A Nostalgic poll : Premier Padmini or Hindustan Ambassador. Which would you choose?

rrsteer · 17th April 2009, 16:07

Padmini seems a car that your dad would have owned. Amby seems a car your grand dad would have owned.
Grandpa possessions were always more exciting to me

AirWind · 20th April 2009, 11:25

Oops difficult choice, given today's cost I would love to own both (of course modified)... Amby for the backseat and Premier for the drive...

akj53 · 20th April 2009, 11:58

My Papa bought his first car in 1966, a sky blue Amby. It was a true family car, big comfortable and we simply loved the car. Our big Alsatian dog 'Billu' could not bear to be left alone in the house. Amby's back seat was his favorite seat. With him sitting royally in the car, tongue hanging and head poking from window, there was no need to lock the car as nobody dared to come within 3 feet of Amby.

We kept that for 5 years and then bought a Triumph Herald. Currently I have an Altis but Amby was something special.

CrackedHead · 20th April 2009, 12:12

I already have two old old premier's - No contest - I'm a Premier fan.

The engine note when doing 80Km/hr in third gear is something to die for.

lalith_ka · 20th April 2009, 14:06

Amby any day. Learnt driving in dad's amby (mark 2 - 68 make), built like a tank. I believe it had "Made in England" engine.

Coming back to contest 'Padmini vs Amby', you will get to see yourself which one is better. Amby rules.

Volt · 20th April 2009, 18:19

Padmini it is for me (maybe the Mumbai loyalty at play here!). The exhaust note was great and it wasnt too bad to drive either.

Prowler · 20th April 2009, 18:27

I learnt driving in Amby decades ago. My first car was an Amby - 1967 Model Mark II - built like a Tank. I used to love the fear it throws on the other road users every time I drove around in Madras. Being an old car (Mark II) Amby makes the other road user think twice before they cross your path.

I souped up the car with an imported Isuzu 4FB1 diesel engine and drove almost 90,000 Km before I sold the car with a heavy heart. The rear seat comfort is incredible even now.

Silver Knight · 16th July 2009, 21:42

premier padmini. we had lots of PAdminis ( both diesel and petrol) in our family. We had a super select 1100 D, Padmini petrol and 137 D. Padmini all the way

bijujj · 16th July 2009, 22:59

Premier Padmini for me. We owned four of them, starting with a 1970 model. I think that is the first set which got the current shape.
These cars had lot of idiosyncrasies, in one of our cars moving to reverse and first gears was an art. Another one used to stop when driven through even the tiniest water puddle. So before monsoon we had to cover the distributor with a plastic sheet :-)
Inspite of all these quirks it was fun to drive them. I never could like Ambassadors from a driver's point of view, though they had infinitely more comfortable seats.

vinaydas · 17th July 2009, 06:27

padmini any day with the italian heritage

Gansan · 17th July 2009, 11:48

The Padmini all the way! It was the sleekest car before the 800 came along.

nilanjanray · 17th July 2009, 21:53

Ambassador - dad had one, plus MANY people could fit in - e.g. when going to a movie, or for a picnic.

jkdas · 17th July 2009, 22:13

Premier Padmini; handles better, faster, lesser maintenance, better engine and have one

gowda79 · 17th July 2009, 22:40

Ambassador any day for the build and the engine.

rohitv122 · 17th July 2009, 22:43

Ambassador was the best during its era for the kind of comfort & the rugged build quality.
Wow.
Ambassador anytime.

View Poll Results: Padmini or Ambassador which would you choose?
Premier Padmini	300	55.56%
Hindustan Ambassador	240	44.44%
Voters: 540. You may not vote on this poll

17th April 2009, 16:07	#121
rrsteer Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 144022 Posts: 1,237 Thanked: 3,137 Times	Padmini seems a car that your dad would have owned. Amby seems a car your grand dad would have owned. Grandpa possessions were always more exciting to me
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 11:25	#122
AirWind BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 998 Thanked: 404 Times View My Garage	Oops difficult choice, given today's cost I would love to own both (of course modified)... Amby for the backseat and Premier for the drive...
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 11:58	#123
akj53 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: NOIDA, Manchester & Cardiff Posts: 585 Thanked: 92 Times	My Papa bought his first car in 1966, a sky blue Amby. It was a true family car, big comfortable and we simply loved the car. Our big Alsatian dog 'Billu' could not bear to be left alone in the house. Amby's back seat was his favorite seat. With him sitting royally in the car, tongue hanging and head poking from window, there was no need to lock the car as nobody dared to come within 3 feet of Amby. We kept that for 5 years and then bought a Triumph Herald. Currently I have an Altis but Amby was something special.
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 12:12	#124
CrackedHead BHPian Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seattle Posts: 585 Thanked: 81 Times	I already have two old old premier's - No contest - I'm a Premier fan. The engine note when doing 80Km/hr in third gear is something to die for.
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 14:06	#125
lalith_ka BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore/Singapore Posts: 39 Thanked: 0 Times	Amby any day. Learnt driving in dad's amby (mark 2 - 68 make), built like a tank. I believe it had "Made in England" engine. Coming back to contest 'Padmini vs Amby', you will get to see yourself which one is better. Amby rules.
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 18:19	#126
Volt BHPian Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 183 Thanked: 5 Times	Padmini it is for me (maybe the Mumbai loyalty at play here!). The exhaust note was great and it wasnt too bad to drive either.
	() Thanks

20th April 2009, 18:27	#127
Prowler BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Madras Posts: 775 Thanked: 1,329 Times	I learnt driving in Amby decades ago. My first car was an Amby - 1967 Model Mark II - built like a Tank. I used to love the fear it throws on the other road users every time I drove around in Madras. Being an old car (Mark II) Amby makes the other road user think twice before they cross your path. I souped up the car with an imported Isuzu 4FB1 diesel engine and drove almost 90,000 Km before I sold the car with a heavy heart. The rear seat comfort is incredible even now.
	() Thanks

16th July 2009, 21:42	#128
Silver Knight BHPian Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Trichur Posts: 220 Thanked: 467 Times	premier padmini. we had lots of PAdminis ( both diesel and petrol) in our family. We had a super select 1100 D, Padmini petrol and 137 D. Padmini all the way
	() Thanks

16th July 2009, 22:59	#129
bijujj BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 77 Thanked: 28 Times	Premier Padmini for me. We owned four of them, starting with a 1970 model. I think that is the first set which got the current shape. These cars had lot of idiosyncrasies, in one of our cars moving to reverse and first gears was an art. Another one used to stop when driven through even the tiniest water puddle. So before monsoon we had to cover the distributor with a plastic sheet :-) Inspite of all these quirks it was fun to drive them. I never could like Ambassadors from a driver's point of view, though they had infinitely more comfortable seats.
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 06:27	#130
vinaydas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,399 Thanked: 148 Times	padmini any day with the italian heritage
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 11:48	#131
Gansan Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2009 Location: Chennai Posts: 4,539 Thanked: 5,562 Times	The Padmini all the way! It was the sleekest car before the 800 came along.
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 21:53	#132
nilanjanray Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,887 Thanked: 2,926 Times View My Garage	Ambassador - dad had one, plus MANY people could fit in - e.g. when going to a movie, or for a picnic.
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 22:13	#133
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	Premier Padmini; handles better, faster, lesser maintenance, better engine and have one
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 22:40	#134
gowda79 Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 1,478 Thanked: 194 Times View My Garage	Ambassador any day for the build and the engine.
	() Thanks

17th July 2009, 22:43	#135
rohitv122 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: bangalore Posts: 22 Thanked: 0 Times	Ambassador was the best during its era for the kind of comfort & the rugged build quality. Wow. Ambassador anytime.
	() Thanks