India abandons the Hindustan Ambassador over terror fears

ajmat · 23rd March 2009, 09:21

For more than half a century the Hindustan Ambassador saloon has been a symbol of power and influence for Indian politicians.

But following the Mumbai terrorist attack, party leaders have been forced to finally abandon them for bulletproof jeeps.

The Ambassador, launched in 1957 as a copy of the Morris Oxford, became an icon of India's colonial past

More here

Mean while Rudra goes into depression

Samurai · 23rd March 2009, 09:25

Bulletproof Jeeps? I would think Amby can offer better protection from Jeeps. How does this Bulletproof Jeep look like?

Vid6639 · 23rd March 2009, 09:28

Samurai San, please do read the article linky. Bullet proof Jeeps as in Land cruisers and Pajeros. The Govt. is shifting to Pajeros.

vineethvazhayil · 23rd March 2009, 09:28

What is a bulletproof jeep anyway? Who makes them? Mahindra? The recently started defence production unit?

anupmathur · 23rd March 2009, 09:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

Bulletproof Jeeps? I would think Amby can offer better protection from Jeeps. How does this Bulletproof Jeep look like?

I suspect these are Pajeros!
Upto 50 lakh rupees for armouring each!
This would take the game to a new level!

abhiram7912 · 23rd March 2009, 09:31

and how much would an armoured amby cost ??

jango · 23rd March 2009, 09:56

and all these done for our corrupt politicians !! man !!

BlackPearl · 23rd March 2009, 10:10

So Hindustan Motors still seems to remain the provider of Government vehicles. The article does not mention what SUVs they have tested. Hopefully the cost of Pajero will come down.

amohit · 23rd March 2009, 10:44

I sometimes wonder, why would any terrorists from neighboring country try to kill Indian politicians?
Afterall both of them are doing similar kind of damage to our country!!

Total waste of my tax money, I would say.

Regards,

Gagan.js · 23rd March 2009, 10:48

These politicians are involved with the underworld anyway, who will want to kill them

Jokes aside, I like this, should make India look more modern in the eyes of foreigners.
I still wonder why can't the amby be made bulletproof, surely any car "can" be made safer. Why the pajeros and all, mahindra was making bulletproof SUV's for the army right?

mclaren1885 · 23rd March 2009, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by amohit

I sometimes wonder, why would any terrorists from neighboring country try to kill Indian politicians?
Afterall both of them are doing similar kind of damage to our country!!

Total waste of my tax money, I would say.

Regards,

My guess would be:
1. To get publicity for killing a VIP/high profile person. God forbid, if some high profile politician were to be killed imagine the media coverage.
2. To create havoc and panic for successfully killing those in power who are supposed to protect the citizens from harm?

himanshugoswami · 23rd March 2009, 11:00

one question- will the engine of the Pajero be souped up? Because the current engine will be woefully underpowerd to lug the pajero with the additional weight of the armour plating, adds approximately one tonne to the weight of the car, which will take the pajero close to 3 tonnes, and give it a power to weight ration of about 39 bhp/tonne (118 BHP engine in current guise)

MileCruncher · 23rd March 2009, 11:04

Point to note is that Pajero's are marketed here by Hindustan Motors only, so they as a company wouldn't be losing out much. As HM already has the right connections courtesy their Amby, they are nicely using the paranoia and snobbery in our political class to sell a more expensive car.

Steeroid · 23rd March 2009, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

Bulletproof Jeeps? I would think Amby can offer better protection from Jeeps. How does this Bulletproof Jeep look like?

Search for Mahindra Rakshak. A friend of mine tried importing a few to Nigeria in view of the security situation there. Most were abandoned on the roads - our company bought one too (I introduced him to the company) and it was left to rust in the scrapyard as soon as they found that an armed robber on a bicycle could overtake this thing. The original plan was to use this for the airport runs since the bulletproof airport van was a large Merc - it was sometimes sent to pick up ONE person!

Sudipto-S-Team · 23rd March 2009, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Samurai

I would think Amby can offer better protection from Jeeps.

Contrary to the popular perception as expressed above, I think a modern Ambassador is one of the most unsafe vehicles on Indian roads. If you ever see an Ambassador after an accident you would understand what I mean. It just rolls into a something like a waste paper ball.
The body has too many welded points which make it all the more unsafe.
Compared to the tank like metal sheets of the Landmaster, the modern Amby is just a tad thicker than a beer can.

23rd March 2009, 09:21	#1
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 14,858 Thanked: 27,925 Times View My Garage	India abandons the Hindustan Ambassador over terror fears For more than half a century the Hindustan Ambassador saloon has been a symbol of power and influence for Indian politicians. But following the Mumbai terrorist attack, party leaders have been forced to finally abandon them for bulletproof jeeps. The Ambassador, launched in 1957 as a copy of the Morris Oxford, became an icon of India's colonial past More here Mean while Rudra goes into depression
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23rd March 2009, 09:25	#2
Samurai Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bangalore/Udupi Posts: 25,813 Thanked: 45,447 Times View My Garage	Bulletproof Jeeps? I would think Amby can offer better protection from Jeeps. How does this Bulletproof Jeep look like?
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23rd March 2009, 09:28	#3
Vid6639 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 17,727 Thanked: 43,460 Times View My Garage	Samurai San, please do read the article linky. Bullet proof Jeeps as in Land cruisers and Pajeros. The Govt. is shifting to Pajeros.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 09:28	#4
vineethvazhayil Senior - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 1,513 Thanked: 456 Times View My Garage	What is a bulletproof jeep anyway? Who makes them? Mahindra? The recently started defence production unit?
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23rd March 2009, 09:31	#6
abhiram7912 BHPian Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 170 Thanked: 76 Times	and how much would an armoured amby cost ??
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23rd March 2009, 09:56	#7
jango BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: New York & kotayam Posts: 800 Thanked: 23 Times View My Garage	and all these done for our corrupt politicians !! man !!
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23rd March 2009, 10:10	#8
BlackPearl Team-BHP Support Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Calcutta/London Posts: 3,606 Thanked: 16,987 Times View My Garage	So Hindustan Motors still seems to remain the provider of Government vehicles. The article does not mention what SUVs they have tested. Hopefully the cost of Pajero will come down.
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 10:44	#9
amohit BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 451 Thanked: 52 Times	I sometimes wonder, why would any terrorists from neighboring country try to kill Indian politicians? Afterall both of them are doing similar kind of damage to our country!! Total waste of my tax money, I would say. Regards,
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 10:48	#10
Gagan.js BHPian Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 227 Thanked: Once	These politicians are involved with the underworld anyway, who will want to kill them Jokes aside, I like this, should make India look more modern in the eyes of foreigners. I still wonder why can't the amby be made bulletproof, surely any car "can" be made safer. Why the pajeros and all, mahindra was making bulletproof SUV's for the army right?
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 11:00	#12
himanshugoswami Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: !!!! Posts: 2,303 Thanked: 2,619 Times	one question- will the engine of the Pajero be souped up? Because the current engine will be woefully underpowerd to lug the pajero with the additional weight of the armour plating, adds approximately one tonne to the weight of the car, which will take the pajero close to 3 tonnes, and give it a power to weight ration of about 39 bhp/tonne (118 BHP engine in current guise)
	() Thanks

23rd March 2009, 11:04	#13
MileCruncher Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MH01 Posts: 4,235 Thanked: 589 Times View My Garage	Point to note is that Pajero's are marketed here by Hindustan Motors only, so they as a company wouldn't be losing out much. As HM already has the right connections courtesy their Amby, they are nicely using the paranoia and snobbery in our political class to sell a more expensive car. Last edited by MileCruncher : 23rd March 2009 at 11:06.
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