If you stepped out onto the streets of Mumbai on Sunday, the 18th of December, you would not be the only one wondering if you had stepped into a time machine and had been transported back a few decades. For once every year, the Fiat Classic Car Club of India - Mumbai holds its annual mega rally and more than 25 pristine Fiat classic cars come out to stretch their legs on the streets of Mumbai where they once ruled for decades at end.
Fiat Classic Car Club Rally started from Bandra and made its way to Worli
This year, the classic car rally started from Bandra and made its way to Worli before turning back via the sea link and heading to Bandra Kurla Complex for a quick gathering and lunch. The cars that turned up were all different models of the Fiat 1100 ranging from the oldest, a 1954 Fiat 1100 Milicento to a 1993 Premier Padmini. Of course, every single car that turned up seemed to be better than the one before it with their shiny and polished paintjobs, gleaming chrome and spotless whitewall tyres.
Every single Fiat 1100 model that was ever made in India was represented in the rally
Every single Fiat 1100 model that was ever made in India was represented in the rally. The Fiat 1100 Milicento (1954-1955), the Fiat 1100 Elegant (1956-157), the Fiat 1100 Select (1958-1962), the Fiat 1100 Super Select (1963-1964), the Fiat 1100 Delite (1965-1973) were all present at the rally in nearly concourse condition as members took to the route in a bumper to bumper drive to showcase their cars to the public. Post 1973, the badge on these cars changed from Fiat to Premier and the Premier and it was earlier called the Premier President and the Premier Padmini. Although they were still essentially the same car as the Fiat 1100 Delite, the Premier models too have their fan following as much as the older cars and a variety of factory fresh Premiers were present at the rally including a 1993 Premier Padmini that has done only 13,000 original kilometers.
The rally, currently in its 9th year is an annual affair
With pastel shades of blue, green and yellow throwing in some colour to the boring whites and silvers that you see on cars nowadays, the convoy of cars was met with thumbs-ups, catcalls and whistles as they made their way down Worli sea face much to the amazement of the morning joggers.
The rally, currently in its 9th year is an annual affair. Fiat India too joined in this year with a brand spanking new Abarth Punto Evo joining the convoy of cars. With a total of over 50 members and close to 150 cars, the Fiat Classic Car Club of India - Mumbai is an informal club although officially recognised by Fiat headquarters in Turin and holds several smaller drives and meetups every year. The club will celebrate its 10th anniversary in August next year.
