Rolls Royce Car Advertisement India, Old Print 1910

An old advertisement page of the Rolls Royce for India that appeared in the 1910 “Country Life” magazine. With an interesting caption “His Excellency The Viceroy of India Has Now Set The Fashion For Motorists in India By Buying The Best Car In The World The Six-Cylinder Rolls-Royce.”

The advertisement includes a reproduction of the letter written to Rolls-Royce by “Military Secretary Lieut. Col. Victor Brooke,” dated May 2nd, 1910. The letter was written from the “Viceregal Lodge, Simla.” It mentions- “Dear Sir, I am pleased to be able to tell you of the excellent work done by the 6-cylinder Rolls-Royce you sent out for H.E. The Viceroy last year.

It also mentions that the car covered 7,000 miles, including one run of 156 miles from Parachinar to Peshawar; and another of 60 miles, with an ascent of 6,000 feet, from Kalka to Simla. During the whole 7,000 miles, the car has not had a single breakdown of any kind. The letter further states that- The Michelin tyres on the front wheels have never even required changing…

Simla was the summer capital of British India for six months of the year. The Viceroy was the Earl of Minto or Lord Minto who was evidently at Simla at this time of the year. Many other brands of cars would come into the scene in British India. The Delhi Durbar would be held by 1911. Apparently many British car brands would be competing for a big slice of the pie. Click on the photo for better view.

Did you know- Rolls-Royce was established in 1904. They quickly developed a reputation for superior engineering by manufacturing the “best car in the world.”

From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma’s Goddess Laxmi 2 Postcards., British Plantation Owners Colonial India Era – Old Photo 1900.