[khan_sultan]

The HMCI had put up a stall at the Auto Expo and had several beauties parked there for the public to see. I think it's a nice thought to have such cars displayed where the public can not only look forward to the future, but also get a glimpse into how the past looked like - not so long ago.


The barricaded stall area. One could watch only from the sides.


Some were under covers


NOTE: I am not into vintage cars but do appreciate the beauty of the machines and the times when cars were crafted by artisans and not robots. Will leave the vintage experts here to add details/history/specs of these beauties.

[khan_sultan]

This was one of the many stunners out there. It's a beauty to look at and must be an out of this world feeling to drive this one.


A side view


View from the front:


The interiors:

[khan_sultan]

This was the Cadillac 1930's model, a V8. In almost original 'as-is' condition and looked very majestic even with the old age & wrinkles all over.


The side profile -- the floor boards are of metal and the steppers had V8 Cadillac embossed


A view from the rear


The radiator grill


An almost mile loooooong hood


The windscreen & the roof


Slats on the bonnet and a V8 badging


7.00.17 high speed, 6 ply baloon tyres from Firestone


The tail lights


HUGE headlights


A view of the interior

[khan_sultan]

Some of the other cars. The Ford:


Bentley


And another Bentley


Looks regal in white


The Bentley interior. The large steering wheel almost touches the seat. Wonder how one drove these!


The rear view of the Bentley sisters


The Buick


Interiors of the Buick


The beautiful Auburn






The Checker -- famous as a NYC cab

[khan_sultan]

There were few 2 wheelers displayed as well


The Excelsior Corgi bike. Read about it here on Wikipedia




A Royal Enfield from the 1920's


Harley




and an Indian

[khan_sultan]

This one was nostalgic as I have traveled in them in Delhi from CP to Old Delhi. IIRC, they used to charge 1 rupee for this distance and used to make a racket of a noise and hence aptly called "Phat Phati"








The original engine replaced with Greaves Lobmardini diesel engine

[khan_sultan]

Some of the modern classics completed the vintage stall.












Would have been nice if there was an info-plate around all these beauties, their spec, history etc. It would have allowed the regular folks, like me, a peek into their history and appreciate them even more.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[SJM1214]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

The Excelsior Corgi bike. Read about it here

This is something new to me.

As per wiki, the timeline of this bike is 1942- 1945. Total 3641 units were built for British Army. I find this design strange. During the early 40s, British armed forces used to have mature and proven motorcycles like BSA M20 & RE Dispatch. What was the need of moped kind of motorcycle during the peak time of WW2? I never saw this bike in any of the WW2 movies.

Excelsior Corgi bike looks like ancestor of current day mopeds

[Hawkeye269]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

There were few 2 wheelers displayed as well

The Excelsior Corgi bike. Read about it here on Wikipedia

Originally Posted by SJM1214

This is something new to me.

As per wiki, the timeline of this bike is 1942- 1945. Total 3641 units were built for British Army. I find this design strange. During the early 40s, British armed forces used to have mature and proven motorcycles like BSA M20 & RE Dispatch. What was the need of moped kind of motorcycle during the peak time of WW2? I never saw this bike in any of the WW2 movies.

Excelsior Corgi bike looks like ancestor of current day mopeds

The Excelsior Welbike (and its successor, the Corgi) are new to me as well... and I consider myself quite the WWII buff!

The answer to your question, @SJM1214 is in the link that Sultan posted so thoughtfully. Am reproducing below relevant extracts from the Wiki entry:

Powered by a Villiers 98 cm3 (6.0 cu in) single-cylinder two-stroke petrol (gasoline) engine, the Welbike was designed to fit into a CLE Canister - the standard parachute airdrop container 51 inches (130 cm) long, 15 inches (38 cm) high, and 12 inches (30 cm) wide.[2] Once deployed, they were easily assembled and ready for use as quickly as possible.

There was very limited space in the airborne equipment container, so the Welbike, which was carried in the container at an angle, had no suspension, no lights and just a single rear brake.

The fuel tank was as small as possible and, because its bottom feed point was located lower than the carburetor, had to be pressurised occasionally by a hand pump built into the tank. The range on maximum capacity of 6.5 imperial pints (3.7 L; 7.8 US pt) of fuel was 90 miles (140 km) at about 30 mph (48 km/h).

Tanks were pressurised before the Welbike went into action to save time. The Welbike was then packed into the parachute container with the rear wheel to the base of the parachute canister, which had a percussion head to minimise damage on landing. Once it hit the ground all that was needed was to twist the handlebars into position and lock them on spring-loaded pins. The saddle was pulled up and the footrests folded out ready to push start the two stroke engine and ride into action. The aim was that a paratrooper could remove the Welbike from its special green container (which was marked in white lettering with the words Motor Cycle) and its easily identified coloured parachute, and be on the road within 11 seconds.

The name Welbike comes from the custom that all the clandestine equipment devised at Station IX in Welwyn had names starting with Wel, e.g., Welman, Welrod.

The Italians, Germans and Americans also developed small motorcycles for their airborne forces during World War II.

[Spitfire]

Originally Posted by khan_sultan

The Excelsior Corgi bike. Read about it here

That's the incorrect link. The link points to the one used in WW2 by the airborne divisions. The Welbike which went in a canister.

The correct link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corgi_Motorcycle_Co_Ltd.

Though what you called it is correct. This is only the Corgi and not the Welbike.

Its the civilian version developed after the War of 1952 vintage and later.

The only original Welbike in India as far as I know is in Chennai. There are a few Corgi's around, but they were never chromed.

[SJM1214]

Originally Posted by Hawkeye269

The answer to your question, @SJM1214

Thank you very much for the detailed Explanation. So, the conclusion is, this bike was made for British Airborne Division and later it was available for common people with some minor changes.

[Hawkeye269]

Originally Posted by SJM1214

Thank you very much for the detailed Explanation. So, the conclusion is, this bike was made for British Airborne Division and later it was available for common people with some minor changes.

You’re very welcome. And that’s exactly right, it was a wartime machine that was adapted for the civilian market. Much like another WWII-era vehicle, but with nowhere near the same degree of success!! Did somebody say “CJ”???