This is a Mark 1 Hindustan Ambassador from 1962 and the owner has painstakingly restored to car to as original as was possible and restoration job on this car is simply amazing.
The Hindustan Ambassador is one of the most iconic cars of the Indian automotive scene. It is also one of those cars which has had the longest runs in the Indian market. There were many factors which made the Ambassador a favorite in India – timeless design, a very solid build quality, very spacious interiors and it was also used by politicians and elites of the time for which it soon became a status symbol for many. Unfortunately, this iconic car never became a classic automotive piece. We still have many examples of beautifully maintained Ambassadors all across the country and we would like to share one such example with you today.
This Ambassador that you see above is a 1962 model Mark 1 Ambassador. That makes this Ambassador 58 years old, perhaps even older than your father. But it still looks spanking new, more like a late 90s model. This video was uploaded by Dajish P on his Youtube channel. The owner of this Ambassador had bought the vehicle in 2004 from another person and since then, has been a proud keeper of this vehicle.
This particular Ambassador is a classic example of restoration. The owner mentions in the video that the previous owner of the vehicle had modified the interiors of the car to look like the one seen on the Mark 4 Ambassador. However, current owner restored the interiors back to the Mark 1 form after buying it. Even the front headlamps and the cowl around it, the front grille and the Ambassador logo on the bonnet, are all original. Even the beading on the all the windows and the boot have been restored. The car received a paint job about 10 years ago but has been maintained pristine-ly to still look new.
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The only thing which is not so original on this Ambassador are the wheels. However, we will have to admit that the aftermarket alloy wheels does suit the character of this Amby well. On the inside, like we already mentioned, the cabin has been restored to Mark 1 interiors. The speedometer, oil pressure gauge and steering wheel have all been painstakingly restored. The seats have also been redone but the gear lever has been shifted from behind the steering to the floor which is where you would find it conventionally.
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Under the hood, the restored Hindustan Ambassador was fitted with a Matador 305 engine when the current owner brought this vehicle. However, he replaced the engine with a Matador 301 unit for better performance of the AC. This Ambassador may be 58 years old but the restoration process on this car has been stunning and it still looks so beautiful. It’s reminiscent of a time when cars were much simpler and perhaps a lot more soulful as well.
