[ajay99]

[quote=anjan_c2007;3214721] Yes indeed, it was called the Baby Hindustan and the chrome plated badge on the rear boot read "Hindustan". The car had an OHV engine, as the side valve engines were done away with, ever since the low light Minor was replaced by the newer model, to the best of my knowledge.

The earliest low light Minors (1948-53) made in the U.K. had the 914 cc, side valve engines. When the newer model came in 1952, it was powered by the 803 cc, OHV engine, that was produced till 1956. Only in 1956, the 948 cc OHV engine was introduced in the U.K., the Minors being badged as the Minor 1000. A 1098 cc, OHV engine was introduced in 1962 as an option and the Minors were produced till 1971.

So it may not be true that our Baby Hindustan was powered by the 948 cc OHV engine (introduced in the U.K. only in 1956), as these were produced since 1954, I believe and HM ws never so tech savvy to usher in the 1956 engine immediately.


The low light minors were made from 1948 to 1950(october) only.The series MM came with Fender mounted headlights then onwards.
As your correctly mentioned the 803cc OHV engine borrowed from the Austin was put into the minors till 1956.But regarding the Baby Hindustan there was no side valve engine and also it did come with the 948ccc engine and was badged Hindustan 1000 on the bootlid (from which year I do not Know).In Trivandrum there is a single owner (owned by the first HM dealership) 1958 Baby Hindustan which has the OHV 948cc engine.

[amit V8]

Thanks Ajay99 for the info. I have seen both the models here in Kolkata - the MM 1000 and the BH. While the MM had the 1000 written on the side of the bonnet the later had nothing. But I'm sure they were called Tigers.

However I had no idea about the engine specification. So I called someone and he confirmed that the 1098cc engine from the MM never came to India.

Have a look- http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/12/23/s...2350200300.htm

[thebulletboy]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

Note that for the Mark 3 and later the tail light assembly still had the provision to fit two lenses as in older Ambassadors. But the changeover from Mark 3 onwards, gave the car a single lens cover for the tail light.

Some information that might be useful to people restoring Ambys

As pointed out by Anjan, the Mark 3 and later chrome tail light covers are very similar to the earlier Mark 1 & 2 covers, except that the diameter of the circular holes are smaller on the Mark 3 covers. Small enough in fact that the earlier 2 piece lenses do not fit.

This info courtesy of team-bhp'ians Philedonos and Karlosdeville, discovered during the restoration of Daniel's Amby.

Of course, the diameter of the holes on the later covers can be increased enough to accomodate the earlier lenses, at your friendly neighbourhood lathe.

[anjan_c2007]

Two pictures of Ambassadors that I could get on FB. The first one is a newly restored car, while the other one, a Grand though quite new has been spotted in Kuwait.



The newly restored car



Ambassador in Kuwait

[josejoseph]

Originally Posted by anjan_c2007

Two pictures of Ambassadors that I could get on FB. The first one is a newly restored car, while the other one, a Grand though quite new has been spotted in Kuwait.

The Mark II looks showroom condition. But that plastic rear view mirrors is a let down. Do you have more pictures of the car?

-- Jose

[ajay99]

Originally Posted by josejoseph

The Mark II looks showroom condition. But that plastic rear view mirrors is a let down. Do you have more pictures of the car?

-- Jose

And adding fuel to the letdown is the fact that it is a diesel.
But the contessa in the photo-4656 looks like a good specimen

[anjan_c2007]

Originally Posted by josejoseph

The Mark II looks showroom condition. But that plastic rear view mirrors is a let down. Do you have more pictures of the car?

-- Jose

Thanks, will try for more images of this car from its owner by requesting him.

Originally Posted by amit V8

Thanks Ajay99 for the info. I have seen both the models here in Kolkata - the MM 1000 and the BH. While the MM had the 1000 written on the side of the bonnet the later had nothing. But I'm sure they were called Tigers.

However I had no idea about the engine specification. So I called someone and he confirmed that the 1098cc engine from the MM never came to India.

Have a look- http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/12/23/s...2350200300.htm

Meanwhile Ajay 99 and Amit V8, here is a price list and details of automobiles that were sold in India in 1960.

The Hindusthan (note the addition of "h" as the third last letter) cars included the Hindusthan "Baby" and the Hindusthan Traveller, (estate version of the Ambassador) apart from the Ambassador



(Source Autocar India, 2007)

[karlosdeville]

This ode to the Amby was published in the Pioneer

[r_nairtvm]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

This ode to the Amby was published in the Pioneer

Attachment 1129554

Hi Karl,

Thanks for this

Please post a better scan or the link to the article - if an online version is there

Best Regards & Drive Safe

Ram

[WindRide]

http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Hind...iew-qponpnnlom

The best review of a Mark 1 i have read - EVER!!!

Posting the review link here instead of a pic, since this has so much details of the mark 1 and in such nostalgic terms. The review continues well into the comments section.

Reading this, I could actually visualise a Mark 1 gliding down the wide Mount Road of the 60s Madras!

Is the author of this review here in TBHP??

[anjan_c2007]

JOINT FAMILY - All the Marks in a place -only missing is the Mark 4, but the Grand takes care of everything post Mark 3 till the 21st century!



(picture from FB)

[WindRide]

came across this on utube. wish it was in english. anyway worth a watch for all those lovely ambys!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmPprykLja4

[amit V8]

Mark 2s from Amby land. Miss those sunshades!



Source - Google images

[WindRide]

Nice restoration story of an mk2 with 1.8 izuzu, tata sumo PS, avigo brakes and AC. The slideshow pics show the clean dashbord. is that the original mk2?

http://www.thehindu.com/features/met...ticle39375.ece

[anjan_c2007]

An Ambassador commercial (Morris Oxford)

1955 Hindustan Ambassador (Morris Oxford) promotional film.DEES.avi

www.youtube.com