An old faithful baby... Review on Fiat Premier Padmini

What is the most common car on the roads of Bombay? A tough and dependable car for Indian roads? The car that has been used exclusively by taxi drivers in Bombay since the last 40 years? Yes, you've guessed right- it is the Fiat 1100D introduced in the market back in the early 60’s by Premier Automobiles Ltd. The Padmini is still very much present on the roads today. It is not the type of a car that will attract any sort of attention on the road. So what can its popularity be attributed to? Firstly it is not an expensive car to run as compared to the other cars on the road. Secondly it is a tough car that can be rough-used. Thirdly it is quite simple to work on. Almost any mechanic will be able to rectify most of the problems that may occur. The Padmini has undergone several changes over the years relating to the engine, gearbox and instrument panel. The Padmini consists of a fiat 1089 cc OHV engine with a single barrel down draught Webber carburettor and a four-speed gearbox. Later the Webber carburettor was replaced by a Solex. In 1989, Premier Automobiles made certain changes in the Padmini. The engine saw changes in the camshaft design, bearings, valves and oil filter arrangement. An immediate improvement was seen. Then in 1995, Premier Automobiles introduced a new version of the Padmini called the ‘S1’. Certain new features were added. 1. The S1 had the 118NE Nissan four-speed gearbox and a better radiator design. 2. An electric fan was added to the radiator instead of that old belt driven fan that improved the power of the Padmini by almost 4 B.H.P. 3. The exhaust system was changed since a catalytic converter was added, thereby enabling the car to be driven using unleaded petrol. 4. An extention was added to the Distributor Shaft, raising it by almost 5 inches, which saved it from getting wet during monsoons. ENGINE: The Padmini is powered by an engine that develops 42 B.H.P @ 4600 R.P.M. The top speed reached by the Padmini is almost 130 KMPH. The engine of the Padmini is a quite simple. Repair and maintenance can be carried out very easily and the parts are quite cheap compared to other cars on the road. The piston rings, valve seats, bearings, head gasket, pushrods should last over 1,00,000 Kms, but it also depends on the driving conditions of the vehicle. GEARBOX: A very crude gearbox with tall gear ratios. All positions except 1st are synchronised. For quick downshift and pickup you may need to perform a double-de-clutch. A very simple proceedure where to shift quickly from 3rd to 2nd, you press the clutch, shift to neutral, leave clutch and rev throttle a bit, press clutch again and shift to second. Basically it manipulates the rotational speeds of the Input gear to the output gear so you don't hear that 'grrrrr' from the gearbox and get a faster pickup! RIDE: The ride quality of the Padmini is fairly good. The Padmini's rear suspension is of the old leaf spring type, which requires regular inspection and lubrication to avoid ‘squeaks’. Also, the bushings require change frequently. BRAKES & FINAL DRIVE: The brakes are fair. Drum brakes are provided for the both front and rear wheels. However, these are not quite effective at very high speeds. The rear wheels drive the Padmini. The propeller shaft cross-joint develops slack quite often causing vibration while moving off at low speeds. Regular inspection and maintenance of the propeller shaft will not allow this problem to occur. The oil level in the differential box should be maintained or else there could be axle damage. AIR CONDITIONING: The Padmini comes equipped with a good air-conditioning system. There are two good brands of air-conditioners available for the car. One is the ‘super king’. The other is the ‘Indus’ who were basically providing National air-conditioners. The Padmini comes with a factory-fitted ‘super king’ air-conditioner. A non air-conditioned Padmini can also be fitted with an air-conditioner which may be available in the market. It is always advisable to fit one from Premier Auto Electric based at Tardeo. BODY: The body of the Padmini is prone to rust. The doors and floorboard are highly rust prone. The doors, floorboard and mudguards can be treated with a rubber-seal to prevent rust. Any deep scratches on the paint surface should be touched-up immediately to avoid rust. Polishing the car with wax once in 4 months could increase the life of the body. Overall, the Padmini is a practical investment. It is cheap to run and easy to maintain and spare parts are easily available.