[amit V8]

Another original Mark 2 from Ambyland. The seats look hideous though!

Any idea why it is tilted at the front?

[zacs]

Some of the best looking Amby from Kerala.

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by amit V8

Another original Mark 2 from Ambyland. The seats look hideous though!

Any idea why it is tilted at the front?

The seats look very close to the original colours and patterns actually.

Often when Ambys are dieselised they droop in the front if the suspension hasn't been beefed up suitably. The reverse is also true - many cars look even higher at the front to compensate for the heavier engine transplant.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by amit V8

Another original Mark 2 from Ambyland. The seats look hideous though!

Any idea why it is tilted at the front?

Attachment 1144637

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

The seats look very close to the original colours and patterns actually.

Often when Ambys are dieselised they droop in the front if the suspension hasn't been beefed up suitably. The reverse is also true - many cars look even higher at the front to compensate for the heavier engine transplant.

The upholstery (seats) would have been better off as more original without the central, grey vertical portion.
More like original:





And the tattered original:





Karl, actually the pictures of the two cars in buff colour (Ambassador Mark II and Hillman Minx) you had posted in the "Rust in Pieces..........." thread (from Pune where the Bawa's house was destroyed by some builders to make way for flats)showed the Ambassadors original upholstery of the mid 1960's of this red and grey kind.

The rear portion is higher up here as the leaf springs may have presumably been given the added arcuate shape by hammering, which was a common thing in the past to give a higher ground clearance to the car. The front would hence nosedive!
This is presuming it has the same old petrol engine or else if dieselised, what Karl said applies.

[anjan_c2007]

When Mrs Indira Gandhi switched over to the Ambassador in the 1970's, most politicians followed suit. The most sought colour became "white" soon after.The white Ambassador within no time became a symbol of power.

Earlier, imports would do the duties for politicians, the most sought-after ones being the Dodge Kingsway, Plymouth Savoy, Chevrolet Impala, Mercedes Benz fintail and so on.



In this picture Mrs Maneka Gandhi is seen with little Varun Gandhi



(India Today photos)

[amit V8]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

The seats look very close to the original colours and patterns actually.

Often when Ambys are dieselised they droop in the front if the suspension hasn't been beefed up suitably. The reverse is also true - many cars look even higher at the front to compensate for the heavier engine transplant.

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

The upholstery (seats) would have been better off as more original without the central, grey vertical portion.
More like original:

Karl, actually the pictures of the two cars in buff colour (Ambassador Mark II and Hillman Minx) you had posted in the "Rust in Pieces..........." thread (from Pune where the Bawa's house was destroyed by some builders to make way for flats)showed the Ambassadors original upholstery of the mid 1960's of this red and grey kind.

The rear portion is higher up here as the leaf springs may have presumably been given the added arcuate shape by hammering, which was a common thing in the past to give a higher ground clearance to the car. The front would hence nosedive!
This is presuming it has the same old petrol engine or else if dieselised, what Karl said applies.

Thanks Karl and Anjan regarding the interior, I had no idea about this.

However my hunch turned out to be right regarding the diesel engine.

[WindRide]

BBC's amby pic collection - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24045086

[karlosdeville]

Here's a 1972 Amby - nothing special at first glance, till I read its been shot in Switzerland!





http://www.flickr.com/photos/2881537...n/photostream/

[S.B.Jatti]

Probably the only Land Master which has participated in any of the HMCI events. This one on its way to Bharatpur.

[anjan_c2007]

A news story in The Hindu of April 2008, regarding Retd Commander Narayan's 1960 Ambassador.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper...cle1412249.ece

(link posted by Mr Manoj Kumar on the Ambassador and Landmaster FB Page)

[anjan_c2007]

An old Mark II taxi posted by Mr Manoj Kumar on the Ambassador and Landmaster facebook Page

[karlosdeville]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

An old Mark II taxi posted by Mr Manoj Kumar on the Ambassador and Landmaster facebook Page

Attachment 1152417

Thanks - did you notice the setting? Its abroad.

[FINTAIL]

I think the previously mentioned Mark II Ambassador bearing the Bangalore registeration MYO3109 has already been discussed in this Forum.

[anjan_c2007]

A close friend of mine has bought this car yesterday. It is a March 1964 Mark II and my friend is its second owner. The car has been mostly self - driven throughout and has kept very carefully by its first owner, who was a doctor (dermatologist). He passed away a few months back.

Commonality between my friend and me - my Landmaster is also a first owner car and this one too! Both were very much loved and cared for by their owners.

It is also evident that when old age set in, the cars were kept in running condition by the respective owners, but compromises have to be made as regards their spares that had become scarce. The originality had to be sacrificed for practicality, as the aged owners could not procure the original spares. But believe me, some of the cosmetic ornamentation only has been swapped, but the SU carburettor, Lucas dynamo and most other components in the engine bay are original.

The same was the case with my Landmaster. Its mechanicals and electricals were all original including the dynamo, fuel pump (electrical), carburettor and all else. There were some cosmetic changes, that I have now taken care of and have made them original.

A look at the missing Smiths clock, steering wheel and tail lights of this Ambassador will prove this contention.

But we both have got gems and its upto us now to make their previous "Late" owners proud, by turning them into original show pieces.

They may be somewhere up there smiling and seeing their beauties!

[anjan_c2007]

A Landmaster taxi featured in the Malayalam movie Manjadikuru (lucky red seeds)



(posted by Manoj Kumar on the Ambassador and Landmaster FB page)