Independence Day Special: These 6 cars have been ruling the Indian roads for 76 years

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Ambassador

Ambassador is a reputed name in India, which was first launched in the year 1957. It was based on the Oxford Morris series and was manufactured at Hindustan Motor’s plant in Uttarpara, West Bengal until 2014. HM bought the rights from Morris in 1956 and the 1957 model arrived. With 1476 cc side-valve petrol engine sourced from Austin Motors and later updated to 1489 cc, 55 bhp overhead-valve motor. It became a hit not only for private consumers but also for various taxi unions across the country. You can still see many Ambassadors running on the streets of Kolkata.

FIAT PADMINI PREMIER

The Ambassador’s closest competitor, the Premier Padmini, also known as the Fiat 1100, began production in 1964. Based on the original Fiat 1200 GranLusse Berlina, the Fiat 1100 Delight had a 1221 cc engine and a 4-speed manual gearbox. Relatively streamlined compared to the short-nosed Emby, it gained popularity, especially among the ambitious Indian middle class of the time.

Maruti 800

Launched in 1983 to compete with the Ambassador and Padmini, this small car revolutionized the Indian market. It showed us that cars don’t have to be rear wheel driven, and can be pocket friendly too. Initially priced at Rs.48,000, the car came with an inline 3-cylinder 796 cc petrol engine, producing 800 PS, 37 horsepower and 59 Nm torque. It garnered so much demand from potential buyers that many were willing to shell out over a lakh for this tiny car. The 800 proved to be the first car for innumerable Indian families.

Maruti Gypsy

Maruti introduced the Gypsy in India in 1985, rebranding the second generation Suzuki Jimny, which paved the way for off-road utility vehicles in the country. While the first were off-roading SUVs, the Gypsy’s compact proportions made it an ace in tough terrains, which is why it was so popular among the country’s armed and police forces. Also, it came with a petrol engine , which is rare for a 4×4 vehicle, and offered a range of rooflines including an open top, soft top or hard top, making it very versatile.

Contessa

The Contessa was the first Made-in-India premium sedan and the second one introduced by Hindustan Motors. Based on the Vauxhall Victor, the Contessa was powered by a 1.5-litre BMC B-Series engine mated to a 4-speed HM manual transmission. Such was the impression that many owners customized the Contessa to look like a proper muscle car. The Contessa Classic was a very popular choice among top government officials due to its luxury.

Scorpion

Mahindra Scorpio is one of the most recognizable SUVs on the Indian roads. Popular for its rugged build, off-roading capabilities and muscular design, the Scorpio was first produced in 2002, nine years after the idea was first conceptualized in 1993. Initially priced at a staggering Rs 5.50 lakh (ex-showroom), the first Scorpio came in 5-seater form and was powered by the 2.6-litre SZ2600 turbocharged diesel engine that produced 108 bhp and 250 Nm of torque. Mahindra introduced a generation upgrade of the Scorpio in the 75th year of India’s independence.

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