It’s all about the journey and not about the destination....

Nostalgia plays an important role in everyone’s life. For many Y generation Indians like me; the FIAT 1100s have the same type of connection and nostalgia. My grand father raised his family with one of the Fiat 1100s imported from Italy in 1960s. Everything about that car was special. The proportionate curves, bench seats, metal dash board, suicide doors and artistic fonts on the instrument clusters. All these features carved a deep connection on our minds.

Modern production technologies are not capable to produce such artistic cars any more. Car manufacturers have removed much of the character from new age cars. In most cases modern car designs are prepared on computers by engineers under pressure of timelines. Many a times the original clay model is revised 100s of times based on capability of available manufacturing technologies, access to craftsmanship, FMEA and cost of materials. There are also federal and provincial regulations to comply with requirements of crash, legal aspects, emission and fuel efficiency. Modern cars are produced in lean manufacturing environment where factories run round the clock with robots and skill-less operators. Craftsmen are now expensive and are overtaken by artificial intelligence. There is hardly enough time for operators to watch and correct quality of car they are making. The only KPI is number of cars made per hour at least cost and acceptable quality.

Being a fan of classic car; I could not live with the modern day cars. Hence I bough the Fiat 1100 few months ago and OHH boy!!! Commutes became journey since then.

Classic cars were made with lot of love and care with bare hands of craftsmen. Manual process performed by craftsmen using simple tools and decades of experience have proved better outcome. Metal panels were created by hand with feel. The outcomes of this were the creations that have withstood the hardships of daily usage and weathered the passage of time. 

In modern cars most mechanical components are controlled by a central electronic brain, which takes inputs from the driver, and then filters them through systems such as the drive-by-wire system. Many advanced systems like traction control, electric steering, electronic clutch, the torque vectoring system, the ABS systems removes connect between driver and the vehicle. On the other hand classic cars are extension of driver for the most part. Driver has to put lot of skill in putting out right mix of clutch, fuel input, correct gear selection and steering controls. The result is very engaging experience for the driver. Modern day cars really disconnect the feel between mechanical systems and the operating systems of the car. It’s all about the journey and not about the destination for the classic cars.

Do not forget to check out below video from Jay Leno on Fiat 1100

Fiat 1100 was renamed Premier Padmini in later years in India. Padmini means goddess of “wealth” for Indians. Premier Padmini brought a good fortune for many Indian families. All this belief, nostalgia and emotional connect can be capitalized by FCA. It makes sense for FCA-India to drive re-designed premier-padmini into Indian market once again and perhaps good fortune will be bestowed from goddess of wealth.

Here is brochure of Premier Padmini Deluxe.