[Beefmeister]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking to buy an Amby for the remaining 9 months i'm in Delhi, and have seen the car in the advert below:

Used 2003 Hindustan Motors Ambassador Classic 1800 ISZ AC CNG (S226833) for sale in New Delhi - CarWale

As i'm from the UK I don't really know much about Ambys or indeed the Indian pricing market, so i'm hoping that some of you guys could look at the advert and tell me if it looks OK? Is it a fair price?

I would want the guy to insure it for a year and include that in the price for sure.

Mods - apologies if this is the incorrect forum.

Thanks,

Tim

[Rehaan]

Ironic, isn't it.

From your intro i know that you have/will be test driving the Mclaren MP4-12C and the Ferrari 458 back to back for 2 days.... and here you are, buying an Amby

This post could be part of the used car price check thread, but i've left it here since i know you also plan to modify this amby heavily.

Cheers,
R

[silverado]

My advice

Look for a Good Mech first before deciding on a old AMBY.
A 8 yr old CNG fitted vehicle is a scary proposition IMO.

[mayankjha1806]

Tim, May 2003 Amby done 77,000 Kms for over INR 100,000 looks expensive to me.

There is one 2001 model listed here for half that price

ambassador for sale in Cars, Quikr

Apart from this do get it checked before making a decision, Usually the body is strong and lasts long (As i understand) but would require other checks of engine/gearbox etc.

[honeybee]

Originally Posted by mayankjha1806

Usually the body is strong and lasts long (As i understand) but would require other checks of engine/gearbox etc.

I would say the exact opposite. While the engine would last long, the body is prone to corrosion.

[Beefmeister]

Thanks for the answers everyone. I was planning on running the Amby for the next 6 months while i'm still in India, then shipping it back to the UK and modifying it.

Are they really that unreliable? I may have to rethink if they are. The last thing we need is to be stranded half way to Jaipur with a broken down Amby and very little Hindi to rely on!

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by Beefmeister

...I was planning on running the Amby for the next 6 months while i'm still in India, then shipping it back to the UK and modifying it.

Ah, maybe then you aren't limited to Delhi only? Take a look at these Ambasadors in the TBHP Classifieds too : Ambassadors For Sale

cya
R

[mayankjha1806]

I don't think they are un-reliable. So possibility of you getting stranded is rare, but yes non critical things may stop working randomly.

In the 80's Ambys used to be most reliable and most spacious cars on highway, used to be very rugged (Not sure of the current ones), We briefly owned an Amby but forced Dad to give it back to the owner because rest of us wanted to buy a Fiat Padmini.

I would probably agree with @honeybee, because of lack of knowledge and yes i have seen the under body rusted in Ambys that i have ferried around in.

[theexperthand]

Ambassador is generally a very reliable car, but it does depends on what engine the car is running too. One good thing is, in any small town, there will be at least one guy who can fix the ambassador and the spare prats availability is not a problem since there are lot of aftermarket suppliers who makes the spares and even if some spare is not available, usually some kind of jugaad can be done to make the car road worthy.

We had an ambassador for few years ( A mark 4, with a matador 301 diesel engine mated with original GB ) and she have never let us stranded any were.

You need to take care of the body line - rusting is an issue, but some preventive maintenance can take care of it.

If you own an amby, she really grows on you. We still feel sad when we talk about our old Ambassador.

Check out this thread for a passion filled ambassador ownership thread - http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-t...-progress.html

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by Beefmeister

Thanks for the answers everyone. I was planning on running the Amby for the next 6 months while i'm still in India, then shipping it back to the UK and modifying it.Are they really that unreliable? I may have to rethink if they are. The last thing we need is to be stranded half way to Jaipur with a broken down Amby and very little Hindi to rely on!

Don't think that Ambys are unreliable. They are reliable, India relied on them for decades. Still you can see Ambys doing state duty even in Delhi.

There is a joke that even panwallahs are able to fix it and spares are also available even in a panshop.

For the purpose you have mentioned, buy a reasonably good one without any corrosion. Ambys were made without any sheet metal treatment and are prone for corrosion within a couple of years.

Looking forward to see your Amby on TV soon. I am a fan of your show and team.

[YaeJay]

Hi Tim,
There has to be some reason for you to want an Amby. I am not sure about what the reason is, but I have grown up with one. a 73 specimen. Had the original BMC petrol engine. In all the years I have been with him, he'z always been some sort of a mystery. So was it reliable? difficult question, it can be perfect when you park at a restaurant, get back and it can throw a tantrum out off the blue. It requires you to pop the hood check the fluids, etc etc before every drive and every time you park on a day long drive. In about 25+ years with us, we have had hiccups even on highways, but we haven't lost more than 2 hours, We never have been stranded. ( there are other more 'reliable' products that has left us stranded in the middle of nowhere).

Rust? Thats every Ambys best friend, every 3-4 years you need a tinker and a paint job. If you are loaded, go for the brass kits.

All the best!

P.S: Be prepared to get hooked to them, they are like family (some odd reason!). If you could get an older Amby, say late 60z or 70z, worth every penny! Forget the engine, If you intend to take it with you, might as well go for the old ones.

[rajeev k]

One more point. Ambassadors lose the original body shape too quickly, the reasons being,

1. Negligent driving resulting in too many bruises which not properly rectified.
2. After improper tinkering and painting necessitated due to heavy corrosion.
3. Major accidents.

Therefore look for one with original looks.

[YaeJay]

Errrr, rajeev, the older models didn't have this problem!

[SS-Traveller]

Tim, it would be a very good idea for you to take a trip to Kolkata (Calcutta) to source a good used Ambassador - you would be aware that Ambys are still manufactured not very far from the city, at Uttarpara, and the inventory of used cars in the city far exceeds that available in any other city.

In addition, sourcing spares (that you might want to stock up on when taking the car back to the UK) is also easier and cheaper in Kolkata, and many small-scale industries manufacture some unique and interesting exterior and interior fittings (decals, lamps, badges etc.) and panels (e.g. die-pressed corners for front mudguard, running boards, A-pillar, etc. which are highly prone to rust) for local consumption, which are not distributed in other cities!

Taking a walk through the Mullick Bazaar car market at Kolkata would also be quite revealing for an Ambassador enthusiast like you, I am sure.

[Zed]

If you invest a bit of time, you may find a good Amby in the used car market. That said even a good second-hand Amby will need a friendly neighbourhood mechanic to keep it running. Unless you're the sort of person that likes to tinker with cars and can admire an old wagon not just inspite of , but because of its eccentricity ( --- Lancia's ?? ..), I'd advice you against shipping an old amby back to Britain. However if you are on the sane side of the insane motoring universe, dont do it. If you are looking for a relic from the past to blaze a trail on Indian highways - why not an old Mahindra jeep ? They can start falling to pieces but they just keep on going. And its a real hoot to drive, in my humble opinion. You never need first and second gears. But for the love of god, DO NOT take it back with you.