Premier Automobiles -- Is it still alive??

swale84 · 26th July 2007, 23:36

Premier is actually in a resurection phase. Their plant in Chinchwad is undergoing expansion and they're increasing capacity for production of the SIGMA.

I had visited it a few months ago, they were setting up an assembly line for the SIGMA. Till then it was being assembled in a 'less organised manner!!'

It's apparently doing good numbers in Goa. (According to their company newsletter).

amtak · 8th May 2008, 09:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by amtak

I know I am asking a foolish question

but any owner's of the SIGMA or anyone taken a testdrive...???? There is a Premier showroom in Kalina...I am thinking of visiting it

Bump! Now that Mr. Behram has started a thread on PAL. I just thought of reviving this one as well. I was planning to visit the showroom for a TD but I could not. Has anyone on the forum?

Technocrat · 8th May 2008, 09:18

Has any one visited the Premier Factory in Chinchwad?

Also does the Premier group still belong to Walchand Family ?

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 8th May 2008, 10:03

Hi Salil, it is good that you have revived this thread - the Premier Automobiles Ltd at Chinchwad was then known as MTDC (not Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation but Machine Tool Division Chinchwad). I had gone there once to test the 118NE's noise level because they had some equipment there. The test was a disaster due to high ambient noise in the area.

The van is made in collaboration with CMC (China Motor Corporation). I have seen showrooms in South Goa, Dombivli (outsde the station) and Nasik (near Shalimar).

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

amtak · 8th May 2008, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

Hi Salil, it is good that you have revived this thread - the Premier Automobiles Ltd at Chinchwad was then known as MTDC (not Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation but Machine Tool Division Chinchwad). I had gone there once to test the 118NE's noise level because they had some equipment there. The test was a disaster due to high ambient noise in the area.

The van is made in collaboration with CMC (China Motor Corporation). I have seen showrooms in South Goa, Dombivli (outsde the station) and Nasik (near Shalimar).

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Apparently Salil is the starter of the thread. I am amit! I have seen a showroom of Premier in Mira Road too. Howver, all I see there are the roadstars and no sigma's.

simplyself · 8th May 2008, 10:28

I test drove a Sigma three years ago. They had a showroom in LB Nagar Area, Hyderabad. It then had an HM Isuszu diesel. There isnt much difference between a bullock cart and Sigma, except that Sigma is a litle bit faster. Very harsh ride. Steering was quite heavy, and the tuning circle wasnt anything to write about. Since then, the showroom has disappeared.

kavesh55 · 8th May 2008, 10:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by swale84

Premier is actually in a resurection phase. Their plant in Chinchwad is undergoing expansion and they're increasing capacity for production of the SIGMA.

I had visited it a few months ago, they were setting up an assembly line for the SIGMA. Till then it was being assembled in a 'less organised manner!!'

It's apparently doing good numbers in Goa. (According to their company newsletter).

Whatever they do they cant make a Premier Padmini again, the dies & jigs must have been given off. Am i right at that Behram ?
If they cant do that they are no good for me.
If all for a surprise could they still make, hope they do it with a 5 bearing engine this time, so A/c can be used with ease.

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 8th May 2008, 11:24

Dear Kavesh - It is indeed a sad fact of life that people who mattered there (and I was not one of them, I was just a junior engineer) did not share our passion for cars, especially the Padmini. There seemed to be a genuine BMR there (basic mein raada). Ask yourself the basic question - did they really want to continue making cars ? Or go even further basic - did they want to make cars in the first place ? Somebody passionate started it, I appreciate the spirit. It was handed down. Unfortunately, it seems that the guys who got it had other ideas. My grandfather did not start something like this, so I am doing what I am doing today. Think about it. Your conscience will give you the answer. The dialogue of Sholay is applicable here - "hum angrezon ke zamaane ke jailer hain, hum nahin sudhrenge". The japs who came with the Maruti knew this on day 1 and are laughing all the way to the bank 25 years after they brought the 800 in. Most of us knew this 25 years back (aa bail mujhe maar !).

On the 5 bearing crankshaft, we had a programme going to adapt the Nissan A12 engine into the Padmini. The steering linkages were designed and moved back to accommodate the engine. Chassis layouts were ready. You can even see this arrangement in the last cars made in 1997 (without the engine of course). That car would have been the ultimate Padmini. I am still searching for a 1997 model S1 floor shift with the modified dash panel. If I get the car, I will adapt the Nissan engine in no time in it. Cutting the body panels is not the correct way, it has to be manufactured as required. For me, it is what I love to do and I know that I will do a perfect job. Packaging comes naturally to me.

I meet many people who say "I had the Padmini", well both of us are part of the lucky few who say "I have the Padmini". Let's pledge to keep it that way. Forever.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

prabhuav · 8th May 2008, 12:41

Behram,

In that case , I have the ultimate Padmini.. Nissan A12 already in and test driven.

Back to the Garage for the rest of the restoration.

Vijay

Cyrus43 · 8th May 2008, 12:47

Can we please have some pictures Vijay..I am sure everyone is dying to take a look at it!!

Technocrat · 8th May 2008, 12:54

Cyrus: Check it out here

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...ni-1989-a.html

Delta9 · 8th May 2008, 14:02

PREMIER LTD. - Locate A Dealer

just a thought .. how is it that all the dealers have given just their mobile numbers ?? they do have the showrooms right ??

off topic

the premier site reminds me of joomla 1.5 cms for some reason

amtak · 8th May 2008, 14:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Delta9

PREMIER LTD. - Locate A Dealer

just a thought .. how is it that all the dealers have given just their mobile numbers ?? they do have the showrooms right ??

switching off the cellphone is easier than a landline right?

bblost · 8th May 2008, 15:43

Behram: that felt like reading a chapter from "Atlas Shrugged".

People without passion are like a car with fuel.
Everything is perfect, you just cannot go anywhere.

spadival · 8th May 2008, 16:11

I guess Sigma is just as bad as the Force Minidor !! Not surprised, the factories must be close to each other in Chinchwad!!

26th July 2007, 23:36	#31
swale84 BHPian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Pune Posts: 459 Thanked: 9 Times	Premier is actually in a resurection phase. Their plant in Chinchwad is undergoing expansion and they're increasing capacity for production of the SIGMA. I had visited it a few months ago, they were setting up an assembly line for the SIGMA. Till then it was being assembled in a 'less organised manner!!' It's apparently doing good numbers in Goa. (According to their company newsletter).
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 09:18	#33
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Has any one visited the Premier Factory in Chinchwad? Also does the Premier group still belong to Walchand Family ?
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 10:03	#34
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,354 Times	Hi Salil, it is good that you have revived this thread - the Premier Automobiles Ltd at Chinchwad was then known as MTDC (not Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation but Machine Tool Division Chinchwad). I had gone there once to test the 118NE's noise level because they had some equipment there. The test was a disaster due to high ambient noise in the area. The van is made in collaboration with CMC (China Motor Corporation). I have seen showrooms in South Goa, Dombivli (outsde the station) and Nasik (near Shalimar). Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 10:28	#36
simplyself Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,051 Thanked: 621 Times	Sigma I test drove a Sigma three years ago. They had a showroom in LB Nagar Area, Hyderabad. It then had an HM Isuszu diesel. There isnt much difference between a bullock cart and Sigma, except that Sigma is a litle bit faster. Very harsh ride. Steering was quite heavy, and the tuning circle wasnt anything to write about. Since then, the showroom has disappeared.
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 11:24	#38
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,354 Times	Dear Kavesh - It is indeed a sad fact of life that people who mattered there (and I was not one of them, I was just a junior engineer) did not share our passion for cars, especially the Padmini. There seemed to be a genuine BMR there (basic mein raada). Ask yourself the basic question - did they really want to continue making cars ? Or go even further basic - did they want to make cars in the first place ? Somebody passionate started it, I appreciate the spirit. It was handed down. Unfortunately, it seems that the guys who got it had other ideas. My grandfather did not start something like this, so I am doing what I am doing today. Think about it. Your conscience will give you the answer. The dialogue of Sholay is applicable here - "hum angrezon ke zamaane ke jailer hain, hum nahin sudhrenge". The japs who came with the Maruti knew this on day 1 and are laughing all the way to the bank 25 years after they brought the 800 in. Most of us knew this 25 years back (aa bail mujhe maar !). On the 5 bearing crankshaft, we had a programme going to adapt the Nissan A12 engine into the Padmini. The steering linkages were designed and moved back to accommodate the engine. Chassis layouts were ready. You can even see this arrangement in the last cars made in 1997 (without the engine of course). That car would have been the ultimate Padmini. I am still searching for a 1997 model S1 floor shift with the modified dash panel. If I get the car, I will adapt the Nissan engine in no time in it. Cutting the body panels is not the correct way, it has to be manufactured as required. For me, it is what I love to do and I know that I will do a perfect job. Packaging comes naturally to me. I meet many people who say "I had the Padmini", well both of us are part of the lucky few who say "I have the Padmini". Let's pledge to keep it that way. Forever. Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 12:41	#39
prabhuav BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 672 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	Behram, In that case , I have the ultimate Padmini.. Nissan A12 already in and test driven. Back to the Garage for the rest of the restoration. Vijay
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 12:47	#40
Cyrus43 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 5,019 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	Can we please have some pictures Vijay..I am sure everyone is dying to take a look at it!!
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 12:54	#41
Technocrat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: GTA Posts: 14,813 Thanked: 2,700 Times	Cyrus: Check it out here https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modif...ni-1989-a.html
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 14:02	#42
Delta9 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bombay Posts: 61 Thanked: 0 Times View My Garage	PREMIER LTD. - Locate A Dealer just a thought .. how is it that all the dealers have given just their mobile numbers ?? they do have the showrooms right ?? off topic the premier site reminds me of joomla 1.5 cms for some reason Last edited by Technocrat : 8th May 2008 at 14:12. Reason: plese use edit instead of making back to back posts
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 15:43	#44
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 11,008 Thanked: 15,356 Times View My Garage	Behram: that felt like reading a chapter from "Atlas Shrugged". People without passion are like a car with fuel. Everything is perfect, you just cannot go anywhere.
	() Thanks

8th May 2008, 16:11	#45
spadival Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Melbourne, AU Posts: 1,773 Thanked: 26 Times View My Garage	I guess Sigma is just as bad as the Force Minidor !! Not surprised, the factories must be close to each other in Chinchwad!!
	() Thanks