Mahindra High Hood in the Movies

Bandit Queen

Bandit Queen (India, 1994) is based on the true story of lower-caste heroine Phoolan Devi, who was portrayed in the Indian press as a modern-day Robin Hood while she was hunted by police in the northern states of Uttar and Madhya Pradesh, in the early 1980's. The film is quite graphic and violent, and apparently takes some liberties with reality.

A lengthy sequence in the film shows a squadron of police in Mahindra Jeeps pursuing Phoolan Devi and her bandit gang after their first raid on a town, in which they steal from the rich but protect the poor.
 

Each long-wheelbase Jeep carries up to eight paramilitary policemen.
 

Mary Anne Weaver wrote in The Atlantic Monthly in 1996: "For eight centuries India's dacoits (bandits) have been imbued with roguish romance. But none was more romantic -- or roguish -- than Phoolan. 'For every man this girl has killed, she has slept with two,' a police inspector told me at the time. 'Sometimes she sleeps with them first, before she bumps them off.' The imagination of an entire nation had been captured by Phoolan."
 

The phalanx of police Jeeps is unable to catch Phoolan Devi this time, as the gang melts away into the ravines. But at the end of the film she makes a pre-arranged surrender to authorities in 1983, in front of a cheering crowd.

After a decade in prison without going on trial, the real Phoolan Devi was released and was later elected to India's parliament. She was shot dead in 2001 by unknown assailants outside her home in Delhi.
 

See more Mahindras in the movies in Close Encounters, in Mother Teresa and in Octopussy. -- Derek Redmond  

See also Jeeps in India on The CJ3B Page.

Return to The CJ-3B in the Movies.  

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Last updated 10 April 2003 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Movie/BanditQueen.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

Mahindra Jeep Stunt in the Movies

Download a QuickTime movie (650K, requires QuickTime 7+) of this 15-second clip showing possibly the wildest stunt you're ever going to see performed by a CJ-3B in the movies.

We're currently not sure what movie this scene is from, but it's an Indian film, and the clip has popped up on the web because of the laughable stunt involving a horse sliding sideways under a truck.

The first shot shows a horse and rider in the background racing toward the camera, apparently being chased by a Jeep. A flatbed truck pulls across the road, blocking their path.

The driver of the Jeep seems to be a policeman, and he looks worried about the truck. Meanwhile, the horse and rider, in a series of fake-looking shots, are able to slide right under the flatbed.

As the horse (left) slides under, the policeman somehow manages to use body English to launch the Jeep over the truck.

The jump is shot from three angles, and it's clearly a real stunt, not a fake visual effect. As the Jeep touches down, the front tire folds and the frame flexes under the impact.

The hood almost pops open, but amazingly the Jeep stays upright. Unfortunately the movie clip we have ends there, showing the horse and rider speeding off again, but not revealing whether the Jeep is able to continue the chase.

Thanks to Rich Feronti for finding this clip. Anybody know what movie it's from? -- Derek Redmond
 

C.N. Sreejith is a visual artist who works in the business in India and has seen a few of these stunts:

"The stunt of a CJ-3B flying over a flatbed truck is not uncommon in the Indian mainstream cinema, especially those in the regional languages of Telugu and Tamil. The actor riding the horse is Chiranjeevi, who is well-known for such stunts. The stunt of a horse sliding on tarmac, then getting up and speeding away is, as you would have guessed, done using a dummy made out of rags and cotton."

H.B. Vivek is looking for the title, and confirms, "It is indeed from a Telugu movie. The hero on the horse is Chiranjeevi, a mega star from Andhra Pradesh."

Sreejith also sent some background on how the stunt is usually done:

"The stunt performed with the CJ-3B, as you assumed, is quite real. You get hold of a dilapidated Jeep, with or without an engine. If it has an engine, it is first driven fast onto a ramp to gain altitude and jump over the flatbed truck. In this case, the ramp is hidden by the cabin of the truck. If it doesn't have an engine, it is towed by a fast and powerful vehicle, using black steel ropes which can be easily erased digitally from the film, and forced on the ramp, to gain altitude and fall on the other side. Usually, the Jeep does not survive the impact. If it survives, it gets another chance in another movie.

"The Jeep that the police officer is driving is not the same as the one which does the stunt. It just has the same drab blue color, that's it. The stunt vehicle, if it does not have an engine, may not even have a driver. I assume this was the case in this clip, as the jump was not a balanced one. If they had an experience stuntman driver, the vehicle would land on both the front wheels, which is far less damaging to the vehicle, as well as the driver.

"How it is capable of standing upright after the impact, I don't know. My experience with CJ-3Bs, no matter how old their design is, they have, like cats, an inherent capability to fall upright. You may break your front leafsprings and crack your chassis, but usually it manages to keep its upright position. Probably because it doesn't have a proper crumple zone which gets shattered on impact.

"Why do they not use digital technology to recreate it? Simple -- it's much costlier than the real thing. This sequence would have cost the producer something like INR 100,000 (rupees) if he had approached a digital animation firm, and he would have received poor results. In this case, he gets good results, images of a real jump, and he spends less than INR 20,000 on it: INR 5,000 for a dilapidated jeep, INR 5,000 for an experienced stuntman (an hour's work), INR 5,000 as rent for the flatbed truck (an hour's work), INR 5,000 as rent for another truck which towed the jeep (an hour's work)."

The Real Thing

Here's a movie clip that's not quite as wild, but still pretty nervy driving. It's from a documentary I photographed in Ladakh in northern India, about the collision between western and non-western cultures.

Download a QuickTime movie (650K, requires QuickTime 7+) of this 15-second clip.

See more Jeeps of Ladakh: Mahindra in Northern India on The CJ3B Page.

See more Mahindras in the movies in:

• Close Encounters
• Mother Teresa
• Octopussy
• Bandit Queen

Return to The CJ-3B in the Movies.  

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Last updated 31 March 2007 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Movie/MahindraStunt.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

Military Jeeps in India

There seems to be an increasing interest in India in the restoration of older Mahindra flatfender Jeeps, particularly ones built for the military. Some of them are not actually all that old, dating from the 1980's, but by the time the're sold as surplus they are definitely in need of restoration.

Recoilless Rifle Jeep

Anirban Sinha owns this nicely restored right-hand-drive CJ-3B, originally built for the Indian army by Mahindra & Mahindra in 1981. He says, "I purchased it from a scrap iron dealer based in Panagarh, West Bengal (based on information provided by my friend Rajdeep) from where it was towed to Mr. Uday Bhan Singh's workshop in Liluah and restored (for which I remain ever indebted to Mr. Singh)."

A rear view photo (80K JPEG) shows the pintle hook, tailgate-mounted spare, and bumperettes with original diamond-plate inserts which serve as steps.
 

As found, the Jeep had been equipped to carry a 106mm recoilless gun, with a split windshield. A rear view (80K JPEG) shows the dashboard-mounted support for the barrel of the gun, and the shell mounting brackets and blackout taillights in the rear.

Other features included a chaff screen, brush guards for lights, grab handles all around, extra set of coil springs at the rear, jerrycan holders, shovel and axe holders, reinforcements at the rear of the body tub, and spare tire mounted above the left rear wheel. Chassis number was CJ3B-4PE-06020.
 

The Jeep was stripped down to the chassis (80K JPEG) at Uday's shop. Extensive bodywork (80K JPEG) included the fabrication of new parts such as fenders and hat channels (80K JPEG). See also the body painted in primer (70K JPEG)

In addition to a new windshield, tailgate and canvas top (80K JPEG), modifications included a Lucas TVS alternator, 11-inch drum brakes for the front, a tandem master cylinder, and free wheeling hubs in front. A closer view of the engine (80K JPEG) shows the all-new wiring.

In tribute to its history as a gun carrier, Anirban says, "I call my Jeep 'Agni' (the God of Fire)."
 
 

Air Force Jeep

Arkaprava Datta owns this 1985 Mahindra, serial number CJ3B-4-02013L. He says, "The vehicle had done 43,128 kms. when I bought it. Body is in excellent condition (used as the parade commander's Flag Car)." Note: The large copy of this photo (90K JPEG) is suitable for a 1024x768 desktop picture.

As with the Army Jeep above, this Jeep has a gasoline-powered Hurricane engine rather than a diesel. Arkaprava comments, "The petrol CJ-3B (F4-134) is the most powerful vehicle (75BHP and 114 ft.lbs torque) made in India, up to 1995-96 for the Armed Forces."
 

The rear view shows the IAF roundel and some distinctive blackout taillights, in addition to street-legal taillights added to the bumper. A right side view (120K JPEG) gives a better look at the canvas pouch and shovel bracket.

The Indian Air Force also transports Jeeps; see an MI-8 transport helicopter (40K JPEG) carrying a Mahindra Jeep in a sling. (IAF photo courtesy of Bharat-Rakshak.com.)
 
 

2nd Mountain Division C.O.'s Jeep

Rajdeep DattaRoy is the owner of another Indian Army Jeep which was restored at Uday Bhan Singh's shop. Rajdeep says, "This jeep served under a unit of 2 Mountain Division based in Dinjan, Assam.

"I had the canvas painted black to help it keep out the water and increase its life. The flip side is that it has become a bit hard. But then, this was SOP in the Army in the CJ3B days."

Perhaps that's why Rajdeep calls his Jeep "Rhino Boy." Note: The "CL I" on the fender is an abbreviation of Class I. The Indian Army classifies vehicles from Class I to V, depending on the condition of the vehicle.
 

"Though I don't know which unit it belonged to, the tactical sign was 282. This, the BA number and the division are written on the glass frame on the inside. All I know is that it belonged to the Commanding Officer of the unit. There was a CO plate attached to the glass frame on the outside, under the windscreen, bang in the middle."
 

Rajdeep took this photo shortly after purchasing the Jeep. "As you can see, it looks monstrous with that hardtop, given to provide it all-weather capability for the CO and his family. The first thing we had to do was get rid of the ghastly hardtop. That one thing transformed an ugly duckling into a swan."

The Jeep was then dismantled to frame and drivetrain (80K JPEG). As for the body, Rajdeep says, "We had to get rid of the entire hindquarters. The floor at the back was totally remade." See a photo of the bodywork (80K JPEG).
 

2nd Mountain Division has a long history including valorous action during World War II. Rajdeep adds, "My late father was Staff Captain Q of this Division in his bachelor days so I have an added attachment for my Jeep."

There's a good chance this Jeep saw service on the frontiers with China and Pakistan in northern India, where I photographed the Jeeps of Ladakh in 1990.

Thanks to Uday and the owners who are saving these interesting high hood Jeeps. -- Derek Redmond  

Return to CJ-3B Military Jeeps.

See more Mahindra Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.  

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Last updated 10 November 2005 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/IndiaMilitary.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

Mahindra Jeeps in the UK

This "CJ Deluxe" model was one of the late-80's/early-90's Mahindra CJ-3B's built with rectangular headlights (see Updating the High Hood for the 1990's). Another unique feature of these Mahindras was a fiberglass grille and hood. Keith King in East Anglia also reports: "A few of the later imports to the UK of Mahindra Jeeps had front disc brakes, and the parking brake removed from the rear propshaft and operated by cable into the rear brake drums. These models are few and far between."

See also the CJ Deluxe in action, in a video clip below.

The Deluxe was one of several Jeep models built by licenced Jeep manufacturers Mahindra & Mahindra of India and sold in Great Britain by importers from about 1990-1995. It's not clear how many Mahindra vehicles were imported in total, but there is still a significant owner community in the United Kingdom, no longer supported by a dealer network.
 
 

The CJ340 variation of the CJ-3B was the first Mahindra import into Great Britain, arriving from India via an assembly plant in Greece. In a confusing tip of the hat to the Jeep Cherokee Chief and to this Jeep's manufacture in India, the model was dubbed the "Indian Brave" (and the 91" long-wheelbase version CJ540 was the "Indian Chief"). The graphic on the hood, of a native American headdress, is more clearly visible in the larger version of this photo (40K JPEG). The name was later changed to the "CJ Classic".
 

The October-November 1997 issue of Jp magazine included an article by John Carroll called The Mahindra Jeep, covering the CJ340 and the history of the Mahindra company's licencing agreement with Willys.

John Carroll is a British author and owner of an 1989 CJ340 (seen in the photo at left with his French-built 1961 Hotchkiss M201). John writes the Jp article from a clearly European perspective. He doesn't discuss the importance of the large number of Mahindra vehicles in use in India itself, nor the after-market industry that has developed there. And although he sub-titles his article, "Looking for a brand new 1997 CJ-3B?", he doesn't mention the emission standards or other legal obstacles which have prevented Mahindra from cracking the North American market.

John does mention some minor complaints about his Jeep, including electrical problems and attempts by Mahindra to update its styling. However, his enthusiasm for the inexpensive, simple vehicle obviously hasn't been dampened by them, and he has taken it offroad in a number of countries.
 

Quality Control

One of the factors which apparently ended the importation of Mahindras into Britain was the number of warranty claims and the question of whether the factory or the importer was responsible for settling them.

Shane Trafford was a Mahindra owner in Great Britain who was less than happy with his latter-day CJ-3B. In 1997 he told The CJ3B Page: "This jeep is only three years old (purchased in May 1994) and it has never been offroad -- it has only done two hundred miles because a number of faults were discovered two weeks after the thing was bought and our solicitor told us to stop using it while he tried to get a settlement from the garage where it was bought."

Over twenty specific problems were identified in an Automobile Association inspection of Shane's 340, mainly related to poor quality assembly and painting, missing small parts, loose bolts, leaking oil and fuel, and corrosion.

More photos of Shane's CJ340:

• Under the bonnet (20k JPEG) showing the Peugeot diesel engine. (All UK imports had the Peugeot 2.1 or 2.5 litre diesels witha four-speed transmission.)
• Inside the driver's door (20k JPEG) showing hand-brake location. "There are four switches above the (more or less useless) handbrake -- the far right one is for the heater (two settings - grilled feet, no impact on a misted up windscreen), the next two are for front and rear fog light (rear fog light is standard, front isn't) and the left one is for the hazard lights."

Mahindra Jeeps on Video

This photo shows two versions of the model dubbed the "Marksman" in the UK. With styling derived from the CJ-7, and different roofs available, it was still basically a variant of the CJ-3B.

The photo was taken during the production of a promotional videotape showing the "Marksman" and the blue "CJ Deluxe" in action (see the tire tracks on the hill in the background).
 
Download two QuickTime movie clips from the videotape:

"Factory to Farm" (50 sec.) shows the Mahindra assembly line in India, and the Jeeps driving across fields. (900K)

"Willys Heritage" (50 sec.) shows the relationship of the Mahindra Jeeps to the Willys MB, and features the sound of the Peugeot diesel starting. (900K)

Thanks to John Carroll for the videotape and the photos from Mahindra brochures published in Greece and the UK. -- Derek Redmond

Also on The CJ3B Page, see more Mahindra Jeeps.

Elsewhere on the web, see the Mahindra Register and the Oxfordshire Mahindra Pages in the UK.

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Last updated 12 August 2004 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/Mahindra.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

Updating the High Hood for the 1990's

The 1987 Mahindra Jeep Bahia

There have been lots of minor changes in the Universal Jeep over the years, and some fairly major developments like the new round-fendered sheet metal on the M38A1, the available V-6 and later V-8 in the CJ-5, or the coil springs of the recent TJ. But nothing has ever created the kind of stir among Jeep fans like the change from round to rectangular headlights on the 1987 YJ Wrangler (40K JPEG).

I guess headlights are one of the first things people notice in looking at a vehicle, like a person's eyes. And initially the stir may have been partly due to AMC's clever marketing strategy, in which they first announced the death of the CJ-7. Only after the outcry which resulted, did they announce it would be replaced by the Wrangler, a vehicle as much at home on pavement as on dirt. And oh, by the way, it would have square headlights.

Those headlights still serve as a symbol, in banter among Jeep fans, of a vehicle suitable for use and modification for either of those two kinds of driving, as opposed to "real" Jeeps which would never be truly at home on the road.

Licenced Jeep manufacturer Mahindra & Mahindra in India has for many years been developing new Jeep variations to suit their own market. These have generally been utilitarian rather than stylistic upgrades, as the continued production of CJ-3B body style demonstrates. However, immediately following the introduction of the YJ by AMC in the United States, Mahindra adopted rectangular headlights (with a fiberglass grille and hood!) for a new CJ-3B model for export sale called the "Bahia."

The name "Bahia" was apparently taken from the Brazilian state of Bahia, and was presumably chosen as something exotic-sounding, not unlike the more recent SUV from Mahindra dubbed the "Bolero."

This photo of a Bahia undergoing an off-road performance test, comes from a "Mahindra Overseas Operations" brochure published in India, featuring photos which appear to have been taken in various European countries. Likely the Jeeps were assembled in Greece for sale in countries including Italy and Germany. See a 1991 Mahindra CJ340 sold in Belgium.
 

The Bahia models included a long-wheelbase version, referred to as the "CJ4D" in the late-1980's Italian brochure from which this photo is taken. The photo shows the optional hardtop and the silver paint available on the Bahia trim version. The base versions of the CJ4D and shorter CJ3D were offered in only basic red, blue or white, according to this brochure.

A version of the Bahia design was sold in Britain in the early 1990's as the "CJ Deluxe" (see Mahindra Jeeps in the UK).
 

At a second glance, you realize that the changes in this fiberglass front end go beyond just the square shape of the headlights. The sealed-beam lamps project in front of the grille slightly, rather than being recessed as on the YJ. Since the headlights are smaller than the original round ones, an extra slot has been added at each side of the grille (and for some reason those new slots are shorter than the rest). In addition, the new one-piece hood slopes down slightly at the front, making the height of the hood above the fenders less obvious. The resulting appearance reminds me of the CJ-10 truck (30K JPEG), built in small numbers by AMC in the U.S. and Australia.
 

The Bahia was offered alongside the "Classic" version of the Jeep (photo at right), in the 1987 Mahindra export brochure. Oddly enough, Mahindra was using the same "CJ 340" model number for both versions. Although they appear quite different, they were mechanically identical, offered with either a 2555 cc gasoline engine or a 2112 cc Peugeot diesel.
 
 

Thanks to Pete Pearson for the Indian and Italian brochures, Mike Albright for the YJ photo, and Srivardhan Srinivasan for additional information. -- Derek Redmond

See also more Mahindra Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.

Elsewhere on the web, the Mahindra & Mahindra web site offers a look at the range of models currently available.  

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Last updated 15 September 2001 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/MahindraBahia.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

Mahindra Jeeps in Australia

As with the importation of Mahindra-built Jeeps from India to Britain (see Mahindra Jeeps in the UK), the marketing of Mahindra in Australia in the 1990's was not an overwhelming success, but it did result in some interesting models, developed for the destination country.

The model names indicate that Mahindra & Mahindra were making a serious attempt to find a market in Australia: the basic "Stockman" model (available in green only) and the slightly upscale "Bushranger" certainly appeared better targeted than the mixed bag of models in the UK ("Indian Brave", "Marksman" and "CJ Deluxe").

Below are a few pieces of literature which provide fairly detailed information about the Australian Mahindras.
 

"Mahindra 4WD - India's Jeep", from Collector Series Vol. 21, issue 28, May 1992. This article from a 4WD trader magazine reviews the history of Mahindra and its arrival in Australia, and describes the Bushranger and Stockman models (90K GIF's):

• Page 1 , Page 2 , Page 3 , Page 4 , Page 5

 
Bushranger brochure (120K JPEG's):

• Cover -- the legend lives
• Page 2 -- the manufacturer and the dealers
• Page 3 -- interior and exterior features
• Page 4 -- specifications

"A Long Time Coming" by Ian Glover, photography by Sean Izzard, from Overlander February 1987. A test drive of the Peugeot diesel-powered Mahindra CT340 (80K GIF's):

• Page 1 , Page 2 , Page 3 , Page 4 , Page 5

Thanks to Jeff Spencer for scanning the brochure and the articles. -- Derek Redmond

See more on Mahindra in Australia in The Legends Live: Real Life Mahindra Marketing Tales.

See also Jeeps in Australia and other Mahindra Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.

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Last updated 1 November 2000 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/World/AustraliaMahindra.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

The Legends Live:
Real Life Mahindra Marketing Tales

As of 2005, the CJ-3B design continues to live on in a few "CL" and "Commander" models built by Mahindra & Mahindra in India. This photo of a brand new Commander 650 was taken in October 2003 by Pal Singh outside a Mahindra dealer in Delhi, India.

You have to give credit to the company and their importers on several continents, for persistence and imagination in seeing the continuing value in some great old Jeep designs, and trying to expand the market for them. See Mahindra Jeeps on The CJ3B Page for lots of photos from their ventures into markets including the U.K. and Australia.

On this page I'd like to pass along some interesting behind-the-scenes stories I've heard about those efforts, along with a few samples of advertising from some of the Mahindra importers.
 

The mention of the 1997 U.S. Customs auction in New Orleans which offered 70 confiscated Mahindra Jeeps apparently intended for Dolly Parton's "Dollyland" theme park (see Importing Jeeps Into North America) sparked some reminiscing by John Amer, formerly of UK 4x4 Ltd. John says, "I saw the Mahindra 4x4s that you said were in the States in 1997 -- they were stored at Manchester Docks, Houston, Texas. I had flown over to have a look with a view to buying them for import to the UK. At the time we were the UK importer of Mahindra."

John continues, "All engines in the U.K. Mahindras were Indian-built 2.1cc apart from a few at the end which were 1.9cc French built, as the old 2.1 engine would not pass new regs. These last 19 vehicles were shipped in from Bombay -- all others were built in Greece. The best of the Greek-built ones were because of my tie up with Mr. Bernie Grant who lived in Athens -- he was around Mahindra about the same time as me, which was about 1989-90, and Bernie gave Mahindra manager Vijay a headache most days.

"Most of the things I read now about Mahindra are a bit adrift. The American Indian names (the 'Indian Brave' CJ-3B and the long-wheelbase 'Indian Chief') were thought up by a friend of mine who was the first importer, Roger Bastable. He is a great chap who still sings in his rock band called Rave to the Grave.

"My friend Tom thought up 'the legend lives' thing in the White House Pub, and we put it on things like lighters. On one trip to just outside Athens with Bernie and his greek pal Lefderas, I gave a lighter to the man who made all the seats for the Euro spec vehicles, and he scanned 'the legend lives' and sewed it into the seats thereafter. I could go on and on.

"I used to go to India quite a lot to talk with Mahindra and on one of my trips I came across 99 CJ's in Australian spec ('Bushrangers') that had been sent to Ausie and bought back as the importer had gone bankrupt. After 2 years stored on the company football pitch they were in bad shape. I did a deal with the vehicles refurbished and delivered to Rotterdam -- they had to be day plated there as they were not EEC spec. They turned out to be the best we ever had." -- John Amer

Meanwhile, Downunder

Speaking of Jeeps orphaned by the collapse of the Australian distributor, Jon Rogers spotted one which wasn't lucky enough to make it back to India:

"I was catching up on some reading on the CJ3B Page, then realized I had taken some closeups of a Mahindra, must have been in the mid-1990's. This one I found on a railway siding near Maryborough, Queensland. Looked a little worse for wear... then it hit me: it was brand new. And if you look at the rust coming through the mesh on the front grille, in not the best condition. But I thought you might like to have some close ups of the bits and pieces, inside and out." -- Jon Rogers
 

This detail shot shows the hood logo, headlight guard and grille cover, all features which were intended to appeal in Australia.

See also Jon's photo of the toolbox behind the seats (50K JPEG).
 

Brian Halberg in Perth, Western Australia says, "I have recently bought a 1990 Bushranger and am working at getting it up and running. There were about 350 Mahindras imported into Oz between 1990 and about 1992." Interestingly, he also mentions some more recent arrivals which may actually be the Jeeps from the New Orleans auction. They remained unsold for some time after the original auction date, but Brian says, "There have been some recent imports of Mahindras which were originally US specs and left hand drive, but didn't meet US regs. They were brought to Australia and sold recently at auction for 'Farm Use Only' as they can't be registered here either."

Coincidentally, Brian was on the spot for the beginning of the Stockman saga, and tells this story:

"Probably not enough credit for the Mahindra making it to Australia goes to Alan Baker of Perth (by way of Newdegate, WA) for he was the one that had the passion for the vehicle and truly believed it was suited to the Australian conditions.

"As a Canadian backpacker staying at a hostel in Sydney in November 1985 and only in the country 5 days, I got a chance to be part of Alan's big adventure. He called the hostel and told the manager he was looking for a co-driver to Perth. With no other takers, I jumped at the opportunity. I hadn't even driven on 'that' side of the road yet but he took me on.

"He was towing a 25-foot trailer loaded with the carcasses of two other Mahindras which had been the subject of ADR testing in Sydney. His tow vehicle was a bright red Mahindra powered by a 4.1 litre Falcon motor and a top loader four speed. Anyway we had a blast." -- Brian Halberg
 

Mike Lawrence in Southampton, England has an olive drab Mahindra which made it to the UK via Australia, and which he was told was "originally one of the ones built for the Australian Army. I would be interested in tracing the history of the Jeep. I took it to an offroad event organised by Land Rover. It was rather enjoyable and it managed to triumph over many other vehicles in its class with the exception of race-prepared Land and Range Rovers. I left the event with a smile on my face."

Well, we had never heard of Mahindra supplying the Australian military, and neither had Jeff Spencer who scanned the Bushranger brochure for us (see Mahindra Jeeps in Australia ). He figures the Jeep in the U.K. was originally a Stockman similar to the ones in Jon's photos above, and says, "The Stockman had an olive green soft top and was dark green in colour (I don't think any other colour was available in this base model.) The paint as I recall was gloss not matt, but they certainly look 'army' -- my 3B is often called an 'army Jeep' because of its colour (and condition perhaps)."

The "What Makes a Jeep" illustration is from a brochure produced in New Zealand. It's not known how many Mahindra Jeeps were sold there, and the initiative may have been completely independent of the Australian importer, since the advertising and available models were different. We do know that Prosel Fibreglass in Hamilton, New Zealand does good business making replacement tubs for Mahindras.
 

In Europe

The effort to make an impact in Australia was probably Mahindra's best try at moving into a new market, with model names and features (e.g. dual gas tanks on the Bushranger) chosen for conditions downunder. But success was elusive; the locals were perhaps suspicious of an imported vehicle trying to seem so Aussie.

In Europe, Mahindra probably never had a chance. The models were named oddly (e.g. Indian Chief, Bahia, or Farmer), the advertising seemed out of touch, and the vehicles were criticized for poor workmanship.

If they were going to sell anywhere, it should have been in Greece where many of them were assembled (with parts largely imported from India.) Various marketing approaches were taken there, including the revival of an idea that Willys had given up on in North America in the 1950's, the "Farmer" Jeep. The name is in English, but it's not clear that it was ever used anywhere except in Greece. This Greek brochure includes photos of a rear PTO and farm machinery being operated from it (100K JPEG).

Another Greek brochure was headlined American Style (100K JPEG), at a time when majority political sympathies there had already shifted away from the U.S.
 

It had only been about five years since production of Avia Jeeps in Spain had ended, but the importer there clearly thought there was still a market, and used a Spanish version of the slogan "the legend lives" -- "El Jeep no ha muerto" (The Jeep is not dead.) It goes on to say "Born again in Spain, under the world famous name of Mahindra 4x4, with Peugeot XDP 4.90 diesel engine." The most prominent illustration in this ad is not the Mahindra version, but the Jeep Campeador, Commando and Bravo CJ-3B built by EBRO. Thanks to Jaime Gomis for this ad.

See also a brochure cover from Germany, where Mahindra did have some limited success and there is still a fan club known as MahindraIGDeutschland.
 

Praveen Prabhu in India came across this ad from France which gives some insight into a different approach there, where Hotchkiss Jeeps had been out of production since the mid-1960's. The distributor FAM displayed the Jeep as a very modern recreational vehicle, equipped with an aftermarket fiberglass top. But they apparently had little success, perhaps because Jeeps in France have always been so strongly identified with the thousands of surplus MB's which remained there after World War II.
 

Well, it's a saga full of colorful entrepreneurs who did their best to sell Mahindra's products outside India. Maybe we just have to accept the fact that an appreciation for what is basically 1950's design and technology is always going to be a minority taste. People may turn their heads and smile when a Willys goes past, but most of them don't really want to drive one every day.  

Thanks to Pete Pearson, John Carroll, Praveen Prabhu, Jon Rogers, Brian Halberg and John Amer. -- Derek Redmond

Also on The CJ3B Page, see more Mahindra Jeeps.  

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Last updated 12 August 2005 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
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All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

Importing Jeeps Into North America

 
Jeep fans in North America often suggest that "real" Jeeps are those built by Willys-Overland and their successors in Toledo, Ohio. Similar vehicles built under licence by manufacturers in other countries (see Jeeps Around the World) are often considered merely curious variations. But bringing one of these variations (such as a long-wheelbase CJ-3B) to North America can still be an appealing idea. And the lure of the "brand new CJ" continues to tantalize potential American buyers, although as of this writing, only Mahindra in India is still regularly producing Jeeps outside the U.S. (the photo shows a Mahindra KZ4 assembled in Greece in the early 1990's.)

Stories circulating on the Internet in the late 1990's described large lots of new right-hand-drive military CJ-3B's for sale at bargain prices, but no photographs or documentation of these "mystery Jeeps" ever surfaced. Most observers doubt that these particular Jeeps ever existed, but the stories were persistent. (One enterprising liquidator claiming to offer these Jeeps for sale, faxed some photographs to potential customers. The fuzzy black & white pictures turned out to be photos of Joe Caprio's 1963 Navy CJ-3B, downloaded from The CJ3B Page and printed backwards to look like right-hand-drive.)

Anyone contemplating buying a vehicle for import into the United States should be aware of a number of government regulations which can make the process difficult and often prohibitively expensive. A February 1997 U.S. Customs auction in New Orleans offered 70 confiscated non-compliant Mahindra Jeeps apparently intended for Dolly Parton's "Dollyland" theme park. The auction was advertised on the web (although they didn't quite get the spelling right -- see the ad below), but it's unknown whether the vehicles were ever sold.

U.S. Vehicle Import Regulations

Elsewhere on the web you can find U.S. Customs Publication No. 520, Importing a Car, which reads in part:

"Most vehicles manufactured abroad that conform with U.S. safety, bumper, and emission standards are exported expressly for sale in the United States; therefore, it is unlikely that a vehicle obtained abroad meets all relevant standards. Be skeptical of claims by a foreign dealer or other seller that a vehicle meets these standards or can readily be brought into compliance.

"Nonconforming vehicles entering the United States must be brought into compliance, exported, or destroyed.

"Since Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation requirements are subject to frequent changes, we recommend that you contact these agencies before buying a vehicle abroad."

By the way, here's a little paragraph that's perhaps particularly relevant to Jeeps: "To safeguard against importation of dangerous pests, the U.S. Department of Agriculture requires that the undercarriage of imported cars be free of foreign soil. Have your car steam-sprayed or cleaned thoroughly before shipment."

U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Importation Regulations are also available on the web, or you can contact the U.S. Department of Transportation, NHTSA, Director of the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance (NEF-32), 400 7th Street SW, Washington, DC 20590, tel. (202) 366-5313.

A downloadable document from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency describes Emissions Conversions. You can also get a copy of this manual, called the Automotive Imports Facts Manual, by calling EPA's Imports Hotline at (202) 564-9660 or by writing to the U.S. EPA, Manufacturers Operations Division 6405-J, Investigation/Imports Section, 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.

Older Vehicles

Also on The CJ3B Page, see Ben Wallace's story of importing a jeepney from the Philippines to Texas, which suggests that in some states at least, importation of a vehicle may not be a big problem if it is over 25 years old.

Jeremy Gerrish said recently, "I imported my '56 from the Swiss Army 3 years ago when I got out of the Air Force. I bought it in the Netherlands and shipped it out of Antwerp, Belgium into Port Hueneme, California. The shipping was about $1,000 but I got all that back when I claimed it as part of my move for taxes. I had to clear customs but all the lady did was review the paperwork. I didn't have to modify it at all, I believe because of its age. A newer vehicle might be subject to emissions laws but most newer ones are diesel so it might not matter.

"Another consideration with them is other laws like side impact stuff, basically the same reason VW Beetles couldn't be imported from Mexico. I don't know a lot about that kind of thing. When I was planning my move back to the States I tried to call and e-mail customs, EPA and a few other regulatory agencies to get the scoop on importation procedures, without much luck. Basically they told me that they would have to have the vehicle sitting in front of them to make a determination as to what it needed. As it turned out I didn't need anything. I think there was a $75 importation fee but that's nominal. Good luck whoever does this."

Importing "Parts"

In 2002, Terry Sizemore had this suggestion for an approach that might work for importing a newer vehicle:

"I'm a design engineer (on 4x4/driveline systems) in Detroit. In my career I have worked with many of the FMVSS requirements, which are the main loopholes for importing vehicles into the US. Several people in the USA are selling the new Mexican VW Beetles. I tracked down a few and had some discussions with them (because of my desire to import a Mahindra Jeep).

"FMVSS requires all automobile manufactures that intend on selling vehicles in the USA to completely comply with all the FMVSS requirements, if that manufacturer manufactures over 100 vehicles per year, which Mahindra does. But you can import parts and sub-assemblies to the USA. GM and Ford do it every day.

"Many VW Beetle fans that want the new-old style Beetle that is still being manufactured for Mexico, import the car without the wheels, steering wheel and seats. They import it as a single part. Assembly is finished here in the USA and they title the car with a name like "2002 Grasshopper" and they sell less than 100 units per year. Other VW importers take the VIN Plate (from a clear titled old VW), steering wheel and hubcaps to Mexico, put the few old parts on a new VW and claim they had their old VW restored and that most of the parts on the vehicle were replaced while they were there. I have always wondered about doing that with Mahindra Jeeps.

"I have not tried any of these options yet."
 

Importing Vehicles Into Canada

Revenue Canada charges duty on vehicles imported from countries other than the U.S., and requires that they be either brand new or more than 15 years old.

A document on Importation of Used or Second-Hand Motor Vehicles states that:

"Vehicles less than 15 years old, manufactured to comply with the safety standards of neither Canada nor the United States, do not comply with Canadian safety standards, are not eligible for registration with the Registrar, and are not eligible for importation."

"The current Motor Vehicle Safety Act requires vehicles to comply to Canadian safety standards at time of importation and be so certified by the original manufacturer. The onus rests with the purchaser/importer to determine the compliance status of the vehicle being imported into Canada."

For additional information on Transport Canada's Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, or to obtain Form 13-0132, Vehicle Import Form, write to Transport Canada, Road Safety and Motor Vehicle Regulation Directorate, 13th Floor, Canada Building, 344 Slater Street Ottawa ON K1A 0N5, or telephone (613) 998-2174, or toll free (800)511-7755.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) requires that "All regulated commodities must be washed free of sand, soil, earth and plant residue in the country of origin."  

The above information reflects what I have been able to find as of the date of this writing. Further or updated information is welcome. -- Derek Redmond

For more details on the variety of Jeeps built under licence outside North America, see Jeeps Around the World.  

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Last updated 26 November 2005 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
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More Global High Hood Photos

Czech Republic

This CJ-3B dressed in U.S. Army livery is the work of Pavel Konopasek in the Czech Republic. We're not quite sure of the origins of this Jeep, but Pavel and his friends clearly have a good time with it. He writes, "My Jeep CJ3B is my beloved family member, and your web pages my best-loved. Thank you behind your pages."
 

Korea

Marine 1st Lt. Jonathan George sent these photos of a Mitsubishi CJ3B-J4C on display with a number of other vehicles used by Republic of Korea forces during the Korean war. He says, "While on a tour of the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea, I stumbled across this display. The Jeep looked to be fairly complete, but was in pretty poor shape from sitting outside for all these years. The display sign is pretty interesting too."
 

The sign reads: "Now a warrior is resting here after performing its duty. This warrior carried out transportation of military forces and execution of military operations in the fields and mountains for the defending R.O.K. against Communist invasion."

See also an interior photo (50K JPEG). The interior won't be there much longer if they don't fix that roof. Looks like at least somebody's given the Jeep a new coat of camo paint since the fifties. Thanks to Jonathan who took time out from his CJ-3A Page to send the photos.
 

Netherlands

This is a uniquely restored 1959 CJ-3B, which believe it or not still has the original engine (see the Serial and Engine Number List.) Etiënne Nijenhuis who is in the Royal Dutch Air Force says, "I bought this CJ-3B from a Dutch Army Engineer. He bought it around 1999 in Indonesia. The former owner was a Doctor who still drove it everyday doing his house calls in the jungle of Lombok.

"First things that struck me, being a newby, was that no side of it resembles the pictures of an original CJ-3B. The hood is not high (I guess it's from an MB) so they somehow lengthened the fenders to make it close. It hasn't got the back hatch, and the back side hasn't got the round wheel holes but square. Somebody (the famous craftmanship of car fixers in the jungle I guess) spent a long time reshaping this car."

See also a rear view (50K JPEG.)
 

Indonesia

The CJ3B was obviously a practical and popular vehicle for doctors in Indonesia. Didit Purnomo inherited his 1956 Willys from his father who was a doctor in the Indonesian Air Force.

The big tires are Opel Blazers on CJ-7 wheels, but Didit has since switched back to 16" wheels with 750R16's due to the front tires rubbing. The reflective hood number that stands out in this nighttime photo is Didit's membership number in the local Yogyakarta American Jeep club.
 

A Jeep is handy not only in the jungles but in the crowded streets and alleys of Indonesia. Didit snapped this photo of his 3B beside a colorful container truck. See also a front view (50K JPEG).

There's more on this Jeep in 1955-56 CJ-3B Owners and Photos.
 

India

This imaginative "U.S. Marshal" Jeep is the work of Vikram Bopanna in Bangalore, India. These front and rear view (35K JPEG) photos show the many details added to what started out as a civilian Mahindra CJ340 in real need of restoration. Vikram was inspired partly by the 1954 Military Police Restoration on The CJ3B Page. He says, "I wanted to name my Jeep something, but not Military Police or India Army with which I could get into trouble with the cops! I then remembered the movie U.S. Marshals and decided on it, so that none of the law enforcement agents here would have any objections."

The full story and more photos are on Vikram's website CJ340 or CJ-3B?.
 

Thanks to all the photographers. -- Derek Redmond

See also some more phony military Jeeps on The CJ3B Page.

See more international CJ-3B's in Jeeps Around the World.

Return to the Index of Unusual Photos.

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Last updated 15 November 2007 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Finds/FindsOverseas2.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

1954 "Military Police" Restoration

This 1954 CJ-3B, dressed as a U.S. Army Military Police vehicle, was photographed in 1999 by Bernie Kenney of central New York State, who purchased the Jeep in 1993. The authenticity of this restoration is unknown -- I haven't seen any evidence of a CJ-3B in use by the U.S. military with pioneer tools, winch, or folding tilt-style canvas top.
 

Bernie says, "It carries a siren, red light, spotlight, signal corps radio, whip antenna, summer top, PTO and winch, pioneer kit, seatbelts, lockouts, and blackout light."
 

"The radio is supposed to work, however the power pack is empty. The PTO operates when engaged, but the winch doesn't engage. The previous owner advised that the drive chain broke a link and came off the sprockets. I never took it apart to check it, but the PTO does work, so that must be it."
 

"I've only put about 1,000 miles on it since I purchased it. The pictures were taken in early May this year."

See also a closer photo of the dashboard (40K JPEG).
 

The Jeep has a 6-volt electrical system, a Warn overdrive, and an unusual hydraulic parking brake. Apparently the restoration work was done in California, although Bernie doesn't know who did it.
 

Thanks to Bernie Kenney for the photos and information on this page. Any further information on this Jeep would be welcome. -- Derek Redmond

Also on The CJ3B Page, see some other not quite real military CJ-3B restorations.

And see some real CJ-3B and M606 Military Jeeps.

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Last updated 18 August 1999 by Derek Redmond redmond@queensu.ca
http://www.film.queensu.ca/CJ3B/Military/MilitaryPolice.html
All content not credited and previously copyright, is copyright Derek Redmond

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