Hindustan Motors Ambassador was our indigenous version of the Morris Oxford, and this was the car that ruled the Indian automobile market before the Maruti 800 came in. Of course, we had the FIATs and other imported cars, but the Ambassador was a car for the masses at the time. These were solid and sturdy cars which were easily repairable, and over time, most mechanics knew how to repair an Amby (as people liked to call it). Ambassadors were not cars that would go on for lifetime, but they were cars that would serve generations. These cars were made to take on the beating of Indian roads with ease, and they were meant to be repaired and used again.
Even though Hindustan Motors is famous for its Ambassador car, and also to an extent for the Indian Muscle car that it produced, the Contessa, it produced a few models before the Ambassador as well and even those were mainly based on certain models of Morris Motors, Oxford- England.
Hindustan Motors: A History Lesson
The first car that Hindustan Motors produced was the Hindustan 10 which was launched in 1948. Then the Hindustan 14 was also launched somewhere around late 1940s and early 1950s. Hindustan Motors also came up with its version of the Morris Minor and called it ‘Baby Hindustan’. The Hindustan Motors Landmaster was another model that came right before Hindustan Motors launched the Ambassador, and it was reasonably popular as well, with its large, chunky, chrome grill and its scooped-up boot. The Hindustan Motors Ambassador came in 1957, and it remained in the Indian market for over five decades.
HM Ambassador: The Bread And Butter Of The Indian Automotive Scene
The Ambassador came into existence with the Mark 1 model which was launched in the year 1957. Over the years, various models of the Ambassador came in, such as the Mark 2, Mark 3, Mark 4, Grand, Avigo, Nova, etc. The Amby was also launched as a pick-up truck name HM Veer and even as a station-wagon. However, we are not going to look into the details of each model. What concerns us is the reason for the Amby being so popular and special, all across India.
The HM Ambassador was more of an emotion than being just a car and it did hold a very special place in the hearts of us Indians. Not only Indians, but even foreigners were intrigued when they saw these plying as taxis or government vehicles on Indian roads. The Ambassador was very much a symbol of nationalism, representing Indian tradition to an extent, and even though it is almost ten years since it was discontinued, we still look at it the same way.
Those days cars were not available and accessible to everyone instantly, and there used to be a huge waiting period even once you booked your vehicle. Also, people took pride in owning a vehicle and maintained their cars really well. Same was the case with people owning Ambassadors. Never did you see an Ambassador that was not shining, whether it was a government vehicle, or a private vehicle, or even a taxi, the drivers always kept them in top condition. With the Ambassador, over time you would become as good as a mechanic yourself, fixing stuff here and there. These cars had a very simple mechanism and often drivers used to repair these themselves. This was all a part of the fun and pride that the people associated with these cars back then.
The Ambassador was a car that was perfect for Indian roads and Indian use. This was a car that would take you to a dinner party in style and during the day, you could even stuff in construction material into this car, and it would never fail you. In fact, it gave birth to the best of drivers. If you drove an Ambassador, you knew the way engine braking was to be used, you knew the way the gears were to be worked and you knew how to maneuver the car well, because any car was easier to drive than the Amby. But still, people never complained because this was luxury back then.
Despite all of its flaws, the Amby was a solid vehicle, and it had a strong suspension system that would go over ditches and potholes as if nothing ever came its way. Today you talk about ground-clearance in cars, whereas the Amby’s bumper never scraped against any surface. Even when you sat at the driver’s seat of the Amby, you had an SUV-like high, commanding view of the road, and the body was so strong that small bumps here and there never resulted in any dents. Even for the people who were chauffeured around, the Amby was the most comfortable car that could be asked for. It was almost as if you were relaxing on your sofa at home, while actually you were sitting on the Amby’s rear seat. Even the driving position was amazing, with ample space for you to drive in a relaxed manner, with your right elbow comfortably resting on the window.
This is a car that witnessed and experienced change over time. The Amby saw a shift from column-shift gearboxes to floor-shift gearboxes, from the conventional non-power steering system to the power steering system, from non-power brakes to power brakes, from manually winding windows to power windows, and it not only witnessed such change, but it went through all these changes. The earlier Ambies had none of these modern features, but the later ones did come with such technological updates, even though it did not meet perfection standards.
The earlier Ambassadors came with a 1500-cc petrol engine and later a 1500-cc diesel engine was also added. But things changed to some extent when HM plonked in the 1800-cc petrol and 2000-cc diesel Isuzu engine into the Amby somewhere at the start of 1990s. Both these Japanese engines performed really well in the Ambassador and gave some kind of a boost to the sales of the Amby, when the car seemed to be on its last leg. Mostly the government offices and cab drivers preferred these cars because it had a lot of space and was very comfortable and sturdy. The later Ambassadors even came with the option of having an air-conditioning system, which was actually quite effective. On the looks front, the Amby remained almost the same throughout, with its cute curvy body.
I have had the opportunity to drive both the petrol Ambassadors, the one with the old 1500-cc petrol engine and the one with the 1800-cc Isuzu petrol engine. Though the Isuzu engine feels more refined and powerful, the older engine had its own charm as well. The older Ambassador that I drove was a Mark-3 with a column-shift gearbox, and even though the gearbox was not slick to use, there is a different kind of old-world charm associated with it. The newer Isuzu engine Ambassador that I drive quite often, is a breeze to drive. The engine is super smooth and refined, and it just glides once you engage the fifth gear. The power steering really makes things much easier, especially in the city, and the clutch is super light making the city driving experience super easy.
The Ambassador ruled our hearts and our roads for over fifty long years, though not in the best capacity throughout. With the modern cars in the market offering better reliability and performance, the Amby was seen as an outdated product surviving on its last leg. But the Amby still felt and looked special to whoever saw it. Foreigners especially found it appealing with its vintage styling. For them and for most Indians, it was as if a vintage car was running on the road. Even when I drive the 2013 model Amby in Delhi, people often ask me whether it is road legal or not. I smile and tell them that it is valid till 2028.
The Ambassador was very popular with foreign diplomats as well, and the former German Ambassador to India, Walter J. Lindner used a red Ambassador as his official car, with the German flag fluttering on the hood of the vehicle. It was quite a sight to see a diplomat using a red Ambassador with a CD numberplate. The Amby was a sweetheart cherished by all Indians, and many enthusiasts still own these. For years the Amby was the symbol of Indian automotive culture, and it very much will remain so, even though it is not in production anymore. The Amby gave us some really good memories to cherish, and we thank her for that.
