This GORGEOUSLY modified HM Contessa is available for less than a Renault Kwid
Hindustan Motors was among the earliest automotive manufacturers of India. Though now defunct, it has given us some timeless classics like the Ambassador and the Contessa. Talking about the Contessa, it is considered by many to be the first and last muscle car of India due to its body design (though it actually was a luxury sedan). A reason for this could be attributed to the fact that it was based on the Vauxhall VX series car of 1976. The video below by Retro Classics India shows us a tastefully modified Contessa which is up for sale. The asking price for this Contessa is Rs. 4.20 lakhs, which is even less than the top end Renault Kwid.
To let you know, the top end Renault Kwid variant, the Climber 1.0 AMT, retails at Rs. 4.66 lakhs (ex-showroom, Delhi). The Contessa here then beats it at price and is a whole lot cooler than the hatchback. It has been beautifully modified on the lines of the Dodge Charger, whose name it bears on the front grille and the tailgate. Finished in a shade of rusty metallic orange, it for sure demands attention wherever it goes. The twin-pod front headlights with LED rings around them create quite a stellar visual aura at night.
The front end has been given a whole new look and this Contessa now sports a custom bumper along with a slightly re-shaped bonnet. The headlights, fog lamps and the grille too are completely new units. According to the owner of this car, it was restored and modified by vintage car restoration professionals. Going by the neat look it carries, we agree on that. It runs on 17-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels shod on with Michelin brand tires, which according to the seller, are new.
On the inside, it carries a classic bare bone muscle car look with black leather seats, black door pads and brown dashboard. The stock HM steering has given way to a new custom power steering and the car now gets an aftermarket music system with Sony speakers and Bluetooth support. The major highlight of the interiors, though, is the sunroof this car has been fitted with. A classic Contessa with muscle car modifications and a sunroof, was someone saying Renault Kwid a little while back?
It is powered by a 1995 cc, Inline 4 cylinder, OHC, Water cooled, Isuzu 4FC1 engine that produced 55 HP along with 107 Nm torque. The engine comes mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. The stock exhaust has not been changed and is the same unit. The rear end gets a triple light design like in some of the early muscle cars. All in all, it seems to be quite a nice deal when compared to the Renault Kwid, though it will fall short on some modern day features. However, the coolness and appeal of this car is something that is hard to ignore.
Keep in mind though that it is quite an old car, model year 2000 to be precise, so maintaining it would be much more expensive than maintaining a Renault Kwid. If you are interested in this modified Contessa, click on the link below which will take you to the Advertisement posted by the seller.
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