The Hindustan Contessa was an Indian saloon built by Hindustan Motors from 1984 to 2002 on the tooling of the Vauxhall VX Series. It arrived with a 1970s body and, at first, an engine and gearbox from the early 1950s, and the press of the day complained that it was underpowered. Later Isuzu engines transformed it into a quick and comfortable car, and in its homeland it earned the nickname “the Indian Benz”.
Hindustan Contessa at a glance
| Maker | Hindustan Motors, Uttarpara, West Bengal |
|---|---|
| Production | 1984–2002 (test cars from 1982) |
| Basis | Vauxhall VX Series of 1976–1978 |
| Early engine | 1.5 L BMC B-Series, 50 hp |
| Early gearbox | Hindustan four-speed, from the early 1950s |
| First top speed | about 125 km/h |
| Isuzu petrol | 1.8 L 4ZB1, 88 bhp from fully imported engines |
| Diesel | 2.0 L Isuzu 4FC1, turbo version later |
| Top speed, 1.8 petrol | about 160 km/h |
| Last versions | 1.8 GLX, 2.0 DLX, 2.0 TD |
| Nickname | the Indian Benz |
This page is based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Contessa, so its figures could not be cross-checked.
History of the Hindustan Contessa
A new car for the 1980s
By the late 1970s Hindustan Motors was ready to replace its ageing Ambassador with a more modern car. The company acquired the production tooling and technology of the Vauxhall VX Series, which had been phased out in Britain in 1978 and was itself a development of the Vauxhall Victor FE, itself derived from the Opel Rekord D. The new production line was set up alongside the Ambassador at Uttarpara near Kolkata, and the first test cars were ready by 1982. Series production began in the spring of 1984. When it arrived, the Contessa was one of very few Indian-made luxury cars, competing against the short-lived Standard 2000, based on the Rover SD1, and the Premier 118 NE, based on the Fiat 124. It was a popular choice among government officials.
Developed cheaply
To keep costs down, the Contessa went on sale with the 50 hp (37 kW) 1.5-litre BMC B-Series engine already used, in a slightly modified form, in the Ambassador, together with the old Hindustan four-speed gearbox. It was, as one description put it, a car introduced in 1984 with a 1970 body and a 1950 engine and gearbox. The press liked the roomy interior and the plush ride but criticised the grossly underpowered engine and the equally primitive gearbox. Top speed was only about 125 km/h, although a version with a higher 8.3:1 compression ratio offered 54 hp (40 kW).
The Isuzu years
By the late 1980s Hindustan had tied up with Isuzu of Japan and began manufacturing the company’s 1.8-litre 4ZB1 petrol engine and a matching five-speed gearbox. The new car was called the Contessa Classic and carried “CLASSIC” and “1.8GL” badging on the boot lid. The Isuzu-engined model quickly displaced the BMC-engined car, which was dropped in short order, and the top speed rose to about 160 km/h. Although the design dated from the 1970s, the interior was quiet and the seats were considered extremely comfortable. Features such as fuel injection, power windows, power steering, larger bumpers, uprated headlights and air conditioning arrived in phases, and the grille was revised during the 1990s.
Diesel and the end
In the 1990s Hindustan started making Isuzu’s 2.0-litre 4FC1 diesel engine for the Contessa Diesel, which sold reasonably well despite its high price; a turbo diesel followed a few years later. Demand then weakened as modern cars from General Motors, Ford, Fiat and Tata reached India, Maruti Suzuki took the largest share of the market and petrol prices kept rising, which was the final blow for the thirsty Contessa. Production ended in 2002. The last three versions were the 1.8 GLX with the Isuzu petrol engine, the 2.0 DLX diesel and the 2.0 TD turbo diesel. The 1.8 petrol used a single overhead-camshaft four with a carburettor, replaced by fuel injection from 2000 when new pollution rules came in; early cars with fully imported engines produced 88 bhp, while later locally assembled engines were rated at 75 bhp.
Design and features
- Vauxhall bones: a body and chassis taken from the Vauxhall VX Series of 1976–1978.
- Space and comfort: a roomy cabin and a soft ride praised by the press.
- Two engine eras: the elderly BMC 1.5 at first, then modern Isuzu petrol and diesel units.
- Gradual upgrading: fuel injection, power steering, power windows and air conditioning came step by step.
- Fleet appeal: a favourite of government officials, hence the “Indian Benz” nickname.
Hindustan Contessa versions
- Contessa 1.5 (1984): the original BMC-engined car with the four-speed gearbox.
- Contessa Classic 1.8 GL (late 1980s): Isuzu 4ZB1 petrol engine and five-speed gearbox.
- Contessa Diesel (1990s): 2.0-litre Isuzu 4FC1 diesel.
- 2.0 TD: turbo diesel added a few years later.
- Final range (2002): 1.8 GLX petrol, 2.0 DLX diesel and 2.0 TD turbo diesel.
The Contessa was built alongside the Hindustan Ambassador, which stayed in production for decades after the newer car had gone; Hindustan later sold the Hindustan Lancer. More cars are in the Hindustan collection.
Video: Contessa Remodelled by Suraj bhalla 2012 project
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Hindustan Contessa, English Wikipedia: history, engines, specifications
