Team-BHP > Vintage Cars & Classics in India


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Old 29th July 2014, 19:14   #736
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Originally Posted by karlosdeville View Post
Well, I did find a bicycle licence courtesy one of the facebook groups

Attachment 1267518
Good find Karl. Amazing they were still licensing bicycles as late as 68.


Harit,
"The 11 CD 1 photo does not help. Diplomatic cars in Delhi are CD, white on blue. Since Delhi has so many diplomatic missions, they started segregating the country on the plate. The letters before CD indicate the country. BTW, the British Embassy wanted to sell a RR Silver Shadow around 1970/80, STC offered so little that they took the car back to UK.
In the other state capitals where some diplomatic presence was seen, mainly Bombay, Madras, Calcutta, they had black on yellow CC plates. These did not have a number to identify the country. This system was introduced much later, when is the question."

Oh well,
I will keep digging for dated photos.
Cheers
Cedric
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Old 30th July 2014, 00:10   #737
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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It is indeed shameful what levels these so called people in power stoop to, simply to feel that power. The Registration number DLA 1 belongs to a 1946 Chrysler Windsor and has never been transferred, not even temporarily surrendered ever. The vehicle is very much alive and fully functional with all taxes paid upto date, and is even a rally participant. I'm attaching a picture of the number plate area of the said vehicle. Kindly take note of the plate, which is as old as the vehicle itself and probably on it since new.
Pardon my ignorance, but how exactly is this possible ?
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Old 30th July 2014, 13:20   #738
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Now here is a Ford in a setting which appears Indian or sub-continent, but having an Arabic number plate. Photo is of poor quality, so I attempted to enlarge the plate. Any clues to this?

Cheers harit
Harit,
I am guessing the car is late 30s or early 40s? If so, I have ruled out most of the Arab countries and about the only one that is possible is Iraq and the registration would be from Arbil.
Although Iraq was an independent country, the British were exploring for oil there and I suppose it is possible they employed Indians rather than the Iraqis.
Cheers
Cedric

Last edited by karlosdeville : 30th July 2014 at 14:02.
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Old 30th July 2014, 14:03   #739
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Harit,
I am guessing the car is late 30s or early 40s? If so, I have ruled out most of the Arab countries and about the only one that is possible is Iraq and the registration would be from Arbil.
The Ford should date between 1946 and 1948.
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Old 30th July 2014, 15:27   #740
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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The Ford should date between 1946 and 1948.
More likely a 1946, going by the placement of the side lamps. They were shifted below the headlamps in 1947
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Old 30th July 2014, 15:41   #741
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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More likely a 1946, going by the placement of the side lamps. They were shifted below the headlamps in 1947
I had no idea, thanks. Any changes to the 48 model year?

Also what was the correct model name? Super / Deluxe / both?

EDIT - I think there was a Deluxe version and a higher Super Deluxe, but what were the differences? And were both sold here?

Last edited by karlosdeville : 30th July 2014 at 15:44.
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Old 30th July 2014, 17:01   #742
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

[/quote]
Quote:
Originally Posted by karlosdeville View Post
I had no idea, thanks. Any changes to the 48 model year?

Also what was the correct model name? Super / Deluxe / both?

EDIT - I think there was a Deluxe version and a higher Super Deluxe, but what were the differences? And were both sold here?

Yes Karl, you are right. Their Special version was dropped in 1946 itself. The Super Deluxe version was what we got to see most here. There was a lot of difference in the interiors of the two variants, the Deluxe being quite drab in comparision. Atleast a clock on the left side of the dash was missing on the Deluxe.

The other changes on the 47 as against the 46 included bumpers without guards. Also, there used to be some red vertical stripes/fillers on the top grille member of the 46 which probably wasn't carried over. I believe that hub caps were the only changes made to the 48.
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Old 1st August 2014, 21:38   #743
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Very good catch. Its not only shameful, its illegal. That is a nice Chrysler indeed. Should take it out for a drive in Delhi
The Chrysler is being used once in a while but getting it to Delhi for a drive might not be feasible soon.

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Pardon my ignorance, but how exactly is this possible ?
Its as easy as putting this plate up on your new Ecosport. Having a beacon light helps prevent nasty questions. That's the state of affairs. Like they say, it happens only in India.
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Old 1st August 2014, 22:17   #744
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Originally Posted by Shwetank View Post
The Chrysler is being used once in a while but getting it to Delhi for a drive might not be feasible soon.



Its as easy as putting this plate up on your new Ecosport. Having a beacon light helps prevent nasty questions. That's the state of affairs. Like they say, it happens only in India.
Could be, if you say so but the vehicle and its registration number are on an election affidavit.

Either there is an existing loophole or a loophole was created.
Not taking names.
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Old 10th August 2014, 03:31   #745
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

The (British) Bengal Governor's Motorcycle escort. Also posted in the "Nostalgic Pictures" thread.

courtesy: The Rae family

Early registration numbers in India-bengal-governor-motorcycle-escort.jpg
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Old 10th August 2014, 15:57   #746
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Reader Andy writes in with the following request

Quote:
Hi there I am trying to trace a 1930's Buick. The car belonged to my father-in law's parents while they lived in India. The number plate is BSOM 249 or BS 249 OM. I would like to know if this are is in a collection somewhere. can you help me? Andy
Early registration numbers in India-img_0985.jpeg

I presume the car is a 1930/31 Buick, and I am sure cedric has more to share on the number itself.

Since it is obviously a number that has been long reassigned, I can't help but wonder that if it was a Bihar registration, whether this could be the car. Pure speculation, but never say never.

Early registration numbers in India-01.jpg

Last edited by karlosdeville : 10th August 2014 at 15:59.
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Old 11th August 2014, 14:40   #747
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Karl,
BO 249 SM is an original pre 1939 series Bihar & Orissa Sambalpur number. It would have been re-registered in 1939 with a BR nnnn or BRx nnnn registration so your photo is a definite possibility.
Cheers
Cedric
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Old 12th August 2014, 10:31   #748
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

A brand new 1960s Amby Mark 2 is seen here, still sporting temporary registration plates from the south. Strangely enough it seems to read "TEMP 811 MHP"?

Early registration numbers in India-01.jpg

Early registration numbers in India-02.jpg

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/vinta...ml#post3503340 (Classics of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar)
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Old 12th August 2014, 11:00   #749
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

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Originally Posted by karlosdeville View Post
A brand new 1960s Amby Mark 2 is seen here, still sporting temporary registration plates from the south. Strangely enough it seems to read "TEMP 811 MHP"?
May be TBHPian Jimmyjosek can do a little bit of digging around and clarify.

We can't assume that the plates are from south as in TN or Kerala - In south painting the HL half Black (as required by the War time blackout rules of 62, 65 and 71) existed (enforced) only in Karnataka AP and Madras and north TN (to the best of my knowledge). So the Car - if from south - could have been from one of those areas

My guess is that the Jimmy's uncle could have been in Mumbai, Pune etc (as a lot of Mallus still do) in course of his employment/business and the car was bought from there - the MHP can be explainable then

The background doesn't appear to be Kerala at least

Best Regards & Drive Safe

Ram

Last edited by r_nairtvm : 12th August 2014 at 11:02.
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Old 12th August 2014, 21:15   #750
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Re: Early registration numbers in India

Gents,
As far as we know, Maharashtra in the 1960s and 1970s used the same letters for temporary plates as they used for 'real' plates, just differently coloured. Temporary being red on yellow.
MHP would be a Poona temporary registration so to car must have been bought from a dealer there.
Cheers
Cedric
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