[DicKy]

Voted for Contessa.

It would be a betrayal if I didn't. It was my teenage obsession with the Contessa that made me discover TeamBHP.
Was this...close to buy a Contessa atleast three times.

Each time my middle class mentality would scream guilty of plonking close to a lakh on what was essentially an anglo-german-indo-jap rust bucket whose only claim to fame is the absolute lack of choices in the license raj era for American type coke bottle styled vehicles. (sour grapes story for me).

Now with the prices being asked for Contessa would rather buy a W124/W123(?) or 80s/90s japanese imports instead.

Actually except for the 800, had actively looked at every other car in the list in my late teens, early 20s.
Nothing happened.
Regretting it now, if I had put half the Contessa effort into an 800 or PAL or Esteem/Zen, would have been a proper petrol-head instead of staying bookish.

My memories are with a different 80s car.
The Omni. Tried to buy back our Omni from my uncle with my first salary, with no success.

As of now, the only one that has any chance of being bought at home is the Ambassador!!!
Partly cause my dad is still nostalgic over it, partly cause they are still dirt cheap and available.
My pick is the least loved Mark IV version (wonder why no one likes them) with the chrome push button door handles, openable quarter glass, square parking lights and the centre instrument cluster mounted dash.
Icing on the cake would be a column shifter, but guess they are not compatible with the Isuzu engines, and I hate those 1500cc ones.

Edit - Actually am quite open to the 5speed 800 and Gypsy MPFi for purchase even today, but then they are not technically 80s vehicles.

[BIL2_HGi10]

Childhood Obsession: Contessa Classic 1.8 GL
Practical and Proud Possession: Ambassador Nova 1500 DSL

Having spent my entire childhood in Hindustan Motors Colony at Uttarpara, in Hooghly district of West Bengal, it is a matter of pride to drive and ride in an Ambassador.

The 2 cars are on the verge of extinction and the company closed down due to business reasons more than one.

I was crazy about Contessa cars and also dreamt of going to Taj Bengal hotel with my then crush. It was a Highway guzzler and extremely planted car. I didn't know driving then but have experienced it from the back and navigator seat on umpteenth occasion.

Like the crush, even Contessa is but a dream.
So coming to my winner: Ambassador

It is absolutely sturdy, strong, unmatchable back seat comfort and can-go-anywhere feeling. It is not a typical off-roader but has shown much better dynamics in the rough and horrid village & jungle roads in Odisha.

It is a dependable vehicle, if you can keep the battery alive and kicking.

I did not get the Voting Option - so giving my vote to Ambassador.

[VVN]

If I could, I would vote for all the cars mentioned here. God, those were the days. You felt a connect with the cars you drove no matter which brand it was. We owned the Commander and the famous M800 but Contessa is still something the heart yearns for. I used to see some in Bangalore but they were owned by garages and were abused left, right and centre. Instead of red body and a white roof, I wish brands re-introduced some of these golden era cars as limited edition

[charanreddy]

Obviously The Contessa. For all other cars in the list you can find modern replacements. But the contessa with its muscle cars looks does not have a real replacement in the current times.

Instead of an Amby or Fiat premier, I would buy the duster.
Instead of Maruti 800, Siphani Dolphin, I would buy the alto or kwid or espresso.

Instead of the 118 NE, I would buy a city or a ciaz.

Instead of the gypsy, I would buy the new thar.

Instead of the standard 2000, I would buy the Skoda Kodiaq.

I can’t find an alternative for something as desirable as a Contessa. Period. The Cruze came close to it, but not completely and is not available anymore.

[diwakarmuthu]

Voted for Amby.

I just love its shape and lines especially the landmaster series. If I could get one in stock condition, I would love to buy and restore it

The other model that has stuck with me is the Ambassador Mark 2 that I grew up on till my teen age years. Absolutely fantastic car that had so much nostalgia for me.

I was hooked to the Avigo that HM came up in the 90s. Just wish they had shown some love with the overall package including design. It remained a half baked product in my view and would have been a good one that kept HM afloat.

[pavanmadhini]

Well, we are still holding on to the Ambassador that I literally grew up in, so no prizes for guessing where my vote went.

[Liverpool]

For me, it will be the Maruti Omni. My dad bought a brand new in the year 1988. I was 6 then. Most of the parts were made in Japan. Dad took her to the oil fields of Assam, she saw pretty bad roads to non-existent roads. She served us without any breakdown for a good 114000kms before we upgraded to a Maruti Zen VX.

I learned practically everything about cars on her. right from changing tires to cleaning the air filter to driving and washing and waxing. I feel sorry that we sold her off. I still see her occasionally running on the roads. 32 years and counting !!!.

I seriously wish to buy her back someday, restore her, and keep it as a treasure. My first car love and I just cannot get over her.

[R_Gowardhan]

It would be undoubtedly the Gypsy for me.

Reason : TINA i.e. There Is No Anternative.

The design is so timeless that it never feels outdated. I still drool over Gypsy images on Insta.

The solid yet lightweight build, bullet-proof reliability, flexiblity in terms of seating etc meant the vehicle was literally a chameleon and could adapt to multiple applications.

Offroaders and Defence personnel swear by it even today.

Thoroughly regret not having booked one in the last production batch-run for civilians. Looking for pre-worshipped examples through out the country but difficult to spot a good piece.

[Ashwin Morey]

Voted for Contessa, simply because irrespective of how bad or faulty or heavy or sluggish it was, it definitely scores 100 out of 100 in terms of desirability.

Also my grandpa had an Amby, father owned a padmini and there were many uncles owning the NE, 800 and one who had a Gypsy so i have enough childhood memories of riding in them and also secretly 'stealing' them in the night for a spin (actually just a few meters from where it was parked and then back again ).

So it was always the Contessa which the child version of me dreamt of owning when i grew up (Ray Ban, cigarette in mouth, macho arrogance completed that picture)

[TheHelix0202]

Voted for the Contessa. That thing was the closest we ever got to having a muscle car.

[TorqueMonster]

I have a doubt to clear . Can the Contessa be converted to a proper muscle car (Including a V8 Engine swap )? It's got the looks of a muscle car , would be even better if it could perform like one ( Just curious about its modifying potential )

[giri1.8]

Should be a tie between the 2 Maruti, both are fun to drive in their own ways, maintenance should be easy as parts are readily available. If its going to be 800, I would only pick the 5 speed Mpfi.

[alabjarus]

Voted for Contessa, however, my choice would have been Tata Sierra had that been on the list.

If I could turn back time that's one that would go for, it was ahead of its time and would not have been out of place even a decade back; and this ad...its permanently etched in my head.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPX9VLTFlD4

One of my friends had it in the mid-90's and have fond memories of going for spin on it in Bangalore during those foggy mornings. :-)

[Sunny_ST3]

Was lucky to own one. If possible again, will definitely go for Contessa.

[Astitva]

As much as I'd love to have a Contessa, the thought of a classic 3-door SUV allowed me to look no further.

It'll be a Tata Sierra for me.

Picture credits: Gomechanic