The lovely Premier Padmini S1 (Fiat 1100-D)

[Ram]

Premier Automobiles Ltd., erstwhile flagship company of the Walchand Hirachand Group, assembled Fiat's 1100cc cars from the 1950s until 1997.
The Fiat 1200 GranLuce Berlina, debuted in India in 1964 with the old faithful 1,089 cc engine. Premier manufactured it at their Kurla, Mumbai plant until they sold majority stake to Fiat SpA in Sept. 1997.

With minor modifications over the years, it was variously named, Fiat 1100, Fiat Millecento, Fiat 1100-Delight, Premier President and Premier Padmini.
Towards the end of its innings it even sported a diesel engine from Frateli Negri Machine (FNM), Italy.



My Padmini S1 has a 48 bhp normally aspirated engine, breathing through a Solex carburettor and mated to a 4-speed fully synchromeshed gearbox. The extra 9 bhp being achieved by the use of a thermostat controlled electric fan. After many years, vaccuum advance and retard was reintroduced in the Premier Padmini and the car effortlessly purrs to 120 km/hr.

Unleaded petrol was introduced in India in 1995 and my car has a catalytic converter, with an allergy for that other bane of Mumbai-suburbs, speed bumps!

Out of nostalgia for the 'fifties rock-n-roll era cars, with their wide white-wall tires, chrome and laid-back boulevard cruising style, I had this car painted red, white and blue
with 2K automotive acrylic. The red and the white were Hyundai colors and the metallic blue was a Tata color. Outfitted with stainless steel 'chrome' spears and a Hella high-mounted stop light, this lady is my pride and joy.

My car has fifties-style 14-inch wheels shod with 5.20-14 wide white wall nylon bias-ply tires--the last of an fading away upper-class. Finding 14" wheel covers was a challenge. Aftermarket wheel covers meant for a Toyota Qualis fit the bill. The wheel covers are held to the wheel by a chrome closed centre-nut. The bracket that holds the centre-nut screw was designed for the deeper wheel of the Qualis. I had to hammer it into shape for the Fiat.

...echoing Elton John
"Goodbye Fiat 1100-D, though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself while those around you crawled.
They crawled out of the woodwork. And they whispered into your brain.
They set you on the treadmill, and they made you change your name.

This car was actually modded and rallied at one time with twin-carbs, free-flow exhaust and hot-plugs.

And it seems to me you lived your life like a candle in the wind.
Never knowing who to cling to when the rain set in.
And I would've liked to've known you but I was just a kid.
Your candle burned out long before your legend ever did."...

[nitrous]

One of the few 'premier padmini' enthusiasts. I still have race videos of these cars rallying!

[v1p3r]

Your car is beautiful. I respect your passion. I still have chilhood memories of this car...

Nitrous, I want those videos macha. Getting my HDD this time...

[veyron1]

hey, the pic ain't showing...the premier was a nice car: the MAIN reason for me loving the car, was the fact that it was a RWD....i remember when i did my first (involuntary) 360 on it, a LONG time ago... dunno why, but i liked the 118 NE better (a little) ; simply loved that makkhan gearbox....

[moralfibre]

Nitrous could you please upload those videos on rapidshare or somewhere so that we can all have those videos please?

[mclaren1885]

Sweet !!! Sweet !!! Sweet .. Well thats the only word that i could think of ..

[Steeroid]

VERY nice car...brings back old memories. White wall tyres and column-mounted shifts....

I need to get my bug fiat as soon as possible - before they become extinct. v1p3r has agreed to give me his V6 to plonk in there...

[v1p3r]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

v1p3r has agreed to give me his V6 to plonk in there...

WHAT?!

[man23ish]

I get nostalgic seeing old Padmini's and Ambys. I learnt my driving on an Amby and gave my road test on a Padmini.. Those, steering mounted gear-shift was just phenomenal..

[veyron1]

@man23ish: yeah, those column shifts were simply outta-this-world....

@steeroid&v1p3r: err...seems like neither of you have decided on the V6..may I have it then..?

[v1p3r]

Veyron, stick to quad turbos and ten radiators, buddy!

What is it with the Mal folk and my V6?!

[veyron1]

@v1p3r...hahaha...yeah, i wish i could...

so does that mean you ARE getting in a V6...?

p.s- you a mal. too, right...?(not the material kind- talking about the lingo)

@ram- perhaps you could fit in a V6 in your fiat, eh..?

[v1p3r]

Let's put it this way... I WANT to get a V6...

Yes, I am a Mal, and not the shopping kind!

[devarshi84]

I had a 68 fiat before (the baby ambassador looalike)

believe me it was fun. I would have loved to keep it well maintained your way but with so many cars it would be tough to maintain a classic car.

best of luck with your padmini. Would like to see it in form one day.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by veyron1

hey, the pic ain't showing...the premier was a nice car: the MAIN reason for me loving the car, was the fact that it was a RWD....i remember when i did my first (involuntary) 360 on it, a LONG time ago... dunno why, but i liked the 118 NE better (a little) ; simply loved that makkhan gearbox....

Do refresh your browser, you'll see the pic, veyron1.
And the makkhan gearbox is exactly what I have.
My Padmini is a 1995 S1 deluxe BU, with the Nissan fully-synchromeshed four-on-the-floor gearbox. It's action is like a knife through butter.
That year, Premier also gave it the Nissan differential from the 118NE.