A Pat For Good Old Amby

The yesteryear's iconic car got an unexpected encomium from an exalted automobile forum - BBC's Top Gear. A honour which, probably, the car did not receive even during its hey days. The car has been voted as the world's best taxi. Describing the car as 'virtually indestructible' the statement says "It's (Ambassador) so tough that, although it now lives in World of Top Gear, with a quick wash and brush up, it could be back in service tomorrow - probably".

The reaction in India, the home to Ambassador car, was more of surprise and amusment, rather than any sense of pride or achievement. The car has been reduced to dinosaur status on Indian roads and this news is unlikely to create any extra buzz at its Uttarapara plant (which also happens to be India's oldest car plant) in West Bengal.

These cars, with hoods resembling bowler hats, once lorded over the Indian roads. Its high ground clearance was seen as a perfect antidote to the vagaries of Indian roads. And thanks to the Government's licence permit raj, the car had a competition free journey until the 1990s.

The car's manufacturers, Hindustan Motors (HM), milked the captive market by doling out antiquated offering with nothing much to write home about on the fuel economy and maintenance front. They were shortchanging customers by offering new 'models' (Mark 3, Mark 4 etc), which at best only meant a redesigned front grille.

The liberalisation of 1990s came as a hard knock and the management could do precious little to stop its rapid slide in market share. Customers rejected it as an expensive, unwieldy and old fashioned jalopy and it soon ceased to be among the top preference for family cars.  It did bring in features such as power steering and power windows, but it was too little too late.

The next to go was the taxi segment with Tata Indicas, Indigo and later Mahindra Logan doing the honours of replacing them.

Soon it got relegated to its last stand - the Government of India. With 'laal batti' on its hood it was a constant in most motorcades of our political netas. But of late even the political class seems to be going for more hi-tech offerings such as Toyota Corollas, Innovas and fancy SUVs and Ambassadors have been reduced to pilot vehicles.

Last heard that the C K Birla owned company has not totally given up and will be launching a BS4 version of Ambassador and that too under a new name.

Also Read: Bangalore Beat