The dowdy old lady of Indian roads
The iconic Ambassador car is now on show at Washington’s Smithsonian gallery—for six months. For 45 years, this "well-rounded lady" has been a beloved mainstay on our roads. A chronological look at an Indian classic:
1957: The first Ambassador, modelled on the Morris Oxford, takes to the roads.
1963: Buoyed by popularity, the second version—Mark II—appears.
1975: First exports: seven cars to South America and Mauritius. And the Mark III is launched.
1993: Hindustan Motors fires up the Old Lady with a powerful I800 cc Isuzu engine.
1999: Hindustan Motors pumps in Rs 70 crore to give a facelift to the dowdy old lady. Result: Ambassador Classic.
2002: London businessman Tobias Moss runs a fleet of customised Ambys at £40 an hour, the most expensive cabs in the UK.
A Retro Ambassador prototype is showcased at the Auto Expo, and 20,000 visitors are asked about the car’s greatest attribute. 90 per cent say: "the emotional connect".