[rajeev k]

The car appears to have components from HM, FIAT (Premier) and Standard. The fender and head lights of Ambassador, the bonnet of FIAT etc.
Better if someone can throw some light on the mechanicals.
To me, it appears to be built on an Ambassador.

[Aiel]

The pictures seem familiar and are mostly taken from the collection at the HAL Museum, Bangalore. I am planning a trip there this weekend, let me see if I can get more pics/info regarding this.

[V-16]

Very very interesting indeed.
I have a friend who is closely connected with HAL and is setting up a joint project with them as he is from the aviation field. I will ask him if he can get us some insider details

[rajeev k]

HMT had plans to manufacture small cars but the govt did not allow the CPSU to proceed with as Maruti Udyog was on the anvil then.

[V.Narayan]

Noticed this thread for the first time. Another photo of the HAL designed & fabricated buses. Looks like the one in post # 30. In the 1950s and 60s there were limited pools of technical talent and design facilities in our country - some of the better PSUs, Defence Forces, TIFR, TELCO, Railways etc. It was common for these pools to experiment as a part of a country wide culture of import substitution and indigenization. The frevour was quite strong till the 1970s.

[karlosdeville]

This wonderful piece was shared recently, dated 1965

[ksameer1234]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

This wonderful piece was shared recently, dated 1965

Reading this fills me with pride and sadness at the same time. The car in 1960s had 98% localisation! I wonder if the first Maruti 800 several decades later had similar levels of local components. Sadly, one can only ruminate now about what could have been the state of Indian automobile industry today if this car had entered production back then.