This very cool vintage photo was taken in front of the Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth, England located right on the seafront in Dorset. The hotel still stands today. As you've probably guessed, the car is a Mercedes. I believe it to be a 1907, 35hp chassis with touring body. The Mercedes reputation was well established by this time and the English upper-class who looked to an imported car would find Mercedes at the top of the list. Competing with the domestic Napier and Rolls-Royce (the new 40/50 hp chassis being introduced in 1907), Mercedes was represented in England by J. E. Hutton Limited. Hutton, of 23 Regent Street, London, was an early motor racing enthusiast and represented Mercedes and Panhard - he would also would manufacture his own light car.
If anyone has more information about this image, please leave me a comment.
EmoticonEmoticon