Man, what did you say to that Indian-built Standard Gazel up there? You must have said something because it looks absolutely pissed. Not only does it look pissed, at you, I think, but it seems to have actual pupils, in the headlights. This may be one of the most blatantly and aggressively anthropomorphic cars I’ve ever seen!
Standard of India was based in Madras and active from 1951 to 1988; the cars were based on British Standard-Triumph cars, but over the years became a bit more distinct. The Gazel there came out in 1972 and was an updated version of the Standard Herald, itself based on the Triumph Herald. The Gazel had a 948cc engine and was said to be the first car to be remodeled/engineered in India.
But those pupils! I thought maybe this was some strange affectation of the brochure here, until I saw these pictures:
The hell is going on here? What are they? Are they to block the filament of the headlight, for some reason? Why won’t any of the few sites to talk about these cars address just what the hell the black circles in the center of the lights are?
Other Standards have similarly strange headlight shenanigans. Check out the Standard Herald Mark III, which seems to have eyelids:
These give the car a sort of angry demeanor as well, and these do appear in multiple images:
What are they for? Is this some anti-glare solution? I don’t think they’re like modern Jeep angry eyes, as those are a distinctively and embarrassingly American phenomenon.
The headlight arrangement is the result of using the hood of the Triumph Vitesse, but only keeping the inboard headlamps and replacing the outers with the sidelight/turn indicators.
I need to do some more research here, especially on those pupil’d headlamps, because I think I’m going to want them on all my cars.
Older incandescent driving lights had chromed doodads in the center that looked like, well, nipples.
I think it’s a reflector, like this modern equivalent.
https://blenderartists.org/uploads/default/original/4X/8/5/e/85e18e35d80b1d02152649e592917c8550b39025.jpg
I don’t think it’s aggression or anger. One of my Indian friends has a permanently furrowed brow like that and he’s a happy relaxed guy. He calls it his monsoon canopy.
On the topic of rebadged Triumphs, I just received word that my Acclaim has started its journey to the US:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53528300502_d8de7556f7_c.jpg
I can now add this photo to my growing collection of “vehicles I own depicted on a flatbed.” I’d like to say this is first time it’s happened for one I haven’t even had a chance to drive yet, but in truth I cannot.
At least the DAF in the background suggests it’ll be right at home in my back yard.
Can I ask why you’re going through the trouble to import that car to the US? Isn’t it just a rebadged Honda Accord?
I have a weakness for making profoundly misguided automotive decisions. It’s really more of a rebadged Honda Ballade, though.
Was BL able to do with the Triumph Acclaim what they achieved with the Rover 825/827– use a fundamentally reliable and well-built car as a basis for a handsome and nicely-finished but unreliable and poorly assembled piece of crap?
I imagine I’ll find out after it gets here.
I don’t think they had the time. T’was one of the first anglicized Hondas, they mostly just rebadged these.
Making them actually worse came later.
The original fast and furious, without the fast part.
These are headlamps your Pao needs to scare away the deer.
That’s the car equivalent of Bender B. Rodriguez.
It sure does look a lot like him:
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/enfuturama/images/2/24/The_Honking_%28Main_Episode%29_-_222.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20210803102846
Anyone who’s ever watched the 1963 Outer Limits episode, “The Zanti Misfits,” will recognize the design inspiration for the Gazel.
Unfortunately, the ‘Angry Eye Jeep’ phenomenon has also spread to India. Many people like sticking them onto Mahindra’s Thar, the Jeep Wrangler’s Indian cousin.
I’ve noticed it can be a regional thing too. In the south it’s almost like Jeeps came off the factory with those hideous things. Then I go to California and I see a few but they’re mostly in the minority.
The one with the pupils is the initial burst of white-hot anger. The one with the eyelids is the bitter, lingering grudge.
There’s a charm to this car that today’s angry faced (especially the modded Jeeps) don’t have.
I agree and I think it’s because it’s little. Like a toddler scowling at you while they try to boss you around. Adorable.
The only things missing are a lift kit and a giant Punisher sticker.
I love angry-face Triumphs. Someone up the road from me used to have a bright red Vitesse. With tiny slot mags on it! Who couldn’t love something like that?
If you want to research, ask Karl Bhote. He has answered most of my questions regarding the Madras (sorry, Chennai) Standards. I always just accepted the headlight nipples for what they were and figured they were there for some bizarre reason connected to the Licence Raj.
I know you said Indian but they look like they should be shouting at me in Russian..
“Nyet! Zaporozhets!”
Мы тебя похороним!
::shouted while angrily banging its spare tire on the table::
Those are some Brezhniv level eyebrows.
There is no competing with Brezhnev.
https://i.redd.it/aklgyaluple81.png
Apparently it was the law, in order to reduce glare (as suggested in others’ comments). I found some articles, but these forum posts mention both the dots and the half-lidding (as well as a yellow stripe that I gather is still the law in Gujarat): https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/231735-why-did-people-put-black-strip-their-headlights-90s-2.html
Blue dots, maybe… But from the factory? Inquiring Minds Want to Know.
I need to see one with big 7″ googly eyes on it
It’s probably not “Gazel”, but “Gaze L”… and ya kinda need pupils to gaze!
Those headlights are anything but Standard.
The eyelids make it look like it just realized someone drugged it and when it wakes up someone will pay in a big way.
I could imagine one of these cars busting through a brick wall just like the kool-aid man while screaming “oh yeah!” What was on the wall you ask that pissed off the Gazel so much? It was a late 90’s Dodge Neon ad painted on like a mural. Say Hi!
I think the black spot blocks out the hot spot of the bulb so it doesn’t hurt to look at the headlights.
I imagine the horn sounds like the “grr” of a Chihuahua that spotted a squirrel in a neighboring yard.
Also, the Mark III looks like it’s taking an eye exam. “Better 1, or better 2 …?”
Angry faces on cars are weird, but those pupils… that’s just disturbing.