Pakistan Automobile Industry

[khail007]

afaik weren't American cars also popular in Pak, I have seen black, white photos with lots of fords for example also some chevvys but ofcourse not as much as ford

Yes, American cars were also popular like Ford's Cortina and Chevrolet's Impala were the most popular in Pakistan.
Further VW Beetle, Vauxhall Victor, Opel Kadet, Skoda, and Mercedez were also the famous brands in Pakistan. Citroen 2Cylinder Air Cooled Vintage was also there but not in large numbers.

 

[Maula Jatt]

@Wood @DrJekyll were American cars also very popular in India during that time period? cause from people I talked to from those times - a lot of their first cars were fords and chevorlet (but that was more expensive afaik while Ford was for middle class folks)

Yes, American cars were also popular like Ford's Cortina and Chevrolet's Impala were the most popular in Pakistan.
Further VW Beetle, Vauxhall Victor, Opel Kadet, Skoda, and Mercedez were also the famous brands in Pakistan. Citroen 2Cylinder Air Cooled Vintage was also there but not in large numbers.

yes, Ford Cortina, I looked it up and that was the car in the family from those days

very similar to this one

 

[Wood]

@Wood @DrJekyll were American cars also very popular in India during that time period? cause from people I talked to from those times - a lot of their first cars were fords and chevorlet

India did not have many cars in the 90s. Mauriti 800, Fiat Padmini and Ambassador are the earliest cars I remember. In the late 90s, we used to gawk at AC cars like Contessa and later Mitsubishi Lancer.

American cars have never been popular in India. Only Ford had some success in late 2000s, but have now closed shop. However, there are some recent rumours about Ford manufacture EV in India for export.

 

[Wood]

in 1970's, what a clean angle

View attachment 839493

Who manufactures auto rickshaw in Pakistan? In India, Bajaj is the major manufacturer.

How popular is it in cities today?

 

[khail007]

Who manufactures auto rickshaw in Pakistan? In India, Bajaj is the major manufacturer.

How popular is it in cities today?

In Pakistan

Branded:

Reversed Engineered:

Further, there are many local brand manufacturers like SIWA, TEZ RAFTAR, SUPER ASIA, etc.

Some are manufacturing loader types even using hydraulics to dump the loads:

 

[Paitoo]

@Wood @DrJekyll were American cars also very popular in India during that time period? cause from people I talked to from those times - a lot of their first cars were fords and chevorlet (but that was more expensive afaik while Ford was for middle class folks)

During Pre-liberalization era (i.e. pre 90s) importing cars was not easy. It was a period colloquially known as 'License-Quote-Permit' Raj. Duty was 100% (still is), paperwork monumental and you were looked upon as a bad person for wasting country's precious foreign exchange.

Having said that, American cars were favoured, esp. Chevrolets. Many such cars can be seen in old Bollywood movies. There is also a fairly large vintage car collection in India (and I am sure in Pakistan too) thanks to the Rajas and Nawabs. These can be seen occasionally in heritage events in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur etc.

 

[Wood]

During Pre-liberalization era (i.e. pre 90s) importing cars was not easy. It was a period colloquially known as 'License-Quote-Permit' Raj. Duty was 100% (still is), paperwork monumental and you were looked upon as a bad person for wasting country's precious foreign exchange.

Having said that, American cars were favoured, esp. Chevrolets. Many such cars can be seen in old Bollywood movies. There is also a fairly large vintage car collection in India (and I am sure in Pakistan too) thanks to the Rajas and Nawabs. These can be seen occasionally in heritage events in Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur etc.

I don't know about pre 90s, but have not seen much of American vehicles in the 90s. I also did not know about import being easier. Maybe this was a pleasure for rich people

 

[Paitoo]

I don't know about pre 90s, but have not seen much of American vehicles in the 90s. I also did not know about import being easier. Maybe this was a pleasure for rich people

Once Maruti was launched, imports practically stopped. American cars made a formal entry only with Ford in the late 90s (Ford Escort was the first model I think). Import was not easy at all. Still isn't, but that time there was additional baggage of spending forex which was looked down upon by authorities due to our socialist and protectionist mindset.

Pakistan did not suffer from this mindset and hence had a much higher proportion of imported cars IMO.

 

[ghazi52]

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[ghazi52]

Khyber Pass 1968, NWFP...

 

[Maula Jatt]

Khyber Pass 1968, NWFP...

View attachment 842349

is that a Cadillac taxi?

 

[ghazi52]

is that a Cadillac taxi?

Yes,
Passengers can seat anywhere except on tyres.
1970's..

 

[ghazi52]

.,.,.,

 

[ghazi52]

Lower Topa, Murree, Punjab.... 1940's

 

[ghazi52]

Drive-in-Cinema , Karachi..
1980's