There Is No Cat

Hi,

The Hindustan Ambassador would propably pass the test on CNG - a few cars were imported to the UK and Germany less than a decade back. Mainly to enthousiasts who wanted a brand new oldtimer, or indian expats in London.

It now has a modern ISUZU engine, the EU import version at least had catalytic converter and passed EU1 emissions regulations on gas / petrol. However, we have now reached EU3 (corresponds to California regulations), so I guess on CNG it could just about pass, not on petrol.

However, the security features are minimal - no ABS, ESP, Airbags, crash tests, not even ouside rear view mirrors!

But who needs that in Bombay traffic anyway, where the gods decide if you get injured in a crash or not ;-)

Hindustan motors do actually have an own website for this great antique: www.hmambassador.com/

Posted by Olivier Schäfer at 11:46 AM, February 18, 2003 [Link]

Anyone in the UK who wants one of these cars should get in touch with David Darrell on 01550 777029. He has new Ambassadors in stock, I can confirm that the latest cars run extremely clean on both petrol and CNG. They also have a very good diesel version. It is worth joining the Morris Cowley And Oxford Club on 01225 766800 for spares and advice on these cars.

Posted by Richard Monk at 9:30 AM, March 16, 2003 [Link]

would you please sent some pictures of Ambassador to my e-mail??

Posted by Frederic at 12:22 PM, July 24, 2003 [Link]

All fuel versions now pass the Euro-III emmision standards. They also have newer suspension and other electric comforts with power steering etc.

Although I would personally, still prefer an old bench seat with new suspension under the body.

If you take resonable care of these cars, they behave pretty well on road and provide security only darfed by a tank!

Posted by Kapil at 3:39 PM, May 12, 2008 [Link]

I becoming very serious about actually importing the Hindustan Ambassador to the U.S. I live in California and will be making a trip to India in about two months. I cam across this site during my research on the feasibility of importing the car to the U.S.

I am also interested in purchasing the a newer model petrol variant of the Ambassador, and of course would prefer the bench seats over the buckets.

I am skeptical of the comments claiming that the petrol versions of the car pass EU-III regs and that EU-III is equivalent to California standards. Does anyone have evidence to support this?

Posted by Sudheer at 6:35 PM, August 4, 2008 [Link]

HI SUDHEER I SHARE THE SAME FEELINGS AND DREAMS ABOUT THE AMBY. MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO MODIFY IT TO SUIT US. SPECS AND PUBLIC’S WANTS; COULD IT BE COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL? WHAT INFO. DID YOU FIND IN INDIA? I ALSO LIVE IN CA. AND HAVE A HOBBY OF RESTORING OLD CARS, MOSTLY FORDS. I AM VERY CURIOUS. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Posted by abhay at 6:24 PM, January 3, 2009 [Link]

I live in India at the moment and am just about to move to the US. I have one of the last Ambassador Avigos manufactured in 2007. I have the 2 liter diesel. Does anybody know if it can be brought to the US and actually driven there? Need urgent help.

Posted by Harry at 6:05 AM, January 25, 2009 [Link]

Oh, guys. I too, would love to see the Amby here, but meeting U.S. requirements might be prohibitively expensive. Emissions might not be too bad--(you’d likely have to fit it with a catalytic converter and EFI,) but I fear safety would be a mountain too high.

If you could import cars from the 60’s and modernize them and sell them as a specialty car you might be able to get around that though.

The best of luck, Tom

Posted by Tom at 3:09 PM, February 9, 2011 [Link]