Bollywood Simulator: Pair of 1958 Fiat 1100’s

Every watch Bollywood films and want to be the mustachio’d protagonist? You know, the one with the hammer pants and mad song and dance skills, who drives a Premier Padmini complete with enormous entourage. That could be you, my friend, with equal parts elbow grease, dance lessons, and voice coaching. Find this pair of 1958 Fiat 1100’s, the Padmini’s older brother, for sale in Tallmadge, OH for $2,000 via craigslist.

The Fiat 1100D, very similar to the above, formed the basis for an Indian icon; the Premier Padmini. Seen usually as taxis narrowly dodging tuk-tuks and Maruti 800’s, the Padmini served as basic transportation for the masses for years; sort of like a down-market Hindustan Ambassador. After legislation was passed in Mumbai banning taxis over 20 years old, all but the newest Padminis are in the process of being deemed obsolete, rather, even more obsolete-er. On the contrary, the Fiat 1100 served the US market for only a handful of years before Fiat moved on to more modern sedans.

This pair of 1100’s seem to be devoid of serious corrosion, which is always a concern when buying Italian cars, let along those on craigslist in the rust belt. It’s a little unfortunate that both cars are missing the same parts. Perhaps these two were parts cars for a serious 1100 restoration. Given the requirement to find two or four of everything on eBay, maybe a twosome of Calcutta beaters would be a more fun theme to completely wear out in front of your friends than a resto.

See a better way to Bombay? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com

Matt, a self-proclaimed bottom-feeder of the classic car market, spends half of his time buying cars, half of his time retrieving them, and the remaining third on keeping them on the road.