Hindustan Motors has put a full stop to the life of the stocky Ambassador (or Amby, as it is lovingly called). It had increasingly given way to sleeker rivals, but in its heyday it was (and is even today) as sturdy as an SUV. The Ambassador was tough, and could easily travel from Kanyakumari to Kashmir without a hitch. Even today taxi drivers who still drive it say the Amby is more reliable than newer models that are easier to drive but require high maintenance on bad roads.
The Ambassador once enjoyed a monopoly on India’s roads (shared somewhat with the Fiat/Padmini), but its manufacturers never bothered to upgrade it to keep up with the times — one of the perils of being a monopoly. They knew people had no choice. In recent years it was used almost solely by government officials — among others, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and the Army Chief still drive in their trademark white Ambassadors. But 70 years is a long time, and it was obvious that its days were numbered once the Maruti hit India’s roads. The Maruti 800 was easier to handle, particularly for women.
Then, with liberalisation, globally-reputed cars became available to the middle and upper-middle classes. The Amby’s production went down to just five cars daily at HM’s factory at Uttarpara, West Bengal. On Saturday, May 24, it was finally farewell for the Amby.
