Monday, May 13, 2013
Classic Fiat Rally at Venice of The East
October 28. This day has got no special event for a remembrance. But the day before yesterday, people gathered around the beautiful beach side Vijay Park at Alappuzha ( Kerala ) had thought the rush and busy which they felt was that of a "Sunny Sunday rush". But, while watching the classic fiat cars which has been arriving through the park road made the peoples attention focused on the cars. Hence, Venice of the east - Alappuzha had became the viewer of FIAT MEET AND RALLY 2012.
Being a guest, Autogadget team has arrived the spot at sharp 3:00 PM just half one hour before the rally has started. Within a few moments, the organizer of the rally, Mr. Mehul H.K has arrived in his 1996 model violet coloured Premier Padmini S Z ( TN 01 L 1908 ) after a long drive of 300 km from Tirpur ( Tamil Nadu ) to Alappuzha. He was a Gujarathi by birth, but spend his childhood and now stays at Alappuzha as a Keralite, now doing coconut business in Tirupur. His car has an S 1 LPG Petrol engine and an original floor shift gear, fixed A/C also. From his words it was clear that he started his passion of Fiat cars from its scale models. He showed us two major scale models of Fiat from his collection too. A red Fiat 1100 and a white 1100 R Familiare station wagon of 1996 which was exactly built by Starline models, China which costs Rs. 1500 per one piece. Then, he described us about the changes which had happened in the generations of Premier Padmini. From 1975 to 1985, the model has got a quarter glass. From the next year onwards, it has removed. The normal engine of the car has also changed to S 1 engine after that year itself. During the conversation, we understood that Mehul was not only a Fiat fan but also the head of the website dedicated for Fiat lovers : www.premierpadmini.webs.com
The next car was a light green coloured Padmini which seemed very simple. The registered owner of the car was Mr. Pushpangadan, a retired Bank officer and now, the owner of a computer accessories shop - Corona Systems. But the man came there with the car was Mr. Sasikumar, an automobile mechanic. His main opinion of the car was that it makes him more and more comfortable and safe. Due to low maintenance cost, he loves his fiat. In his words, only Fiat Padmini gives the four corner views equally to the driver while he was sitting in the driving seat. Unavailability of spare parts was the only drawback that he said. After a while, owner Pushpangadan has also joined us for the rally.
Again,many more cars has arrived the spot. From the owners words, Premier Padmini was the car which gives them comfort and safe ride rather than a Alto!! The hard body and space enough to accomodate even bulks, made them fiat fans and they never minded the power and perfomance. One of the Fiat lovers said : "My Fiat has the sweetest exhaust I have ever heard". But, the one and only modification in all those cars were a gear which was converted from steering shift to floor shift.
The last car which came there was a red Fiat with a "Malboro" sticker at right side and a white top. To make us understand about Fiats space inside, the owner came there with four women, two girls and a boy and he itself as driver !! The seats and settings of the car was just like a Ferrari, but he never changed its steering gear. From his opinion, he loves slow Fiat than a fast Ferrari! Both are from Italy too.
The rally has started at 4:00 pm from the beach road and gone for a photoshoot in the road just near Alappuzhas ancient and historic light house. Around 5:00 pm, after a nostalgic drive through the town, the rally has returned to the starting point. After the classic ride, they all had same opinions to say.
That was : Fiat must relaunch this stopped model again like as new Fiat 500 with an
inbuilt A/C and a mileage of 22 - 23 km mileage per lit. in diesel engine. Hoding the ambience of the
Gods own country Keralaspassion, we together hopes that the classic launch might happen again...
Being a guest, Autogadget team has arrived the spot at sharp 3:00 PM just half one hour before the rally has started. Within a few moments, the organizer of the rally, Mr. Mehul H.K has arrived in his 1996 model violet coloured Premier Padmini S Z ( TN 01 L 1908 ) after a long drive of 300 km from Tirpur ( Tamil Nadu ) to Alappuzha. He was a Gujarathi by birth, but spend his childhood and now stays at Alappuzha as a Keralite, now doing coconut business in Tirupur. His car has an S 1 LPG Petrol engine and an original floor shift gear, fixed A/C also. From his words it was clear that he started his passion of Fiat cars from its scale models. He showed us two major scale models of Fiat from his collection too. A red Fiat 1100 and a white 1100 R Familiare station wagon of 1996 which was exactly built by Starline models, China which costs Rs. 1500 per one piece. Then, he described us about the changes which had happened in the generations of Premier Padmini. From 1975 to 1985, the model has got a quarter glass. From the next year onwards, it has removed. The normal engine of the car has also changed to S 1 engine after that year itself. During the conversation, we understood that Mehul was not only a Fiat fan but also the head of the website dedicated for Fiat lovers : www.premierpadmini.webs.com
The next car was a light green coloured Padmini which seemed very simple. The registered owner of the car was Mr. Pushpangadan, a retired Bank officer and now, the owner of a computer accessories shop - Corona Systems. But the man came there with the car was Mr. Sasikumar, an automobile mechanic. His main opinion of the car was that it makes him more and more comfortable and safe. Due to low maintenance cost, he loves his fiat. In his words, only Fiat Padmini gives the four corner views equally to the driver while he was sitting in the driving seat. Unavailability of spare parts was the only drawback that he said. After a while, owner Pushpangadan has also joined us for the rally.
Again,many more cars has arrived the spot. From the owners words, Premier Padmini was the car which gives them comfort and safe ride rather than a Alto!! The hard body and space enough to accomodate even bulks, made them fiat fans and they never minded the power and perfomance. One of the Fiat lovers said : "My Fiat has the sweetest exhaust I have ever heard". But, the one and only modification in all those cars were a gear which was converted from steering shift to floor shift.
The last car which came there was a red Fiat with a "Malboro" sticker at right side and a white top. To make us understand about Fiats space inside, the owner came there with four women, two girls and a boy and he itself as driver !! The seats and settings of the car was just like a Ferrari, but he never changed its steering gear. From his opinion, he loves slow Fiat than a fast Ferrari! Both are from Italy too.
The rally has started at 4:00 pm from the beach road and gone for a photoshoot in the road just near Alappuzhas ancient and historic light house. Around 5:00 pm, after a nostalgic drive through the town, the rally has returned to the starting point. After the classic ride, they all had same opinions to say.
That was : Fiat must relaunch this stopped model again like as new Fiat 500 with an
inbuilt A/C and a mileage of 22 - 23 km mileage per lit. in diesel engine. Hoding the ambience of the
Gods own country Keralaspassion, we together hopes that the classic launch might happen again...
