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Importer plans soft top Indian car
A businessman is aiming to refine a classic Indian car in west Wales.
For the last two years David Darrell has been the official European dealer of the Hindustan Ambassador.
Now he wants to start manufacturing a soft top sports version of the car which has sold nearly four million since it first went into production in 1958.
Assembly Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies has described the project as "exciting".
Mr Darrell has teamed-up with Swansea Institute and Hindustan Motors with the aim of making the Ambassador, or 'Amby', in Carmarthenshire.
It's got a little dated but it's got power steering, the engine is very clean, it's very reliable and it's still a very good car - David Darrell
The Ambassador is based on the 1948 Morris Oxford.
Mr Darrell said although the gear box and engine have been updated, little else has changed since the first rolled of the production line.
The Ambassador is still a common sight on the streets of many Indian cities, although less so in recent years.
Its big selling point is that it is renowned for its reliability and ease for which it is repaired.
The Indian Government has a fleet of several thousand white Ambassadors and is one of its biggest buyers.
Mr Darrell's company, Merlin Garages, of Llanwrda, near Carmarthen, first started importing them to the UK two years ago.
"They appeal to anyone who wants a car that's something a little different," he said.
Jobs
"It's pretty much the same now as it was when they started making them.
"It's got a little dated but it's got power steering, the engine is very clean, it's very reliable and it's still a very good car."
He said he plans on making a soft top version in the UK but a hard top version of the new design would be made in India, because of the demand for air conditioning there.
Mr Darrell has been working with the Welsh Assembly Government's overseas arm, Wales Trade International (WTI), to take the project forward.
The number of jobs created would very much depend on demand for the car but he said he was committed to basing production in Wales.
Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said the project was "another example of the increasing importance, prominence and diversity of the automotive sector in Wales."
Rob Lock, WTI vice president of international trade, said: "David Darrell and his colleagues have embarked on a very exiting project which could become a world first for the Welsh automotive sector.
"His business relationships with Hindustan Motors are now very strong and WTI is delighted to have been able to help David develop his trade links in India."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/3539292.stm
Published: 2004/08/05 17:11:56 GMT
A businessman is aiming to refine a classic Indian car in west Wales.
For the last two years David Darrell has been the official European dealer of the Hindustan Ambassador.
Now he wants to start manufacturing a soft top sports version of the car which has sold nearly four million since it first went into production in 1958.
Assembly Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies has described the project as "exciting".
Mr Darrell has teamed-up with Swansea Institute and Hindustan Motors with the aim of making the Ambassador, or 'Amby', in Carmarthenshire.
It's got a little dated but it's got power steering, the engine is very clean, it's very reliable and it's still a very good car - David Darrell
The Ambassador is based on the 1948 Morris Oxford.
Mr Darrell said although the gear box and engine have been updated, little else has changed since the first rolled of the production line.
The Ambassador is still a common sight on the streets of many Indian cities, although less so in recent years.
Its big selling point is that it is renowned for its reliability and ease for which it is repaired.
The Indian Government has a fleet of several thousand white Ambassadors and is one of its biggest buyers.
Mr Darrell's company, Merlin Garages, of Llanwrda, near Carmarthen, first started importing them to the UK two years ago.
"They appeal to anyone who wants a car that's something a little different," he said.
Jobs
"It's pretty much the same now as it was when they started making them.
"It's got a little dated but it's got power steering, the engine is very clean, it's very reliable and it's still a very good car."
He said he plans on making a soft top version in the UK but a hard top version of the new design would be made in India, because of the demand for air conditioning there.
Mr Darrell has been working with the Welsh Assembly Government's overseas arm, Wales Trade International (WTI), to take the project forward.
The number of jobs created would very much depend on demand for the car but he said he was committed to basing production in Wales.
Economic Development Minister Andrew Davies said the project was "another example of the increasing importance, prominence and diversity of the automotive sector in Wales."
Rob Lock, WTI vice president of international trade, said: "David Darrell and his colleagues have embarked on a very exiting project which could become a world first for the Welsh automotive sector.
"His business relationships with Hindustan Motors are now very strong and WTI is delighted to have been able to help David develop his trade links in India."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/wales/south_west/3539292.stm
Published: 2004/08/05 17:11:56 GMT
I'd like to see those get through the SVA. The brakes are "entertaining" and when I had my Corvette SVA'd they didn't test the brakes because it has ABS. My guess is that the Hindustan hasn't. They'll also have to change the interior as the Indian versions have seats that look like awful 70's patterned dralon settees.
Can't see it confrming to crash regs either. Still less can I see anyone wanting one. When I went to India, we spent the day in one. You forget how small windows used to be on old cars. LOL.
Can't see it confrming to crash regs either. Still less can I see anyone wanting one. When I went to India, we spent the day in one. You forget how small windows used to be on old cars. LOL.
LuS1fer said:
Can't see it confrming to crash regs either. Still less can I see anyone wanting one.
I used to have a 1958 Oxford as a 'project' I never got round to finishing it and moved it on but as far as crash regs go, you don't need seatbelts, Air bags and all that stuff, you could drive through a brick wall and it would hardly scuff the paintwork, built like tanks they were!
I think there would possibly be a market with the bearded, suede elbow patch brigade, after all they are making the old Truimph/Norton style motorbikes these days and I see a few of those about.
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