Landmasters and Ambassadors -For your Eyes Only

Images from Kolkata-includes taxis -some with white wall tyres. I
visited Austin Distributors showroom (one of the oldest HM dealers) and
requested them for allowing me to take Amby pictures. Took many of
ones in the showroom and some ready for delivery. The Morris Cowley,
Oxford and Issis Owners Club, Oxford , UK has requested me to send them
some showroom Amby pictures for the quarterly journal and there can be
no better place as compared to Kolkata, to click brand new Ambys. The
1500DSL is still a hit with taxi drivers (costs Rs 382000 something
withouts RTO, insurance) while the 2000DSL ( at around Rs 5L depending
on the variant selected) sells well, though dwindling, for private
users.
I had a chat with the Sales Manager and apprehended that the car's
production may be stopped due to the mounting losses by HM.He said no
way, there's no such news from the HM Hqs. Thats a relief for Amby fans.
Wonder why the rear leaf spring suspensions for the Amby cannot be made
into coil springs. The Scorpio has been done up and the change is much
perceptible. Why can't HM do a Lotus Design UK, consultancy to switch
over to coil springs?

Good share of thought Anjan, yes kolkatta does have those beauties running around the city also many with private owners as well as taxi's.Rear leaf spring suspention was quite often suggested to company by many owners to move on to coil spring, but seems thats still too long.Good news is that no plans to roll off amby.1500DSL is what the most sold in taxi's 9/10 would be that.

amby's are still used as official cars by the govt of A.P

napster wrote:amby's are still used as official cars by the govt of A.P

Not only by Govt. of AP but by whole Govt. of India, Our PM and President has a 7series, Thats a different case though. ;)

VT

a local party member has an audi a6 here, this is also a different case lol:lol:

Here in Tamilnadu, Ambys are being replaced by Scorpios. Advani on his recent visit, rejected the bullet proof Amby and travelled in an ordinary Innova. Its glory has started to fade. Some serious improvements are needed. As said by anjan sir, switching over to coil springs, stiff chassis and suspension setup, sorting out GC issue, quality improvements, better brakes, etc.. I could say a lot on development of Amby, wish i'd given a chance to put my suggestions to the concerned head. Because it was our first car and i love it.

Crazy cat wrote:Here in Tamilnadu, Ambys are being replaced by Scorpios. Advani on his recent visit, rejected the bullet proof Amby and travelled in an ordinary Innova. Its glory has started to fade. Some serious improvements are needed. As said by anjan sir, switching over to coil springs, stiff chassis and suspension setup, sorting out GC issue, quality improvements, better brakes, etc.. I could say a lot on development of Amby, wish i'd given a chance to put my suggestions to the concerned head. Because it was our first car and i love it.

Cool, I didn't knew that have owned an amby too? Please share its pics with us if you have. :)

VT

Crazy cat wrote:Here in Tamilnadu, Ambys are being replaced by Scorpios. Advani on his recent visit, rejected the bullet proof Amby and travelled in an ordinary Innova. Its glory has started to fade. Some serious improvements are needed. As said by anjan sir, switching over to coil springs, stiff chassis and suspension setup, sorting out GC issue, quality improvements, better brakes, etc.. I could say a lot on development of Amby, wish i'd given a chance to put my suggestions to the concerned head. Because it was our first car and i love it.

And a new series of petrol and diesel engines are essential for the Ambys survival-the Isuzu 1800 petrol, 1500DSL based on the 1950's BMC diesel and the 2000DSL from Isuzu are all dated alongwith the gear boxes. The car's dynamics also needs lots of improvement.
But HM fears a price increase as a result of improvements will repel new buyers. But we all feel that its time to take a serious look and update the great classic so that it survives for many more years.
Indeed, the Amby has broken all previous production records and has become the first car in the world to be in production as the same basic model for nearly 52 years (since 1957) at the same plant in Uttarpara, Dist Hooghly, W.B., beating the Volkswagen Beetle! This fact has been acknowledged in the Classics Monthly ,UK with a photo featured article on the great Amby in its May 2007 issue.I have the issue with me and will scan the Amby article for posting here soon.

Vibhor wrote:

Crazy cat wrote:Here in Tamilnadu, Ambys are being replaced by Scorpios. Advani on his recent visit, rejected the bullet proof Amby and travelled in an ordinary Innova. Its glory has started to fade. Some serious improvements are needed. As said by anjan sir, switching over to coil springs, stiff chassis and suspension setup, sorting out GC issue, quality improvements, better brakes, etc.. I could say a lot on development of Amby, wish i'd given a chance to put my suggestions to the concerned head. Because it was our first car and i love it.

Cool, I didn't knew that have owned an amby too? Please share its pics with us if you have. :)

VT

I've said about it already in TAI :) . Nope i don't have any pics and we sold it as soon as we got Esteem.

anjan wrote:

Crazy cat wrote:Here in Tamilnadu, Ambys are being replaced by Scorpios. Advani on his recent visit, rejected the bullet proof Amby and travelled in an ordinary Innova. Its glory has started to fade. Some serious improvements are needed. As said by anjan sir, switching over to coil springs, stiff chassis and suspension setup, sorting out GC issue, quality improvements, better brakes, etc.. I could say a lot on development of Amby, wish i'd given a chance to put my suggestions to the concerned head. Because it was our first car and i love it.

And a new series of petrol and diesel engines are essential for the Ambys survival-the Isuzu 1800 petrol, 1500DSL based on the 1950's BMC diesel and the 2000DSL from Isuzu are all dated alongwith the gear boxes. The car's dynamics also needs lots of improvement.
But HM fears a price increase as a result of improvements will repel new buyers. But we all feel that its time to take a serious look and update the great classic so that it survives for many more years.
Indeed, the Amby has broken all previous production records and has become the first car in the world to be in production as the same basic model for nearly 52 years (since 1957) at the same plant in Uttarpara, Dist Hooghly, W.B., beating the Volkswagen Beetle! This fact has been acknowledged in the Classics Monthly ,UK with a photo featured article on the great Amby in its May 2007 issue.I have the issue with me and will scan the Amby article for posting here soon.

I would buy an Amby for sure, if it gives Logan comparing Ride, stability, mileage and power with the reliability of a Maruti. I would spend about 6 lakhs for it.
Regarding engines, the range topping Isuzu emits tons of smoke. Its gearbox needs a major changes, it has long throw and vague.
All i like to see is Amby with same looks but with solid, no nonsense engineering.

Very true CC. The honchos at HM need to realise this before its too late. There's still a very good market potential for this car with many loyal fans.

An Ambassador taxi spending its very last moments as a car.
its being dismantled in Mullick Bazar, Kolkata.The people told me that the car
is broken and totally dismantled in 45 minutes to one hour.


.
Here's another Ambassador taxi being pushed for the last
time and to ultimately fade into oblivion in the Mullick Bazar, Kolkata.



Pictures taken by me on 09/05/09 at Kolkata

A 1950's Landmaster with an Ambassador Mark II grille and Mark 4 headlight cover rings at the National Garage, Mumbai. Incidentally, they are HM dealers for Mumbai.
Source team bhp

the AWESOME looking 1.5 DSL & the 2.0 turbo DSZ at the kolkata auto show




an amby from overseas-

cool!, amby overseas? great!

great pictures anjan, so how was your kolkatta trip, you must have seen all classic beauties out there, specially amby's a lot, there are quite good well maintained cars over there.

Great pictures anjan and Amit.

@Amit, Wow, Our Indian Amby in other country! :winkthumb:

RoadRocket

Thanks friends, amit your posted pictures are awesome!

nice pics all
though i saw in the news that an australian came to india for a visit and saw a brand new amby
he fell in love with it and so much was the love that he wanted to import it to australia
so i think it is tha one!

thanks anjan, you started it, the credit goes to you.

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Here is a Landmaster from the teambhp website thats been given a very modern touch and is in daily use.The alloys and the AC are present day add ons

This looks simply great, Wh don't you try something like this with your landmaster anjan?
Atleast try to install some tints(black), They are looking very good to me, and will look more good on your landmaster because it of black colour. :)

VT

what a maintenance dude, very well maintained,

Thats a very well maintained Landmaster, I liked its seat covers. :)

RoadRocket

Please keep your landmaster stock. This is a classic car and this person really needs to put stock wheels back on it with white wall tires.

This Landmaster looks very well maintained. I've seen some Ambys with some stylish alloys :frustration: , comparing that this one looks good.