Page 89 - Motoring World (January 2020)

Historically, whenever a bullet the Hindustan Motors Ambassador for ` 80 crore, though I’m not sure
met an ambassador, it was seen as already are those, jacks-in-office be if it’s possible to put a price on the
a casus belli, an act that provokes damned forever. goodwill earned by the car over its
war, and headlines erupted all over Inescapably, as with most old long lifetime.
the world. In this story, though, the Indian things, both the Bullet and Over decades, the Ambassador
war bit is limited to these machines’ the Ambassador have British origins. found beacon lights of various
fight against time and obsolescence. The motorcycle, made in India from colours on its roof. In other cases,
Until not too long ago, these two 1955 to 2010, came from the Indian it found taximeters on its fenders
connected one corridor of power to army’s need for motorcycles and that and dashboards, mechanical at
another. Indeed, both were symbols percolated down to police forces as first and then electronic. White-
of authority and government, and well. In time, it also allowed yuppies gloved chauffeurs opened its doors
both did a far better job of it than to reach Ladakh, prayer flags and somewhere posh, while sweaty taxi
their users. And if we can have all. The car, made in India from drivers made its latches groan under
various national symbols, why 1958 to 2014, is something that the weight of crammed people before
not a national motorcycle and a boomers and millennials alike are careening through a crowded street.
national car of India? Then again, familiar with. In 2017, HM sold the And both probably crossed each
the Royal Enfield Bullet 350 and Ambassador brand to Peugeot S.A. other on their way, too. Such was

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