10 Best Cars in India Worthy of a Full Restoration | From Amby to Sierra

While most of us like to buy new cars with modern-day features, some of us are still in love with some old cars. As they say, old is gold, some old cars deserve to be brought back to life no matter how old they get. Car restoration has been a popular practice since ages and it won’t get outdated ever! So, it’s 2020 and we see new cars launching almost every week. At the same time, there are some golden pieces from the past which deserve to be restored. If you are one of those petrol heads who love restored cars, make sure you read this article till the end! Here are 10 best restoration worthy cars!

1. Hindustan Ambassador
   

   

   Those who own it are those who know it! The experience of owning an ambassador was surely one of its kind experience. The HM Ambassador was one of the most iconic cars in the Indian automobile history. Owning an HM Ambassador in the present day may give you that ‘sarkaari gaadi’ feel but believe me this car from the past is one of the best cars from the past and hence forms the first one on our list of restoration worthy cars.

   You May Like: HM Ambassador: India’s Very Own Lal Batti Wali Gaadi

2. Premier Padmini
   

   

   The ‘Thalaiva’ himself owns this charming beauty. DO we need to say more? We don’t think so! If Rajnikanth still owns this car, there might be something special. Don’t believe us? Try it out yourself! A Premier Padmini won’t cost you over 50,000 INR in today’s used car market. If you purchase this car once, procuring spare parts can be an issue but believe us if you restore this car, it can be handled and driven better than most modern-day cars!

   Read Premier Padmini (Fiat 1100D): India’s Most Loved Family Car

3. Hindustan Contessa
   

   

   Why buy a Mustang when you can restore your desi muscle car to look like this? Mustang fans, don’t be offended! This wasn’t a comparison at all! This was just an introduction to our very own Indian muscle car which existed years before the Americans came in! HM Contessa was manufactured till 2002, but if you get a model from any year from its lifecycle, it is equally great and restoration worthy! Based on the Vauxhall VX series Contessa was also India’s very first luxury sedan. Considering all of the above factors, it has made it into our list of restoration worthy cars.

4. Premier 118NE
   

   

   This sedan from the past had one of the most refined engines and slickest gearbox of its time. The Nissan-sourced gearbox and engine made it one of the most popular cars of its era. The 1.2-litre A12 engine was capable of generating 52hp and the car had a top speed of 135kmph. The way this engine used to revv, made it the most popularly discussed engine of its era. The engine was smooth and powerful but the car was prone to rust! Yes, if you go forward and restore this car, beware of the rust that will come along. Make sure you check each and every part for rust during the process.

   Dig Deeper Premier 118NE | The one that couldn’t live up to the name

5. 1984 Maruti 800 (SS80)
   

   

   The first one from an automaker who is doing so well in India in the present times, Maruti 800 has already got a “classic” status for the pre-facelift versions. But if you get the one with square head and taillights, you would still be happily restoring that one. On our list of restoration worthy cars, Maruti 800 stands at the 5th place but is still the most practical car to be used for a beautiful city drive among all these cars. We agree there is a lack of equipment in this car but remember, modification has no limits!

6. Fiat UNO
   

   

   An internationally acclaimed car that failed in India! Fiat UNO was the first modern Fiat sold in the country. Sadly, India didn’t get the Fiat UNO turbo. We guess the market didn’t call for it! The 1697cc engine under the hood of this Fiat produced 58hp and the suspension was also quite appreciable as it made the UNO surpass small bumps with absolute ease! The maintenance would be a tough game on this one but if you somehow restore into the internationally available turbo variant, your investment will definitely be worth it!

7. Mahindra Jeep CJ-3B
   

   

   Going back to the roots of the Mahindra Jeep, the CJ 3B. This ultimate off-roader had a petrol engine and a 3-speed gearbox. The restoration craze for this Mahindra is just next level! You would easily find many restored and un-restored version of this Jeep in the markets. The reason is simple. this vehicle can be used by putting in any good engine and gearbox. This platform accepts multiple engine & gearbox combinations and this is why it has made it into our list of restoration worthy cars.

8. Tata Sierra
   

   

   Did we just mention off-roading? No offroading vehicle list is complete without mentioning the legend itself. Tata Sierra is one of the most worthy cars that deserve to be restored. Even Tata loves it so much that they are planning to launch it again soon. Tata already displayed a concept version at the Auto Expo 2020! Tata Sierra had a 2.0-litre diesel engine that had two options, a turbocharger or no turbocharger. The non-turbocharged version gave out a power of around 68hp while the turbocharged one produced over 90hp. The engine was mated to a G76 5-speed manual transmission. The turbocharged version of the engine was introduced at a later stage around the late 1990s. Restoring this legend is a really great opportunity within itself if you find it on sale anywhere in India!

9. Honda City 1st Gen
   

   

   The Japanese automaker introduced the VTEC engine in the Honda City in India in the year 2000. It had a peak power output of 106 hp which made it a really popular model among the common audience and the racing enthusiasts. A real VTEC lover would find this car an absolute delight to drive any day he gets it! For all those VTEC lovers out there, restoring the first-gen Honda City is the best option because this engine is still capable of doing what most modern engines of the same capacity can’t do!

   Read 10 Best Second Hand Used Cars under 50k | Desperate Motoring

10. Maruti Esteem
    

    

    Another sedan that absolutely fascinates the enthusiasts these days is Maruti Esteem. This sedan with an independent rear suspension is still used by racing enthusiasts on the track. Considering the excellent handling this MS provides and the readily available spare parts (which are not at all expensive) make it stand on our list of restoration worthy cars. Not only for the race enthusiasts, but this sedan can be used for city driving purposes and can form a perfect family sedan. It’s an MS. Do we need to say more? We don’t think so!

This was all for our Sunday fun read about the restoration worthy ars in India. We know buying a new car is a great feeling within itself but just imagine how would you feel if you can customise your car completely how you like it! Restoration is not a process, its an experience and it’s definitely worth it! Every car enthusiast should definitely try car restoration once in their lifetime and if you are going to try it really soon, one of the above restoration worthy cars should definitely be your choice!