Mahindra CJ340 history begins in 1947 when Mahindra secured Willys licence to build CJ-3B bodies and chassis in India — DNA that became decades of short-wheelbase production. The 1987 CJ340 DP 4WD paired that high-hood architecture with Peugeot XDP 4.90 diesel Mahindra alone was licensed to build outside France, at Igatpuri.
Export names Bushranger and Bahia carried the jeep to Australia and Europe. Chrysler forced CL340 rename in 1995. Classic variants added disc brakes from late 1996. Survivors cluster worldwide — documented by cj3b.info, owned by John Carroll since 1989 in the UK, celebrated on CJ340.com.
1947: India learns the jeep
Willys agreement established jeep manufacturing when utility vehicles were nation-building tools. CJ-3B high-hood became Mahindra identity — explaining Willys steering and brake interchange in 2026 per interchange guide.
Mahindra jeep lineage continued beyond CJ340 on later platforms — CJ340 remains the distinct peak of Peugeot diesel plus CJ-3B export combination enthusiasts chase.
Later Mahindra platforms continued jeep production beyond CJ340 — yet CJ340 remains the distinct Peugeot diesel plus CJ-3B export combination collectors chase.
Mahindra corporate history pages skip export nuance — cj3b.info and owner forums remain superior source for Bushranger versus Bahia naming than manufacturer timeline marketing summaries.
1987: CJ340 DP 4WD launches
Peugeot 2,112 cc XDP — 62 BHP, 89 lb-ft. KMT90 four-speed. T18 2.46:1 low. 5.38:1 axles. 11-inch drums. Worm steering. ~1,200 kg curb. Chassis CJ3B-4 DKxxxxx, engine DJxxxxxx at Igatpuri under unique Peugeot licence.
Igatpuri engine provenance matters in import disputes — DJxxxxxx traceability supports authenticity when grey-market paperwork is questioned at registration.
DJxxxxxx traceability supports import authenticity when paperwork is questioned at registration.
Future restorers will study your photograph archive — document stampings and export plates today; you are historian for vehicle whose factory records are thin abroad.
| 1947 | Willys CJ-3B licence |
|---|---|
| 1987 | CJ340 DP 4WD |
| Engine | Peugeot XDP at Igatpuri |
| Export AU | Bushranger |
| Export EU | Bahia |
Bushranger and Bahia exports
Australia: Bushranger, typically RHD, round lamps, khaki tops, 700×16 white steel — Clem on 4-the-love-of-jeeps.com. Europe: Bahia, often rectangular headlights and fibreglass front per cj3b.info, LHD continent, RHD UK. John Carroll's UK ownership since 1989 in JP magazine proves European viability from launch era.
Chrysler trademark pressure in 1995 was corporate, not mechanical — workshops today still quote CL340 and CJ340 interchangeably when forks and seals fit both stampings.
Chrysler trademark pressure in 1995 was corporate, not mechanical — workshops quote CL340 and CJ340 interchangeably when parts fit both eras.
1995 CL340 rename
Chrysler CJ trademark forced CL340 badge in 1995. Mechanical specification largely continued — CJ340 vs CL340 details Classic disc brakes from late 1996.
Bushranger and Bahia names outlived domestic CJ badge loss — export marketing preserved identities Indian domestic paperwork later folded into CL340.
Classic evolution
Disc brakes, rollover bars, chrome bull bars on certain white export builds from late 1996 — meaningful for buyers prioritising braking over period drums.
Production end and parts legacy
Production ceased as Mahindra moved to newer platforms. SKUs vanished — owners navigate via Nonu Ventures, Willys, forums. Why parts are hard explains without despair.
Living fleet today
Examples in Australia, UK, France, Germany, enthusiast garages globally. CJ340.com documents specs. 4-the-love-of-jeeps.com carries repair knowledge. cj3b.info preserves archive. Not museum-only — diesel SWB jeeps still start cold mornings when injection, steering, and steel are maintained honestly.
Export versus domestic identity
Indian domestic market CJ naming ended with CL340 shift while export Bushranger and Bahia badges continued marketing abroad — paperwork confusion starts here for importers today.
Igatpuri plant context appears in engine stamping lore — DJxxxxxx traceability ties jeep to Peugeot licence story more than generic Mahindra corporate history pages explain.
Surviving fleet size is small globally yet geographically dispersed — Australia, UK, France, Germany clusters each developed distinct owner folklore worth comparing before buying imported example.
Collector outlook
Values remain modest compared with early Land Rover or Toyota BJ — CJ340 offers entry collector story without hedge-fund entry ticket, with parts hunt as ongoing membership fee.
Provenance documentation from original export market strengthens collector narrative — Australian delivery paperwork or UK Bahia invoice history beats vague “from India” seller claim.
Museum interest in Indian automotive history may grow — CJ340 sits at intersection of Willys licence, Peugeot diesel, and export globalisation worth preserving with photographs today.
Mahindra tractor heritage shared dealer DNA decades ago — some rural Indian dealers once knew jeep parts; that memory faded as CL340 era ended and dealer consolidated onto agricultural lines.
Why history matters to owners today
Understanding 1947 Willys licence explains why steering parts still arrive from Willys catalogues in 2026 — history is not trivia, it is order routing instruction.
Knowing Igatpuri Peugeot licence explains French parts advantage and Indian OEM engine hardware coexistence — importers who grasp history spend less on wrong-country guesses.
Chrysler 1995 rename explains blank dealer screen today — history frames scarcity as corporate timeline outcome, not personal bad luck on parts phone call.
Indian automotive museum interest growing — your restored Bushranger photograph submission to heritage archive helps future historians beyond personal garage pride.
Export steering RHD LHD choice at factory gate shaped today import market — Australian RHD Bushranger and UK Bahia share RHD; French Bahia LHD shapes parts and registration story differently.
Mahindra licensed Willys CJ-3B in 1947 — decades before CJ340 DP 4WD export name combined that body with Peugeot XDP 4.90 assembled at Igatpuri under sole non-France Peugeot diesel licence.
Production 1987–1994 as CJ340 then CL340 rename 1995 when Chrysler acquired CJ trademark — export Bushranger Australia and Bahia Europe continued mechanical platform with market-specific styling.
Igatpuri plant identity links engine DJxxxxxx stamps to Indian manufacture — French Peugeot heritage in design, Indian execution in export jeeps reaching John Carroll UK 1989 and Clem Australia threads.
Chassis CJ3B-4 DKxxxxx encodes Willys lineage on every export unit — history is not badge on grille but licence chain from 1947 through 1990s global diesel jeep niche.
Frequently asked questions
When introduced?
1987 as CJ340 DP 4WD through 1994, CL340 rename 1995. Verify chassis CJ3B-4 DKxxxxx and engine DJxxxxxx on all orders and registration paperwork for fastest results.
Why Peugeot engine?
Mahindra licensed XDP production at Igatpuri — only plant outside France authorised.
Bushranger and Bahia?
Export names for Australian and European CJ340 variants — same mechanical platform, different trim.
When CL340?
1995 after Chrysler acquired CJ trademark rights.
Keep yours on the road
OEM and reconditioned CJ340 parts ship worldwide. Explore the fan site, regional guides, and owner community.