The Mahindra Major was the last version of the Jeep CJ-3B line built in India. Marketed from January 2003, it combined the familiar flat-sided body with a stiffer new chassis and the 2.5-litre MDI3200 diesel, and it stayed in production until 2010.
Mahindra Major at a glance
| Maker | Mahindra & Mahindra, India |
|---|---|
| On sale | January 2003–2010 |
| Based on | Jeep CJ-3B |
| Chassis | New Generation Chassis, 115 x 60 mm steel box section instead of a 100 x 50 mm C-section |
| Chassis origin | First used on the Armada from January 1998, then spread through the range |
| Engine | MDI3200, 2.5-litre turbodiesel |
| Power | 63 hp at 3,200 rpm; 182 Nm of torque |
| Gearbox | NGT 520 five-speed manual |
| Transfer case | Spicer T18 two-speed in four-wheel-drive versions |
| Suspension | Leaf springs, rigid axles |
| Steering | Recirculating ball |
| Track width | 123 cm |
based on one source.
History of the Mahindra Major
The Major arrived in January 2003 as an upgrade of the CL-550 MDI. Its most important change was under the skin: the New Generation Chassis, a 115 by 60 mm steel box section in place of the 100 by 50 mm C-section used before. That chassis had first appeared on the Armada in January 1998 and had gradually spread through Mahindra’s range.
The engine was the MDI3200, a 2.5-litre turbodiesel with 63 hp at 3,200 rpm. Compared with the old F134 petrol unit of the CJ-3B it started more readily and used less oil, though it was noisier. A new inline fuel injection system cut fuel consumption and maintenance, and a rotary pump was used later. Power went through an NGT 520 five-speed gearbox and, in four-wheel-drive versions, a Spicer T18 two-speed transfer case.
The Major became a common sight in rural India, used for transport, agriculture and general haulage. Because it looked like the original Jeep it was simply called a “jeep” there, even though it was a different vehicle from a different company. It went out of production in 2010.
Design and features
- Stiffer chassis: the box-section New Generation Chassis replaced the old C-section frame.
- Modernised diesel: the MDI3200 gave 63 hp with lower fuel consumption and easier starting than the CJ-3B’s petrol engine.
- Five-speed gearbox: the NGT 520 replaced the three-speed Warner unit of earlier jeeps.
- Body styles: soft-top convertible or hardtop with optional air conditioning, seating up to six.
Mahindra Major versions
- Soft-top: the open utility body with a canvas top.
- Hardtop: a closed body with optional air conditioning.
- Four-wheel drive: Spicer T18 two-speed transfer case.
- Two-wheel drive: sold alongside the 4×4 for lighter rural work.
The Major closed the line that began with the Mahindra CJ; its chassis was first used on the Armada, and the rural utility role was later taken by the Bolero. More in the Mahindra collection.
Sources
- Mahindra Major, English Wikipedia: chassis, engine, gearbox, design
