April 14, 2011

It proudly stands 4.5 meter long, 1.5 meter wide and 1.5 meter in height. Anyone who has experienced it has mixed feelings about its performance. One thing is for sure. For at least five decades of post-independent India it has ruled the Indian roads while no one could match its ruggedness and style.

Yes, I am talking about the King of the road, the mighty Ambassador car. In the decades preceding the millennium, if anyone has travelled on four wheels in India, it would most likely be on an Amby. It is the only car that has been ruling the Indian roads for over six decades. Amby is a majestic looking, battle tank-like car that has served loyally to the people of India and has carved a niche for itself.

My memories of Ambassador date back at least two decades when I was in my pre-teen years. While most time spent on an Amby were on the journeys between home and the Bajpe airport for picking up and dropping my family members, it also served other purposes such as picnic and visits to relatives and friends. A few of my fond memories lay travelling in a white Amby owned by one of my uncles. I used to be the last passenger to board the Amby after at least eight others. Sitting right next to the driver felt amazing, as I considered the driver to be Superman guiding the vehicle as he pleased.

Rain or shine, whatever be the season, villages, towns or cities, Ambassador would drive with a charm and never give any hiccups. For those who do not know, Amby is one car that has been in continuous production since its inception and despite its British origins, Ambassador is considered a true Indian icon among cars.

Let me tap a bit into the history of Ambassador. The model of Ambassador is based on Morris Oxford 3 manufactured by Morris Motor Company in the year 1956 and is manufactured in India by Hindustan Motors and was named as Hindustan Landmaster. This new car came with a side valve engine but was later improved with an overhead valve engine.

Besides, the car came with a fully enclosed monocoque chassis, giving ample amount of space in the interiors. The seats were in the form of a bench, meaning you could stuff as many people inside as you liked. This proved a huge advantage for any Indian family whose numbers used to count not less than 10 and was a popular means of travel for marriages and drop off at airport with hoards of family members accompanying the person travelling.
 
The dashboard was also amazing with minimal controls. For example, the wiper control was a lever which had to be pulled and stopped at precise times so as to not stop in the middle of the windshield. The gears were placed on the steering wheel panel and were as complicated as writing a complex code of software. There are very few people (I guess!) who have mastered the art of driving an Ambassador. The seats were merely sofas lodged inside the car. You could sit, sleep and do whatever you wished. The seat belts that we see in today’s cars were a non-existent component in the Ambassador but we still felt safe in it. Ignition was a big problem as the battery needed heating prior to igniting the engine and it was a daunting task. But none of us complained.

Nothing was done to the design of the car until the mid-60’s where a minor change was applied to the front portion of the car. The next major change in the design came in the year 1990 post the introduction of Maruti 800, where there was an option to choose between bucket seats or bench seats. Car designer Dilip Chabbria made an effort to customise the Ambassador by introducing Ambierod, which won great accolades.

Still doubting the capabilities of Ambassador? Here are a few points that might change your perception about the car:

Consider the rugged roads of India with potholes. Ambassador has conquered Indian roads with its independent suspension and with hydraulic telescopic double acting front shock absorbers and with its hydraulic telescopic double acting rear shock absorbers, working in combination to absorb the bumps and potholes of the ever challenging Indian roads. It is almost impossible to drive a ‘modern’ car on the Indian potholed roads. But Ambassador does it with ease.

Ambassador features a distinctive design, with smooth lines flowing from front to the rear end. Its muscular stance is complemented by its round halogen headlamps and simple but effective tail lamp cluster.

Ambassador comes with comfortable seats for five people. But if you can compromise the comfort, there is no upper limit to the number of people that can be accommodated. Can any other saloon car do it? No. I guess.

An iconic status. Indeed Ambassador has an iconic status for the fact that it is the preferred means of travel for the Indian bureaucrats including the Indian PM, the President and many other ministers. Why, you might ask! Even I do not know that. Most of the bureaucrats now have shifted to SUVs, I guess.
 
There are many other reasons why Ambassador is such a loved car in India, which many of you might have experienced. There are vehicles, there are cars and there are SUVs. But there can never be a car that suits the elegance, the grit, the charm, the ruggedness, the masculinity, the status of an Ambassador. I salute you Ambassador, a true Indian car made for Indian roads. May you survive the tough years ahead. If I have to choose one vehicle that has stood the test of time and Indian roads, it is definitely, the ubiquitous Ambassador.

Do you have an Ambassador experience? Share it and let others know.