The interesting story of our first car: A 1988 Maruti 800 SB308!

I think every person in India who started driving in the 80s, 90s or the early 2000 either learned driving on a M800 or owned one.

BHPian JoseTheScorpion recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I know, I am little late to the party, talking about our first family car which was bought by my Dad in 1988 and was kept for the next 12 years. The car had seen our ups and downs. It also moved with us from our rented place to our new house. For me, as a child in 1988, our car(Pet name - Jumpy) was like a family member.

Who am I

I work in the IT line, but driving and cars have always been my passion. Combining all the cars I have owned and driven, I would have easily clocked over 3.5 lakh kms of driving on the Indian roads since the early 2001.

Since my childhood, cars have always fascinated me, with the first dream car of mine, being the HM Contessa, which used to look like a space craft at that day and age. Luckily, I got a ride in a Contessa, a few times, as it was one of the office vehicles in my Mom’s office.

I used to love travelling in the buses, being a child I was allowed to sit in the small seat behind the Bus driver’s seat. I used to observe each and every action of the driver. The way he changed the gear, how he used the ABC pedals, his steering control and off course his calculations on honking, braking and accelerating with just a inch difference to other vehicles or bystanders. The regular bus drivers do achieve this incredible feat every day of their lives.

We were based in south Delhi and I knew all the buses plying on the route near our house by their design/colour/dents/length. I never knew that no one else could recognize a vehicle in such a manner. Later I learned that I can recognize any vehicle, bike, car, tempo, tanker with the same virtual algorithm in my brain. Its hard to explain, but I was born with this skill. For me it’s a blessing, as I can recognize vehicles I had seen before in an instant. Anyway, sorry for going off topic.

So coming back to our First car - Maruti 800 non AC (cream colour)
My father used to work in a semi-Govt. institution NCDC, where he got an opportunity to own a car. A very low interest loan was available from his office for buying a car, which he wanted to use. He didn’t know driving and even though it was something new and challenging to learn at his age(40+), he did give it a try and was almost successful.

I would never say that he was an expert driver, as I still remember that he used to change the gear of the car like the car was his arch enemy. Then the normal things the learners do:

• cranking the engine while it is already on.
• Applying the brakes early or late.
• Honking for every ant on the road
• many other normal learner mistakes.

But we did keep the car for the next 12 years, without any many accidents (touch wood). We did have a semi major accident with a jeep, where the car’s bonnet and bumper had to be replaced.

I was just a kid, but that car was my life. I used to keep looking at it from our house window, as though it is my sibling. I used to make sure that car is always clean, by helping and reminding my dad to clean the car, anytime dust accumulated on it. Whenever Dad was driving, I used to watchful as a hawk, to inform him of all his mistakes, like

• Dad, stop honking,
• give the indicator,
• you are on the wrong gear,
• handbrake is still on,
• go a little faster, someone is honking from the rear

hmmm, it just hit me, we say so many things to our parents and then possibly behave the same way, when we become one. Dad passed away in 2018, but remembering these conversations and moments, surely takes me back in time.

I have an old video on the car as well. Most of the details shared in the video is different than what I stated here, so please feel free to visit my video.

Attaching all the pictures of our beloved Maruti800 (Pet name Jumpy)

My late father, such a proud moment for him. I can only relate to that feeling when I bought my first new car and brought it home with my wife and kids.

Me and my elder brother helping mom, tying a black thread

My elder brother can't stop smiling, being so exited

My mom, standing next to the brand new car

This pic is a few years later, when we moved to our new home

Finding a parking spot in the 80s was so easy

Likes

• Feels light to drive
• Fuel efficient
• Any mechanic can fix the car
• Cheap repairs, spare parts availability
• Second best car for the city (first being the Nano of course)

Dislikes

• Brakes easily lock
• No AC (even AC models were not effective)
• Bumpy ride
• Cramped
• Not reliable – replaced clutch, engine overhaul, electrical issues, clutch pedal wire broke three times in 12 years. These are just the ones I remember.

Ending note:

I think every person in India who started driving in the 80s, 90s or the early 2000 either learned driving on a M800 or owned one. So it is clear that the M800 had a huge role in the Indian automobile industry boom. I feel that every Indian driving a car today has a nostalgic connect to the Maruti 800.

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