Tata Sierra, Sumo And Mercedes F124 Ambulance From India’s 1995 Republic Day Parade [Video]
Tata Sierra is an SUV that was ahead of its time. Back in its day, it was not a colossal sales success but had a select crowd of takers. The three-door design and large glass area proved to be not too suitable for the hot, humid Indian climate. It was based on the Tata Mobile. It was once used by the Prime Minister’s security squad. Recently, a video has surfaced showing the Republic Day Parade from 1995, at Rajpath, in which a group of Tata Sierras and Sumos from the Prime Minister’s convoy can be seen, along with Hindustan Ambassadors and a Mercedes Benz F124.
The video shared by Bichu N.S. on his YouTube channel is nothing less than a tribute to Tata Motors, and also one to the F124. The video is in fact, a trimmed version of what was streamed on Doordarshan back in the day. A convoy of Maruti Gypsys and Hindustan Ambassadors are seen passing through Rajpath.
The security forces used to deploy Gypsys as their vehicles then. Politicians, VIPs and other government delegates preferred to have Ambassadors. Here in the video, after the Ambassadors and Gypsys made a pass, the convoy of Tata Sumos, Sierras and Ambassadors makes its entry. At the extreme rear of it is a Mercedes Benz F124 Wagon. This was a special-purpose vehicle which was used as the backup ambulance for VIPs like presidents and prime ministers.
The then prime minister P. V. Narasimha Rao preferred to have Tata Sierras in his convoy. It is seen slowly moving towards the Amar Jawan Jyoti, with Special Protection Group (SPG) officers accompanying on the Tata Sumo. These officers take care of the PM’s security and also those of their immediate families.
The convoy is seen moving towards the Amar Jawan Jyoti, when suddenly the Ambassadors went in different directions and the Sumos did a manoeuvre to provide safe cover to the Tata Sierras which probably had the PM inside. Soon the Sierra stopped and the commandos jumped out of their vehicles and inspected the surroundings before opening the Sierra’s doors for Narasimha Rao to come out.
The Prime Minister is seen coming out of the Sierra’s backseat. The Sierra, as you would know by now, is anything but practical. Thus the PM had to struggle a bit to come out through the front passenger door, all the way from the rear. Talking powertrains, it had a Peugeot-sourced, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder diesel engine that produced 63 Bhp. Later in 97, Tata brought a turbocharged version too, which saw the power rise to 90 hp. A 5-speed unit was the only gearbox on offer.
Interestingly, Tata Motors is about to resurrect the Sierra nameplate by launching both the ICE and EV versions. They had revealed the EV form earlier, and this year’s Auto Expo ( Bharat Mobility Expo 2025) also saw the unveiling of the petrol/diesel-powered Tata Sierra. From what we know, it will use the diesel engine from the Harrier and Safari along with a new 1.5L turbocharged petrol engine, both capable of producing 170 hp with the diesel giving out an extra chunk of torque.
Before we conclude, a word or two needs to be said about the F124 shown here. This ex-presidential ambulance later got decommissioned, and almost got on its way to the junk yard when a couple of enthusiasts from Kerala bought it (of course without the tactical equipment ) and restored it into a tasteful campervan. This project car is now a hotshot at classic car meets and shows.