Contessa Car was one of the self-made Indian cars by Hindustan Motors. It was considered one of the most iconic cars in the history of the Indian automobile industry. Conte’s car was a luxury sedan car that was manufactured from 1984 to 2002. It was also known as India’s muscle car because of its unique combination of style, design, performance, and compactness making it one of the top and favorite cars among people of that time. In this article, we have discussed retail Hindustan Contessa car history, price, performance specifications, and more.
The History of Hindustan Contessa
The Contessa car was manufactured by Hindustan Motors in the late 90s and continued till the early 2000s. The Contessa car due its inspired by the British car Vauxhall Victor FE. Hindustan Motors acquired the design structure and mechanical features of Victor fe and incorporated it in Contessa. The production line was set up at Uttarpara near Kolkata, alongside the Ambassador and the first test cars were ready by 1982. Series production was underway by the spring of 1984. At that time India did not make very big cars, there were only small and simple cars like the Hindustan Ambassador Premier Padmini and Maruti Suzuki 800. So the coming of Contessa was itself a very big achievement. Soon became very popular for being distinctive unique stylish luxurious and big, making itself a status symbol in India
Production and Discontinuation
Contessa was nearly manufactured for 2 decades, but by the early 2000s 2000 became very difficult for Contessa to compete with modern cars like Honda City Hyundai Accent Tata Indigo, and more which eventually led to its decline in demand and sales. Finally in 2002 Hindustan Motor officially announced the discontinuation of Contessa due to its low sales and changing market strategies and trends.
Contessa Car Price in India
The Contessa car ex-showroom price ranged between Rs 4.83 lakh to 5.4 1 lakhs. And that a showroom price from 5.55 lakh to 6.13 lakh.
| Variant | Ex-Showroom Price | On Road Price |
| 1.8 GL Classic(Petrol) Base Model | Rs.5,09,600 | Rs.5,78,858* |
| 2.0 DSL(Diesel) | Rs.4,83,692 | Rs.5,55,751 |
| 1.8 GLX(Petrol) Top Model | Rs.5,41,900 | Rs.6,13,696 |
Contessa Car Engine Specifications and Performance
The Contessa had multiple engine options during its production years:
Original 1.5L BMC Engine (1984-1990)
The Contessa car came in 4 different variants. The first variant consisted of the same engine as an Ambassador that included a 1.5-litre BMC B- series with 50 horsepower along with a four-speed gearbox. The structure of the car had a 1970 body but a 1950 engine and gearbox. The car was heavy, so performance was slow, and the fuel efficiency was not great.
1.8L Isuzu Petrol Engine (1990-2002)
In 1992 Hindustan Motors made a deal with Lsuzu a Japanese automobile company and introduced a 1.8 L Isuzu petrol engine for Contessa. This engine was more powerful than the original engine and produced 85 horsepower making the car driving smoother and faster.
2.0L Isuzu Diesel Engine
This was the most powerful engine introduced for Contessa with a 2.0 L Isuzu diesel engine that produced 55 to 60 horsepower of energy. Through this engine, the car became more fuel efficient. This car was the top model variant of Contessa and was owned by government officials big businessmen and high-profile people in India
| Engine | 1.5 L BMC B-Series OHV I41.8 L 4ZB1 I42.0 L 4FC1 diesel I42.0 L 4FC1-T turbodiesel I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual (BMC)5-speed manual (Isuzu) |
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
Performance And Driving Experience
The Contessa car was a very comfortable car and had a smooth and easy writing experience. It had a soft suspension which made long drives very comfortable and enjoyable. The rear wheel drive setup made the car powerful and stable on highway cruising.
Contessa Mileage And Top Speed
The Contessa was not considered a fuel-efficient car, except the 1.8GL petrol Contessa variant as it gives a mileage of 9 km per liter. THE BMC series variant generated a top speed of 125 km per hour but after the use of the Isuzu engine the top speed generated was around 160 km per hour
Contessa Car Design And Looks
One of the biggest reasons people loved the Contessa was its bold and elegant design.
Exterior Design
The Hindustan Motors left no opportunity to give contesa the best design and look. The Contessa had a bold and elegant Sedan design. The car was long with a white body and classic 3-box design with separate sections for the cabin engine and boot. Due to its inspiration from Vauxhall Victor FE. Will was simple with square headlights that added beauty to the car the car was equipped with a Chrome accent giving it a royal and premium look it had a long bonnet and large boot space making a really good road presence. Contessa was one of the most beautiful and unique designer cars in India at that time
Interior And Comfort
The interior of the Contessa was very premium and luxurious providing ample amount of space providing a very comfortable and smooth ride the seeds were also very wide and comfortable. The Cabin and dashboard had a within panel with a touch of luxury. There were also features like power windows, plush upholstery, and air conditioning making it one of the most classic cars of that era. Even now Contessa is being admired by people for its timeless and classic red Road design making it one of the top vintage cars in India.
Contessa Car Dimensions
The Car is designed really well with a seating capacity of 5 passengers, the car measures 4591 mm in length, 1699 mm wide, and 1432 mm in height, providing both comfort and features.
| Length | 4591 mm |
| Width | 1699 mm |
| Height | 1432 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2667 mm |
| Curb Weight | 1200 kg |
| Ground Clearance | 205 mm |
| Number of Doors | 4 |
What Made Hindustan Contessa Famous in India?
Contessa was one of the top cars of that era in India even though it has many cons its special charm captivated people to fall in love with it reasons were:
Hallmark of status
Owning a Contessa in 1980 and 1990 was itself a very big thing that demonstrated social status, power, and wealth. The car was very expensive and exclusive at that time and was owned by big businessmen, politicians, and high figures.
Premium designer luxurious feel
The Contessa had a very premium design like other designer cars of America and UK. People found contes to be very eye-catching because of their style and look. India had a lack of impressive Sedan cars, so the introduction of Contessa filled the gap.
Comfortness and features
The Contessa car was equipped with high-tech features like power windows, air conditioning, and plush upholstery. The seat of the car was very wide and comfortable leading to a smooth and easy long-distance journey and ride.
Reason for its Discontinuation
High price and less demand
The Contessa because of its style and features was very expensive when compared to the Maruti Esteem Honda City and Hyundai accent. And slowly with the introduction of these modern cars, the demand for contessa gradually declined.
Outdated Technology
The Contessa though being equipped with some features could not really compete with American and British cars because of its lack of modern safety features like ABS system and airbag. Soon with the introduction of modern vehicles that had more advanced features, Technology replaced Contessa.
Fuel Consumption
The Contessa was not fuel efficient and gave very little mileage making the car very costly to maintain. The fuel was also very expensive at that time. The diesel version was better but it was not very powerful.
Competition From Emerging Global Brands
The introduction of new and modern companies like Honda Hyundai Toyota Maruti in the Indian automobile industry made it difficult for Contessa to compete and cope with the changing market trends and customer needs.
The Legacy and Future of Contessa
Though the production of Contessa no longer exists, the Hindustan Contessa car remains one of the most classic cars in India. Many people still restore all Contessa cars and customize them according to their needs with modern engines, alloy wheels, and advanced features. Recently there were rumors that Hindustan Motor might restart and re-launch the production of Contessa as an electric or modern sedan in India. its return would be the most awaited thing for any car enthusiast.
Conclusion
The Hindustan Contessa car was not just a car but was an emotion for the Indian automobile industry manufactured by the legendary car company Hindustan Motors. The car is still celebrated for its luxury, vintage style design, and power. Today the contes of remains a dream for car enthusiasts and is one of the antique pieces made in India. Today, the Contessa remains a collector’s dream, and modified versions still turn heads on the streets. Whether you remember it from Bollywood movies or as the car of India’s elite, the Contessa’s legacy will always live on.
