Rachana Mahadimane posing with her powder blue 1987-model Premier Padmini.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Jayanagar-based content creator Rachana Mahadimane has always leaned towards vintage articles. Her recent Instagram reel about buying a Premier Padmini has created a buzz on the Internet. Posted last month, it received 15 lakh views and 1.44 lakh likes.
Rachana considers herself an ‘old soul’. “I started with driving a manual Volkswagen Vento. My maternal grandfather who is a planter from Wayanad in Kerala, owned a lot of old cars like the Ambassador. My uncle was also a car enthusiast. I think the interest in cars runs in the family,” says the 34-year-old.
Rachana had spotted several Padmini cars in the last few years on the streets of Jayanagar, while painting outside. “I think I have a natural affinity for the car as one of my favourites is the Fiat 500, which was made in Italy. Padminis have a similar look,” she says.
It was in September, her birthday month, that Rachana made the purchase. “My friend, Maneesh, spotted a powder blue car on an online platform. It was owned by a professor in Koramangala. We went and checked it out and found the car to be in working condition. I was instantly impressed and we sealed the deal,” she adds.
The car was retouched at Jaws Garage in J P Nagar. “The floor had a hole and the body of the car was rusted in a few places. It took nearly four months to get the car back,” she says. Currently, the car doesn’t have air conditioning and is not feasible for long drives.
Rachana hopes to take part in a vintage car rally in the future and drive to Mysuru, where she hails from.