Here's An Immaculately Restored HM Ambassador With Hyundai Elantra Seats

Hindustan Motors was the very first Indian brand to produce passenger cars in the country. However, its first car, the Ambassador, was based on a Morris. Yes, it is the same brand that was later acquired by a Chinese firm and now sells Hector in India under the MG trademark. Post-independence in 1957, Hindustan Motors launched the Ambassador which was based on the Morris Oxford Series II. It went on to become an icon in the Indian automotive scene. With a production run of over 55 years, it holds the title for the longest production run for a car in India. After being discontinued in 2014, Ambassador is still a usual sight on the Indian roads. Here’s one, which has been restored to look as if it just rolled off the production line.

The black paint scheme suits the iconic silhoutte of the Hindustan Ambassador.

The car in the pictures can be seen donning a metallic black paint scheme. On the front, its radiator grille and bumper have been restored to their original shape. They also get a fresh coating of chrome to get rid of the rust spots. A flag post has also been mounted on the bonnet, while the bumper gets a set of additional lamps. On the sides, the door handles get the chrome treatment and so does the window frame. The chrome elements integrate well with the black paint scheme to give it the required elegance.

The major modification that has been performed on this Ambassador as a part of this restoration job is on the inside. It gets a completely restored interior with leather on the door panels and a new headliner, while the seats are borrowed from the Hyundai Elantra. Since the seats on the ambassadors were traditionally styled, they were comfy but failed to offer the required support. Therefore, the owner opted for seats from the Hyundai Elantra.

The seats on this Hindustan Ambassador are a direct lift from Hyundai Elantra.

With the new seats in place, the chairs in the front row now get the option of reclining the seatback. It wasn’t available earlier on the bench-style front seats of the stock Ambassador. The rear bench is also a direct lift from the Elantra. In comparison to the older bench, this is nicely contoured. It also gets a centre armrest now that has been fixed with an aftermarket cover. The seats have been finished in leather with a contrasting black and beige combination. This theme is nicely carried around the cabin and does help in uplifting the overall ambience of the interior.