If there's one car that was equally loved by all generations is the Hindustan Ambassador - The King of Roads. Though, there are many media reports claiming that HM has stopped Ambassador's production, the company has made it clear that it has only been suspended temporarily and is not the 'end of the road' for the iconic car as being reported by others.
Here are 7 interesting facts about our beloved Amby to sum up its journey in the Indian market.
1. Based on the old Morris Oxford Series III, produced by Morris Motors Limited in Oxford, UK, the production of the Ambassador began in 1957. However, under British Raj, the then Morris 10 was being assembled as Hindustan 10 at a plant in Port Okha, Gujarat.
2. In 1948, production of the car was shifted to Uttarpara, West Bengal; and in 1954, after taking licece, the Moris Oxford Series II was built at Uttarpara and was finally rolled out in 1957 s Hindustan Landmaster.
3. Sourcing its power from a 1489cc, BMW B-Series diesel engine, the Ambassador was the first diesel car in India.
4. Over 16% of the Ambassador's total sales came from the Government as it had been the first choice for most politicians and bureaucrats.
5. In 1984, HM was producing nearly 1 lakh units of Ambassador and in 2004, the company set a production record of over 9 lakh units in 2004.
6. Despite full depreciation achieved by Hindustan Motors' Uttarpara Plant in 2000, the company didn't pass on the benefit to the consumers by cutting down the price of the vehicle, which many experts believe, if had happened, the brand could survive.
7. In 2013, the HM Ambassador was crowned as the best taxi in the world by Top Gear, where the Indian taxi outclassed the rivals like Volkswagen Beetle, Russian limousine , Black London Cab and several others.
