Standard (Indian automobile)

For these, production of diesel engines began in India, later exported back to the UK for use in the refurbished Carbodies FX4Q London cabs.

[3] In 1966 the Standard Herald Mark II was introduced, which featured the bonnet and front end of the Vitesse, but strangely with the outer pair of headlights blocked off and the parking lights cum side-indicators incorporated there instead.

In anticipation of the Mark III, very late Mk IIs featured modified rear bodywork (different roofline and a bootlid without a recess).

[4] The new Standard Herald Mark III, made from 1968 to 1971, received a unique indigenously developed four-door body,[6] to meet the demands of Indian buyers (with large families) and competition from the Ambassador and Fiat 1100 (both of which featured four doors).

It received a new, more sober rear end with low horizontal rectangular tail-lights (which are also still used on some locally built buses and three-wheeled taxis in India) and without the characteristic tail-fins of the Herald designed by Michelotti.

[3] It also received a live rear-axle suspended on two leaf springs, purportedly copied from the Triumph Toledo instead of the Herald's swing-axle independent suspension, replacement of the Herald's front bucket seats with a bench, and underwent the retrograde move of replacing the shifter with a long-crank version as also found in the Standard Ten.

The updated model (Mark II) received a 'standard' bonnet, hinged at the rear, instead of the forward lifting front end inherited from the Herald.

This move was most likely because the normal Herald bonnets popping open on either or both sides during running was a common occurrence, especially on rough roads.

With a kerb weight of 1,335 kg (2,940 lb) and a four-speed manual transmission (it, too, from the Standard 20), top speed was a lowly 145 km/h (90 mph).

[9] Hopes had been high, with the Ministry of Industry claiming that the 2000 would be successful enough that the black market price of imported luxury cars would go down.