I was just 13 and lived in Coonoor(near Ooty), when my dad called from Coimbatore to say he had bought a second hand Fiat – Premier Padmini for Rs.30, 000. He had gone to Coimbatore on a business trip. The thrill was upbeat and couldn’t wait to see it.
The 1968 Green Padmini came the next day and we all decided to jump in and go on a short drive(to buy vegetables!). On our way back while driving on a steep road, the car stopped(engine still on) but would not move an inch even with gear on, accelerator pedal pressed and clutch released. Everybody got down and the vehicle was towed to a garage.
The car returned after 4 days and the problem was with the wheel axel supposedly. It was broken. Then onwards the car did not give much of trouble except that it would refuse to start every morning unless you give it a push down the road.
I learned to drive in the Padmini when I was 13 and the feeling was great. The hand gears, the sound of the engine(Wow – She sings well) and the overall feel of the car gave immense pleasure. I liked to be seen driving as a small boy and hence, used to drive to school everyday. A few years later we moved to a different city and sold the car there. I still remember seeing the last turn she took before she drove away.
We have owned many cars after that, a Qualis, a Wagon-R and a Fiesta and each one of these have proved their worth. But now I urge to own a Padmini after reading the reviews here as it reminds me of those sweet memories of the good and bad days I had behind the wheels of the Fiat who had taken the beating of time.