They were the most common brands used in British India. Unlike the upscale Daimlers, Mercedes, Rolls-Royces, etc, which were mostly owned by the maharajas, wealthy Indians, or the high-ranking British Raj officials.

Motor cars were gnerally imported into colonial-era India, usually from England, Europe, and the USA. Although British-made automobiles were a bit more popular at that time. The European family stands proudly beside their car, apparently with their Indian maid and child. Wolseley and the Standard cars were among the most common cars used in India at the time. Because these were reasonably priced and for the car’s ruggedness. The Standard, with its variants, was on the road even after India’s independence, it was a popular car until the early 1980s.

Did you know- the Geedee museum at Coimbatore features the earliest motor car, the Benz Patent Motorwagen, built in 1886.

From the collection- c1964 M. Suriyamoorthy Charcoal On Paper Nude (#3)., Princely State of Cochin And Harbour – Old Map 1833., A Palm Grove Bombay – Old Postcard 1903., View Of Bombay From Mazgaon Engraved Print 1845