[Pannag]

Originally Posted by Rodie09

@Pannag, this looks really good.

Would you mind elaborating the painting process for interiors? How well does the paint cling to the interiors and do you think it will last in the long run?

If you anyway plan to write a detailed post on your work later, that is fine too.

White Black dual tone is pretty cool. What colour have you gone for the exterior, if already?

TIA

Hey Rodie,

Yes a new thread would be opened with complete details on how I painted it. In addition, lot of discussions on Alto DIY is going among fellow BHPians Ankit and Nagateja. I bet your thread will also follow soon

Also, I guess in your previous reply you mentioned about Alto Brotomotiv’s thread is probably about my thread on restoration

Mine is BMW’s Snapper rocks Blue and before it was M Caribbean blue. About RTO better check if your state permits color change, atleast mine doesn’t which is why we must stick with same color, may be different shade at best.

I am just counting on this yellow Alto’s another thread from debaps as it was always my favorite color on this car. The first pic gives me vibes of typical Japan hatchback turned now a bad boy.

[PWRUP]

That's one lovely Alto you've got! Cars of the early 2000s really had a different charm, with no gadgets, electronic aids, etc. How much of an effect did the mechanical mods have on the performance and handling of the car?

[F10D_Estilo]

Originally Posted by DeBAPS9002

Chapter 1

No fancy electronics, no gimmicks—just honest, unfiltered driving fun.

Originally Posted by DeBAPS9002

Chapter 1

Sometimes the simplest platforms deliver the biggest smiles. Roll up your sleeves, follow your vision—and who knows? You might just rediscover why you fell in love with cars in the first place.

This is one of the reasons, apart from the emotional attachment of why I still drive a 2008 Maruti Zen Estilo. It might not be a 10-second car or a corner carver, but it offers something many cars today are missing. "A Soul" that comes from being analogue and simple. Everything has a mechanical unadulterated feel to it from the accelerator (thanks to the Drive by cable system) to the gear shifter (Old school rod linkage), while having just enough creature comforts (AC and Power Steering) to not ruin the experience.

A small observation I made: Looks like the F8D came with long tube exhaust headers from the factory. Proper race car stuff.

Originally Posted by DeBAPS9002

Chapter 1

This wasn’t going to be a sticker-and-bolt job. I wanted the Alto to look sharp, handle like a rally toy and still feel… well, like an Alto. Inspired by JDM craftsmanship, rally-ready builds and the clean lines of OEM + styling, I sketched a plan that blended form and function without ever slipping into gaudy territory.

Your taste when it comes to mods are absolutely perfect. This is probably how I personally would modify it if I were you + the tachometer (it's a must-have for me). I would have also loved to swap the F8D engine for the bigger F10D engine which would instantly boost the power by about 20 Hp. Combined with the close gear ratios of the F8D gearbox, it would probably launch like a bat out of hell. But fuel economy will be out of the window if you happen to care about it. An F10D swap should not be that difficult considering the F8D is nothing but an F10D with one cylinder chopped of. I am guessing it should bolt right on the existing gearbox. All it would need a new set of engine mounts, a new ECU, a bigger fuel pump and a stiffer front suspension as far as I can imagine. None of this should cost an arm and a limb, considering the Alto came in the Vx trim with the F10D back then. With the F10D swap, this once humble city commuter should turn into a capable weekend rally machine. Add a set of meaty tyres and rally spec suspension, we now have a pocket-sized WRC contender for the sub 1.2L engine class.

Originally Posted by DeBAPS9002

Chapter 1

Lowering springs dropped the stance just enough to improve cornering, and a set of 155/65 R13 tires on OEM Aura rims gave it that rally-inspired grip and look.

I really love your rims man. It looks so period correct. Someday I plan on throwing some OE Alloys powder coated in gloss black on my Estilo as well. I am just having a hard time finding one.

Originally Posted by DeBAPS9002

Chapter 1

In Chapter 2 I will talk about the Painting Journey and everything else that made it ready for the road again!

I am eagerly looking forward to it.

Originally Posted by Pannag

I am also in process of changing my interior color, as I am painting trims myself. Here is a small glimpse of black dashboard:
]

The interior looks really good. If I were you, I would not have painted the glovebox in white. It kind of looks odd to me. But if you like it, more power to you.
Looking at the tachometer, looks to me like a Alto VX. It always has a special place in my heart.

[DeBAPS9002]

Originally Posted by Porschefire

Heartiest congratulations, DeBAPS9002! Your Alto is definitely one of the hottest cars on TBhp. The first two pictures brought a big smile on my face and elevated my mood ten fold on a mundane Thursday morning.

Thanks @Porschefire! I am glad that this bright little alto post brought a smile to your otherwise boring Thrusday! posting chapter 2 shortly!

[DeBAPS9002]

Chapter 2

The Painting: How I Brought My Alto’s Personality Back

I am a strong believer that the shape of the car decides the colour. Yes, a white car is the safest choice and almost every car in white will look good. It is a shade that will offend none but won’t excite anyone either.

When I got this Alto, I knew it has to be a fun colour, the smaller the car the brighter the colour and personality!

For me it had to be yellow, but yellow is such a shade if not done right can look outright gaudy. I wanted a colour that wasn’t too bright nor too dull, when you sample yellow you will realise that if seen in isolation every yellow looks the same, but put them besides each other and the undertones truly outshine each other.

I must admit, I fell in love with the Palio S10, the colour caught my fancy when I first saw it as a kid, the body kit and everything else that made it different has a special place in my memory. I wanted this Alto to have that colour, but wanted to see other shades before I came back to my original choice.

Colours that I sampled came from cars that I have seen here: Palio, Zen, Octavia vRS, Nano and Swift Sport (the Suzuki Vstorm bike has this shade).
I wanted a story to be associated with the colour I chose, the Suzuki yellow made logical sense as its from Suzuki, has motorsport history, the name has pedigree; but the shade was just too bright for my liking. Stare at the colour in the sun and then try looking at anything else around and you will know what I mean.





I didn’t realise how dark Tata Nano’s sunshine yellow was till it was places side by side, it felt dark for the Altos personality. The other yellow from Maruti that came on the Zen, WagonR and Estilo felt faded so dropped that colour from the list.



Circle back, Fiat Canary yellow felt right. It was from 2002, close to the age of the car, felt period correct and the shade somehow just felt at home on this car.



I wanted the car to have a new colour but not just on the surface with hidden parts forgotten or left ignored, it was a ground up build, reaching every corner physically possible. This was going to be time consuming and expensive, but you know good things come at a price, that price is Money and Patience.

I had the concept and what I wanted to do in mind, the aesthetic upgrades I wanted to do, the new and upgraded parts that will replace the old one, everything was bought and stocked (stocked is an understatement, I literally hoarded every part and piece needed. My house that is otherwise kept tidy and with my borderline OCD, didn’t recognize who I was for those 6 months).

What was missing was a workshop that would execute it the way I wanted. When you compare the planning and execution phase, the latter is harder if you don’t have control on the outcome. Getting someone to do exactly what you say and what they deliver, while keeping the cost and quality equilibrium is a task.

Desmo.One who took this challenge up understood that this was not just a paintjob. It was a PROJECT. Something that rarely comes with an assignment like this is ME; I wanted to be involved and not micromanage the whole project. Where needed my inputs and final checks were the only way the project would move forward. We have had some instances of redoing things when it didn’t meet my vision or expectations.



After understanding the depth of this project and quality outcome expected the brand of paint and basework was selected. We decided to use Wurth products for all the basework including underbody, the paint brand selected was Axalta Cromax, from the start I knew it wasn’t going to be Glasurit level, but much better than other paint brands.

Kicking Off with Canary Yellow

When I first unbolted the doors, hood and bumpers, I felt a rush—this was going to be something special. Every rusty patch got ground out and welded, then sealed tight so this yellow won’t ever bubble again. I insisted on taking every panel out and heavy-duty masking (no half measures here), because overspray ghosts can ruin a weekend of hard work.











Three Stages to Showroom Shine

This was a multi-layer paint job. Old paint was stripped out to bare metal, then a coat of primer, smoothened out any uneven surfaces, sanded down again, base coat applied as this yellow comes with a special shade of base coat before the actual yellow is applied. What I realised is if you just paint it directly on grey primer the shade looks different. We laid down epoxy primer, slapped on a perfectly matched Fiat base coat, and finished with a tough clear.

The car underwent a proper painting process, it also had the state of the art baking process that was a sight to behold. Remember the child that waits for the cake to bake? That’s exactly how it felt.













In between each layer, I’d peer at the seams and get them to sand away any hint of orange peel—it felt like sculpting rather than painting. When sunlight catches it just right, it looks like liquid gold.


Under the Bonnet, All Business

Once the bay was stripped, we gave it a power wash that would make a pressure-washer fan sweat, then treated every nook with rust-killer. A slick gloss-black coat later, I could barely stop myself from popping the hood at stoplights. That contrast? Exactly the “little surprise” I’d been picturing.









Cabin Vibes: Subtle but Special

The interior work started with first taking out everything from the inside, I mean everything. The thought was to check if there are any rust spots hiding below that needed attention.

Thankfully and to my surprise it was RUST FREE in the literal sense, a few spots here and there but it was acceptable, so it was decided to give it that added protection, went ahead with underbody coating on the floor so that we increase the lifespan of the area that will never be exposed once the car is put back together.









I stripped every panel down, then sprayed a charcoal-grey matte that actually hides dust (huge win). For the seats and door inserts, I went with black Art Leather and a single yellow stitch—just enough to echo the exterior without screaming “matchy-matchy.” Kept the original carpet for authenticity, but tossed in fresh, custom-fit mats to keep things tidy.

The interior plastic painting is a task, its not easy to put together nor is it easy to look after it once completed, so unless there is a desperate need to change the colour, my suggestion is DONT DO IT.

In my case, given how Maruti decided to give the interior a poverty look by getting parts from other cars without even changing the shade to make it uniform in appearance, I had to get one uniform shade hence decided to give it a nice dark theme inside.

Painting the interior panel, I went with 2 coats of plastic primer followed by the Charcoal Gray paint, then matte clear coat, yes Matte as semi gloss would look too shiny for my liking and left to dry in the paint booth.

The shade chosen for the interior is the colour you will find in the new Mahindra Thar.










There is more to share on the Interior and Exterior painting that I will cover in Chapter 3 with more pictures and how it all came together.

[DeBAPS9002]

Originally Posted by Utsav_199

Amazing, great to see such projects and honest enthusiast view points. You've had some pretty sweet rides in the past!

The bond with Alto is totally relatable as those old cars gave you that connect that is missing today. Seeing your bond with the Alto, I remember our old Swift gen-1 DDIS - small, nimble, chuck-able, low grip and brimming with feel and feedback.

Wishing you lots of happy miles with the Yellow Alto, love the colour choice.

Thanks so much Utsav_199, simple and first cars always bring back fond memories.

Originally Posted by SMitra3607

From where can one source the Aura alloys?

This was salvaged from an old Maruti Baleno

Originally Posted by Porschefire

Also, one of my first thoughts were, 'there's something off about that Palio S10'.

Originally Posted by Saucyboii2007

Dude, this Alto Sport project feels like a Maruti equivalent of a Palio S-10 with those lovely rims and yellow paint! It's absolutely adorable and I love it! Waiting for Chapter 2!

Haha, the Palio S10 was the secret inspiration, more on that in Chapter 2...

Originally Posted by nishsingh

Loved this!
The Alto is lot of a fun ride. My in-laws have one in Agra, and that car, even though nearly 20 years old now is a lot of fun through the narrow streets. Reminds me of the Mini Cooper car chase through the streets of Paris in Bourne Identity

https://www.Youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=u-s5qWGHm3g



Haha. Actually, the Alto is more of a frolicking puppy, egging you on to play more, and hoping the fun times never end.

I agree 100 percent!

Originally Posted by Gansan

I have a 2009 Alto Lxi, stock with just 52k on the odo. I am watching this closely, and may copy some of your mods!

Please feel free to take any inspiration from my Project, it's always flattering to see others getting inspired!!

Originally Posted by Rodie09

Some great work there and a very hot looking Alto!!

I have a 2007 Alto Lx, 64 k km and I am also eyeing something similar but only if I get a 5 year renewal at the end of next year (Dec 2026). I am keen to put in some good money in the car rather than buying a new - its a beater car anyway. For once I'd want to enjoy renewing something old and cherish it to max.

Items I'd want to consider are -

Full mechanical service, parts renewal where necessary
New tyres with possible upsize
Upholstery/Seat covers
Repaint
Renew front windshield
Replace the after market power windows with a new one as left front one is not working anymore.
Music system upgrade - nothing very fancy though


@DeBAPS9002, I'd be interested to know how easy or difficult it is with RTO to change the color of car on RC. Mine is a Caribbean blue and would want a change after 20 years.

Will keep a close watch on this thread and another one on Alto restoration by Brotomotiv. Interestingly both are carried out in Pune.

Awesome! RTO process is straightforward in MH, but its important to get it endorsed so that there are no legal issues when getting Insurance, car sale, or RC renewal.

Originally Posted by Pannag

Lovely!!

I am in love with that yellow Gosh! And it looks very cute.

Eagerly waiting for Chapter 2.

I am also in process of changing my interior color, as I am painting trims myself. Here is a small glimpse of black dashboard:


Attachment 2755903

Attachment 2755904

Originally Posted by gopa99

Wow, waiting to read the second part of your story. By the way, what was your feedback on the power delivery and the drive while maneuvering in traffic after the mechanical changes? What was the logic behind going for a higher power ignitor and coils, does it help?

Originally Posted by Utopian

This is such an amazing looking Alto. Even after all these years, I love the timeless, simple yet good looking styling of the Alto. One of my friends in college had the VX1.1 model and it was a hoot to drive as well. Am waiting eagerly for part 2 of your journey.

Thanks so much for all the love you have given this post, Chapter 2 is out!!

Originally Posted by PWRUP

That's one lovely Alto you've got! Cars of the early 2000s really had a different charm, with no gadgets, electronic aids, etc. How much of an effect did the mechanical mods have on the performance and handling of the car?

Thanks so much

[DeBAPS9002]

Chapter 3

Inside Out Understated Elegance

What I set out to achieve was a plush Alto interior that felt loved while being understated.



Stepping inside, the goal was a uniform, sophisticated cabin that feels as good as it looks. All plastic panels—from the door cards to the A, B and C pillar covers—were stripped, primed, and sprayed in a charcoal-grey matte finish. The flat grey really hides dust and keeps the interior feeling cool, both literally and visually.



For the seats, roof liner, and door inserts, I went with durable black Art Leather, stitched in a single row of bright yellow thread. It’s a subtle callback to the exterior without overpowering the cabin. The original factory carpet stayed in place for authenticity, but I added new model-specific mats with a reinforced heel pad to keep things tidy underfoot.








The steering was swapped for a Baleno one, it is three spoke, a bit bigger, has SUZUKI instead of a logo, the gear knob got the theme too, new stalks that came from a later model from the Maruti family with chunkier stalks, roof was wrapped in art leather as well for that uniform look and so were the sunvisors.



And the details? I hand-painted a tiny yellow “SUZUKI” on the steering wheel, swapped in aluminum pedals with yellow accents, even stitched a hint of yellow on the gearknob. It’s like wearing a tailored suit—everyone notices the fit before the color. The interior theme is a combination of Charcoal Gray, Black and Yellow. Gray formed the base, so every plastic bit that once was some shade of light gray was transformed to a uniform dark gray. The touchpoints or area that is usually touched was wrapped in art leather and where possible a hint of yellow.









The seats were a game changer, it was first decided I will work with a simple seat cover, but while executing it the better suggestion was to tear away the fabric, re-bolster and re-upholster it. So what you see are seats, not seat covers.









Each time I settle in behind the wheel, those touches remind me that this isn’t just a car—it’s a rolling canvas that reflects my personality.

Exterior Transformation: Canary Yellow Brilliance

When it came to breathing new life into my Alto, the vision was clear: a standout Canary Yellow finish that turns heads without screaming for attention.

I am going to let the pictures do the talking here. Soak in the pure thrill of this project!





















Subtle Contrasts & Signature Touches

Details matter just as much as the big picture. I chose Superior White for the 13-inch alloys—a nod to classic rally livery that pops against the yellow. The front grille and window frames were refinished in gloss black, adding a modern, stealthy edge. To keep things cohesive, the spoiler, side skirts, door handles, and bumpers were all sprayed in body color, creating a seamless wraparound effect.

Up front, I painted the brake callipers in yellow for a flash of color behind the spokes, while the rear drums wear a subtle matte-black coat to balance it out. Satin-grayish silver Alto badges were painted, giving them that understated elegant look.









Every time I walk around the car, I find myself smiling at how these little flourishes tie the whole exterior together.

The joy of seeing something different, something in your own image is satisfaction guaranteed. When I look at the pictures, the humble beginnings this car has had it just makes me wonder, it looks easy at first glance, but when you spend countless hours, looking at one part at a time and imagining the outcome, then piecing the puzzle together. This is what you get! A passion project that reflects passion, joy and love for cars!

Wrapping Up

Every time I squeeze myself inside this tiny thing, I’m reminded this isn’t just another car—it’s my daily dose of smile therapy. Hope you enjoy the journey as much as I enjoyed building it.

[Thad E Ginathom]

This exceptional, and truly remarkable to see the care you are lavishing on the little Alto.

Great work! Eagerly awaiting further chapters

(And, even as I posting this, Chapter 3 is here )

...Wonderful. Many congratulations on completion of this amazing project.

[Saucyboii2007]

Those seats are really well stitched! It looks so good that I'm drooling with the thoughts of doing something similar when I get a Swift of my own.
If I get a decent enough occupation, enough money and time on my hands, I'll be sure to grace this forum with a Swift " Sport "!

P. S - My mom found the Alto Sport to be cute! She gave it the Certificate of Approval!

[F10D_Estilo]

You have an absolute time capsule there! It’s so satisfying to see your old Alto restored to its former glory—if not even better than how it rolled off the assembly line. The Baleno steering with that subtle touch of yellow looks absolutely lovely. And of course, my favorite addition—a tachometer(Can't get enough of it)!

But you haven’t mentioned anything about the new instrument cluster. I’d love to hear more about it—where you found it, which model it came from, how you wired it, and most importantly, how it works and feels!

Also, congratulations on owning one of the coolest Altos in India.

[keroo1099]

Have to admire your attention to detailing.

Well done and enjoy many happy memories in your labour of love.

I wonder if a 1.6 Baleno engine will fit in that bay

[DeBAPS9002]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

This exceptional, and truly remarkable to see the care you are lavishing on the little Alto.

Great work! Eagerly awaiting further chapters

(And, even as I posting this, Chapter 3 is here )

...Wonderful. Many congratulations on completion of this amazing project.

Thanks so much! I might share another chapter of Driving and Living with it soon, with all the love this Alto is getting here I might post it sooner.

Originally Posted by Saucyboii2007

Those seats are really well stitched! It looks so good that I'm drooling with the thoughts of doing something similar when I get a Swift of my own.
If I get a decent enough occupation, enough money and time on my hands, I'll be sure to grace this forum with a Swift " Sport "!

P. S - My mom found the Alto Sport to be cute! She gave it the Certificate of Approval!

I am glad your MOM loved it!! And yes hope you build your Swift Sport soon, make sure its a cool colour!

Originally Posted by F10D_Estilo

You have an absolute time capsule there! It’s so satisfying to see your old Alto restored to its former glory—if not even better than how it rolled off the assembly line. The Baleno steering with that subtle touch of yellow looks absolutely lovely. And of course, my favorite addition—a tachometer(Can't get enough of it)!

But you haven’t mentioned anything about the new instrument cluster. I’d love to hear more about it—where you found it, which model it came from, how you wired it, and most importantly, how it works and feels!

Also, congratulations on owning one of the coolest Altos in India.

Thanks Buddy! So the Instrument cluster is from the WagonR of that generation 2002 VX, it was a direct fit as Alto at that time came with the same socket for VXI and LXI, this was plug and play. It is lovely to see the RPM needle move when you rev. Plus the needle is yellow, coincidentally...

Originally Posted by keroo1099

Have to admire your attention to detailing.

Well done and enjoy many happy memories in your labour of love.

I wonder if a 1.6 Baleno engine will fit in that bay

Thank you so much buddy! It may fit, but I will spare this Alto for now, the 796 with all the Tune is a happy puppy!

[Leoshashi]

Exceptional build, congratulations. Loved the details and highlights.

Any plans to upgrade to the 4 cylinder F10D? I feel that will truly complement this car.

Regards,
Shashi

[dwanderlustdrv]

Looks lovely! I wonder how my VW Polo GT would look like in that shade!

[MartinVirage]

Fantastic Build! Being a fellow Punekar would be fantastic to catch up sometime.

The work done looks fantastic! Please share the places where you carried out the restoration - would be really helpful. A friend of mine wants to do up his SB308, but it is difficult to find willing and knowledgeable garages these days