First Maruti 800 Sold In India Gets Completely Restored To Look Brand New [Video]
Maruti Suzuki is one of the biggest manufacturers in the Indian market. The first product from Maruti was the 800, launched in 1983. It was such a special moment that the keys to the first Maruti 800 were handed over to its owner by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. After all these years, the car was brought back by Maruti and restored. It is now displayed at Maruti Suzuki’s headquarters in Delhi. Here, we have a video that shows how the car looks after a complete restoration.
The Story Behind India’s First Maruti 800
Maruti is the brand that popularized cars among middle-class Indian families. The first car rolled out of the production line in 1983. The price of a brand-new Maruti 800 at that time was around Rs 48,000. The first car, seen in the video, was delivered to Mr. Harpal Singh, an employee at Indian Airlines.
The keys to his brand-new Maruti 800 were handed over to him by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Harpal Singh used the car for decades, and several images of him with the car exist. However, in 2010, Mr. Singh passed away, followed by his wife in 2012. After the couple’s demise, the car was not used by anyone.
It was abandoned in an open parking space. Over the years, dust accumulated on both the exterior and interior. Some panels even developed rust. The car was left to rot and was neglected for years. Someone noticed it and posted images of it online. Maruti came across the images and decided to get in touch with the owners.
After discussions, Maruti Suzuki bought the car back and completely restored it. Since this was a Maruti product, all the necessary parts and panels were sourced by Maruti itself. They used genuine parts and restored the car to factory condition. After the work was finished, the car was displayed at Maruti Suzuki headquarters.
Maruti 800
As mentioned above, the car has been restored inside and out. All metal parts on the Maruti 800 have either been replaced or repaired to their original condition. The bumper, bonnet, headlamps, and turn indicators were all replaced as part of the project. The video shows the restored front grille with the Maruti 800 badge.
As this was the first model, it came with metal bumpers with turn indicators integrated into them. The steel rims, headlamps, and turn indicators on this Maruti 800 were also restored.
On the inside, the car features a restored dashboard, switches, steering wheel, and instrument cluster. The Maruti 800’s cabin looks basic compared to a modern-day hatchback. There is no doubt that the Maruti 800 is one of the future classic cars. The front seats come with adjustable headrests, while the rear bench seats do not. The upholstery has been redone, now featuring black leatherette or rexine material with fabric portions in the center, showcasing a checkered design.
The Maruti 800 was offered in three variants: Standard, AC, and Deluxe. It did not come with power windows, power steering, or even a music system in the lower variant. The AC was also offered as a premium feature. The Maruti 800 was powered by a 796-cc, 3-cylinder petrol engine that generated 39.5 PS and 59 Nm of peak torque.