Last week we came across a fake news report about the death of veteran actor Dharmendra. He was admitted to the hospital after his health deteriorated. He later started responding to medicines, and he has now been shifted to his home in Mumbai. After the fake news of his death circulated online, his family came forward with a clarification. Like most actors, Dharmendra also has a variety of expensive cars in his collection, but one car remains close to his heart. The reason why it is close is not just because it was his first car, but also because a funny story is behind it.
Dharmendra’s first car was a Fiat 1100, and he had bought the car back in 1960. The car is now 65 years old, and there is a reason why, despite having several expensive cars, he has not sold it. When he was a new face in the Bollywood industry, he was not sure for how long he would be able to get work.
So when he was getting decent work, he decided to go and buy a Fiat 1100 for Rs 18,000. He bought it with the intention of commuting for work, and if he ran out of roles or work in the industry, he could always go back and use the same car as a taxi in Mumbai.
It was because of the insecurity that the actor might have had such a thought. Thankfully, he never ran out of roles or movies, and he got a reason to hold on to his beloved Fiat 1100.
The actor had even posted a video of him with the Fiat 1100 outside his house in Mumbai. The car, as mentioned above, holds a special place, and for the same reason, he has made sure that it is maintained very well.
In the video that the actor had shared on his social media profile, he is seen calling the car his friend. He called it so because the car has seen the ups and downs of his career more than anyone else in the family or his friend circle.
The actor has had the car completely restored. It is not finished in the usual black or off-white shade. The car has been completely repainted in a shade of olive green and bronze. The car now looks elegant and has not lost its charm.
The front grille, bumper, and chrome accents on other parts of the car’s body have been restored and repainted in bronze or copper accents. The rest of the body panels get the olive green shade. The interior of the car has also been restored to give it a fresh look.
Dharmendra’s love for this particular Fiat 1100 is clearly visible in the video. The Fiat 1100 is powered by a 1,089 cc, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated petrol engine that generates 36 bhp. Other than the Fiat 1100, Dharmendra owns cars like the old-generation Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, and many others.