[karlosdeville]

Buick's sister brand Marquette was shown in Calcutta for the first time in September 1929. Here is an invitation for the viewing.

[karlosdeville]

In November 1963 Chrysler's famous turbine concept car was displayed in Bombay by Premier Automobiles

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

As late as 1987 the Citroen 2CV was being evaluated for sale in India. Tested here by the Indian Auto Journal in March 1987.

Attachment 2294454

Another article on the Citroen 2CV's India plans, showing some super period photos and even a brochure with Escorts branding.

[karlosdeville]

Cars imported to India between 1936 and 1939

[karlosdeville]

The Renault 4CV was advertised as 'Made in India' by The Peninsular Motor Corporation Ltd. in this undated ad.

[anjan_c2007]

An Instagram post also appearing on the Ambassador and Landmaster FB pages about Studebakers in India (HM assembled) was shared by Mr Manoj Kumar.

The original post and the images are by @motolitindia

Instagram post by @motolitindia -

"There is so much more to India's automotive history than what is generally deduced. Hindustan Motors is well known for it's union with Morris but that is just half the story.
Americans taught the world to build cars and it was no different in India, where the earliest car makers had American partners.
As for HM, it was STUDEBAKER (INDIAna to INDIA) that Birla brothers had tied up with to sell cars & trucks in India, Nepal & Ceylon region in 1945. Yes, first Hindustan was a Morris 10, but that was just one car.
Studebaker, based in South Bend, Indiana was known for the most notable designs and innovations back in the time.
With humble beginnings as a blacksmith, the Studebaker family got into the wagon business as a coach builder. As times progressed, the idea of 'horseless carriages' caught on and the family built their first car in 1902 & remarkably, it was an electric vehicle. The first gasoline powered car came 2 years later.
Studebaker was ahead of it's time and so it wasn't smooth sailing during the years of growth as an auto maker, specially after the WW2.
Studebaker cars and trucks were crafted to be art decors on the road. With iconic designers like Raymond Loewy, Studebaker's post war designs set the trends in automotive design for many more years to come.
From 1947 till 1958, HM sold 3 generations of Studebaker cars & trucks. In 1953, about 2,000 trucks were delivered to the Indian army. The 1956 President Classic even had air conditioning unit, which was a first for India at the time.
Studebaker was already more than a 100 years old when it went fully defunct in 1966. The last of the cars were built in Canada.
Today, Studebaker is still celebrated as an iconic American car maker with the value of the last remaining cars shooting up.
To have Studebaker, one of the oldest car company with a rich heritage, as a significant part of India's automotive industry from it's very outset, is something to be cherished. "

[karlosdeville]

A 1950 article about Austin's export official's visit to India.

[karlosdeville]

Some rare pictures of the Maruti 800 being introduced in Gulbarga.






Notice the different wheel design, and round headlights, pre-production features.

[travancore]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

An Instagram post also appearing on the Ambassador and Landmaster FB pages about Studebakers in India (HM assembled) was shared by Mr Manoj Kumar.
]

Readers Digest, 1956
-------------------------------------------------------





Studebaker assembly at HM

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Some time back there was a discussion on whether Hindustan Motors built Chevrolet trucks - I am not sure where. Here is a Hindustan Motors supplied Chevrolet Bus to the Nepal Transport Service, along with a rare document, the original guarantee. Interestingly the guarantee document is the same for both Bedford and Chevrolet chassis. Dated 1959

https://archive.org/details/1959-che...mber%20130.jpg

Another advertisement for Chevrolet trucks sold by Hindustan Motors.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Notice the different wheel design, and round headlights, pre-production features.

Also I believe the cargo version or pickup version of the van behind the 800.

Read that they were seriously looking at the pickup version of the Carry alongwith the car, van and 4WD, but the petrol engine and size was not looked upon favourably by the target market at that time.

[fhdowntheline]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Cars imported to India between 1936 and 1939

Attachment 2324697

One of those cars imported in 1938 from Germany was an Opel Kadett Cabriolet which my grandfather brought as a surprise birthday gift for my grand mom! My grandfather would have been a proud BHPian. He later brought a Packard luxury saloon and also a Norton motorcycle besides a Tanga ( horse carriage) . He was a doctor and loved driving , often asking his driver to sit in the passenger seat.

[karlosdeville]

December 1983 launch of the Maruti 800 by Sunil Gavaskar.

[directinjection]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

December 1983 launch of the Maruti 800 by Sunil Gavaskar.

The banner on the bonnet reads "To Sunny with Best Wishes" and carries the Thums Up logo. So it's probably a gift to Gavaskar, rather than Gavaskar launching the car!

[karlosdeville]

A note on the old Ford Motor Company of India plant at Bombay's bustling Opera House.