Two weeks ago India celebrated the election outcome. There was much happiness at the much needed change. A new Prime Minister with a new cabinet was in place. I remember running wild at election times, collecting the different party badges and even shouting the slogans along with the campaign workers. Sometimes a few of us would get into a party car and get a ride as long as we shouted the slogans for that party. Yes, i have done that and even traveled in the open trunk of the car. The big Hindustan Motors Ambassador(Amby) car. The short joy ride in that car was a lot of fun with a few of us squished in and fighting for the window seat and at times vying for the front seat. It used to be even more of a joy ride with some samosas in hand, eating them while riding in the open trunk of the car. It was a picnic on the go. The election frenzy along with the joy rides were some sort of treat. That was in the capital city of Delhi.
Those days having a car was a luxury. Luxury when sparse is most enjoyed. Ambassadors were possibly the only cars ruling the streets across India. A few years later the smaller car Premier Padmini (PP) came into the market as well. But the Ambassador continued to be the "One" car for a long time. It was the car for the politicians, policemen, actors, taxi drivers or just a family car for those who could afford to have them.
I am not a car expert but anyone who has seen and been inside an Amby knows how big and spacious it was inside and out. There would be jokes that if you can't find a place to stay in Mumbai just get an Amby. The rear seat which was meant for 3 adults would easily seat 6-7 kids or seat 4 adults comfortably. My uncle had an Amby & he used to make sure it had a bath every day. The car was kept very clean & he was possessive about it. Such was the attraction.The days the family went for a drive, there would always be a pleading look on all our faces to let us sit in the front seat so we could have the bird's eye view. It was another thing that even if i got to sit upfront, given my age and height, i couldn't have seen beyond the small portable rotating fan on the dashboard.
The trunk of the car used to be a favorite hiding place. Of course the parents could never know, we were hiding in there. The trunk could fit in 2 large suitcases easily & maybe a smaller bag too and if it wasn't sufficient then the rack on roof top carrier came handy. The suitcases and holder beds ( a green holder for clothes which also doubled up as a bed) tied in place with a rope was a common sight with the Amby's. It somehow had the balance to carry all the load.
Those were the days of minimal corruption & less pollution. The cars those days were made to last. Amby was a strong car. PP was also strong but Amby had its own strength and built. Many of the Ambassadors would have their own small rotating fan standing on the dashboard to provide the much needed air & save everyone from smelling each others sweat. Sometimes it did have the opposite effect of spreading the "gasping for breath" smell but mostly it did the right thing. Air condition was introduced a few years later, first by PP & Amby followed a little later. The windows had to be rolled up and down manually & we used to have competition on who could roll it up or down faster until one day the knob was in my hand & my chances of sitting next to the window got jeopardized.
Ambassadors ruled for a long time, then came the Maruti in the 80's. Ambassador was a "Palace on Wheels" compared to the little Maruti cars. With the economy opening up, different cars came into the Indian streets. The big car was getter lesser showing. The Innova's and Sumo's are good but there was something about the Ambassador.
Maybe it was the size, maybe it was the color or maybe it was the first car that gave me my first ride.
My last ride in the Ambassador was more than a decade ago when i visited Delhi for work. Some of the taxis were still the Amby's. It was a good ride with the happy driver & plenty of space.
Last month the factory produced as little as a few hundred cars. The company announced shutting down their production facility.
I am a little sad about the Amby going out of production. Seems like it has been around forever & i have had some good times traveling in them. Ironically, Amby has been around post Independence but is going out just like the longest ruling Congress party. It ruled as much but it's time now to bid adieu!!
So long Ambassador!! 
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