[bhasin54]

Dear friends,
The month was April of 2007. I bought a car and saved it from gallows.The car MRW 8656 was originally registered in the name of Commander R Sharma of Indian Navy at the RTO in Bombay. He was transferred to Naval Headquarters in New Delhi in 1987 and there after he sold the car and it changed a few hands in the ensuing years. One fine morning, a scrap car dealer(Mr Gujral) from the junk yard of Delhi came to me & informed me that he has brought a car to his shop which looks like a Fiat but may interest me as it was a bit different to the one’s which he had been dismantling in his shop. The car had already reached Mayapuri junk yard and the deed of dismantling the car was to begin soon. I am a die-hard vintage enthusiast and hence my initial response was lukewarm. These wreckers have very limited space in the market and hence they generally can not keep any car for long and are itching to to finish the dismantling job as soon as possible. It’s natural also because they make their bread from that business. The car’s usually occupy the front of their small shop where they can only park one car at a time. Gujral again dropped by in the afternoon at my work place and cajoled me that I must have a look at the car before he begins the job.I can not say what made me to leave my work that hot afternoon but I reached Maya Puri in half an hour and went around the car 2-3 times. I looked at the car thoroughly and my first reaction after that was as to what will I do with another piece of this dilapidated junk as I had 2 other cars which were awaiting restoration . The car was in a sad state yet there was something which kept me glued to it while my mind was pondering over the different features of the car from the Fiat 1100 D which my father owned when I was young. Suddenly a feeling of nostalgia combined with self confidence that I can restore this car dawned on me and then I spent no time in finalizing the deal with the scrap dealer. All this happened so fast as if it was predestined and the car came under my custody.I am uploading a few pics of the car as it came.I have started the work on the car about 8 months back and soon would post the current status of restoration.Would need help from lovers of Fiat from all over to get some missing tricky parts.
Promod Bhasin

[ajay99]

this is a rare fiat 1100 in INDIA and it is having many original parts intact!!

[foby.sebastian]

Such a rare find , kudos to you for giving life to an other Fiat.
fellas is that the first one on TBHP ?

[President]

It sure looks to be a rare and unique FIAT 1100 in India.
Congratz and wish you all the best for restoration.
Do drop by at our FCCCI - Mumbai thread in case you need any assistance and guidance from the diehard FIAT lovers.

[Stanher]

Congrats on acquiring such a rare car! I'm glad you didnt take it lightly when the scrapwala cajoled you into seeing the car.

The body is very rough and many panels appear to be in bad shape. But I'm sure it can be brought back to glory by a capable restorer.

This car is known as Fiat 1100 "Familiare", appears to be a '54-55 model, going by the Millecento meters and rear end.

In that case, the original grille should'v been like the Millecento grille:

Fiat 1100 103 Familiare Prima serie 1954 51cv Prezzo: Venduta / Sold€

Good Luck in the restoration, do keep us posted about the progress.

[anjan_c2007]

Promodji, its soothing to know that you rescued the rare car from the gallows.The car appears to share many common parts with the older Fiat Elegant/ Millecento.Hence restoration will not be much of a problem.
I would request you to post many more clear pictures of the car. These appear a bit blurred.

[rajeev k]

Is the air filter original to this car. It appears that it has been copied by TATA in their HCVs.

Jokes apart, the car has to be restored and being a FIAT, would be a lot easier as Anjanji has said. By seeing the car itself I get the smell of the old Elegant and the feel of the door handles and hear the thud of the doors closing.
..

[SuperSelect]

Hey Promod,
What can I say - I would've LOVED to be in your place, and had the chance to own such a rare Fiat.
Congrats buddy, you've acquired a wonderful car, and I assure you you'll have a great time restoring and then using her.
The 'Familiare' is very rare to India - an import if I'm right. Get hold of a good denter, as some of the panels seem to have rusted badly. Any help you need, and FCCCI Mumbai is right here at your service.

[hillram]

This is a wonderful acquisition,that too a rare LHD.Im sure this Fiat will go through a pristine restoration.Best Wishes.
Incidentally,the find the Speedometres of a Millicento in this car,but the front grill is of Select.
Whats the original fit? Can any one throw some light?

[amit V8]

Nice car..congrats!

The only one in Kolkata, a regular at the Statesman Rally.

[fx45]

The rear styling of the Kolkata car doesn't match the one posted by Mr. Bhasin isnt it?
Both rare cars indeed!

[KPS]

Originally Posted by rajeev k

Is the air filter original to this car. It appears that it has been copied by TATA in their HCVs.

This is an original air filter my friend. It is rare indeed.

bhasin54, congrats on this relative rare Familiare find and wish you all the very best. What is the current status of this car and have you started the restoration? I would suggest the following if you are planning to restore now

1. Re-look at the documents and do all necessary to ensure that you will be able to have the docs updated and in order
2. Do as much research as possible and develop a understanding of the model and various parts that will be required to bring back to originality
3. Start collecting the parts taking help/suggestions from the Fiat enthisiasts in the Forum
4. Complete the body work and paint only the primer. Ensure that the glass and rubber beading's are available on hand.
5. Complete the mechanicals as the body sits in the primer
6. Once the mechanicals are completed, finish the painting
7. Upholstery to be done simultaneously with painting so that the car does not have to remain in the garge for very long once the painting is completed
8. Complete all the trim fitments and get the car ready for RTO inspection.

All the very best

KPS

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by bhasin54

Dear friends,
The month was April of 2007. I bought a car and saved it from gallows.The car MRW 8656 was originally registered in the name of Commander R Sharma of Indian Navy at the RTO in Bombay.

Congratulations Promodji, glad to finally see the car. You have rightly made the brave decision to save the car which otherwise very few people would have bothered to do (though the scene is changing).

Besides the blue and white car posted, there is another black car in Calcutta too. Both these are later than your car though.



I hope you have the rear glass for your car, the side glasses should be flat and no problem.

Share with us a list of items you require, we will be more than happy to help.

Looking forward to see current status pictures.

Cheers, and happy motoring.

[bhasin54]

Dear friends,
Thanks for an encouraging response from everyone.I will definitely keep in mind the suggestions as I go along the restoration. Uploading a few pics after sheet metal work has been done on the car.In the meantime most of the mechanical s also have been taken care off.The car was repainted at least 3 times earlier but the original color was a Light blue shade.I have uploaded a picture of the color from a portion of a door.suggest whether I stick to the original or black-I am confused??Also I do not have the rear glass and I know its a problem as the glass is oval and has a certain degree of curve.Bye for now and will revert back with more pics & more problems.
Promod Bhasin

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by bhasin54

Dear friends,
Thanks for an encouraging response from everyone.I will definitely keep in mind the suggestions as I go along the restoration. Uploading a few pics after sheet metal work has been done on the car.In the meantime most of the mechanical s also have been taken care off.The car was repainted at least 3 times earlier but the original color was a Light blue shade.I have uploaded a picture of the color from a portion of a door.suggest whether I stick to the original or black-I am confused??Also I do not have the rear glass and I know its a problem as the glass is oval and has a certain degree of curve.Bye for now and will revert back with more pics & more problems.
Promod Bhasin

Glad to see the car looking healthy again. I would avoid black for this car, it really deserves a bright/pastel shade for her to stand out. Possibly even the green that is visible in the superb pics that Stanher has posted.

One observation - you are fitting a centrelight grille on your car, though it should have the older grille - with three aluminium horizontal bars. The centre light grille will not even align properly.

Did your car have conventional 2 rows of bench seats?