A status symbol, the preferred car of politicians, the first made-in-India car – yes, we’re talking about the iconic Ambassador. Though the manufacture of the car stopped in 2014, there are still many fans and fans’ associations for the ‘King of Indian Roads’.
One such fan club organised a meeting in Kerala's Thrissur Thekkinkadu Maidan (Thrissur ground) on September 22, and the city got to witness 167 Ambassador cars of various models.
After a rally around the ground, the cars were parked on the ground and thousands of people had a chance to see rare models of the Ambassador. The initial model Hindustan Landmaster, Ambassador MK1 to MK4, one with Isuzu engine, classic and grand model cars were at display in the event.
The meet was planned by the WhatsApp group ‘Ambassador car fans Kerala’, which presently has 250 members. The group was formed in July 2018.
Speaking to TNM, one of the organisers of the programme, Joy Chavakkad, says that most Ambassador car owners had emotional stories to tell.
“The group was first formed in 2018 to find an Ambassador car that was used by my friend Jenil K Jaison’s father. The family had sold the car years ago and out of emotional attachment to it, he wanted it back,” Joy narrates the story of their beginning.
Though Jenil couldn’t find the car, the group went from 17 members to 250 members in just one year.
Joy recalls how his father, a taxi driver, provided for his family with the Ambassador he owned.
“My father who owned this car was the lone breadwinner of my family. In that way, I also am attached to the vehicle as it provided for our family. Now I own three Ambassador cars,” he says proudly. He also says that even the younger generation is interested in Ambassador cars.
CN Menon
The meet-up saw participants from all districts of Kerala and a few from Tamil Nadu too. “Next we are planning for a south India based meet,” Joy says.
He says that such meetings help others understand that Ambassador cars last longer than other new cars in the market. The Thrissur meeting also honoured CN Menon, who was an employee with Hindustan Motors Kolkata, the company that made Ambassadors until it closed down in 2014.