Sunbeam Alpine taking off with 30MPH !

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This picture was taken c.1963 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia's (now Zimbabwe) second city. Bulawayo was built on a slight hill, the high ground in the west and the lower ground in the east. Where the avenues crossed the streets, storm water channels along either side of the avenues caused for some severe "dips", compared to the height of the road surface of the avenues. These had to be crossed with care, especially during extreme summer downpours, as they became virtual rivers.

- A man was accused of negligent driving in Grey Street Bulawayo and in his defence he claimed that he was only travelling at 30mph and it was not possible for his car to become airborne at that speed. The magistrate instructed that the Police should carry out a test, driving at 30mph, to ascertain if the accused was correct.The picture shows the car, driven by a member of the B.S.A.Police Driving School, airborne at 30 mph and as a result the accused was subsequently convicted of negligent driving. The car used was 'borrowed' from the local Rootes dealer and was the same car the accused had used for a test drive. You can see the price of 495 RHOD Pounds written on the windscreen.

(many thanks to Peter Arnold, who provided the story and was the police driver in the picture supplied)

editor note: any chance that RSA7075 survived recent history in Zimbabwe and is still around and known as one of Rhodesia's Classics. At least it deserves an honorful position under the remembered Sunbeams.

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