Spotted a Sipani/Rover Montego

aaggoswami · 3rd February 2008, 21:17

I would like to recall that when the cars were launched, Rover Claimed that the car is cheaper to run than even a Kinetic Honda at that point of time. I dont know wheather it was ture or not, but one thing is sure, that the car was quite cheap to run at that point of time and the engine made this car a really good highway cruuiser again at that point of time.

Any way its really sad to see their present state.

Sell them off for around 75K to travel operators and i am sure they can easily wear it off.

anjan_c2007 · 13th March 2009, 22:53

This Montego is in daily use for commuting. The diesel engine is quite crude by todays standards.The front bumper is not original.It has the distinction of being the only car from Sipani that still runs in 2009!

Spotted a Sipani/Rover Montego-sonycamv-2340.jpg

Spotted a Sipani/Rover Montego-sonycamv-2341.jpg

Spotted a Sipani/Rover Montego-sonycamv-2342.jpg

Spotted a Sipani/Rover Montego-sonycamv-2344.jpg

Mpower · 14th March 2009, 18:28

It was actually a great car for the early 90s and it could have saved Sipani. Probably India's first DI turbodiesel..was a diesel rocket back in the day.

Dippy · 14th March 2009, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

It was actually a great car for the early 90s and it could have saved Sipani. Probably India's first DI turbodiesel..was a diesel rocket back in the day.

True, it was the first turbo diesel in those days and went with a sticker price of 12 lakhs on road in Mumbai.

nandishpal · 14th March 2009, 19:14

monego was a hell of a car.absolutely superb.he features the car had was too good for those days.specially the turbo.had a sun roof & was strongly built.good highway car.i know my neighbour who used to do bangalore coorg thrice a week in the montego effortlessly.

ajmat · 14th March 2009, 20:03

he perkins engine was amazing for its day. In my student days, I had a neighbour who had one of these. He swore by it

Mpower · 14th March 2009, 20:22

I remember dragging one on MG road in my dad's Tata Estate. Was comprehensively blown away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippy

True, it was the first turbo diesel in those days and went with a sticker price of 12 lakhs on road in Mumbai.

Really that much? I thought it was under 10L. The estate version looked waay better than the sedan and sold well too. Back then diesels were still frowned upon in the luxury market though.

anjan_c2007 · 14th March 2009, 20:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

I remember dragging one on MG road in my dad's Tata Estate. Was comprehensively blown away.
Really that much? I thought it was under 10L. The estate version looked waay better than the sedan and sold well too. Back then diesels were still frowned upon in the luxury market though.

Yes, the on road price was around 11 to 12 L on road depending on state taxes. It was an almost assembled car with all Rover parts and hence the duties paid were awfully high.My friend who owns this car is too happy and never misses out praising its qualities.

Fountainheader · 14th March 2009, 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dippy

True, it was the first turbo diesel in those days and went with a sticker price of 12 lakhs on road in Mumbai.

12L in early 90s would be like Ambani's riches!

But yes, one of the few "Stud level" cars those days

Volt · 14th March 2009, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

Probably India's first DI turbodiesel..was a diesel rocket back in the day.

It was indeed India's first and only DI turbodiesel (in a passenger car application) till the Octavia came on the scene. Infact the Perkins diesel engine (known as Prima) had won the Queens Award for Technological Achievement back in 1989.

I remember drooling over it as an engineering student back then (the technology fascinated me). Thanks guys for bringing back memories of an aspirational car.

kannan666 · 15th March 2009, 13:55

A great car in it's day ! This is the car that could have actually kep Sipani afloat but never did ! Poor marketing and customer support services ??

kannan666 · 15th March 2009, 13:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

This Montego is in daily use for commuting. The diesel engine is quite crude by todays standards.The front bumper is not original.It has the distinction of being the only car from Sipani that still runs in 2009!
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Nice pics Anjan ! This was indeed a great car in it's days !

ece2k2 · 15th March 2009, 15:46

Saw a bunch of dust covered uncared montegos lying in the Sipani company's yard at Bangalore 6-7 years back. Had been to Sipani to see if we can get back the Montana's booking amount of 25K then.

Still remember drooling the Montego's catalog when we booked the Montana way back during my childhood days.

madhokritesh · 15th March 2009, 16:12

Dont we have any Montego owners on our forum? respond if any owners or ex owners around.

akshay4587 · 15th March 2009, 16:24

Recently i saw a Montego Saloon white color Goa registered standing outside a house in mohali,it had a broken windshield,other than that the car looked fine,much better than one shown in the pic,one fine day it just vanished from there

3rd February 2008, 21:17	#16
aaggoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Vadodara Posts: 4,982 Thanked: 2,931 Times	Worst than Classic I would like to recall that when the cars were launched, Rover Claimed that the car is cheaper to run than even a Kinetic Honda at that point of time. I dont know wheather it was ture or not, but one thing is sure, that the car was quite cheap to run at that point of time and the engine made this car a really good highway cruuiser again at that point of time. Any way its really sad to see their present state. Sell them off for around 75K to travel operators and i am sure they can easily wear it off.
	() Thanks

13th March 2009, 22:53	#17
anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 8,335 Thanked: 20,656 Times View My Garage	This Montego is in daily use for commuting. The diesel engine is quite crude by todays standards.The front bumper is not original.It has the distinction of being the only car from Sipani that still runs in 2009!
	(2) Thanks

14th March 2009, 18:28	#18
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	It was actually a great car for the early 90s and it could have saved Sipani. Probably India's first DI turbodiesel..was a diesel rocket back in the day.
	() Thanks

14th March 2009, 19:14	#20
nandishpal BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 492 Thanked: 80 Times	monego was a hell of a car.absolutely superb.he features the car had was too good for those days.specially the turbo.had a sun roof & was strongly built.good highway car.i know my neighbour who used to do bangalore coorg thrice a week in the montego effortlessly.
	() Thanks

14th March 2009, 20:03	#21
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,866 Thanked: 27,981 Times View My Garage	he perkins engine was amazing for its day. In my student days, I had a neighbour who had one of these. He swore by it
	() Thanks

15th March 2009, 13:55	#26
kannan666 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: KA-02 Posts: 1,002 Thanked: 128 Times View My Garage	A great car in it's day ! This is the car that could have actually kep Sipani afloat but never did ! Poor marketing and customer support services ??
	() Thanks

15th March 2009, 15:46	#28
ece2k2 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Coimbatore Posts: 524 Thanked: 349 Times	Saw a bunch of dust covered uncared montegos lying in the Sipani company's yard at Bangalore 6-7 years back. Had been to Sipani to see if we can get back the Montana's booking amount of 25K then. Still remember drooling the Montego's catalog when we booked the Montana way back during my childhood days.
	() Thanks

15th March 2009, 16:12	#29
madhokritesh BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Thane Posts: 334 Thanked: 4 Times	Dont we have any Montego owners on our forum? respond if any owners or ex owners around.
	() Thanks

15th March 2009, 16:24	#30
akshay4587 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Chandigarh/Mohali/Ambala Cantt Posts: 4,151 Thanked: 4,525 Times View My Garage	Recently i saw a Montego Saloon white color Goa registered standing outside a house in mohali,it had a broken windshield,other than that the car looked fine,much better than one shown in the pic,one fine day it just vanished from there
	() Thanks