Indonesia Travel 04: CNNGo.com

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

CNNGo.com

Gallery: India's coolest Ambassador cars

Posted: 04 Jan 2012 02:00 PM PST

Getting into an Ambassador is like getting into a time machine. Since it was first manufactured by Kolkata-based Hindustan Motors (HM) in the late 1950s in India, as a copy of the Oxford Morris, this automobile has seen few modifications and stylistic changes.

Affectionately called the "Amby" these cars are jokingly referred to as elephants for their slowness and size, and remain the wheels of choice for the Indian army officers and and government ministers.

(Resist joke allegorizing the efficiency of the government and its favorite mobile.)

Minister Karan Singh Tanwar claims that the all-white government Ambassador still commands respect.

"I still have a white Ambassador and I love it," he declares. "It is pure India and total VIP."