[Shreeram]

The Badal first appeared in India in 1975 and was manufactured by Sunrise Auto Industries Ltd, Bangalore. The vehicle was powered by an Italian made rear mounted 198cc single cylinder 2-stroke engine with a 4 speed constant-mesh gearbox. Braking was fitted to the real wheels only and the fibreglass body featured just 3 doors and housed a 4-seater cabin.

This model was replaced in 1981 by the Sail, which was a 4-wheeler counterpart, this was also replaced a year later by the Reliant Kitten that was made under the name Sail Dolphin by Sunrise.


Here is a Detailed Description of the Sail Badal 4 Wheeler

Manufacturer SAIL
Model Badal 4
Year of production 1981

Number of Years into Production 1 Year

Body type miniauto

Number of doors 3

Number of seats 4

Engine position front Drive wheel rear

Fuel petrol

Number of cylinders inline 1 Cooling air

Capacity 198 ccm, 12 cu-in / 175 ccm

Bore 66.0 mm, 2.598 in Stroke 58.0 mm, 2.283 in Compression ratio 7.3:1

Fuel system carburator, 1 x DellOrto Aspiration normal

Max power [kW / PS] 7.4 / 10.0 at 4800 rpm

Max torque [Nm / ft-lb] 16 / 12 at 3800 rpm

Max power (hybrid) Gearbox M4 Gearbox (option)

Wheelbase 1900 mm, 74.8 in

Length 3100 mm, 122 in Width 1380 mm, 54.3 in Height 1500 mm, 59.1 in
Weight 500 kg, 1102 lb

Maximum speed 70 km/h, 44 mph

[SuperSelect]

I'm not sure if this will qualify as a 'Classic' yet..

The Mahindra Forward-control chassis lent itself to an exceptional number of mods and creations. One of them, the Mini-Bus must've been a runaway success in it's time.

Can't figure out any reason, but every single mobile 'ayurvedic dawakhana' I have seen, is in a Mahindra FC bus. Some of them are wonderfully preserved, though this one appears to have its windscreen grafted from some other car.

Time to buy one, paint it in period minimalistic colours, and hit the road??

[ajay99]

Originally Posted by SuperSelect

I'm not sure if this will qualify as a 'Classic' yet..

The Mahindra Forward-control chassis lent itself to an exceptional number of mods and creations. One of them, the Mini-Bus must've been a runaway success in it's time.

Can't figure out any reason, but every single mobile 'ayurvedic dawakhana' I have seen, is in a Mahindra FC bus. Some of them are wonderfully preserved, though this one appears to have its windscreen grafted from some other car.

Time to buy one, paint it in period minimalistic colours, and hit the road??

Lot of similar mini buses are plying in Rural Tamilnadu and Kerala as unofficial school buses.

[travancore]

A few interesting pictures, courtesy of Ashok Leyland.








Notice the "AUSTIN" crates behind the chassis line

[schakravarthy]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville;264501

56-57 was the [I

now infamous[/i] center fog light model. It featured taillights with seperate indicator lenses, a number plate illuminating light simliar to ambys, large meter with horizontally progressing needle

Pardon my ignorance, but is there any particular reason for dubbing the Elegants as being "infamous"?
I know I am quoting a very old post of yours, but my curiosity got the better of me! Sorry!