When we talk about vintage Indian cars, we hear names like Hindustan Motors, Premier, Fiat, and even Maruti. However, in the 80s, India did try its luck in the automotive industry, and there were actually businessmen who were passionate about building cars in India. We all know how the Maruti 800 became a household name and gained popularity in the Indian market.
However, there were brands even before that. One such brand was Sipani, and Sipani had a car called the Dolphin. It was shaped like a Maruti 800 but was completely different. You hardly find one of these on the roads now. However, here we have a video of a Sipani Dolphin that has been completely restored to its former glory and is still in running condition.
The video has been shared by Baiju N Nair on his YouTube channel. In this video, the vlogger talks about the history of the car and how it didn’t do well in the market. R.K. Sipani, an Indian industrialist, thought of coming up with a new car for the Indian market and formed a company named Sunrise Automobiles. This was later renamed Sipani.
One of the reasons why it didn’t pick up in the Indian market is that a few years after the Sipani Dolphin’s launch, Maruti entered the market with the 800, and the rest is history.
However, there were other reasons, such as the fiberglass body, reliability issues, and the 2-door design, which made people look for other options. The current owner of the car had a Sipani Dolphin at home as a kid, but like most people, they sold the car and upgraded to other options. However, a few years ago, the owner wanted to buy one and started looking for it in the market.
He finally managed to get one from a workshop in Kerala. It was in working condition, but the body needed attention. As it had a fiberglass body, the body panels did not rust. He looked for a workshop that specifically worked on such cars. The car was repainted, and the owner had to add a few bits like ORVMs, fender turn indicators, and a reverse light to renew the registration certificate.
The Sipani Dolphin is actually an Indian version of the Reliant Kitten, which is a UK model. The current owner sourced some of these parts from the UK, while others were borrowed from models like the Maruti 800. The car originally came with 10-inch steel rims from the factory. The owner was unable to find the same size tires, so he went with 12-inch units. The tail lamps on this car are also stock, and the owner is currently looking to source brand-new ones.
The owner can be heard saying that he has driven many cars in his lifetime, but nothing has felt like the Sipani Dolphin. Similarly, the cabin has been restored and now features all-black Rexine material.
The instrument cluster and steering wheel remain stock. We do see some additional switches and stalks for turn indicators and headlights. The Sipani Dolphin is powered by an 848cc engine that generates 38 bhp. The engine is mated to a 4-speed manual gearbox. It is definitely a clean-looking example, and without a doubt, the best-looking Sipani Dolphin in India.