[chanu]

Why not WE! F I A T owners meet in HYDERABAD.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Shyam - you are correct on plastic wheel caps. It is very funny how the whole thing started. We were told to do "something". So we called a plastic parts supplier from Saki Naka in Mumbai and he did "something". We also spent a lot of time "designing" cup washers on the wheel bolts to prevent these caps from rattling. I remember to have cut a brand new wheel rim to study the cross section. The air could not be filled as the width of the slots was small. Then the width of one of the slots was made bigger and "air" was embossed on it because otherwise the workman on the assembly line insisted that he did not understand how to fit the cap. There are many such stories. In 1986, when we changed over from "green and thin" spark plug wires to "black and thick" spark plug wires, the concerned engineer was told to "release the drawings", so he "released the drawings". 100 sets were made. They could not be fitted because the guy did not increase the length of wires. The thin wires could turn easily but the thick wires could not take the small radius. I was in a different group (body sheet metal) and was quietly watching the fun. I told them that length needs to be increased. They did not even know how to finalise the lenhth. I took 2 wires, cut one from the distributor side, cut another one from the plug side, joined them together, looped them properly, measured the lengths and gave the data. As expected, I was reprimanded for interfering in another group's work.

You can have a hearty laugh now! .

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[adheesh]

Originally Posted by gururaj r

This is my fiat Premier Padmini 1993 model

You do have a superbly original and well maintained Padmini. I have seen your car a couple of times and the registration number does ring a bell. Where in Mumbai is the car located ?

Originally Posted by dhrishikesh

Hey, anyone can give details of this SPECIAL Padmini from Banglore ??
Here is the link :
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-1...galore-46.html
Here are the pics :

Here you go http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-1...tml#post720929

[gururaj r]

Originally Posted by adheesh

You do have a superbly original and well maintained Padmini. I have seen your car a couple of times and the registration number does ring a bell. Where in Mumbai is the car located ?



Here you go http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/post-1...tml#post720929

I reside at Andheri east near marol pipe line. Thank you for your benevolent appreciation. I take out the car to all parts of the City. The engine condition is very good. But for a few niggles here and there which keeps cropping up, the vehicle is fairly well maintained.

[SuperSelect]

Originally Posted by gururaj r

This is my fiat Premier Padmini 1993 model

Hi Gururaj, your car's a real beauty - great bodyline, nice interiors, lovely paint shade - is it the oh-ree-G-nal paint?
Looking forward to seeing you at the next FCCCI meet.

[Stanher]

Originally Posted by rjvora_2000

But they wear very popular in padmini's too.

Yes, that's what I said- they were offered on padminis. And, rephrasing what you say, they were also very popular to wear out, ie. break apart easily, given our roads!

But they came only on post '85 models, IIRC, ie. the ones that came without the quarter-glass. Some people fitted them onto even older (1100) fiats to boot!
I haven't lately seen them on any fiats in Hyd. atleast, which is good I guess.

@behram: interesting story behind the wheelcaps- for all the trouble to do "something", you could've as left the existing chrome hubcaps, maybe make them look different by painting them matt-black as is usually your junior's taste!

[gururaj r]

Originally Posted by SuperSelect

Hi Gururaj, your car's a real beauty - great bodyline, nice interiors, lovely paint shade - is it the oh-ree-G-nal paint?
Looking forward to seeing you at the next FCCCI meet.

Thank you Sir. This is what keeps us going and maintain it still better. My dad was working with TVS and I have learnt a few nuts and bolts from him though we are professionally poles apart. He is a perfectionist in car maintanence and due to age he sold off his Padmini (at Madurai) and I bought one here.

[karlosdeville]

I had a great time, thanks to all for making it a success.

Originally Posted by john a milne

The Deluxe is Awesome! Love the colour combo. I would appreciate getting in contact with the owner to find out more about its history.

Originally Posted by Stanher

Note the trim on the rear side fenders is different from the ones on the other deluxes. And the circular badges missing. I wonder if it originally was that way?

Originally Posted by john a milne

6. The side light at the front seems to be identical to mine, whereas the side light on the lovely Deluxe in Bombay as I recall is slightly different, however having said that i will take a closer look.

I was considering having the rear side emblem cast and reproduced. The next thing would be to find some one who could make up the side chrome pieces. Do you think that would be a problem and would anyone want to purchase them?

Originally Posted by Stanher

Yes, could be that the existing rear wing (and even front door) side-trim pieces were owner-fitted in lieu of missing pieces.
The sidelight on this car however, looks different (more of a flat profile) form the one on yours, which would be the original one.

Fabricating side-trims is indeed a problem here, especially considering that these are of a more rounded profile and slim. I faced the same challenge when I once intended to get Herald side-trims fabricated.

Guys MHY 2288 is owned by Sameer Kadam, who owns an enviable assortment of classics. Soon his Beetle cabrio will be out, and I'm told she will be a stunner, with practically every nut and bolt specially imported!

Sameer told me that MHY 2288 was a 1100 Deluxe bought by his father many years ago. The car remained in the family for many years, losing the ornamentation over the years. The current trims (and side indicator garnish) on the car have been expertly handcrafted in Bombay, the result is truly commendable. Very rarely does any one put in so much effort and care over a Fiat.

[SuperSelect]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Sameer told me that MHY 2288 was a 1100 Deluxe bought by his father many years ago. The current trims (and side indicator garnish) on the car have been expertly handcrafted in Bombay, the result is truly commendable. Very rarely does any one put in so much effort and care over a Fiat.

Hats off to Sameer for the job. Among the best restored Fiats we've seen.. The guys who crafted the side trims deserve an award - never seen work of this quality, especially given the profile and shape of the trims in question..

[john a milne]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

I had a great time, thanks to all for making it a success.









Guys MHY 2288 is owned by Sameer Kadam, who owns an enviable assortment of classics. Soon his Beetle cabrio will be out, and I'm told she will be a stunner, with practically every nut and bolt specially imported!

Sameer told me that MHY 2288 was a 1100 Deluxe bought by his father many years ago. The car remained in the family for many years, losing the ornamentation over the years. The current trims (and side indicator garnish) on the car have been expertly handcrafted in Bombay, the result is truly commendable. Very rarely does any one put in so much effort and care over a Fiat.

Hi Karl,

Could you ask Sameer if their Deluxe came with the Deluxe trim or was the trim added? Also does the back seat drop down?

I think if I had seen this colour combination when I was deciding what colour to paint WBF-!, I would have had to flip a coin, it looks so very, very nice.

I am still not to sure if my one piece grill is original along with the side trim or were they both part of an after market trim kit for the Deluxe, or was the one piece grill an after market item available here in India.

Hopefully Sameer can shed some light on it.

The side mouldings were indeed FIRST CLASS. Did they make any moulds or jigs to fabricate them? It would be nice if a Deluxe Trim Kit could be made available for those who want to add a little sparkle to their cars.

John

[chanu]

Mmm! I guess my car could have also come with plastic wheel caps, but when i purchased it was with this COX steel cups as in the pictures belwo which gives my car a period look which I am loving it though I miss the quarter glasses.

[Cyrus43]

I agree with karl about Sameer's Beetle. It is mindblowing!! Saw it the other day. Well, saw a sneak peak while passing by from the garage.

[DHABHAR.BEHRAM]

Dear Shyam - your comment on wheel caps, economy came with plastic "katori caps" (the ones I like), standard came with stainless steel caps, therefore to "distinguish" Deluxe BE and Deluxe, "something" needed to be done. Ingenious, isn't it? Those were the days!

Best regards,

Behram Dhabhar

[digamber_yadav]

Hi Friends
I ll like to show a new member in my collection its Fiat Select 1961 single owner from Pune. Its gonna to be fun to discuss about all the original parts it has and surch-procure which are missing.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by digamber_yadav

Hi Friends
I ll like to show a new member in my collection its Fiat Select 1961 single owner from Pune. Its gonna to be fun to discuss about all the original parts it has and surch-procure which are missing.

Hi Digamber - congratulations! Im glad to see the car has been saved. It was a regular sight near my house, then I was told it landed up one day in chor bazaar Bombay. All the best for the restoration.