Maruti 800 - India's Icon, Now History | Nostalgia

Ask your dad. Or your grandfather. Uncle or any other old generation people of your circle about their dream car of early days. It would probably be the Maruti 800 in most of the cases.  

Not every cars of yours and mine may have the privilege of entering the history books, but this car is certainly an effigy of history. 

The history began in 1980s when the Government of India joined hands with the Japanese Suzuki Motors to bring some affordable cars to the Indian market highly dominated by Ambassadors and Padminis, which were perceived boring. And born was a car - compact, four-door, cute and trendy, which that time no one thought would rule our roads for the next 25 years. That car changed the way India drove, brought many people - young and old, especially women to the pleasure of driving a road car. It was the first front wheel drive car in India, the first four-door hatchback, first car to have front disc brakes, head rests and optional 3-point seat belts, a familiar CKD model during its birth in 1983, and what not??

Maruti 800: India's first "People's Car"

The Maruti 800 is the first "people's car" that India ever saw and became an emotional entity for millions of its customers, being the first car for them to be owned. It's sales feat was awe-inspiring for more than two decades with healthy market shares, only to be taken over by its younger sibling the Alto. The car redefined what the brand Maruti Suzuki means to Indian customers and made the brand more appealing.

But unfortunately, from April 2012, the 800 has been  forced to be phased out from our premier cities and metros, where BS IV emission standards are set in. The company too strategically stayed away from upgrading the car to meet BS IV standards. Nevertheless, Maruti 800 would the typical option to consider for most of the middle-class folks with low-maintenance and mileage priorities.

The Wonder Car: Maruti 800's original brochure snapshot

No one can deny the fact that the Maruti 800 is the iconic car of India. In a market where a four or five year old car is seen dated, this car has never been a humdrum to the people of India. However, the car gradually lost its sales in the last decade to the cars like the Daewoo Matis, Maruti Alto, Chevy Spark and the Tata Nano. And now in 2013, Maruti 800 isn't that holy since car image is increasingly the priority of many low-cost car buyers. It is no worth to buy the 800 in this age as there are several close alternatives with tons of gains. The company may even stop production in any time soon, making it a least option to buy. Nevertheless, it still has an appeal and lives in everyone's nostalgia. Consider the new Alto 800, it may remember you of the old 800 in many ways!