The bill of the 1964 Hindustan Ambassador is going viral. It is incredible to get acquainted with the world which was there just a few decades ago. Our parents often share stories with us about the value of money in the past, and it can be quite challenging for us to fully comprehend how much cheaper things were back then. It’s important to consider that the incomes people earned at the time were also in line with those lower costs. Nevertheless, these gentle reminders have a knack for making us rethink our perspectives on modern life. Let us take a look at the details of this latest case.
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Bill of 1964 Hindustan Ambassador
This image has been doing rounds on the internet. It emerged from 1964. It was issued by The Reliance Motor Co. Private Ltd for a Hindustan Ambassador Mark ll. 60 years ago, the price of this iconic vehicle was a jaw-dropping Rs 13,787.13. After adding a surcharge, transport charges, sales tax, registration and taxation and the number plate writing, the total amount comes out to be Rs 16,495.29. Note that the Ambassador was called the ‘King of Indian Roads’ in India. Hence, you could get your hands on one at just over Rs 16,000. Those were surely alien times.
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History of Hindustan Ambassador
This iconic vehicle remained in production from 1957 to 2014. It was based on the Morris Oxford Series lll made in Cowley, Oxford in the UK. It sold the rights and tooling to Hindustan Motors, which was a part of the Birla Group. The manufacturing plant was set up in Uttarpara in Kolkata, West Bengal. In fact, the bill also mentions the transportation from Uttarpara to Madras (Chennai). The Mark ll model remained on sale from 1962 to 1975. It had a 1.5-litre engine which made a decent 50 hp and 100 Nm of peak power and torque. It was paired with a 4-speed manual gearbox powering the rear wheels. The Ambassador lineup quit production in 2014 after the emission norms became stringent. In 2017, Hindustan Motors sold the Ambassador brand to PSA Group for Rs 80 Crore ($10 million).
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What We Think
We are genuinely taken aback by this as well. While we acknowledge that prices for everything have seen significant increases in recent years, the extent of the difference is quite astonishing. It’s essential to bear in mind that this was 60 years ago, a period that was markedly different. However, these reminders help us gain valuable perspective. What’s truly remarkable is the car’s ability to uphold its legacy all these years. There are hardly any other models that have been continuously produced since that time until around 2014. This serves as a testament to the enduring success of the Ambassador brand in our market throughout its long history.
