Aravind Model 3: India's True First Car

A lot of people think that the Hindustan Ambassador was the first Indian car. However, the truth is that it is India's first hit car. The actual first Indian car is the Aravind Model 3. This sedan was inspired by the long, sleek, and beautiful-looking Cadillac sedans from America. Now, if you are someone who has never heard about the Aravind Model 3, then read ahead and know what this car was about.

Recently, a video showing images and giving all the details about the Aravind Model 3 has been shared on YouTube by JK Autowap on their channel. It starts off with the YouTuber highlighting that the Aravind Model 3 was the first car that was made in India and looked very unique. He then starts talking about the details of this sedan.

Aravind Model 3: Details

The Aravind Model 3, which was also called the “Baby,” was India's first independently designed car. It was entirely developed by Kunnath Ayyath Balakrishna Menon (K.A.B. Menon), who was a self-taught mechanic who wanted Indian people to have their very own vehicle, which was affordable yet looked extremely stylish.

As stated above, the design inspiration behind the Aravind Model 3 was from the American sedans. More specifically, the Model 3 was designed to look and feel similar to the sedans from the brand Cadillac. The Aravind, as can be seen in the images and in the video, was designed with a long front end and a very massive rear boot.

To set it apart from the other cars offered in India at the time, the Aravind Model 3 was given a beautiful chrome grille, quad circular halogen headlights, and a long bonnet. There were also two horizontal chrome bars on the front bumper, and the lower section of the bumper was finished in the paint shade of the car.

On the side profile, it came equipped with steel wheels, which were also painted in the same color as the car. As for the rear, the inspiration from the Cadillac sedans can be clearly identified. It was given a set of circular taillights, and it came with a sculpted rear bumper with similar chrome bars like at the front.

The Aravind Model 3 was created without welding or visible joints. It was made in a way so that it could look seamless and also had minimal creases. What was unique about the Model 3 was that it was bejeweled with the Aravind moniker, which was made using a sand casting technique with molten brass. Back in the 1960s, this vehicle was very popular in South India, especially in Thiruvananthapuram.

What happened to the Aravind Model 3, and why did it not become more popular?

In an interview, Rathish, who is the eldest grandson of K.A.B. Menon, highlighted that his grandfather wanted the Aravind to become a vehicle that could be bought by many Indians. He added that K.A.B. Menon wanted the Aravind Model 3 to be priced at Rs 5,000 to make it more accessible to middle-class buyers.

For this, he wanted to have an industrial license to mass-produce the Aravind Model 3. He also wanted the government to help and fund this project. However, his industrial license request was denied by the government, and instead, it was granted to Maruti Suzuki Udyog. Today, we all are aware that Maruti Suzuki India Limited is the largest carmaker in India.