Motor Cars For Delhi Durbar Advertisements British India, 2 Prints 1911
Two interesting and rare 1911 newspaper advertisement clips promoting motor cars for use during the Delhi Durbar. The two manufacturers featured are A. Darracq & Co. of England and Standard Motor Cars of England. The advertisements make for fascinating reading. For the Darracq:
“The Indian Government have ordered 30 of these models for official use at the forthcoming Coronation Durbar at Delhi. DARRACQ 15 h.p. Four cylinder Coronation Model…”
and for the Standard Cars the advertisement reads as:
“Pre-eminent in the preference of Princes and Potentates. Standard Motor Cars. Triumphant in the trying tests of tropic travel. Dominate “The Motor Durbar” The Standard car, colonial type designed especially for the tropic.
H.R.H. The Durbar Standard Car built for his Majesty The King, and for the Royal Suite of visitors to the Durbar of the Coronation at Delhi.
Government of India. 33 Standard cars built for the Nepal Expedition for His Majesty and Visitors.
Vice Regal. Standard cars built at the Vice Regal command for the Royal Suite.
Bombay Presidency. Standard Cars built at the Bombay Presidency’s command for the use of His Majesty during his stay in Bombay…”
Standard Motors was able to bag major orders from the Indian Government for its cars. Remarkably, the Standard Cars were selling their vehicles in India up to the 1980s. The Darracq motor car, a French automobile company, was sold to a British company in 1902 when it was in its infancy. But had to close down after changing hands twice or probably more. The car’s engine had serious design flaws that could not be properly rectified. Click image to enlarge.
Did you know- the 1911 Delhi Durbar was a massive event, but it also marked a fascinating turning point in Indian automotive history. It was the first major imperial event where motor cars began to seriously share the spotlight. Besides the Darracq and Standard, there was a fleet of Rolls-Royces, Wolseleys, Bentleys, Lanchesters, Vauxhalls, etc.
