Osian's Auction Catalogue Vintage and Classic Automobiles | February 2019

108 | Osian’s – Connoisseurs of Art was given the opportunity to “modernise” (since Maruti Udyog had been given the permission to collaborate with Suzuki), the Mumbai-based car maker decided to acquire the dies and toolings of the 124 from Fiat’s Spanish partner SEAT, who had been manufacturing the 124 at their facilities in Barcelona and Pamplona. In 1985, PAL launched the Premier 118NE. Except for lamps, grilles and a few other details, the 118NE was identical to the 1966 model 124. Under the bonnet, though, was a more modern engine, sourced from Nissan, the A12, which was a 52bhp 1171cc four-cylinder unit. In 1996, Premier launched a diesel engined version of the 118NE, known as the 1.38D. In fact, the early set of 118NEs – all those produced until 1988 – could be considered as historic vehicles (as per the definition of the Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens , FIVA, which recognises any vehicle that is more than 30 years old as historic). The car on offer is not a Premier 118NE. It is the real McCoy – a Fiat 124 saloon, from 1968. Despite the huge international success of the Fiat 124 and its many derivatives, not many seem to have come to India. Thus this particular car is a really rare ‘un. How it landed up in India is not known. Interestingly enough, it is the right-hand-drive version of the 124. It is also a car from the very first series, with its classic pair of large round headlamps and a narrow, simple, rectangular pair of lamps at the rear. The instrumentation, with a large rectangular speedometer dominating the nacelle, is classical 1960s’ Fiat-style. Unfortunately, the car does not have the original Fiat 124’s 1.2-litre engine. It has the Nissan A12 1171cc engine (and its sweet-changing gearbox), which is not only very similar in size, but is also more modern and more fuel efficient. The car’s original gearbox and the carburettor of the 124’s engine is extant, and will be given with the car. Current owner Naveen K, of Bengaluru, acquired the car in 2018, soon after it had underwent a comprehensive restoration, and looks smart in its deep green livery, complimented beautifully with the tan interiors. The interior is completely original and has been preserved excellently well. The car is a very fine runner and is an extremely practical historic vehicle. Either the new owner could chose to retain the Nissan engine, or consider replacing it with an original 124 engine – the matching gearbox and carburettor are there to help make this change easy.