Road Ends for India's Iconic Ambassador Car | The New York Times

After more than 50 years, Hindustan Motors ended production of the iconic Ambassador, the first car solely sourced and produced in India.
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Road Ends for India's Iconic Ambassador Car | The New York Times
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[@iyerviking]

When my dad bought the ambassador (I think it was around the early or mid eighties) the first thing he did was to take it to a mechanic (3rd party) to have all its nuts and bolts tightened and some welding done - which was standard practice in those days; not doing this meant risking a breakdown in the first week! We were not used to air conditioners back in the day - so that was never a challenge. The rear seat comfort was unmatched. Tall seats with plenty of thigh support for tall people like me. Spring loaded too! The Ambassador car is a great example of how human beings are happier with fewer choices. If you compare it with today's cars or for that matter, other cars that were available internationally at the time, the Ambassador was probably a piece of junk. All said, I will miss it.

[@radhakantapanda5882]

Sale sab milke Ambassodor ko barbaad kar diya. Ab rote ho ? Manufacturers apne hi itni shandar ITEM jo barbad kar diya . Sab sale chor hai . Maruti aur TATA se mota paisa kha liya management ne . Isliye Ye bewakoof AMBASSODOR ko barbad khud hi kar diya .Sala ye INDIA ka brand tha .

[@nayankalitadualcitizen]

British mass market cars from the 1950s onwards were on a slow decline in quality except for the Mini. The Morris Oxford which was the parent design of the Ambassador had the same issues. I guess the car and the company were a perfect combination. Shoddy workmanship spoiling an unrefined design. But the car could withstand a lot of punishment, which cannot be said of designs like the Morris Minor or Fiats of the time period.

[@karshak1983]

I personally feel Ambassador car should be undertaken by any Indian car manufacturing company like TATA or Mahendra and start reproducing them with required up gradations.

[@penguincamp]

;( We will miss the Ambassador.

[@andyy91]

I want one of these so bad !

[@CrazycarTwentyone]

***** Same, my grandfather had three awesome looking ones when my mom was a kid, now he drives a Hyundai which I don't think looks nearly as good as his Maruthi Suzuki Zen or his Ambassadors.

[@desiredditor]

Just import one if you can drive a right and drive car

[@venkyorg]

Its a shame for Hindustan Motors never did anything credible to maintain life cycle of this amazing product! Wish somebody acquired this brand may be TATA or Mahindra and rejuvenate its spirit and its immortal tagline; ITs ALWAYS THERE!

[@jaswanths78]

Venky S Rao Well said

[@rajkumarn.t4581]

I wish tata to takeover coz right now they are the pure Indian car manufacturer and tata cars are doing great job in safety and value for money

[@scottsgallerycafe]

Fantastic little cars. We ha a couple of journeys in them whilst in India. ;-)

[@nayankalitadualcitizen]

That car is not little at all. That car had its own timezone, it was that big.

[@king_has_no_clothskul8635]

very very big: nearly 15 feet I think. meant for 6 people! cadillac of india but gas guzzler but it delivered.

[@meyawabdulaziz3863]

one of the most enduring classic cars to remain the same since the 1950s.... by by amby,,,,you will be missed...

[@MAMMediaMarketing]

Ambassador mack 3 station wagon in running condition kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjVkKGYpZKljpI

[@milyasf2208]

In a Top Gear episode, Ambassador beat Limousine,Mercedes and many other cars ....This car is truly iconic. One of the toughest cars ever built.

[@GamezGames19]

Yes British engineering at its best.

[@JohnDoe-cd6fr]

***** by the time this car hit the 90s, the only thing British was the body shell, petty much everything else was a mix n match from god knows where.

[@dhoorshala]

***** Ok Ok White Man is the greatest .... ever .... period. Are you happy now?

[@MarquisRex]

***** Does that mean that Jaguar is Indian engineering at its best? Oh the Irony....;-)

[@MarquisRex]

dhoorshala Relax and stop being so insecure. Why are Indians from India so insecure ?- they cant take any kind of jabbing or humour.

[@VK-no5kj]

Amazing, Some foreigners recognize the essence of India's iconic car more than most Indians.

[@johndavidson3424]

Afterall it's a rebadged Morris Oxford from 🇬🇧 with underpowered engines for 🇮🇳, even the most powerful 1.8L 75bhp MPFi, which was also forced upon Indians by licence raj. Everything was wrong with Indian automotive during Ambassador's glory, some Indians may recognise it in a bad sense.

[@ashwinthiagarajan2650]

dude, they should bring this car back with a powerful 6-cyl engine stick shift and make it sportier and more luxurious

[@MAMMediaMarketing]

Ambassador mack 3 station wagon in running condition kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjVkKGYpZKljpI

[@chrisxaf1237]

if u want a 6-cyl ambassador look at the AMC ambassador

[@user-wl2uh5ux1f]

I love hindustan ambassador!!!!!

[@mtarkes]

The old must die for the young to live. No matter how glorious the life cycle, everything faces death eventually. RIP dear grand old Ambassador.

[@jerseyneil1]

I had fond memories of the Ambassador, but Tata Motors is the future of Indian motor cars. They already own Jaguar and Range Rover and thus are in the US and EU markets. It is just a matter of time before Indian cars will adopt much of the same technologies.

[@CrazycarTwentyone]

Sunil Thomas They really own Range Rover and Jaguar!? Awesome! I hope they are in the U.S by the time I can drive! Maybe even the new Ambassador Hindustan Motors said they would release!

[@vivekkumar-ze3kk]

Her majesty of Indian roads. I miss this car a lot.. 😟😟

[@wakeuproy]

Yes, Amby will remain an Amby, no cars can replace it. I still remember learning to drive on my grand father's Mark 3 Ambassador... Struggling with gear shift, brakes but it was a fun...

[@CrazycarTwentyone]

My grandfather had three of em during my mom's childhood, on black one, a peacock blue one, and white one. There is even a picture of the family in front of the white one.All looked awesome, just looking at this guys ambassador makes me want to get one myself, but I live in the U.S.

[@Banom7a]

find one that is 25 years old, you can import one

[@indiegenre9333]

My dad owns one of these. It's still in good condition. It was used only for official purpose. Some people have tried to buy it by offering around $300000

[@BenDover-hc6vx]

They didn’t let it die. Suzuki, Tata and other car manufacturers killed it.!

[@anuragwisdom]

It's not just a car brand it's our India's heartbeat

[@bop237]

how india can let die ambassador

[@TuhinBagh]

+neeraj kumar Kumar Survival of the fittest!

[@sumansengupta3795]

Just like Germany let go of the Volkswagen Beetle.

[@zahidalam8930]

Vote for reproduction

[@JohnDoe-cd6fr]

This was a lousy car when it was first made in England and was a lousy car when they stopped making it in India 65 years later, but I still love it, we still have our 1960, brother takes it out once a week.

[@maheshmurali2697]

My grandpa used to say it was ahead of its time during its launch

[@icantw8]

A 2014 car with a 50s bodystyle. I have seen everything.

[@user-ss1th4lf1o]

на русский автомобиль похожь- "Москвич" 1950-х.

[@rajeshmb6745]

Though it was never a reliable car but it had that Royal charm to it . We had one in our family for most 23 years. Sold it Regettfully, Anyway still I look at it wherever it pass by me or parked. Even high end cars don't attaract much. Ambassador will always live! Wish HM could have revamped the powertrain and dynamics a bit.

[@muftiahmad3418]

I've fall in love with this car. It's kinda amazing they keep the same model for 50+ years. I hope I could buy one and bring it to Indonesia, and that's gonna be a hard thing to do.

[@adrianolombardo9622]

AMAZING AMBASSADOR

[@Das93]

I've been using ambassador Grand for 15 years and I love it

[@badonbokpaliar4324]

Sir Randeep Rana, I respect you Sir... It's a rare interview to see a High rank officer talk about the iconic Amby... 👍👍👍👍

[@karan1993ganotra]

loved the video sir 👌🏻🤘🏻

[@manuelfernandes8994]

Ambassador car. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@t.p.visweswarasharma6738]

If Iwere a business man and millionaire, I might have purchased the factory of Ambassador car and start producing the car again with modern gadgets and timely upgradation that other modern cars offer now.

[@tune2me66]

Miss you ambi

[@DUBZ285]

Oldies are goldies

[@MAMMediaMarketing]

Ambassador mack 3 station wagon in running condition kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjVkKGYpZKljpI

[@rockyjohanson5123]

I also want this. And waiting for the amby why this is stopped I'm so my sad hope soon it will come back again

[@moonlight_1041]

Ambassador is really a good car to drive.. In fact I learnt driving from one.. Compared to modern cars this feel solid n safe too n gives a very good ride quality.. Still I can't understand why people are using flimsy pathetic quality of suzuki in India..

[@murthymurthy5330]

I love AMBASSADOR

[@alemtemjen9748]

India should bring back it's grand old ambassador to it's glory. Company should start manufacturing it again.

[@manuelfernandes8994]

From the president of India to the common man all have use the Ambassador the true pride of India

[@vanshthakkar722]

I will buy it now but i never saw it in surat city

[@promitbanerjee2623]

Shame shame shame on you Hindustan Motors.. U provide cheap bhangad plastic and accelerator pedal that breaks.. I knew a company always makes more superior products as time passes..

[@adershbalu]

Old is gold

[@manuelfernandes8994]

Ambassador car for all seasons

[@davidbernard7256]

Great car! and i will never understand why they closed shop!

[@karthikar1706]

We missed our legendary car

[@harshamannepalli3]

Long live amby.....

[@ankitthakkar1665]

Ambassador car come back soon

[@MOTOFLIXGARAGE]

nothing has stopped yet, why don't the company plans a new retro modern ambassador based on Lancer platform with Amt gearbox

[@MAMMediaMarketing]

Ambassador mack 3 station wagon in running condition kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjVkKGYpZKljpI

[@manuelfernandes8994]

Can go in plains and in the mountains with ease.

[@manuelfernandes8994]

Made in India

[@rankingresearchdata]

Miss ambesdor car

[@robiu.k.4504]

Indian Bengali loved ambassadors more then others

[@manuelfernandes8994]

The royal car

[@veenoable]

if they give this ambassador, I will swap sr20 engine in it and make it as a sleeper and make it run for another 50 years regards from Malaysia

[@jimjardine4705]

The australian holden commodore V6 engine would do very nicely.

[@rintrah81]

What does this tabloid have to say about this car?

[@aranyakm]

It is a shame that Hind Motors has closed their shutters when all the major car makers are coming to India.

[@dineshaggarwal157]

Its a most comfortable car in india.

[@MAMMediaMarketing]

Ambassador mack 3 station wagon in running condition kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYjVkKGYpZKljpI

[@jaskaransingh1761]

I guess the same thing was going to happen with royal Enfield aswell..

[@pheminismisshit4571]

this video dates to 2006 🙏

[@Ansaswara123]

gaadi bula rahi hai.......

[@desiredditor]

Piaggio bought the ambassador name

[@rajeshmb6745]

Peugeot Citroen (France)

[@minzyhaokip4515]

its the fault of the manufacturer's.hopeless people

[@LeontievLev]

Знаменитый автомобиль "Амбассадор" вскоре вернется на дороги Индии densegodnya.ru/avto/article_post/znamenityy-avtomobil-ambassador-vskore-vernetsya-na-dorogi-indii

[@manuelfernandes8994]

Ambassador car local to global

[@GamezGames19]

It says in the description that the car is sourced in India but that's not true, it was developed in the UK.

[@MarquisRex]

***** Id prefer an Ambassador to a Volvo 340

[@GamezGames19]

MarquisRex Volvo 340 is a DAF built in holland. Oh and you are making no sense at all.

[@MarquisRex]

***** Volvo 340 is still a Swedish design, so as Swedish as the Ambasador is British (by your reckoning). Volvo is now Geely cheap Chinese crap anyway

[@GamezGames19]

Obvious troll, not even going to respond to that.

[@goldy_on_pc930]

really wish dog de muro made a video on this car

[@manuelfernandes8994]

BBC have voted the Ambassador the best

[@MrBoliao98]

You have a brand, and you failed to collaborate, improve production, sadly u consigned them to the pages of history

[@user-uc4kx4ki4m]

2:01 easy to maintain and then they show what?

[@reallyhappenings5597]

cooling the radiator it is overheating

[@nealrutgerskid]

The title should be "How Socialism killed the Ambassador"

[@MrMalinq01]

this is a strong car that is reliable for whole life..... if only could get one in my country, I'll definitely get it...

[@nayak4636]

Indians love beetle, american cars why not indian ambassador

[@HisHighnessKing]

HM is the worst motor company in the world. They killed Contessa, Ambassador, Lancer and Pajero in India. Losers with no Ambition sitting with the money from British.

[@johneli495]

Should have died long time ago, the greedy pathetic company did virtually nothing to make it better

[@ahsan7416]

while India had Amby we across the border had Toyota Corona.

[@Doctorhatesme]

It's an entirely different feeling having an indigenously built car as opposed to any foreign import.Amby in India is like one's own child. Sadly, we all have to witness it's heartbreaking demise.

[@ahsan7416]

it was basically a Morris oxford i think we are in love with Suzuki mehran 27 years and counting i think it will continue till 2050

[@maheshmurali2697]

Pakistan car market is not much competitive so whoever sells cars (i guess toyota nissan and honda) dont bother to be competitive as they dont have to face much competition unlike india where over a dozen car makers compete for a share of market.

[@Spac8]

Sourced and produced in India? IT'S A MORRIS OXFORD! HAHA. I know they now must use different engines etc, but none of the bodyshell is their design!

[@ashutoshpatil2515]

morris oxford wasn't an icon in the uk but HM ambassador quickly became one in india.

[@GamezGames19]

This isn't an Indian car. The Tata Nano is an Indian car, this is a Morris Oxford 3.

[@GamezGames19]

Jyotirmoy Sarkar As i have said it is developed/engineered and first produced in the UK. I don't know where you get your info from.

[@GamezGames19]

Jyotirmoy Sarkar It is a british car that was badge engineered by a Indian company.

[@mr.developer2480]

***** There are many other car companies like Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hindustan motors that produce quality cars in India. Tata motors also have indica, Manza and vista.

[@MarquisRex]

***** + +Jyotirmoy Sarkar Get with the program Jyo, Lucas is correct- the Ambassador is a BRITISH Design- but built by the Indians who evolved it and evidently made it cheaper and worse over the years. Manufacturing is different to design. In the future try to comprehend what is being said rather than let your blinkered patriotism blind your judgement

[@sukuvar]

you are right..

[@The_BaseerACTION]

ugly car

[@atranas6018]

The only good thing to look for in India is gone

[@RickDeckardMemories]

a wonderfully charming report from a country where half the population DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO TOILETS

[@wolfie9036]

+dmitriy40 i think ur in dream dude..get a life peace out

[@RickDeckardMemories]

+Mayank Pathak I did not understand your reply. Are you contesting the fact that half of Indian population urinate and defecate in the open, on the streets and in the fields? This is the data from Indian government, as well as UN and many NGOs.

[@RickDeckardMemories]

Mr.Tweezy007 I should get educated? Educated about what? About open air, on the street defecation in India? Do you know how to google? This site we are on right now has many videos on the subject. You can see them all without leaving this site! Again, this is data from UN, WHO, countless NGOs. This info is readily available to anyone anytime, just google! These are all trusted sources, not some shady blogs. Are you Indian? How are you able to HIDE THIS INFORMATION FROM YOURSELF? Aren't you bombarded by "TAKE YOUR POO TO THE LOO" PSAs? Didn't you hear your own Government minister call your railroad system "biggest open air toilet in the world"? And why would I be "butthurt"? Why would India's successes or failures make me butthurt? I just find this horrific state of affairs amazing, unbelievable, and hilarious. Since nothing else has worked, Indians must be shamed into fixing this problem! Responsible Indians are doing it themselves - TAKE THE POO TO THE LOO campaign is all about it, so is spraying open air urinators and defecators with water cannons, you can find these videos here too. So, buddy, YOU GO EDUCATE YOURSELF, OK?

[@pramit7745]

I don't like them

[@harshamannepalli3]

Long live amby.....