Thank you Mr. Dhabar for starting this thread, and thanks for the detailed list of Padmini models. I still drive my MZV 5214 as a second car. In fact, I just took it out this morning to drop the family (5+1 people in the car and 4 suitcases + 3 handbags in the boot!) to the railway station, as my Zen VXi cannot take more than 5 persons and a suitcase.
My dad bought the Padmini second-hand in '94, but I still cannot figure out which model mine is. It is an '87 production, has bench seats, chrome bumpers, reverse lights (though they are operated by a switch under the dash, so may be an after-market fitment), white indicator covers in the front, chrome beading on the front windshield and aluminum beading on the rear glass. The lettering on the boot lid just says Premier Padmini on the left side and no monogram on the left side of the boot lid. I have a hunch that it is a PP Economy. Any ideas?
I had it repainted and re-upholstered 4 years ago, but I want to do it again, this time to its original specs. I need the steering combination switch (the one with chrome stalks, both on the right side. If anyone has one, please let me know. I also had a second-hand AC fitted in it last year, with a Sanden 507 compressor and a Palm Air?? blower, and the cooling is chilling! I had to shift the battery to the other side to accommodate the compressor and had to fit a larger radiator from a diesel Padmini to compensate for the extra heat.
That said, the Padmini is a work horse and very simple and cheap to maintain. I love the exhaust note and the fact that it can go as slow as you want and pull any load in 3rd gear. I have taken the car off-road on my countless birdwatching trips and countless trips to Pench Tiger reserve and have touched 120 kmph (speedo reading) in it on quite a few occasions. It still gives me 11 kmpl.
I love my Premier Padmini! |