Sorry if it seems like a back-to-back post but my net being too slow, I didnt have time to take a chance, having many pics. to upload, so didnt include this.
Incidentally, I feel its better if I dedicated a separate post to this car- another Standard in B'lore I've been wanting to mention all the more, made this my best Bengaluru trip so far! No exaggeration!
A 1962 mk1 Herald (although I was told by the owner that it was first registered in Jan '63) owned by an elderly advocate whom I met through my friend (they being neighbours) there.
He's the 2nd owner, the first one having been a doctor. It was originally with a B'lore regn. (MYB) until the previous owner took it to his native Kerala and then finally changed again when he was back to B'lore in the late 80s!
It's a very original car with few changed/missing items. The owner intends to restore it shortly. I was told it was white earlier then repainted in the present duotone colours before he bought it. Although I reckon, it being an early Herald, originally came in the same or a similar 'duotone' colour combo (what I refer to as the 'half-saree' colour combo!) and then repainted in the white at some point of time. The original red upholstery on the seats is still intact under the present dark brown I was told.
Being an early Herald, it'd originally come with the peaked dual-bulb front parking lights (impossible to find in India now- I've got 2 lenses and 1 whole light through ebay UK.) and also the black pressed cardboard dash, which was unfortunately damaged when the mechanic tried to remove an extra guage fitted into it (they crumble easily with age) hence replaced with the present wood-veneer one. A couple of cosmetic parts seen missing were unfortunately lost/flicked when the car was at a garage.
I had a long chat with the gent about the car (and Heralds in general); this happens to be his third Herald(!), the first and second ones having been a '67 mk2 and a '65 mk1 respectively. He's owned this car since the late 90s. He even has an OHH REE GEE NAL rare Standard Herald manual (although I'm not sure if it came with this car as it dates from 1966) that he kindly lent me to make a colour xerox of and return to him. Which is done.
He'd been driving the car as a convertible for a while and as the only 'herald' badges on these cars are on the roof, which was taken off, he fitted an additional pair of badges on the rear wings so the car didnt lose it's identity in the eyes of the average public!
A few unusual things I noticed in this car are- firstly the front bumper, which seems of the later mk1 (with the 'vent' in middle and the flat protrusion for the numberplate, which the early Heralds' bumper did not have) and more surprisingly the trim around the tail-fins, which was common to the UK Heralds but never came on the Indian-market ones, except for the later mk2 and mk3 Heralds!
Also this being an early Herald again, has the 'Standard' badge on the bootlid at a slant beside the number as on 64-65 Heralds (like mine) when it should've come on the top centre, just above the numberplate light.
These do make this particular car unique. Anyways, she'll look her best I'm sure, once restored.
In addition, I was emailed later some older pics. of the car when it was briefly made a convertible. The tonneau covering/protecting the interior looks like a neat job.