Bengaluru Woman Fulfills Childhood Dream by Restoring and Owning Vintage Premier Padmini
Bengaluru Woman Fulfills Childhood Dream by Restoring and Owning Vintage Premier Padmini
For one woman in Bengaluru, owning her dream car wasn’t about high-end features or modern technology—it was about a nostalgic childhood memory. Rachana Mahadimane recently fulfilled her dream of owning a vintage Premier Padmini, a classic car that holds deep sentimental value.
Rachana, a Bengaluru resident, shared her excitement on Instagram, posting a video of herself driving the beautifully restored car. “I still can’t believe this is real. I bought myself a car for my birthday, and it’s the one I’ve wanted since I was a little girl. For the past two years, I’ve been seeing Padminis everywhere, sketching them, painting them, and documenting every one I spotted around my neighborhood. Now, driving my own Padmini feels surreal,” she wrote.
One comment read, “I learned to drive in a Padmini and even took my driving test in one with gears on the steering wheel. Congratulations on owning a piece of history.”
Another commenter shared, “I fulfilled my dream of owning an Ambassador this June and drove it from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. Your Padmini is absolutely beautiful—enjoy every ride!”
One more said, “In a world focused on luxury cars, this is the true manifestation of a dream.”
Rachana’s passion for the Padmini has been longstanding. When she finally found a car to purchase, it was in poor condition and required extensive repairs. After months of restoration work, the car was transformed into a stunning soft powder-blue shade, exactly as she had envisioned.
The Premier Padmini, produced in India under a Fiat license, was a beloved car in the 1970s and 1980s, and it was even owned by iconic figures like Rajinikanth, Mammootty, and Aamir Khan. However, as more fuel-efficient models from Maruti Suzuki entered the market, the Padmini’s popularity faded. Its legacy endured, though, especially through its role as the iconic “kaali peeli” taxis in Mumbai, which operated until 2023.
