As the iconic kaali peeli Padmini bids Mumbai farewell, we look back at what it was like to drive one
31 Oct '23•Autocar India Team
Based on Fiat 1100 D
The taxis first ran on petrol, then diesel and finally on CNG.
31 Oct '23•Autocar India Team
Produced from 1964 to 2001
Wasn’t ideal for a taxi, but taxi drivers loved it for its compact and agile nature. It also cost almost nothing to fix.
31 Oct '23•Autocar India Team
Most were upwards of 20-years old
It wouldn’t be exaggeration to say none of the mechanical bits worked properly.
31 Oct '23•Autocar India Team
Barebones an understatement?
Options included plastic seat covers and lockable wooden box. Steering wheel cover was a standard feature.
31 Oct '23•Autocar India Team
Turbo? No. Lag? Yes
0-60kph came up in over 20 secs – more than double the time of anything we’d tested then.
31 Oct '23•Autocar India Team
Stability, grip and braking?
Most ran clapped-out tyres, some were almost slicks. Steering had about 30deg play on either side. And you’d wish you never encountered an emergency braking situation.
31 Oct '23•Autocar India Team
Unfit for the road!
Truth be told, most Padmini taxis were only fit for the junk heap. The nostalgia is real, but newer, safer taxis are more welcome.