[anujmishra]

Originally Posted by Rough Square

Where can I buy this in Bangalore?

JC road??

I got one in CAR accessories shop in Jaynagar 4th block. Yo can inquire any car accessories shop.

It was around 200 Rs. You can use it for other lighting purpose also. It is very helpful during night.

[simplyself]

We can also check engine oil levels, brake fluid levels, radiator coolant levels, can change worn out belt on dynamo, can change a fused bulb and so on with light under the hood. And we cannot go to authorized work shop for this, can we?



Gave good engine life, used to run around 2.5 lakhs for each instalment of engine overhaul.

The view from drivers seat was great, one can see the headlight ring from there. I dont think any modern sedan has that much view.



Customization was rampant in terms of door handles, seats, ceiling, bumpers, indicators etc. along with various engines doing duty under the hood. Most popular ones were the BMC 1500 cc, a few Jaya Diesels (made in Coimbatore I think, correct me if I am wrong), Nissans, Isuzus, HM Trekker, Matador's 1800 cc engine, and some bigger Mataodors which did duty in the 307s, Toyotas.....

One should see the variety in ceiling design to believe it. From as low as Rs.2,000 to Rs.20,000 they were all made to individual owner's tastes in the after market.

My 9 year old son misses the car, as do my mother and myself. He is not pleased with the Indica which replaced the Amby nor is he okay with my Bolero. He occasionally mumbles something to the effect that we should buy one whenever we travel fairly long distances.

[agentsmith2]

Here's another one - pair of rear-view mirrors on two sides of the car bonet - just above the headlights. Easier to view without much head-tilting.

[Mpower]

Originally Posted by airfoil

I sort of miss the front quarter glass effect. In the unpolluted days where traffic actually moved and there were almost no car air conditioners, these nifty devices served like high powered fans.

Like fashion its coming back in cab forward designs like the Gen2 Honda Jazz and SX4 only difference they don't open and rotate like the old days.

[Thad E Ginathom]

The quarter-light window, in other countries, was god's gift to thieves.

The very-easy-to-open lock is just a matter of design, but the fact of a small area of glass to break is inherant.

[ACM]

Originally Posted by directinjection

Early Mark-II Ambys had it so I guess Mark-Is would have had it too.
1972 model Mark-IIs had the starter integrated into the keyhole.

My duker Fiat - 1956 also has front doors that open the other way.

[ajmat]

One thing getting sparser - A full size spare wheel.

[mukundmenon]

Windshields which can be reached over the steering wheel and wiped clean. Try doing that in a Punto/Jazz- can't even touch them... damn aerodynamics

[one-77]

Originally Posted by mukundmenon

Windshields which can be reached over the steering wheel and wiped clean. Try doing that in a Punto/Jazz- can't even touch them... damn aerodynamics

Why would you want to that anyway?
Didn't the wiping-the-windshield habit die out along with the non-AC cars?

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by mukundmenon

Windshields which can be reached over the steering wheel and wiped clean. Try doing that in a Punto/Jazz- can't even touch them... damn aerodynamics

Originally Posted by one-77

Why would you want to that anyway?
Didn't the wiping-the-windshield habit die out along with the non-AC cars?

I had an Amby (1971) which had this habit of wiper falling off after a few minutes. I used to take the wiper and clean the windshield manually even as I drove

[Neur0t0xin]

Originally Posted by simplyself

I used to take the wiper and clean the windshield manually even as I drove

I used do exactly the same in my SS80.
In fact, you could lean and reach almost every corner of the car with ease, not possible in these day cars, with all the center console, side armrest, rear A/C vent and all, you get stuck in the drivers seat.
I miss the front bench seat of the Premier Padmini, we got to sit in the front seat as kids for the drive with a view.
Also the visibility, all round was great in older cars, especially the rear.
I don't have a Premier Padmini rear windshield picture for comparison, but you can clearly make out from the picture below of a VW Vento showing poor rear visibility from inside.
Then again, it is evolution, thick C pillars are there for safety reasons.

[mukundmenon]

I meant about wiping the inside of the windsheild to get rid of the dust/fog. Agreed that with AC ,fog is not much of concern compared to old times, but dust has to be cleaned manually. I find that a dusty windsheild makes it difficult to drive at night.

Another yesteryear feature in decline- chrome.
now it is considered having small bits of chrome as a luxury add-on, but in ambys, contis there were lots of chrome- grille, window linings,Hub caps, door handles and so on. Also they were stylish and did not look garish like the chunky strips found on the boot lids of Logan, etios etc.

[simplyself]

Originally Posted by Neur0t0xin

Then again, it is evolution, thick C pillars are there for safety reasons.

Ambassador and Padmini too had thick C Pillars.

Visibility from driver's seat was great for Ambassador.

[sourabhzen]

1. Continuous cranking on a cold morning - waiting for few seconds - cranking again, waiting again - revving continuously as soon as it cranks to heat the engine up.
2. Choke - was there in early M 800 also
3. Petrol Tank caps with locks.
4. Plain household electric switch on C - pillar for cabin lights.
5. Fans (accessory)
6. Curtains installed on springed wires.
7. Spring Seats
and 8. push starts

[aadithsince1980]

I miss "Double de-clutching" in my dad's amby to get the car from any higher gear to lower gear

I miss pumping the brakes to get the feel of the pedal

And am serious about this. Driving dads 1961 Amby was the most involving ever!