It is not the end of the road for Kolkata’s love affair with the Hindustan Ambassador car, which ruled the streets of the city for more than five decades.
After stopping the production of Ambassadors in 2014 due to weak demand and funds crunch, Hindustan Motors has recently tied up with Peugeot, a French brand of automobiles, to relaunch the iconic car as a new electric vehicle in the country.
As the countdown begins for a revival of Kolkata’s bond with the Ambassador, My Kolkata caught up with some of the city’s vintage car collectors to dig deeper into their passion for this classic car and their reaction to its relaunch.
Driven by nostalgia
As India's oldest car, the Ambassador has links with the country's history Souryadeep Mukherjee
Souryadeep Mukherjee grew up watching a 1987 Ambassador owned by the family. “The car was being neglected for the last few years. I took care of that and got it running,” he said.
“The experience made me fall in love with Ambassadors. I bought a 1971 Ambassador Mark II in 2018 and then a Mark IV model in 2021,” he added.
Apart from taking the car out for drives, Mukherjee maintains them properly by sending them to workshops for thorough monitoring on a yearly basis.
For Indrojit Sircar, cars are more than hobbies — it’s his profession. He manufactures cars for motorsports and restores classic models at his workshops in Delhi and Kolkata.
Other than 30 vintage cars, Sircar owns a 1960 Ambassador Mark I. “India’s history isn’t complete without Ambassador cars. I always wanted to own such cars. When I got the opportunity to get a Mark I model, I didn’t think twice before acquiring it earlier this year,” he said.
The Ambassador has been part of the city's heritage Indrojit Sircar
A financial analyst by profession, Anurag Mitra has a soft spot for Ambassadors. “When I was young, these cars used to rule the roads. But now it’s hard to spot one. It’s also hard to get one in good condition. For all these reasons and to experience a piece of the past I thought of acquiring one,” he said.
Mitra became the proud owner of a Grand 2003 Ambassador in April 2022. The car stays parked in front of his apartment. “I take the vechicle out from time to time and use it as a regular car. Durability is one of the benefits of this classic car,” he said.
Back to the future
Hindustan Motors has recently announced to relaunch the iconic car as a new electric vehicle Anurag Mitra
Asked about Hindustan Motors’s initiative to relaunch the Ambassador with new features, Mukherjee said, “If Ambassadors get a modern look, nothing like it. The whole process will be like some kind of reincarnation.
“I look forward to seeing the new look and the set of features. I believe that Indians will love to see their old trusted car with this makeover,” he added.
Terming the relaunching of Ambassador cars a massive step taken by the manufacturer, Sircar said the new look would make the classic car popular among young people.
“The iconic Ambassador car as an electric vehicle is going to catch the attention of people, that’s for sure,” he added.
Sharing his thoughts on the matter, Mitra said, “As far as I know, the plan is to redesign the whole car. The classic car will have a new look and feel. It’ll be the same old Ambassador but with some fascinating designs and features.”