A
Pennant in Hyderbad
Shyam Krishnamachary
writes with news, pictures and a video of his recent acquisition:
|
|
Hello Phil,
Re-introducing myself first, I'm Shyam from Hyderabad,
Southern India, and used to be in touch with you
occasionally regarding Standards in the sub-continent, my
friend and fellow Standard enthusiast Karl Bhote from Pune
eventually taking over as your full-fledged Indian
correspondent.
However, I'm now pleased to revert with some really
exciting news that I wish to share through your website -
I have just become the proud owner of a 1960 Standard
Pennant (or '10' as it was badged in India) that I
successfully rescued from being scrapped at the local
breakers last week! (Photos attached) |
| I had first
spotted this car lined up in queue with the cars that were
to be broken at a local 'unofficial' scrapyard that I
semi-regularly frequent with my mechanic for buying spares
for my other classics. And it was a mixture of excitement
and shock when I spotted a Standard, considering they are
seen quite rarely nowadays, even at scrapyards.
The car although forlorn
appeared bodily solid enough with hardly any noticeable
corosion (especially not on the 'usual' areas viz, door
bottoms, sills, body wings) and reasonably complete
barring a few missing or modified bits. Interior is in
relatively good shape barring one of the door pads,
although it wouldnt be the original one (going by the
stitch pattern.) |
|
|
|
However, it
took us nearly three weeks before we could purchase the
car from the concerned scrapman as he had bought it with
the understanding that the papers/registration documents
were missing, without which its practically (& even
legally) impossible to own a car in India. Getting a
re-registration or new documents is also a highly
complicated and tedious process! Therefore he was
constantly in touch with the (ex)-owner to locate the
missing documents.
I was oscillating between
risking buying the car even without the documents and
reconciling myself to having it broken, taking only
whatever good parts I found in it. But fate certainly
smiled on us (and the old girl!) when we got a call
confirming that the documents had been found, which
enabled us to finally salvage the car! |
| However,
unfortunately it had been subjected to an extent of
vandalism in the meantime at the place where it was
parked, resulting in abroken rear & driver's door
glass! The rear glass particularly is one of the
hard-to-source bits but I'm determined to find a
replacement one.
After paying an advance
for the car we have had it moved to a safer spot nearby
where we can work on it to first get it mechanically fit
to be able to take it away before restoring it, thus I
plan to tackle the car step-by-step. The brakes are seized
solid, so is the clutch pedal. We managed to get the
engine fire up only the other day, after what would've
been ages! |
 |
Here is the link to
a video I took of that moment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zUTOfPLcFw
|
|
As seen in the
video, my mechanic pointed out that the water-pump needs
replacing and the engine turns for now but would need to
be worked on later. I will be sending in any updates as
the restoration progresses.
Incidentally, any idea
what that little plate on the top right corner of the
engine bay signifies? It is not legible but Karl suggests
that it could have denoted a colour code. Did the UK
Pennants have such a plate as well? (see explanation
later)
I also intend to become a
full-fledged member of the club as soon as feasible, to be
able to get the maximum benefit (for my car!) |
Kind regards,
Shyam
Hi Shyam,
I am always pleased to hear from you, thanks for writing. India is
such a big place and there must be so many Standards that need
saving that I am pleased to hear from both Karl and yourself with
any Standard news
I am glad you are now a Pennant owner, it looks so promising that
I won't put it in the "Rust in Peace" Section, so you
will have to fix it now!
The rear screen on
the Pennant is the same as any late model 10 so I hope you will be
able to find one without breaking another. The chrome trim pieces
are also rare, even in the UK so I wish you luck with those too.
Its fantastic to
hear the car start, apart from the screaming water-pump ( a Herald
will fit) it was starting to run OK and should not need too much
work. I'm afraid I don't know what the small plate means, if
anything, but I hope Pennant owners will write in to tell us. The
car will feature on the website shortly and I look forward to
reports, photos and even videos of its progress.
Kind regards,
Phil Homer
Thank you for your
enthusiasm and encouragement Phil!
Its of course my
pleasure to find something (related to Standards) to write about.
And considering that Standards aren't as many (even in India) as
there used to be a decade ago I'm glad that at least what is worth
restoring could be saved.
I have some hope about getting the rear screen- by late model 10
do you mean the Super 10 as well? They were relatively more common
so a few windscreens from those should be around, at least in
Madras and Bangalore if not Hyderabad.
Yes I have bought a brand new Herald water-pump for it the other
day.
Were the Pennant front indicators used on any of the Triumph cars
(I see Spitfires etc. having what look like similar indicators)
incidentally?
Updates to come by as I proceed with getting more work done on the
car.....I first intend to get it basically running so that I could
get it out of the scrapman's area to a much safer parking place
before proceeding with full-fledged restoration.
Thanks again & best regards,
Shyam
Update
of 9th December
Hello Phil,
Shyam in Hyderbad wondered about the badge plate on his inner wing.
Here's a photo of the one on my late Standard 10, which is self
explanatory.
Bryan Reese.
Return to Top of Page
Return to 8's
& 10's Features Page
|
