Mahindra Thar and the Drool Quotient !!

[DKG]

Note from Mod : The Thar's full test & review has been uploaded at this link (Mahindra Thar : Test Drive & Review). Thread closed. Please continue the discussion over on the review thread.

Some will love it as it is and some will call it dated. This thread is about enhancing the Mahindra Thar's plain jane looks to make it drool worthy.

The original CJ5 has spawned a massive customising industry and continues to capture the imagination of many worldwide.

The Thar's 540 body draws essentially from the CJ5. Lets talk about how we can dress the Thar up to become a supermodel too !

Here are some ideas and handiwork of some brilliant detailing done by owners of otherwise very plain looking CJ5's.

Here's what the original CJ5 looked like (am not an expert on details but I guess this is as original as it got, as I vaguely remember them)

[DKG]

In all probability the Thar will look like the following export examples











Please bear in mind that a majority of the changes you all will propose won't be possible at the manufacture's level on account of government regulation compliance.

So in effect these would be changes we as owners would opt for to enhance the car's appearance. There are however some suggestions which M&M can incorporate without compromising the vehicle's compliance

[DKG]

I've been a long fan of the design principle of form following function. And to prove this point you only have to look at the dramatic transformation a car's appearance goes through when you change from a civilian spec CJ3B to army spec CJ3B.

Last year I remember I was casually strolling along a busy street here in Hyderabad when I walked up to a brand new MM550 which had come into the Secunderbad cantonment as part of a consignment of new Jeeps. I was stumped. The car looked absolutely awesome. The details made such a huge difference.

I love the look of our army 550's. The day I get a Thar, will go out and pick up all those trinkets to make it look like an army 550.

Here are some pictures for inspiration, which Arka recently posted of army spec 550's







BTW I think I'll lose that mug !!

[sen2009]

Now, this is the tread which shall interest many like me.
But, we wanna drool while we are cool.
Deepak Sir,
If possible do dig up snaps of customized CJ5s with hard tops from your repository. Those could be the starting point of our discussion here. A Jeep with swanky soft top or in top less config always looks great, but that's not what we can really buy. We want our jeep to look cool in hard tops.


Something like this -



Is there any place where we can get such a removable fiberglass hard top made?

[JeepCaptain]

Originally Posted by DKG

Some will love it as it is and some will call it dated. This thread is about enhancing the Mahindra Thar's plain jane looks to make it drool worthy.

The original CJ5 has spawned a massive customising industry and continues to capture the imagination of many worldwide.

The Thar's 540 body draws essentially from the CJ5. Lets talk about how we can dress the Thar up to become a supermodel too !

Here are some ideas and handiwork of some brilliant detailing done by owners of otherwise very plain looking CJ5's.

Here's what the original CJ5 looked like (am not an expert on details but I guess this is as original as it got, as I vaguely remember them)

DKG, Excellent Initiative.. I was also thinking along in the same lines. About how to customise the Thar when its out.

For me the fist and foremost requirement will be a removable light weight Hard Top.



Something similar to above pic. Hope DB Sir and Spike are listening.
Its a CJ7 But I would love to have a HT like this on my Thar. Not a Roplas type.!!

[DKG]

The Wrangler looked hot stock. Here's a nice rear three quarter view



Without a doubt the first thing that has to go on the Thar is the side foot step, something smaller like the army spec can come in for people who need them for ease of getting in and out

Alloy design options:

[JeepCaptain]

More pics of Hard Top This time of My Wrangler YJ

I would love to get a similar Rollcage also in my Thar.

[DKG]

Originally Posted by JeepCaptain

More pics of Hard Top This time of My Wrangler YJ

OT is this near Hatta?

[conjon]

A closer look with the regular hard top or......
or one with a sunroof!!!!

[headers]

oops, THAR THAR THAR..

1. Get that silly bonnet catch out.
2. Change the wiper blades to better ones, This is day light robbery giving us such antiques in what is "to be" a lifestyle vehicle.
3. The side steps HAVE TO GO.
4. Better AT/MT tyres
5. The front indicators are antique too.
6. Door mirrors - a straight lift off the bolero series need to GO OUT
7. The F & R bumpers are plain jane silly
8. The Steering column stalk is off a M800. The older mahindras had a better switch with horn included in the stalk. Hope this comes back.
9. The Front Windscreen should come from a NGCS 550.

Now you guys know why i believe THAR should be under 5L on road

[SirAlec]

This looks so bad. Mahindra should address this. Any outside mechanic can do this easily why not Mahindra. Many tbhpian have got this done themselves through their trusted mechanic.

[motocamp]

Sadly Real jeeps are built to your specification not bought! Unless we can get our hands on a brand new mm550 and build that to higher specs

[motocamp]

But on a serious note this "vehicle" might have potential.

[fazalaliadil]

Deepak,
Just love our army 550 looks in white, (the pics you posted) especially the matching white mug bang in front grille.
Also may I humbly post pics. of my first MM, where I tried to emulate the white army ones, even today many remeber that Jeep and associate it with me. Had ordered all parts direct from M&M for it including wheel rims and all visible accessories.
The 360 degrees Chicago police spot light is still with me.
Regards,

[DKG]

Originally Posted by fazalaliadil

Also may I humbly post pics. of my first MM, where I tried to emulate the white army ones, even today many remeber that Jeep and associate it with me

Gorgeous work Fazal. Your good taste shows. This really makes it so easy. I know whom to consult when I get my Thar. Its the small touches and detailing that have really made the difference. Great work and thanks for sharing. It looks splendid in white. I see one similar everyday just next to my workplace, looks fab. Especially from the rear when the top sides step inside from the bodyline at the wheel level it looks so irresistably handsome.

These are styling cues which don't come naturally to all.