Padmini's Italian roots
Premier Padmini’s story began in 1964 when Premier Automobiles Ltd., in collaboration with Fiat, introduced the Fiat 1100 Delight in India. Built on Italian DNA—and descended from the Fiat 1200 Granluce—it was immediately embraced for its ‘sporty Italian provenance’.
Name as iconic as its legacy
Known first as the Millecento, later the 1100 Delight, the model evolved into the Premier Padmini by the 1970s, named after the legendary 14th-century Rajput queen Padmavati (or Padmini).
With a compact but chiseled silhouette, coach doors, and modest four-cylinder engines, the Padmini could reach 140 km/h—remarkable for its time!
Its robust mechanics made it easy to maintain even during family road trips, as recounted by enthusiasts who still lovingly restore their original Millecento.
Its legacy of versatility is further cemented by its rally credentials. In 1982, rally driver DR Sivram pushed his Padmini to the limit at the Himalayan Rally, driven over gravel and snow without faltering.
Beyond private homes, it became the quintessential Mumbai taxi, known colloquially as ‘Kaali Peeli’ (Black and Yellow)—easy to service, compact enough for crowded streets, and dependable enough to bounce back after monsoon floods.
Premier Padmini’s production spanned from 1964 until late 2000, with the final diesel‑variant—the 137D—and the upgraded S1 launched in 1995.
At its peak during the 1970s and 1980s, the car achieved immense popularity among youngsters, celebrities, and women.
Rajinikanth’s first car was a white Premier Padmini, bought in the 1980s. The legendary star still treasures the now-rare 1.1-litre classic as his most prized possession. Despite long out of production and with the Mumbai ‘Kaali Peeli’ taxis banned in 2023 after age‑limit rules, the Premier Padmini endures, in vintage car rallies, private garages, and collective memory.
Image source: The Mint, www.cntraveller.in
*This article has been curated by Hook. All claims and opinions expressed belong to the original author. Hook does not verify or endorse the information presented and is not responsible for its accuracy.*
