Scooters today come in an adorable array of colours, variants and performance indicators. Three decades ago, when there was only one scooter name on everyone’s lips – Bajaj Chetak. In fact, it was so popular that it developed a reputation for making and breaking marriages. Read on to find out why.
A virtual clone of the Italian scooter Vespa Sprint, the Chetak was sleeker and lighter than the Lambretta Innocenti and later the Victory Super, whose popularity began to decline by the 80s. In fact, although Sprint caught the attention of the Bajaj Group for its elegant lines and design ingenuity, what made it special for the Indian scooter brand was the possibility of offering an affordable, mass-produced, fuss-free scooter in the Indian market. . ,
And it certainly proved less temperamental than a Lambretta. In fact, the Chetak introduced in 1972 lives up to his name. Named after the famous horse of Maharana Pratap, who saved his owner despite being mortally wounded in battle, the scooter became a symbol of loyalty and assurance to the Indian public in the 70s and 80s, at a time when neither government Nor could the economy provide for them. He.
This 145 cc, 2-stroke scooter proved ideal for riding on rough Indian roads, and in fact, became the most commonly used form of local and inter-city commute in the 70s and 80s. Moreover, its ability to operate brilliantly in the harsh climate of India, and to operate flawlessly despite heavy usage proved to be in favor of the Bajaj Chetak. and that’s not all! The scooter required little or no maintenance, and its servicing and repair was almost always really cheap! It was also far more economical than the motorcycles of the time.
Since traffic rules were not as stringent at that time, it was very common to see a couple with 2-4 kids on a scooter together, which gave Bajaj an indelible image – of being a family scooter, just like the modern-day family. car.
A timeless advertisement and a captivating jingle aired by the company on television served to add to its value and ensure its permanent place in Indian society.
Our tomorrow, our today, the lofty picture of a lofty India, our Bajaj! a slogan that is still popular today
bajaj scooter old ad – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUX7KmOSbrg
There was so much desire to own a Bajaj scooter in those years, that the groom’s family wanted it as a part of the dowry (an extremely unfortunate practice that was prevalent at the time)! Since the scooter was somewhat economical, there was almost never an issue of price for the bride’s family, but timely delivery of the scooter was.
Due to regulations framed by the License Raj (1951–1991), Bajaj Auto was allowed to manufacture only 20,000 units per year, much less than the demand for the scooter in question. This meant an extraordinarily long waiting period, up to 10 years in fact!
So, how did this work in the wedding scenario? Well, since the bride’s family was almost always convinced about Bajaj Chetak’s dowry demand, they often booked scooters when their baby girl was barely 5-6 years old. This ensured, that they would get the delivery before the girl’s wedding, and things could go smoothly!
And then, there was a shortcut of sorts! Thanks to an official government-approved plan – a forex of $500 can help a customer get a Bajaj Chetak delivery at a much earlier date! That said, even the arrangement involved long queues of overly eager customers.
But what if they didn’t get the scooter on time? Well, as amusing as it may sound, unfortunately weddings at that time were often delayed or postponed to match the expected date/month of delivery of Bajaj Chetak!
So, yes, it was reality! We bet that there is not a single vehicle on earth that carries or shares the same enthusiasm, fascination or eagerness as the Bajaj Chetak.
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While the old-fashioned scooter is no longer in production, Bajaj Auto tries to bring back the nostalgia of it all with its latest offering – the Bajaj Chetak (Electric Scooter)!
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