[john a milne]

Ever since I purchased WBF-1, a 1962 Fiat 1100 Deluxe from a fellow Collector and Restorer, P. K. Chowdhury in 1997, I have become enamoured with these great little Cars that were one of the backbone of Indias Automotive industry.

Chowdhury had purchased WBf-1 from a family member of Pranati Das, one of Bengals Movie Stars. I have tried to get more of a history on the car but without much success.

I've been intrigued with Deluxe Model as I gather it was not produced here in India and the Deluxe trims were probably offered as an "After Market" item.

The "Deluxe" Fiat that was part of the Bombay Rally is indeed an outstanding restoration and looks so very Sweet. The fabrication of the Deluxe chrome trim was very well done and I wish that I had the opportunity to provid detailed information from my car prior to fabrication as they were close but not 100% accurate.

I am planning on have the circular insignia cast and chromed next month sometime and would like to get an idea how many would be appropriate. Also I will look at the front fender side light piece as it is different and will explore if the side chrome pieces could be done as here so as to be able to offer a complete set. I will keep you all up to date on my progress.

Please let me know who might be interested in a "Deluxe" trim set as I am told that a small quantity would be necessary to make it cost effective. At this point I am setting the wheels in motion.

The Owners Instruction Book that came with the car I had scanned and have available to email out, as I had offered a few months ago, which has a section on the Deluxe Model as it was produced in Italy. I will try and post the Deluxe section here later.

It would be great to consolidate the various posting that have been made re the Deluxe Model from other threads. I'm not to sure how to do this but I noticed that Indrojit had pulled some various postings together.

The following are a few photos that I have on file and hopefully more can be added.

WBF-1 is still a work in progress and my next priority is to do up the engine and add a little more "punch".

Also:
1. I am looking for the simple hood chrome piece as was originally fitted.
2. I noticed in my Instruction book that their was a net at the back of the front seat. Was this standard on Fiats produced here in India? I had hoped that when the car was restored it would have been done and am now considering have it made and fitted. If anyone can find me one "off the shelf" please let me know.
3. How does one put notes under each photo?

More to come.

[manishalive]

John,

The magazine holder net was OE feature in Fiat's. Here the pic from my car. The net has sagged down but it's the one that came from company.

[john a milne]

Here are some more photos.

[SuperSelect]

Hey this is an interesting thread..
John - a few observations:
The seat back magazine holder was indeed standard across all Fiats, right upto early Premier Padminis. However, I don't think this is available new any more, and I sourced one with much difficulty thanks to a fellow Tbhpian.
I notice that the grille on your car is a bit different - as in, it has some of the square perforations around the edge 'filled up'. Any reason ? Can anyone throw light ?
Is your car a regular 1100 assembled in India and fitted with an aftermarket (but OE) trim set, or is it an imported model ?
Cheers !

[john a milne]

Originally Posted by SuperSelect

Hey this is an interesting thread..
John - a few observations:

Cheers !

G'Day
I'm certain it was Indian built and then "up graded". when I don't know.

It had the external gas cap, standard bench vinyl covered seats.
The chrome side trim I think is an original after market item fitted a some later date.

The one piece front grill is a little of a mystery, as to date, no one on BHP seems to have seen one like this before. Perhaps it was something offered in Italy and brought in with the chrome side trim.

My Owners Instruction Book shows the interior of the Deluxe with the split front seats and, a different upholstery detail possibly fabric rather than vinyl and carpet rather than moulded floor mats. I will post photos of the interior shortly for reference.

I am trying to restore the car to as close to the Italian Deluxe as possible which is a work in progress. Bumpu was able to locate a set of moulded rubber mats which look so very nice and will do for the time being. The vinyl material I purchased was not a very good quality and my seat belt clasp put a rip in it and In retrospect the grey colour doesn't look as well as I had hoped, so i'm considering changing it at some point. The photo, a drawing,in the Book looks as if it was a fabric which I am trying to find out from the various Fiat clubs in Italy.

My quest at this time is to try and determine the exact paint colours and interior finishes offered by Fiat, both in Italy and India, that can guide me as well as be a reference for any fiat owners to know what were the original choices offered.

This is one of the reasons for starting this thread to consolidate all the information and expertise her at BHP.

[SuperSelect]

Originally Posted by john a milne

G'Day
Bumpu was able to locate a set of moulded rubber mats which look so very nice and will do for the time being. The vinyl material I purchased was not a very good quality and my seat belt clasp put a rip in it and In retrospect the grey colour doesn't look as well as I had hoped, so i'm considering changing it at some point. .

Hey,
Have you installed seat belts in your car ? Can you post some pics please ?
I've seen Classics in the UK which are modernized for daily use with seat belts et al, but never seen one here ..

[manishalive]

John,

Please give details of the seat belt, as I also want to install them in my Car for safety reasons.

[john a milne]

Originally Posted by SuperSelect

Hey,
Have you installed seat belts in your car ? Can you post some pics please ?
I've seen Classics in the UK which are modernized for daily use with seat belts et al, but never seen one here ..

Will do

They came with the car and are an older model but do give a sense of security.

Having difficulty posting in order pages from the Instruction book, but here are a few pages, balance to follow.

[john a milne]

Fiat 1100 Instruction Book - 1962

[john a milne]

Fiat 1100 Deluxe - 1962

[john a milne]

Some interior shots off the Web.

[john a milne]

More photos & infromation

[Mehul1100]

Originally Posted by manishalive

John,

Please give details of the seat belt, as I also want to install them in my Car for safety reasons.

My old padmini had same problem of not having seat belts, but I got a pare of simple adjustable seat belts, which I fitted to my 86 model padmini.

It was not the modern one which acts on sudden jerks, just a belt from pillar to front seat colum. Very useful when cops around you for seat belts.

Same belt I have put in my S1 Padmini I got one year back.

[manishalive]

Originally Posted by Mehul1100

My old padmini had same problem of not having seat belts, but I got a pare of simple adjustable seat belts, which I fitted to my 86 model padmini.

It was not the modern one which acts on sudden jerks, just a belt from pillar to front seat colum. Very useful when cops around you for seat belts.

Same belt I have put in my S1 Padmini I got one year back.

Oh I din't knew the purpose of seat belts, I thought they were for our safety.

[john a milne]

Here is a shot of the seat belts.

I understand here in Calcutta that older cars are exempt from this new law.
In Canada cars originally not equipped with seat belts are exempt, only newer cars with them and the fine to the driver,for both front and back seat passengers not wearing them is about R2000 each.