It was three decades ago that a small car was introduced to the Indian market and it instantly connected with families and kids who had just turned 18. The Maruti 800, undoubtedly, was always the first choice, back then, for a first car. Bringing the 800 to India was a bold move because before it hit the scene, most of the cars in India were sedans with a lot of space, the Premier Padmini and even the HM Ambassador for example.
Maruti went ahead with the plan and they have been reaping the benefits till date. But, owing to the rise in competition and lack of sales volumes, Maruti Suzuki India has pulled the curtains on the 800. The company rolled out the last 800 out of its Gurgaon factory on the 18th of last month.
First introduced in 1983, the 800 was all about how well the driver can maneuver it . There was no power steering and one might agree even now that the brakes weren't of much help either but it still waved through every inch of traffic like a rabbit on steroids. The Maruti 800 was as compact as a car could be and with the 796cc, 2 cylinder petrol engine under its bonnet, it could punch out 37bhp, which was more than enough for a top-speed of 130km/h.
That kind of power was enough for Indian roads and the mileage that the 800 managed was unparalled across the industry. But, as Tennyson said, "Ring out the Old and Ring in the New" and that is what Maruti has done.
After having sold close to 2.5 million units in a span of three decades, the Maruti 800 has become a thing of the past. One thing's for sure though, it still remains a car that is very close to our hearts.
