Nostalgia comes in different forms and if you were born and brought up in this part of the world, you would probably have some interesting memories involving Maruti Suzuki cars. Maruti Suzuki has grown with us and for many, it was the first car in our family. Maruti drove in at the time of Ambassadors and Fiat and quickly outpaced them to emerge a market leader. Starting with the cute and agile Maruti 800, the journey continues today with bestsellers such as Alto, Wagon R, Swift, Dzire, Ciaz, and Brezza.
To celebrate 35 glorious years of Maruti Suzuki, Classic Maruti Enthusiasts in association with FortPoint Automotive Maruti dealer, organized Maruti Classic Day in Mumbai. This trip down memory lane was made possible for customers by transforming the dealership into a time machine with the clock set to 35 years in the past.
This is where customers got to see the legendary Maruti cars such as first generation Maruti 800, Maruti Van and Maruti Gypsy. At that time, the company was known as Maruti Udyog and its primary focus was on providing good quality and affordable cars to the middle class. A Classic Maruti drive was also organized, which witnessed the participation of 35 classic Maruti owners from across the country.
Some cars immediately got our attention such as a 1985 Maruti Van that was sourced from Nashik. The vehicle was completely restored and it reminded us of our childhood days. Maruti Van was later renamed to Maruti Omni. A 1986 Maruti 800 was also on display, which too had undergone some restoration and came with carburetted engine and seat covers. Maruti Gypsy was also on display, which was once a favourite with police and army personnel.
In addition to the classic Maruti cars, old TV commercials of Maruti cars were streamed in the background. Old print ads of Maruti cars were also displayed. Visitors also got to see a photo gallery that captured key milestones achieved by Maruti. The most interesting photos included the photo of first Maruti customer, Harpal Singh, who could be seen receiving the keys to his Maruti 800 from none other than the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The photo of Mother Teresa receiving the one millionth Maruti car (an Alto) also got our attention.
Maruti cars are known for their quality and competitive pricing, which is why they are so popular. Around 50 per cent of the cars sold in the country are Maruti Suzuki cars. It was a nostalgic experience for many at Fortpoint Maruti Suzuki Arena and initiatives like these will certainly strengthen the bonds between Maruti cars and its customers.
