FRESHLY restored and made whole just 15 days before the deadline, Amit Vilas Rukari’s love story with the Fiat Millecento of 1955 is truly heart-warming. Automobile dealer, distributor of Fuchs Lubricants, and owner of a car garage, Rukari drove his newly restored Millecento from Pune to Nagpur for the Rotary-The Hitavada Vintage Car Rally organised in association with Cent Ind Vintage Automobile Association (CIVAA), at St Ursula High School ground on Sunday.

 

The Millecento, restored on December 12, boasts a 1100cc petrol engine. It has an Italian design with original column-shift gear, slim steering wheel, and front door openings. Rukari was invited by his close aide for the rally. “Veteran vintage automobile collector Dhananjay Badamikar had invited me for this meet in Nagpur, and I tagged along with him in my car.” Though now in his possession, Rukari had eyed this car for about eight years before the owner decided to sell the vehicle in 2020, finally handing over the Millecento in January 2021.

 

“The car, when bought from Belgaum, was in a condition to run, but we took every part we could from Pune to Belgaum and brought it to Pune. “The fuel tank was rusted away, so we had to put a tin bucket under the bonnet and drive the car up to Pune,” Rukari explained his dedication towards the vehicle. “The Fiat Millecento is one of the cars I own, along with a Morris and Mercedes-Benz W124 300D of the 1980s,” informed expert automobile restorer Rukari. “It was manufactured in India in July 1955.

 

” Though maintenance is rare, restoration was not a problem thanks to Rukari’s able senior mechanic, Dattabhau Pant from Pune. “I have restored it to a level at which the car can survive for more than 15 years without any complaint,” said the expert restorer. “It was a challenging task to gather all original and old parts and accessories of the car and maintain them; it was very time-consuming as well,” he said. The original colour of the car was black and has been changed to Arancio Gustoso. “The reason this car has my heart is because ever since I was a kid I have seen my ancestors and parents use these cars. Ever since that day, it became my dream to own a vintage car,” Rukari explained the real reason for his passion. “Vintage vehicles remind us where we came from and inspire where we’re going,” Rukari wrapped up.