'Premier Padmini' was an automobile manufactured in India from 1964 to 2000, although the "Padmini" name was not used until 1967 - the earlier cars were sold as the "Fiat 1100 Delight". Premier Automobiles Limited, the erstwhile flagship company of India's Walchand Hirachand Group, assembled Fiat's 1100-series cars from the 1950s until 1997. The car ruled Indian roads for three decades (1955-1985).
[edit] History
The Fiat 1100D, based on the Fiat 1200 GranLuce Berlina debuted in India in 1964 with a carburetted 1,089 cc four-cylinder engine rather than the 1,221 cc engine fitted to the GranLuce in Italy. With a 7.8:1 compression ratio, it put out 40 bhp (30 kW) at 4,800 rpm with a maximum torque of 7.20 kg·m (71 N·m; 52 lb·ft) at 3,000 rpm. The original transmission was a four-speed manual gearbox, with an un-synchronized first, that drove the rear wheels through a live axle. It had a column-mounted shifter, on the left-hand side of the steering column. Weighing 895 kg (1,970 lb) the car could attain a top speed of 115 km/h (71 mph).
Premier manufactured it at their Kurla, Mumbai plant until they sold a majority stake to Fiat SpA in September 1997. First sold as the Fiat 1100 Delight, the 1100D was preceded in the Indian market by the Fiat 1100-103. It was also briefly sold as the Premier President (only for the 1973 model year) until it finally settled down as the Premier Padmini.
By the mid-eighties, a more powerful version which offered 44 bhp (33 kW) at 5,000 rpm was also available. Claimed top speed increased to 119 km/h (74 mph).[1]
Numerous examples still abound as taxicabs in Mumbai. Many of these taxis now run on CNG for fuel economy. While all cars built by Premier themselves were four-door sedans, small companies also offered other bodywork, mainly in the form of estates.[1] The Fiat 1100-D's original design remained unchanged, aside from some minor grill facelifts in the eighties and the removal of the front-door vent windows at some point in the early nineties.
Along with the Hindustan Ambassador, the Padmini harks back to the socialist India of pre-liberalization, before the reforms program of 1991. Classic Car Clubs have since been started by Fiat enthusiasts.
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Premier Padmini Taxis, Mumbai
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Early model Fiat 1100 interior
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A heavily decorated dashboard in a Mumbai taxi. Note the left-handed column shift for the manual transmission.
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Premier Padmini taxi, Mumbai
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[edit] References
- ^ a b c Büschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed (March 5, 1987) (in German/French). Automobil Revue 1987. 82. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG. p. 480. ISBN 3-444-00458-3.
[edit] See also
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