Willys – The Museum by Samuel Premkumar

Station Wagon

Production – 1958 – ? (late 60s) Plant(s) – Mazagaon Model – Station Wagon F4-134 4×4 & F4-134 4×2 The Station Wagon was available in both 2WD and 4WD versions, identifiable by the external decal strips (see image below). This station wagon, probably, can be classified as the first all-steel bodied SUV in India. StationContinue reading “Station Wagon”

CJ 3B, the Popemobile

His Holiness Pope Paul VI visited India in 1964 to address the 38th Eucharistic Congress which was held in Mumbai. He used a specially modified Mahindra CJ 3B while being driven around. The CJ 3B was driven by Mr Baptist D’Souza (1928-2010) who later went on to become the Dy. Managing Director of Mahindra &Continue reading “CJ 3B, the Popemobile”

Spicer Model 44 Axles

Spicer supplied Model 44 front and rear axles to Willys. These axles were of Salisbury design – a Gear carrier with a central “pumpkin” and two hollow shafts pressed in on either side. These axles came in multiple final drive ratios – 4.27, 4.88, 5.38 and 5.88. A 3.73 ratio was introduced much later forContinue reading “Spicer Model 44 Axles”

Anatomy of a CJ 3B

The CJ 3B was the first mass produced Jeep in India by Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. The CJ 3B was in production till the early 1990s. CJ means “Civilian Jeep” and was extensively used by Government departments, Military apart from common people. Below is a restored version of a CJ3B, preserved at the Service TrainingContinue reading “Anatomy of a CJ 3B”

CJ 3A

CJ 2A

The first of the Jeeps to be assembled by Mahindra in India. Start of production – 1949 Plant – MazagaonModel – Willys CJ 2A Fitted with – With both valves , inlet and exhaust, located in the cylinder block, the overall height of the engine is reduced. This results in a lower bonnet line. However,Continue reading “CJ 2A”

Mahindra and Mahindra

Jagdish Chandra Mahindra (1892-1951) and his brother Kailash Chandra Mahindra (1894-1963) along with partner Malik Ghulam Muhammed (1895-1956) created Mahindra & Muhammed on 2nd October 1945 to deal in steel trading business. Post partition, in 1947, Ghulam Muhammed left India to become the Finance Minister of newly formed Pakistan. The company was renamed as MahindraContinue reading “Mahindra and Mahindra”