[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Birla Brothers
I recall a car built by the Birla Brothers registered in Calcutta, however I cannot find the details at the moment. Not much is known, will update as and when I find the registration number, it was listed in the Calcutta records. If I remember right, the address mentioned was also 8 Royal Exchange Place, which was later the Hindustan Motors address.

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A picture of the car is thankfully shared here.

Attachment 1819029

Originally Posted by KartikeyaL

Couple of more old pictures


Picture credit: Birla science centre

BM Birlawith his grandson Chandrakant Birla. Also note the old UP registration no.
Attachment 1960731

This one from 1975/76
Attachment 1960730

The car survives and is at the BITS Pilani museum

A picture and details from the book 'B M Birla - His Deeds & Dreams'.

[karlosdeville]

There seem to have been quite a few buggies or Jeeps made on the Standard 10/Herald. Do any survive?

Here is one from the March 1991 Indian Auto Classifieds

[karlosdeville]

A local attempt to modernise the Premier Padmini. This one by Dilip Chhabbria aka DC, seen here in the August 1992 issue of Indian Auto.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

SAIL/Sipani
I believe that Sunrise Automobiles (SAIL) made the fibreglass 3 wheeler Badal in Bangalore, and then sold to Sipani. Engine was a 150/200cc Lambretta rickshaw engine? Subsequent models were the Dolphin (based on the Reliant Kitten) and Montana (4 door version) and Mondata D1 (diesel version). I do not know much about these products, they were probably more popular in the South. Over to the experts to shed more light.

Sipani Montana
Attachment 1773919
Attachment 1773922
Attachment 1773923

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

An ad for the Sipani Montana, offering both petrol and diesel engines
Attachment 2323792

A rare Sipani Montana leaflet, showing both 2 and 4 door models.

[wbd8779]

The 2 door will still have been called the "dolphin" I guess . I used to follow all news of Sipani very eagerly those days , they also came out with a prototype of a 2 door , called Delica or something similar . Also they had bought a near defunct diesel engine assembly plant from the UP government - and had decided to install the engine in the D1 .

PS - Karl , the 4 cartons of old mags are waiting for you !

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by autotranny

Here is an internet article on Kazwa, India's first MPV.

http://overdrive.in/news-cars-auto/f...v-kajah-kazwa/

I have seen this very car in the early 90s ; a member of the promoter family was in my school and the car has come there a couple of times for pick-up. It looked far ahead of its times, and has also featured in a Malayalam movie Harikrishnans. However, like the article mentions, the promoters did not have the industry experience and eventually this car never made it to production.

A couple of years later, Toyota launched the Qualis and redefined the MPV segement in the country. On a side note, the Kajah family are absolutely nuts about automobiles and have a great collection of cars including Maserati, Subaru Imprezza etc. They have also created Dune buggies and convertibles from old Maruti 800s, for children of the household to learn driving.

Originally Posted by Cessna182

https://Youtu.be/e4HrZbzOAcg

A fantastic review of the Kazwa MPV. The owner of this channel is also a forum member if I recall correctly. This is perhaps the first video review of the Kazwa on YouTube. It is in Malyalam but subtitles are okay for the video to make sense.

The vehicle has held up well. The interior features like rear AC vents and modern MPV like seats are remarkable because this was made in the mid 1990s.

Originally Posted by sharoncr_17

Kawza from Kerala based ‘beedi’ manufacturer Rajah Group were the aboriginals roaming our jungles long before the advent of Toyotas and Nissans. The styling had cues from Renault Esapace and the powertrain was sourced from HM.

Here's another Kajah / Kazwa proposal, the Kajah Moover. Courtesy Autocar India December 1999.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Who remembers these local conversions on Maruti 800s? Instant sedan upgrade

Attachment 2178989

I recently spotted one of these in Bikaner

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Maruti Protoype
The biggest success story was of course the Maruti project - here is some insight into the origins, thankfully shared here. For further reading again I highly recommend Gautam Sen's book.

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A December 1975 article on the car, announcing production is underway. Wonder how many were actually built.
Attachment 2318848

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A rare shot of a bunch of Maruti prototypes seen here

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail...oto/1318880721
Attachment 2334884

More insight into the Maruti project, including some rare photos of the pre-production models.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

DKW Tata
Attachment 1773333
There was a brief proposal from the Tatas to build a DKW.

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A nicer clear image of the DKW car from the Tata Central Archives newsletter
Attachment 2162742

An original Indian brochure of the DKW small car. The copy proudly reads that one can drive from Srinagar to Cape Comorin without touching the engine.

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Here's a new one, a Jeep 'convertible limousine' built by Lawly Sen & Co, Patna in 1966. Both bumpers seem to be the rear unit from an Ambassador, as also the wheels perhaps.
Attachment 2323838

The car was used by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during her visit to the state, and post which the car was presented to her as an aid towards the Jawan Welfare fund.
Attachment 2323839

Wonder what became of it.

Recently a Jeep came up for sale, sold by the Lawlys -

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Maruti Protoype
The biggest success story was of course the Maruti project - here is some insight into the origins, thankfully shared here. For further reading again I highly recommend Gautam Sen's book.
Attachment 1779008
Attachment 1779009
Attachment 1779010

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A December 1975 article on the car, announcing production is underway. Wonder how many were actually built.
Attachment 2318848

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

A rare shot of a bunch of Maruti prototypes seen here

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail...oto/1318880721
Attachment 2334884

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

More insight into the Maruti project, including some rare photos of the pre-production models.

Attachment 2438584 Attachment 2438585
Attachment 2438586 Attachment 2438587

A Ceat official with Sanjay Gandhi and the Maruti prototype.

[karlosdeville]

A common local modification to many petrol cars of the time, especially Ambassadors, Jeeps and Mercedes, to replace the original engines with Tempo Matador