[anjan_c2007]

To our pleasent surprise the Hindustan Motors official website is still rocking:

http://www.hindmotor.com/

[anjan_c2007]

HM has offered VRS to its 2300 employees. The offer is valid till 20/11/2014 and the factory will either land in Chinese hands or will be used to make defence equipment as per this news report appearing in TOI of 11/11/2014. It says they want to start on a clean slate.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/C...w/45111919.cms

[ebonho]

Hi guys, asking these questions on behalf of a close friend here, who is hooked on to Team BHP, but sadly not yet a member here. He's especially hooked on to this thread as he has this fetish for Ambassadors!

He was about to buy a new Ambassador when the company shut shop. Devastated he was. Then he found this old man who was working for Ambassador, on retirement/VRS was sold/given an Ambassador that had been driven to Pune and back to Kolkota for ARAI testing purposes.

The car is on his name. He is (understandably) being coy about giving the Invoice/Bill of Sale - as then the actual price he got the car for would become clear.

Question 1: How important/necessary is it to have the original Invoice for the car? Or would just the normal RTO forms (28, 29, 30, NOC) and Insurance (active, valid) and PUC and Smart Card be enough for transfer of ownership?

Question 2: Bringing the car from Kolkota to Pune, would the number change? If so, would all taxes etc. (including Entry Tax, Green Tax, God knows what other Taxes there are ....) be needed to be paid again? How much is this whole thing (transfer to friend's name in Pune) going to cost broad ballpark?

Question 3: The car is around 6 months old. But due to the drive to Pune and back, has already clocked around 11,000 kms. Don't know condition of suspension etc. having gone through al sorts of roads. So how much should such a car cost approximately. ARAI tester. 6 months old. 11,000 kms. Photos look good. Its basically a new car (by Ambassador standards definitely). And being a ARAI test car in my books at least has more advantages than disadvantages to the buyer.

NOTE: The Insurance shows the car's IDV to be 2.15 Lacs so we're guessing that's the price he got it for from the company.

Question 4: Is there any chance/anything on the grapevine of the factory reopening again and making Ambassadors? Asking o=this on behalf of my friend, because he's rather buy a new car, and the production per him was only "suspended" and not shut down officially completely?

Look forward to the replies of the experts here please. Who knows, if things work out, we (3 friends) might actually go over to Kolkota, do the deal, and drive it back all the way (what an adventure that's going to be)!

[arnabchak]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

To our pleasent surprise the Hindustan Motors official website is still rocking:

http://www.hindmotor.com/

Anjan Da,
Surprisingly, it is still rocking!!

Ekdom Bangali laid back attitude !!!

[amit V8]

Originally Posted by arnabchak

Ekdom Bangali laid back attitude !!!

A completely stupid and biased comment.

I would suggest to show your attitude and do something about the issue rather than post useless comments.

[arnabchak]

Originally Posted by amit V8

A completely stupid and biased comment.

I would suggest to show your attitude and do something about the issue rather than post useless comments.

Whats so stupid about it Amit?

I am a Bong and know very well about the attitude. Hence, suggest you to not get too sentimental or carried away.

Also, I dont design or control the HM website.

So, its just prudent for the folks at HM to de link the website of their car which is long dead.

Is it just asking for too much? It just shows a callous and a laid back attitude.

If you dont agree, it doesnt matter to me. That's just my point of view.
And it stays!!

[suresh_gs]

Standard Motors closed in 1988, Premier Automobiles in 2001 and now Hindustan Motors in 2014.

[Ray32825]

From, The Theory Of Everything

[Samba]

From the last four days power supple has been cut off for the whole Hindmotor factory. So no light in any of the roads or in the quarters were there stuffs stay. There was no water too, but from last two days local municipality has sent them water through water tanks. Today the agitated stuffs with there family has blocked the main GT road in front of the Uttarpara police station for 3 hours and yesterday they blocked the main railway line passing through Hindmotor for an hour as a protest for not getting electricity. Its pitch dark at night inside the factory premise.

The reason for this power cut is factory management has not payed the electricity board.

Sharing a pic which i took a couple of days back. The only light source in this pic was my cars head lamp.

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by Samba

From the last four days power supple has been cut off for the whole Hindmotor factory. So no light in any of the roads or in the quarters were there stuffs stay. There was no water too, but from last two days local municipality has sent them water through water tanks. Today the agitated stuffs with there family has blocked the main GT road in front of the Uttarpara police station for 3 hours and yesterday they blocked the main railway line passing through Hindmotor for an hour as a protest for not getting electricity. Its pitch dark at night inside the factory premise.

The reason for this power cut is factory management has not payed the electricity board.

Sharing a pic which i took a couple of days back. The only light source in this pic was my cars head lamp.

Sad state of affairs. You (management) earn and rejoice when the going is good ( the Ambassadors hey days) and then lose your committment towards the support system that made you what you were then.

Was hoping that the end will be quite OK with a happy parting of ways.

[rajeev k]

We are missing this scene which was once too common everywhere.

[zenren]

Originally Posted by rajeev k

We are missing this scene which was once too common everywhere.

Did you mean the sun-film or the Amby?

[rajeev k]

Originally Posted by zenren

Did you mean the sun-film or the Amby?

None of those, but this
Need I say more.


At this point, this chronological history of HM would be an interesting walk through the memory lane.

1942
The Ambassador, as we know it, was launched in 1957 but the seed was sown in 1942 when BM Birla founded Hindustan Motors (HM) and set up a small factory in Port Okha in Gujarat to assemble passenger cars.
1946
The company started importing the Morris 10 Series M kits for local assembly. In India, it was sold as the Hindustan 10. The 1140cc side-valve engine developed 37bhp at 4600rpm, with a top speed of 100kmph. Next year, HM launched the Hindustan 14, based on the Morris 14. The Morris Minor also joined the line-up, with the name Baby Hindustan.
1954
When the company wanted a new model to replace its Hindustan models, it settled on the Morris Oxford Series III, launched in India as the Hindustan Landmaster. The car initially came with a 1489cc side-valve engine but was later improved to an overhead valve engine. It was quite an innovation with a semi-monocoque chassis, which is why it was very spacious inside. The car cost Rs10,000.
1957
All the tooling of the British Morris Oxford Series III was transferred to India. A small tail fin was added on either side of the rear fenders, along with a new, dimpled hood, and the car was re-christened the Ambassador Mark I. The car cost Rs17,000.
1963
It underwent a frontal facelift with a closely-checkered grille and was named the Ambassador Mark II. It would be 12 years before another redesign. -
1975
Another minor facelift to the same grille and a much bigger frontal facelift turned out as the Mark III.
1979
The Mark IV was the last of the Mark cars. In addition to the existing petrol version, a diesel variant was launched which was powered by a 1,489 cc, 37 bhp BMC B-series diesel engine. It was the first diesel car in India and was well received.
1900s
Economic liberalisation swept the industry. Numerous foreign vehicle manufacturers came to India, bringing increased competition for local manufacturers. The Ambassador found its sales slipping and HM soon began looking for a new model.
1999
HM simply introduced new Ambassador variants. It dieselised the old 1489cc engine, which went into the Ambassador. The Ambassador Nova was launched in 1999, followed by the Ambassador 1800 ISZ three years later. The Nova was the last Ambassador powered by the 1489cc petrol engine
The Ambassador 1800 ISZ had under its hood the 75bhp 1800cc Isuzu engine and the option of bucket seats. The dashboard was redesigned. Seatbelts became mandatory.
2003
The year the Ambassador Grand was launched. As per the manufacturer, the new version had 137 differences from its predecessor. There was even an optional sunroof.
2004
HM launched the cosmetically revised Ambassador under the Avigo name. Designed by Manvendra Singh, the retro-look Avigo had classic-touch internals like a centrally-mounted console, beige-coloured seats and wood-finish interiors.

Source: Hindustan Times

[sgiitk]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

HM has offered VRS to its 2300 employees. The offer is valid till 20/11/2014 and the factory will either land in Chinese hands or will be used to make defence equipment as per this news report appearing in TOI of 11/11/2014. It says they want to start on a clean slate.

The Chinks are welcome to this relic. i shudder to think about the quality of the the defence stuff they may build!

[embee]

Came across a nice pic of the HM Ambassador.