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![]() | #152 | |
Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Calcutta
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Regards Sutripta | |
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![]() | #153 |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() | ![]() The 1950's, age-old links between Tata Engineering and Locomotive Company Ltd (TELCO) and Mercedes Benz continued even after the collaboration to manufacture truck chassis ended in the late 1960's. TELCO was the official importer of Mercedes Benz cars in the 1980's and soon after in the 1990's, the German automaker set foot into the Indian soil, to make its entry with its quite successful offering of the E 220 (W 124) in the mid 1990's, TELCO was a JV partner. The two parted ways after a few years, with the investment norms getting liberalised, allowing 100% equity investment by foreign firms to make automobiles in India.. ![]() ![]() (the image above: Source Auto India) |
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![]() | #154 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
I can vouch for this. My grandpa had a service center at Berhampur, Orissa, which was mid-way from Kolkata to Chennai. He struck a deal with HM to get their convoys water-washed and re-fuelled, and in the process had a thriving business. I remember the cars being lifted on hydraulic jacks and water being jet-sprayed on the dusty, though new, cars. And boy, what fun it was to play with those jet sprays when mechanics were not looking. ![]() | |
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![]() | #155 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: bangalore
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| ![]() My grandfather worked for PAL in the 60's, they used to get a free ride to Bangalore and would time it with a convoy leaving for Bangalore. The only thing was the new cars used to have a governor so they couldn't cross 50km\hr. So used to take two days to reach ![]() |
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![]() | #156 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Bangalore
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![]() | #157 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Cubicle
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No. The Rajdoot 175 had the kick-start lever on the left side (just like the Yezdi), but the gear lever and kick-start lever were separate. In the Yezdi, it was the same lever. You pushed it "in" with your ankle and flipped it upwards before kicking. Once started, let the lever fall back to its position and it was a gear lever. |
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![]() | #158 |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Ranchi
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With the faint memories of my best friend's old Rajdoot, I recall that there was a short foot operated lever just beside the kick starter for changing gears. ![]() The trivia associated with Rajdoot may be one that it could be started with another rajdoot's key. I think the keys were identical for all RDs(& strange too) Last edited by saket77 : 21st April 2014 at 12:37. |
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![]() | #159 | ||
BHPian Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Here and There
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Correct me if I am wrong, but what about the RD 350 initially launched with a six speed (HT) followed by the detuned LT with a five speed. Also, the Enfield Fury. Twin cylinders too!! The RD 350 were twin carbureted with two Mikuni's while the Y 350 twins were powered by a single Jikov. Quote:
I Remember people talking about how the Rajdoot 175 is the younger brother of the RD 350!! Poles apart in terms of looks and performance. Quote:
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![]() | #160 |
Distinguished - BHPian ![]() ![]() Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Ranchi
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| ![]() The Premier Padmini/ FIAT 1100D had a relay switch under the bonnet. The other side of the positive terminal apart from which was clamped on the battery's +ve, was hooked to this switch directly. Pressing a point on the relay manually by hand would engage the starter motor! So, if the ignition was set to on, pressing this relay would start the car! We used to use this technique to start the car when the ignition switch went bad on our 1100D. |
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![]() | #161 |
Newbie Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Bangalore
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| ![]() Excellent read! 5* all the way! Quite a lot of R&D has gone into this post, and thanks to GTO for such an eye opener! Also, the Sumo is said to have got its name from Mr Sumant Moolgaonkar, (Su-Mo) who was instrumental in a number of revolutionary changes in TELCO and bringing about significant progress. |
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![]() | #162 |
BHPian ![]() Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: BLR/Calicut
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| ![]() What a wonderful thread! TATA Sierra would be my pick of the lot. Wiki mentions that it was the first automobile to be designed and produced in India. It featured some firsts for Indian cars, such as the adjustable steering. Who can forget the rough and smooth advertisement ![]() |
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![]() | #163 | ||
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
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I would call it the same relation as what we would say between a Polo 1.2L and a Vento 1.6L. | ||
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![]() | #164 | |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]() Quote:
I met a farmer in Haldwani (now in Uttarkhand) who used Rajdoot as his daily commute. He once told me that he use kerosene to run his bike and has even used the same engine to run his tube wells at the farm ![]() | |
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![]() | #165 |
Senior - BHPian ![]() | ![]()
Yamaha RD 350 & Yamaha RX 100 had the 1 Down/All Up philosophy in all their bike ranges. Yes the CBZ was the first from Honda Stable to get that format. Shaolin for the Suzuki and Pulsar 180 came with those formats. |
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