[DeBAPS9002]

Chapter 1

The Thought!

You know those cars that sneak up on you? For me, it was my trusty Maruti Suzuki Alto LXI. Small, unassuming, and often overlooked—yet every time I slid behind its wheel, I was reminded why I fell in love with driving in the first place.

A Bit of Backstory

I cut my teeth on an Opel Astra 1.6, but my very first driving lessons came courtesy of a Maruti 800. That tiny car taught me the joy of pure, mechanical connection; low power, listening to the engine’s every burble, feeling the chassis flex on a bumpy road. Along the way I dabbled with an Opel Corsa GLS and a Fiat Uno—great little machines, both—but none stuck with me like that Alto.

Today my garage boasts a Tiago JTP, a Honda Brio RS and even a Mahindra Thar. Flashy? Sure. Powerful? You bet. But somehow I kept craving that raw, analogue feeling that only something simple can deliver. Enter Project Alto Sport.

Why the Alto?

Most people see the Alto as nothing more than a budget commuter. I saw a blank canvas: light, nimble, and begging for a touch of soul. It had already been part of countless late-night drives and DIY fixes, so why not push it a little further? No fancy electronics, no gimmicks—just honest, unfiltered driving fun.

The Big Idea: More Than Skin-Deep

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.

Picture Gallery of the Alto when I first met it

Knowing me, I would run to the hills when I look at a car that is tortured, but this one felt like it was USED, but definitely not not ABUSED.

The car didn't try to hide anything, everything was out there, dents, scrapes, bumps, paint chips, worn out mechanicals, everything you would expect from a used car. What surprised me is that this 21 Year old car still looked in much better shape than the cars I saw at bigger Used Car Businesses.

This wasn't a dealer car, this was parked by the owner at this dealership as he wanted to sell the car quickly and within a few hours of parking it there I happened to see it and it was home.

Under the Skin: Everything Mechanical

Before any paint or wheels, I dove into the suspension: new shocks, fresh bushes, every worn bushing replaced until the car felt tight and purposeful again. The F8D engine? Solid as a rock, but I treated it to a full service—oil, filters, belts, plugs, fluids…the works. If a gasket, seal or bulb was even a little tired, it got swapped for new OEM-spec parts. No half-measures here.











For a touch of pep, I added NGK spark plugs, a higher-output ignition coil, performance cables and an Automech free-flow exhaust. 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.










After all the Mechanical bits fixed the car look so much more better! The bigger project of getting it to look beautiful was still months away, but this much was still better than yesterday!

What It All Means

This build isn’t just about horsepower or aesthetics; it’s a love letter to the tactile thrill of driving. It proves that fun isn’t measured in cylinders or zeros in the price tag. It’s in the connection between hand and wheel, man and machine—and the pride that comes from building something with your own two hands.

So to every newbie and seasoned enthusiast alike: don’t overlook the underdog. 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.

Build it. Drive it. Cherish it.

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

[Rehaan]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[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.

In the era of gadgets/gizmos on wheels, it is an absolute pleasure to drive something purely mechanical. The OG Alto was always a fun car to drive and you've added the frills required to make it look drool worthy.

Looking forward to Chapter 2 and please please please post a lot of pictures!

[gpa]

Originally Posted by DeBAPS9002

You know those cars that sneak up on you? For me, it was my trusty Maruti Suzuki Alto LXI. Small, unassuming, and often overlooked—yet every time I slid behind its wheel, I was reminded why I fell in love with driving in the first place.

Congratulations on owning a small piece of Indian automotive history. Being a fellow Alto LXi (2008 model) owner myself, it is great to see the care you have taken to restore a 21 year old vehicle. With just 63,000 kms on the odo, that engine has many more miles to go. Looking forward reading more about the work that was done in Chapter 2.

[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.

[SMitra3607]

From where can one source the Aura alloys?

[Porschefire]

Originally Posted by Porschefire

The first two pictures brought a big smile on my face and elevated my mood ten fold on a mundane Thursday morning.

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

[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!

[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

Originally Posted by DeBAPS9002

So to every newbie and seasoned enthusiast alike: don’t overlook the underdog.

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

[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!

[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.

[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:

[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

[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?

[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.