The Premier Padmini was a four-seat saloon manufactured in India from 1964 to 2001 by Premier Automobiles Limited, a division of the Walchand Group, under license from Fiat and marketed initially as the Fiat 1100 Delight — and from 1974 as the Premier Padmini. The Padmini's primary competitors in the Indian market were the Hindustan Ambassador and Standard Herald. This famous car[2] ruled the Indian car market and its popularity peaked during 1970s and 80s. Many celebrities of the time[3] including Rajnikanth, Mammootty, Aamir Khan owned a Premier Padmini during its prime years. Known colloquially as the Pad,[4] or Fiat (since the Padmini was originally a Fiat car), the Padmini is named after a 14th-century Rajputprincess.[4] Padmini translates to "she who sits on the lotus" and refers to the Goddess Lakshmi. It was also a common name for girls in India at the time.
The Fiat 1100D, based on the Fiat 1200 GranLuce Berlina, debuted in India in 1964 with a carburetted 1,089 cc four-cylinder petrol engine — rather than the 1,221 cc engine fitted to the GranLuce in Italy. With a 10.8:1 compression ratio, it created 47 bhp (35 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 (without synchronized first gear), which drove the rear wheels via a live rear axle. Its shifter was mounted on the left of the steering column. Weighing 895 kg (1,973 lb), its top speed was 140 km/h (87 mph).
Premier manufactured the Padmini at their Kurla plant in Bombay (now Mumbai) until they sold a majority stake to Fiat SpA in September 1997. The licensed vehicle was initially marketed as the Fiat 1100 Delight. For model year 1973, it was marketed as the Premier President and subsequently as the Premier Padmini. At its peak during the 1970s and 1980s, the car achieved immense popularity among youngsters, celebrities and women. Compared to the Hindustan Ambassador, it looked more modern, was more fuel-efficient and was very easy to drive.
By the early 1980s, engine power was reduced to 42 bhp (31 kW) (at 5,000 rpm) with a modified carburettor to make it more fuel efficient. Premier began to offer an air-conditioner, leather upholstery, courtesy lights and tinted glass. These were considered luxuries in Indian cars at the time.
From the mid-1980s, with the advent of more modern, aesthetic and more fuel-efficient cars from Maruti Suzuki, the popularity of the Padmini slowly began to wane. The liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991, which allowed foreign car manufacturers to launch operations in India, began the end for the Padmini. In 1996, Premier tried to revive the car's sagging fortunes with an updated model. Named the Padmini S1, this had a more modern radiator grille, bucket seats, a Nissan floor-shift synchronised gearbox and a more powerful engine thanks to a Solex carburetor and use of a thermostat-controlled electric fan with an output of 48 bhp (36 kW). A diesel variant, the 137D, was also introduced, with the hope of taking advantage of the rising popularity of diesel vehicles in India.[5] Its engine was built under license from Fratelli Negri Macchine Diesel Sud (FNM), Italy, with a displacement of 1,366 cc and generating 45 bhp (34 kW). Its top speed was close to 140 km/h, and its fuel efficiency was 24 km/L. Production was shut down because of PAL's management problems.
While all cars built by Premier were four-door sedans, small companies such as Starline also offered other bodywork, mainly in the form of estates.[1]
In the 2010s numerous examples served as taxicabs in Mumbai; known colloquially as "Kaali Peeli" (Black and Yellow). However, these were being phased out due to regulations enacted in 2013 by the government disallowing vehicles over 20 years old.[6] The Premier Padmini taxis were finally taken off Mumbai roads on 30th October 2023. [7]
Galleryedit
Premier Padmini Gallery
Premier Padmini
Early model Fiat 1100 interior
A heavily decorated dashboard in a Mumbai taxi. Note the left-handed column shift for the manual transmission.
^ abBüschi, Hans-Ulrich, ed. (5 March 1987). Automobil Revue 1987 (in German and French). Vol. 82. Berne, Switzerland: Hallwag AG. p. 480. ISBN3-444-00458-3.
^"The Premier Padmini - A Short Tribute To Our Old PAL - DriveSpark News".
^"History of India's Premier Padmini (Fiat) car.. | Mostly Economics".
^ ab"Shedding Door Pulls, Mumbai Taxis Rattle Into History". The New York Times, DAVID SHAFTEL, December 28, 2012.
^. Car History 4 U. Form and Function. Archived from the original on 2017-10-14.
^"Mumbai's Premier Padmini taxis reach the end of the road". DNA India. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
^"Good-bye Kaali-Peeli:Mumbai's iconic 'Premier Padmini' taxis go off the road". mint. 29 October 2023. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
External linksedit
Fiat Club of Bangalore
Fiat Club of Hyderabad
November 02, 2023
premier, padmini, four, seat, saloon, manufactured, india, from, 1964, 2001, premier, automobiles, limited, division, walchand, group, under, license, from, fiat, marketed, initially, fiat, 1100, delight, from, 1974, padmini, primary, competitors, indian, mark. The Premier Padmini was a four seat saloon manufactured in India from 1964 to 2001 by Premier Automobiles Limited a division of the Walchand Group under license from Fiat and marketed initially as the Fiat 1100 Delight and from 1974 as the Premier Padmini The Padmini s primary competitors in the Indian market were the Hindustan Ambassador and Standard Herald This famous car 2 ruled the Indian car market and its popularity peaked during 1970s and 80s Many celebrities of the time 3 including Rajnikanth Mammootty Aamir Khan owned a Premier Padmini during its prime years Known colloquially as the Pad 4 or Fiat since the Padmini was originally a Fiat car the Padmini is named after a 14th century Rajput princess 4 Padmini translates to she who sits on the lotus and refers to the Goddess Lakshmi It was also a common name for girls in India at the time Premier PadminiOverviewManufacturerPremier AutomobilesAlso calledFiat 1100 DelightPremier PresidentProduction1964 2001Body and chassisClassCompact carBody style4 door saloonLayoutFR layoutRelatedFiat 1100DPowertrainEngine1 089 cc Fiat 103 I4 1 366 cc PAD 137N naturally aspirated 1 089 cc S1 Transmission4 speed manual DimensionsWheelbase2 340 mm 92 in Length3 905 3 940 mm 153 7 155 1 in Width1 460 mm 57 in Height1 470 mm 58 in 1 Curb weight895 kg 1 973 lb ChronologyPredecessorFiat 1100SuccessorPremier 118NE Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editThe Fiat 1100D based on the Fiat 1200 GranLuce Berlina debuted in India in 1964 with a carburetted 1 089 cc four cylinder petrol engine rather than the 1 221 cc engine fitted to the GranLuce in Italy With a 10 8 1 compression ratio it created 47 bhp 35 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 without synchronized first gear which drove the rear wheels via a live rear axle Its shifter was mounted on the left of the steering column Weighing 895 kg 1 973 lb its top speed was 140 km h 87 mph Premier manufactured the Padmini at their Kurla plant in Bombay now Mumbai until they sold a majority stake to Fiat SpA in September 1997 The licensed vehicle was initially marketed as the Fiat 1100 Delight For model year 1973 it was marketed as the Premier President and subsequently as the Premier Padmini At its peak during the 1970s and 1980s the car achieved immense popularity among youngsters celebrities and women Compared to the Hindustan Ambassador it looked more modern was more fuel efficient and was very easy to drive By the early 1980s engine power was reduced to 42 bhp 31 kW at 5 000 rpm with a modified carburettor to make it more fuel efficient Premier began to offer an air conditioner leather upholstery courtesy lights and tinted glass These were considered luxuries in Indian cars at the time From the mid 1980s with the advent of more modern aesthetic and more fuel efficient cars from Maruti Suzuki the popularity of the Padmini slowly began to wane The liberalisation of the Indian economy in 1991 which allowed foreign car manufacturers to launch operations in India began the end for the Padmini In 1996 Premier tried to revive the car s sagging fortunes with an updated model Named the Padmini S1 this had a more modern radiator grille bucket seats a Nissan floor shift synchronised gearbox and a more powerful engine thanks to a Solex carburetor and use of a thermostat controlled electric fan with an output of 48 bhp 36 kW A diesel variant the 137D was also introduced with the hope of taking advantage of the rising popularity of diesel vehicles in India 5 Its engine was built under license from Fratelli Negri Macchine Diesel Sud FNM Italy with a displacement of 1 366 cc and generating 45 bhp 34 kW Its top speed was close to 140 km h and its fuel efficiency was 24 km L Production was shut down because of PAL s management problems While all cars built by Premier were four door sedans small companies such as Starline also offered other bodywork mainly in the form of estates 1 In the 2010s numerous examples served as taxicabs in Mumbai known colloquially as Kaali Peeli Black and Yellow However these were being phased out due to regulations enacted in 2013 by the government disallowing vehicles over 20 years old 6 The Premier Padmini taxis were finally taken off Mumbai roads on 30th October 2023 7 Gallery editPremier Padmini Gallery nbsp Premier Padmini nbsp Early model Fiat 1100 interior nbsp A heavily decorated dashboard in a Mumbai taxi Note the left handed column shift for the manual transmission nbsp Premier Padmini taxi Mumbai nbsp Premier Padmini in Hyderabad nbsp An abandoned Premier Padmini in NagpurSee also editPremier Automobiles Limited Premier Padmini a Kannada language film of same name Pannaiyarum Padminiyum a film in which the story is about the car and a familyReferences edit a b Buschi Hans Ulrich ed 5 March 1987 Automobil Revue 1987 in German and French Vol 82 Berne Switzerland Hallwag AG p 480 ISBN 3 444 00458 3 The Premier Padmini A Short Tribute To Our Old PAL DriveSpark News History of India s Premier Padmini Fiat car Mostly Economics a b Shedding Door Pulls Mumbai Taxis Rattle Into History The New York Times DAVID SHAFTEL December 28 2012 History of Premier Automobiles Car History 4 U Form and Function Archived from the original on 2017 10 14 Mumbai s Premier Padmini taxis reach the end of the road DNA India 3 August 2013 Retrieved 15 August 2014 Good bye Kaali Peeli Mumbai s iconic Premier Padmini taxis go off the road mint 29 October 2023 Retrieved 30 October 2023 External links editPremier Padminis at Sholavaram race track Fiat Club of Bangalore Fiat Club of Hyderabad Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Premier Padmini amp oldid 1182616391, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
