[singhg5]

It is quite a history of British heritage passed on to India - some during their rule over India and some after India got its independence. Most of the Forum members are familiar with ROYAL ENFIELD, the brand and its history, changing hands from England to Chennai.

There is another marque that has a parallel track. It is the AMBASSADOR car. Most people in US may never have heard of it unless you have travelled to India. It was another British design Morris Oxford kept alive on the dusty roads in a landscape far far away in the East for many decades. Unfortunately, this has come to an end. For some Ambassador car represented India, as it represented the nations aspirations, tenacity, joy of making something, owning, fixing and tinkering ........ very much like the RE Iron Barrel, which has seen its demise. Riding or owning one would be no different than owning an iron barrel Bullet that comes with its joys and pains .

Since its productions is halted by the factory in 2014, there have been comments and discussions about the car as well as the place and its management in India. For those who had the opportunity to ride it or otherwise interested in automobile history, here is a link to the memories it left behind -

'Iconic Car and its Memories'

                 http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28312196

Another one titled 'An Epitaph for India's appalling national car' 

              http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28085095

[GSS]

I would respectfully disagree.  The Ambassador was a relic of a socialist leaning state and utter garbage with zero sentimental value for an average Indian.  Politicians and state governments kept the Ambassador alive during recent years to show that they drove a common man's vehicle.

The Enfield Bullet on the other hand was and is a truly desirable iconic ride.

[JVS]

I would respectfully disagree.  The Ambassador was a relic of a socialist leaning state and utter garbage with zero sentimental value for an average Indian.  Politicians and state governments kept the Ambassador alive during recent years to show that they drove a common man's vehicle.

The Enfield Bullet on the other hand was and is a truly desirable iconic ride.

Agree with everything you said. But my dad kept all 3 at the same time - Bullet 350, Jeep and Ambassador lol. 1980s to early 1990s. He was obviously more attached to the Bullet and the Jeep. The Ambassador was bought when I was born  Then sold soon enough. I was too young to remember being a passenger in/on any of those though.

[GreenMachine]

I use to jump in the back of one more than times than I can remember but I prefer the Tuk Tuk for the open air experience...Ambassador wasn't no speed demon but it kept the rain and dust off you and you could close the windows and keep the smoke out during the Winter season....Relic of the past - Probably but I so are these bikes, that why I love my iron...They look like simple cars for the few people  that could afford them...

[GSS]

Partial retraction .  I reread my post and was a bit too harsh on the poor Ambassador.  It did serve millions of folks and created employment for many more.  I clearly remember watching the older generation put down hard earned money to be on 3-4 year long wait lists for an Ambassador or a Fiat (another 1 model, multiple color relic).

We definitely learned how to tune a carb, set the points, replace a condenser, or adjust the advance on the distributor by simply listening to the engine sound!

The original Willys Jeeps manufactured under license from AMC and the Bullets were and are definitely true icons!

GSS

[Arizoni]

Actually, the Austin Ambassador looks like a pretty cool car to me.

I'm sure it was as good as my second car, a 1958 English Ford Escort.  Probably better.
Unlike my Ford Escort with its shrunk down 4 cylinder flathead, the Austin had an OHV engine in it.

[barenekd]

In the US, there was a car named the Ambassador. It was built by Nash. I hated Nashes and their "Cloud Ride" which resembled having no shocks at all. My parents had a couple of them when I was a kid, a '51 and '53 as I recall. We'd go out on a road trip and I'd get sick every time I rode in the damn things. Later on when I was doing my own driving a friend of mine had a '55 and I drove it one day and it made me sick driving it! No other car ever did that before or after the Ambassadors. What a POS!
Bare

[GreenMachine]

 No other car ever did that before or after the Ambassadors. What a POS!

I felt that way as a child  in the back of my parents AMC red Rambler... I never got a chance to drive one so I never developed any Psychosomatic issues  ..I did note a disapproval from my mother when Dad decided to trade in her small low powered manual windowed wagon for a oversized gas sucking white Ford Country squire complete with the electric options of the day...In retrospect that car saved her life when she got T bones on the passenger side when making a left turn thru a yellow light..Those old ambassador probably saved a few people from injury especially with all those Brahmans walking about...   GM

[Bulletman]

The original Willys Jeeps manufactured under license from AMC and the Bullets were and are definitely true icons!

I use to jump in the back of one more than times than I can remember but I prefer the Tuk Tuk for the open air experience...Ambassador wasn't no speed demon but it kept the rain and dust off you and you could close the windows and keep the smoke out during the Winter season....Relic of the past - Probably but I so are these bikes, that why I love my iron...They look like simple cars for the few people  that could afford them...

GSS

And don't forget most of those ambassador cars had "Terry Cloth" car covers on them..reminded one of literally sitting on a Towel

[barenekd]

they needed something to soak up the puke!
Bare

[GreenMachine]

Bare:  they needed something to soak up the puke!

Actually, people would just stick their heads out the window and puke...Use to see that alot...You  get use to that as part of conditions of overseas life..Now coming down with a case of shigella is another matter...GM