My Left Hand Drive Fiat.

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 23rd May 2008, 13:00

Hello JayD - you are absolutely 100% correct. I wanted the LHD to look subtle. Why ? because I have learnt from my past 2 restorations (BLL4919 and MRY3112) that it became almost impossible for me to park these red/black and cream coloured cars anywhere. I take out MRY3112 in Nasik only after 9PM. They both look absolutely awesome but then I have restored the LHD with the express intention of using it regularly as my personal car (barring the rainy season of course) which was not my intention with the previous cars. The paint shades are not allowing me to use both my other cars. I believe that the character of this car will emerge after all things are in place and polishing is done. I have the light mounting bracket in place and if good lights are fitted, they will bring in a contrast v/s the bonnet, then the car will look better poised. However, you will agree that it is impossible to keep lights fitted on all the time due to possibility of theft. Therefore, I am now scouting around in Nasik for cheap lights which will serve my "appearance" purpose. The Hellas will come on only for fiat classic club of India events, photosessions etc.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Cyrus43 · 23rd May 2008, 14:02

im in pune and im typing from my phone. jayd, i agree with you but as dad said, we wanted a subtle car this time!!! lets hope rhe polishing comes out well. also,we are planning to paint the side and roof trims black too..

karlosdeville · 23rd May 2008, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrus43

also,we are planning to paint the side and roof trims black too..

Thats a bit excessive if you ask me. If the sole concern is anonymity, spray the whole thing black. With a yellow top

smsrini · 23rd May 2008, 15:03

IMO a single color either Jet black polised to a mirror finish, or the metallic blue color on the car, will showcase the car the best.. esp, if you intend to use it as a daily drive.

DHABHAR.BEHRAM · 23rd May 2008, 16:55

My my my - so many people thinking the same thing. I wanted the car to be black - BUT - white side wall tyres are not available and normal tyres will not make the car to look balanced, hence black was out. Because normal tyres, hence black wheel rims, hence subtle colour and then matt bonnet to get the rally theme. Don't worry, the car will look good. I am NOT doing the side patties and the garnish mouldings in black because my powder coating guy is not in location now.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

President · 23rd May 2008, 19:34

@BEHRAM: Even if you found "CEAT white walls" and plan to fit them at this stage, having prepared the car on the basis of a rally theme, they would look out of place.

sorry for my two bits here.

Best rgds,
mr original.

salilpawar1 · 23rd May 2008, 20:06

A small query:
Does "Sunax" (PAL's OE Supplier) still produce Padmini taillights?

The taillamps on the LHD before the restoration were Sunax units.

IMHO,they look better than the "Sweet Trade" ones (the ones which are currently on the restored LHD).

(P.S. I hope the company names are correct)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To add some contrast...

1) Can you paint the tyre brand name on the car?
2) Chromeplate the wheel nuts?
3) Don't powdercoat the side pattis in black, please!!!
4) A small and subtle FIAT sticker on the lower part of the rear door.

khanak · 23rd May 2008, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayD

Just my personal opinion here, the car dosen't look too good. It looks too dull, with the dark paintjob, matte black hood, and black wheels. Imho, there should be some contrast so that the car looks brighter. Now it looks like just another fiat on the road!

I guess it isnt really fair to judge this car considering the poor quality pictures taken. Im sure if someone were to take nice high resolution pictures, the Fiat would have looked a lot better. IMO if the car didnt have a black bonnet, a white roof and white alloys would have looked pretty nice,

smsrini · 24th May 2008, 16:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by DHABHAR.BEHRAM

My my my - so many people thinking the same thing. I wanted the car to be black - BUT - white side wall tyres are not available and normal tyres will not make the car to look balanced, hence black was out. Because normal tyres, hence black wheel rims, hence subtle colour and then matt bonnet to get the rally theme. Don't worry, the car will look good. I am NOT doing the side patties and the garnish mouldings in black because my powder coating guy is not in location now.

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

Should be interesting to see how it shapes up. For an all black car, silver wheel rims with black tyres and the original hub caps with PAL logo would do the balancing act. There should be tyres with white strip instead of ful l white sidewalls, that also will look good.

Side patti rakho. will give the car the 'original' character, along with the chrome / aluminium beadings on the windows and qtr glass.

cheers!
Srini

Cyrus43 · 24th May 2008, 16:38

guys guys guys !!! tge car is already painted!! We cant change the color now...anyways, there might be another addition in the stable soon.

kavesh55 · 27th May 2008, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrus43

guys guys guys !!! tge car is already painted!! We cant change the color now...anyways, there might be another addition in the stable soon.

Hmmm..getting me curious now.
Let me know once your back in town.

Cyrus43 · 3rd June 2008, 23:33

UPDATE TIME!!!
Seats are all in. Trims are all in. Carpets and mattings are in with all custom Sound Deadening. Only thing left in the interiors are the seatbelts (4-point) and the Roll Cage cover. Electricals will be dome on thursday. And the Polishing will be done on friday
After that, car oes to nasik for the rainy season!!

planet_rocker · 4th June 2008, 17:41

OT: Cyrus / Mr Dhabhar / Rony - what happens to the cars when they are not taken out during rainy season? i mean the cars are not started / moved during the time - any precautions?

@ cyrus - do post the pics of the car

Cyrus43 · 4th June 2008, 17:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by planet_rocker

OT: Cyrus / Mr Dhabhar / Rony - what happens to the cars when they are not taken out during rainy season? i mean the cars are not started / moved during the time - any precautions?

@ cyrus - do post the pics of the car

Remove the Battery. That is most important. there is not much else that one should do. Keep it well covered and dry. If it rains, and it it out on inb the open, Dont put a cover on it. It will ruin your paint.

planet_rocker · 4th June 2008, 17:54

i have hired a covered parking for my padmini and i wanted to know if anything goes wrong if the car is not started for a few days.

@ cyrus / others - thanks! any other points, tyre pressure, etc?

23rd May 2008, 13:00	#481
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,354 Times	Hello JayD - you are absolutely 100% correct. I wanted the LHD to look subtle. Why ? because I have learnt from my past 2 restorations (BLL4919 and MRY3112) that it became almost impossible for me to park these red/black and cream coloured cars anywhere. I take out MRY3112 in Nasik only after 9PM. They both look absolutely awesome but then I have restored the LHD with the express intention of using it regularly as my personal car (barring the rainy season of course) which was not my intention with the previous cars. The paint shades are not allowing me to use both my other cars. I believe that the character of this car will emerge after all things are in place and polishing is done. I have the light mounting bracket in place and if good lights are fitted, they will bring in a contrast v/s the bonnet, then the car will look better poised. However, you will agree that it is impossible to keep lights fitted on all the time due to possibility of theft. Therefore, I am now scouting around in Nasik for cheap lights which will serve my "appearance" purpose. The Hellas will come on only for fiat classic club of India events, photosessions etc. Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 14:02	#482
Cyrus43 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 5,019 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	im in pune and im typing from my phone. jayd, i agree with you but as dad said, we wanted a subtle car this time!!! lets hope rhe polishing comes out well. also,we are planning to paint the side and roof trims black too..
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 15:03	#484
smsrini Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,115 Thanked: 426 Times View My Garage	IMO a single color either Jet black polised to a mirror finish, or the metallic blue color on the car, will showcase the car the best.. esp, if you intend to use it as a daily drive.
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 16:55	#485
DHABHAR.BEHRAM Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 3,060 Thanked: 5,354 Times	My my my - so many people thinking the same thing. I wanted the car to be black - BUT - white side wall tyres are not available and normal tyres will not make the car to look balanced, hence black was out. Because normal tyres, hence black wheel rims, hence subtle colour and then matt bonnet to get the rally theme. Don't worry, the car will look good. I am NOT doing the side patties and the garnish mouldings in black because my powder coating guy is not in location now. Best regards, Behram Dhabhar
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 19:34	#486
President BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: FIATFUL Mumbai Posts: 908 Thanked: 189 Times View My Garage	@BEHRAM: Even if you found "CEAT white walls" and plan to fit them at this stage, having prepared the car on the basis of a rally theme, they would look out of place. sorry for my two bits here. Best rgds, mr original.
	() Thanks

23rd May 2008, 20:06	#487
salilpawar1 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (MH-01) Posts: 852 Thanked: 247 Times View My Garage	A small query: Does "Sunax" (PAL's OE Supplier) still produce Padmini taillights? The taillamps on the LHD before the restoration were Sunax units. IMHO,they look better than the "Sweet Trade" ones (the ones which are currently on the restored LHD). (P.S. I hope the company names are correct) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To add some contrast... 1) Can you paint the tyre brand name on the car? 2) Chromeplate the wheel nuts? 3) Don't powdercoat the side pattis in black, please!!! 4) A small and subtle FIAT sticker on the lower part of the rear door. Last edited by salilpawar1 : 23rd May 2008 at 20:13.
	() Thanks

24th May 2008, 16:38	#490
Cyrus43 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 5,019 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	guys guys guys !!! tge car is already painted!! We cant change the color now...anyways, there might be another addition in the stable soon.
	() Thanks

3rd June 2008, 23:33	#492
Cyrus43 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: London Posts: 5,019 Thanked: 221 Times View My Garage	UPDATE TIME!!! Seats are all in. Trims are all in. Carpets and mattings are in with all custom Sound Deadening. Only thing left in the interiors are the seatbelts (4-point) and the Roll Cage cover. Electricals will be dome on thursday. And the Polishing will be done on friday After that, car oes to nasik for the rainy season!!
	() Thanks

4th June 2008, 17:41	#493
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	OT: Cyrus / Mr Dhabhar / Rony - what happens to the cars when they are not taken out during rainy season? i mean the cars are not started / moved during the time - any precautions? @ cyrus - do post the pics of the car
	() Thanks

4th June 2008, 17:54	#495
planet_rocker Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bong-land Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 426 Times	i have hired a covered parking for my padmini and i wanted to know if anything goes wrong if the car is not started for a few days. @ cyrus / others - thanks! any other points, tyre pressure, etc?
	() Thanks