A stunning lineup of 150 classic Fiats captured the attention of onlookers in South Mumbai on Sunday as the second edition of the Bombay Fiat Club Mega Meet kicked off from Radio Club in Colaba. The event was inaugurated with great enthusiasm by Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC that morning.
After the launch, the impressive parade of vintage Fiats cruised down to Cuffe Parade, making their way to the World Trade Centre before heading back to Radio Club.
At least 150 Fiats, all produced between the 1940s and 1980s, registered for the event, with some enthusiasts traveling from as far away as Nagpur and Goa. The impressive lineup featured classic models like the Premier Padminis, Fiat Select, Fiat 1100, Fiat President, Fiat 500, Fiat 124, Fiat Millecento, and Premier 118 NE.
Organized by the Bombay Fiat Club, which was founded by Dr. Sambit Patnaik in 2024, this celebration aimed to unite the best collection of restored classic Fiats, their passionate owners, and the stories behind them. While the inaugural event in December 2024 saw around 81 vintage vehicles, this year’s turnout of 150 participants highlights the club’s growing popularity.
Premal Goragandhi, a filmmaker, builder, and one of the event’s organizers, shared with The Indian Express, “Fiat was a car that nearly every family has owned. It brings back so many fond memories, making people feel nostalgic. The event was a tremendous success, with our registrations nearly doubling this year.” Although the original plan was for the participants to drive along Marine Drive and regroup at the pier, the route was adjusted due to traffic restrictions related to football legend Lionel Messi’s visit to Wankhede Stadium.
Aside from the rally, the meetup also featured nominations for various categories in the ‘Car of the Meet’ contest. An executive committee decided the winners through a poll, with nominations highlighting cars that have rich histories, fascinating ancestral tales, and those that have been lovingly restored from rough conditions, as well as vehicles of historical importance. The coveted trophy for ‘Car of the Meet’ went to Pratap Sinh Gaekwad’s Fiat 500. Meanwhile, the first runner-up award was snagged by Kunal Varaskar’s 1989 Premier Padmini (PP DLx BE), which has been in his family since it belonged to his grandfather. The second runner-up was a 1970 Fiat 1100 D, proudly owned by Premal Goragandhi.