India’s first Maruti 800 has been fully restored. It is now being displayed at Maruti Suzuki headquarters in Delhi
Maruti 800 is an iconic part of Indian history. It was launched in 1983 as a car for the masses. For years and years (till 2014), the small hatchback enabled was the most affordable car for many Indians. It even outsold the Maruti Alto for many years. To mark the 39 years of its launch, the first Maruti 800 is being displayed at Maruti Suzuki’s headquarters. The company has restored the first-ever unit to its original form. Let’s take a closer look at the Completely Restored Maruti 800:
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First Maruti 800 Delivered to Owner by Indira Gandhi
The first Maruti 800 unit was made at Maruti Suzuki India Limited (previously known as Maruti Udyog Limited) production facility in Haryana. The first owner of the car was Mr. Harpal Singh from New Delhi. The keys were handed over by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi herself. This unit (registration number DIA 6479) remained with Harpal Singh till his death in 2010. After this, the car remained outside his home for a long time. Since the car was unattended it started decaying.
However, the owners got it repaired. Fortunately, several pictures of the car surfaced on the internet and caught the attention of the Maruti Suzuki. The company helped in the restoration of the car. It was fixed with all the genuine spare parts and components. While the OG Maruti 800 is back in its original form, it is not eligible to be driven on the roads anymore. Hence, Maruti Suzuki is now showcasing the SS80 model at its headquarters. It is on display in all its glory.
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First Generation Model
The first-gen Maruti 800 was powered by a three-cylinder, carbureted, 796cc engine. This F8D engine (in the current BS6 emission norms) is still being used in present-day Alto. Until Maruti stopped producing the 800 in 2010, it continued to have an immense brand recall in semi-urban and rural areas of India. However, the 800 was finally discontinued, which helped the Alto with the room to grow. Currently, the Maruti Alto is India’s best-selling car and a spiritual successor to the 800. However, it owes this status to the legacy of the Maruti 800. Tell us what you think of the Maruti 800 and would like to check out the new display at Maruti Suzuki headquarters.
