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AS goes to India


willswitchengage

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Yes, the white 1970’s looking saloon is a Hindustan Contessa, a locally built version of the 1972-8 Vauxhall FE Victor. 

Introduced to India sometime in the 1980s and sold into the Noughties. Most (if not all) had Isuzu engines, both petrol and diesel.

The Tata Nano never caught on and Tata lost a bundle on it. The price escalated from the initial estimate of one lakh (100,000) rupees to around two-thirds of the price of a Maruti 800, and most preferred to save/borrow a bit more for a ‘proper car’.

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On 5/18/2018 at 9:11 PM, angle said:

Managed to rescue a few photos from India off my old / broken phone:

 

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These are the ones I managed to rescue off the phone I broke halfway through the time I spent there. You're right that there's definitely something regional about what cars are where - I only saw Premier Padminis (Fiat 1100, basically) in Mumbai and there were loads more Ambassadors in Calcutta than anywhere else. 

Everything is Indian though - you pay more than 100% tax on anything that's not built on the country... 

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Great write up, thanks.

 

Was there 10 ish years ago, will have to see if I can dig out some pics.

 

Went to Darjeeling which is not far from Nepal on the India side of the border, similar terrain and they also didn't have rickshaws, all their taxis were Maruti Bedford Rascals in 8 seat* people carrier flava.

 

I just assumed that rickshaws simply can't get up the hills.

 

 

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  • 3 months later...

A few piccies from my trip to Aurangabad.

People "living" in road side tents. They were breaking mud rocks with a block of wood to make a liquid clay, so they could then make bowls to sell.

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The tuk tuk of terror. Notice the wing mirror is inside and allows the driver to see the passengers. Tuk tuks can now be ordered using Uber.

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How much stuff can you get on a moped.?

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Obviously a lot more than the first guy managed.

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Chicken tikka, peppers and green chutney pizza. Possibly the best pizza I have ever eaten. :D

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Today was a festival holiday. There was alcohol. This guy ended up on the central reservation of a flyover facing the wrong way. Quite impressive as traffic there usually moves at about 25mph.

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The crowd pulled him out and chucked the debris off the side of the flyover.

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Our driver practicing safe driving techniques.

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Cows have right of way. Sometimes traffic stops on the dual carriageways because the cows are stood in the fast lane and eating the central reservation. :D

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Needs a clean.

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A proper bike.

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Fixer upper.

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Shanty town. Look closely at the roof in front of the tree. :D

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Of course its legal.

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Other interesting observation included -

Crossing the road - man up, dont look, step out and have the faith that your chosen god/dielty will protect you and traffic will miraculously pass around you as you traverse an 8 lane cross roads.

Car horns. Used for a bewildering array of misscellaneous reasons. Most cars had a big red button fitted to the lower dash near the gear lever. Usually because the original horn button has stopped working and the new one can be operated with your hand on the gearstick. I saw steering wheels where the plastic had worn away where the horn button was due to so much use.

4x4 Taxis with racing slicks. Seems every 4x4 taxi was fitted with slick tyres to take full advantage of the sand covered roads.

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