Sunbeam Car At Bombay Oval Maidan, Print 1916
Old 1916 print of a Sunbeam Motor Car at Oval Maidan in Bombay (Mumbai). This is a page from an old British newspaper The Graphic of September 30, 1916. A beautiful British India-era two-door Sunbeam Car at the Polo Ground in Bombay in 1916. Manufactured by the British Motor Car Company Limited in Staffordshire, UK.
The production of the Sunbeam first began in 1901, and as the years passed it changed hands several times. Chrysler acquired the name to use on one of its cars model Chrysler Sunbeam from 1977 to 1979. Later, Peugeot Citroen acquired Chrysler Europe which brought out a new model Talbot Sunbeam until its discontinuation in 1981.
During the British era the Sunbeams, Wollesleys, Standards, Buicks, etc were regularly imported into India. Not to mention the Rolls Royces and Daimlers. The Polo Ground mentioned is surely the Oval Maidan. The ground is easily recognizable because of the iconic Bombay High Court building that is partially visible in the background. It is interesting to note that during the colonial era, the Oval Maidan apparently was also used for polo playing. The bottom picture shows a Napier-built biplane being towed to an army base in England during WWI. Click on the photo for better view.
Did you know- the Oval along with Cooperage Maidan, Cross Maidan, and Azad Maidan once formed the Esplanade. After the demolition of the Bombay Fort, several streets were built across the Esplanade, dividing it into smaller patches of open spaces.
From the collection- Raja Ravi Varma’s Goddess Laxmi 2 Postcards., Imperial Service Cavalry Delhi Durbar – Old Photo 1903., Cooum & Adyar Rivers Chennai – 2 Old Postcards., Aerial View Of Old Delhi & New Delhi 1946 Vintage Print.
