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Padmini's Italian cousin
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Sampath drives a car that is often mistaken for a Premier Padmini
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ALL ITALIAN Sampath's 1958 Millicento is one hundred percent Fiat
Vinod George asked in one of the editions of Rediff Biz Quiz, "Which Indian car is inspired by the Millicento?" and gave three options - Ambassador, Hyundai Santro and Premier Padmini. Even someone who has had just a fleeting glance of the Millicento (spelt M-I-L-L-E-C-E-N-T-O on the badge) while it swished by in foggy conditions would have given the right answer. Because the Italian car bears a likeness to the Premier Padmini that is more than superficial.
Through a pop-up box, George shed light on this Indo-Italian connection - "Fiat 1100 D is the forerunner of the Premier Padmini. Earlier in 1954, Fiat launched the Millicento in India and this car inspired the design of Premier Padmini."
Often mistaken for an old Premier Padmini, which almost anybody can buy without digging deep into his pockets, the Millicento is today treated as just another Plain Jane on the road. This is in striking contrast to what it was seen as when it entered the Indian automobile market in the 1950s - then it was caviare to the general. Sampath keeps a well-used 1958-example of the Millicento and seems to have a fairly good idea about the kind of people who began to drive this car when Fabricia Italiana Automobile Torino took the wraps off the 1100 cc Millicento and introduced it to the Kapoors and the Venkatramans. "Actor Gemini Ganesan drove a Millicento in a film, while actor Savithri owned one," says Sampath. Just like an actor bowing out when he is at the peak of popularity, the Millicento disappeared from the Indian roads when it was much in demand.
But the Premier Padmini's success is to some extent the Millicento's success. Premier Automobiles Limited (PAL) became a power to reckon with when it joined hands with Fiat and launched the Millicento clone in the 1960s. The Premier Padmini was a godsend for those who wanted to own a car that was as eye-catching as all those imported cars but were not prepared to meet the expenditure that buying one entailed. In terms of sleekness, it was way ahead of it nearest competitor - Hindustan Motors' Ambassador. It ate into the Amby's market share and the poached-egg of a car had to share the Indian roads with Padmini. It took a Maruti 800 to edge out Padmini.
Although PAL's units in Chincwad, Kurla (Mumbai) and Dombivili (Thane) ceased to manufacture this epochal car in 2000, the Indo-Italian marque is making its presence felt in its own ways. In Mumbai, Premier Padminis are as ubiquitous as taxis. In many households around the country, the Premier Padmini is still a less expensive way to owning a car.
"The Premier Padmini has stood the test of time because it is a workhorse. A selfless car that delivers more than it has to. There is little to tell between the Millicento and the Padmini. Both have a four-cylinder inline petrol engine and weigh in at a little over 8900 kg. However, I would prefer the Millicento to a 1990s-model Premier Padmini because it has more stretching space."
That is half the reason. Sampath is a collector of antiques and, therefore, the older a something gets the more he likes it.
PRINCE FREDERICK
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