Was this separate chassis body design a clever feature or a fatal flaw?
The Standard Herald was somewhat different from cars of its era in the Indian market for its separate chassis and body design. Making this design choice affected the performance, maintenance and longevity of the vehicle. That, on the one hand, made it easier to replace body panels when there was damage, perhaps making some element of the repair or maintenance easier. It also gave a degree of flexibility in the body style, in theory allowing for different body types on the same chassis. However, this design also added more potential squeaks and rattles points that could develop over time on rough Indian roads. Apart from that the separate chassis made it weigh more than today's unibody constructions, which possibly decreases fuel efficiency and performance. Given the conditions under which 1960s-70s India's roads were, and the durability concerns of Indian car buyers at the time, the question is can this design choice be seen as innovative and beneficial, or did it end up becoming a part of the Herald's problem?
The idea was clever in theory, but a flaw in practice. Perfect for repairs, but those rattles must have been terrible to live with on Indian roads.
Definitely a clever feature. Making repairs was so much easier and cheaper. This should have been a big selling point in a country where jugaad is king.
Fatal flaw, no doubt. It just wasn’t worth the added weight and complexity, especially in India where fuel efficiency matters.
At the time, I'd say it was clever. That would have been great for commercial uses, and it allowed for easier customization.
Not clever, not fatal, just different. There were pros and cons, but execution mattered more than the concept.
A clever feature turned into a flaw that was fatal. A good idea, but it couldn't survive the rough and tumble of India's roads and maintenance culture.
It was ahead of its time. With better materials and engineering, this could have been a game changer for customization and repairs, today.
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Discussions and Questions Was This Separate Chassis Body Design A Clever Feature Or A Fatal Flaw
Was this separate chassis body design a clever feature or a fatal flaw?
07 January 2025 09:55
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