This 59 year old Resto-Modded Ambassador Gets Skoda Engine And Mercedes Gearbox [Video]
Hindustan Ambassador is one of the most iconic models in Indian automotive history. It ruled Indian streets for decades before being discontinued in 2014. Although discontinued, the Ambassador is a car that holds a special place in the hearts of many car lovers in India. There are many examples of Ambassadors that have been kept in clean and stock condition. We also have a decent number of modified examples. Here we have one such modified Ambassador with a very unique combination. It gets an engine from a Skoda and a gearbox from a Mercedes.
The video has been shared by Dajish P on his YouTube channel. The car seen here in the video is owned by Mr. Radhakrishnan, and this is actually his project car. The whole car is being used to identify issues that many customers owning older-generation Ambassadors face and how to fix them.
Over the years, the owner has made several modifications to the sedan to make life easier with the vehicle. As part of the latest modifications, he got the engine on the car swapped. He replaced the stock engine with a 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine from a Skoda Octavia.
Not only did he replace the engine, but he also ensured that the gearbox was replaced. After several trials, they managed to fit a 6-speed manual transmission, not from a Skoda, but from a Mercedes-Benz W203. The differential on the sedan was also replaced with a unit from a Tata Sumo.
All these works were carried out by a workshop that is known for repairing Ambassador sedans. The modifications are said to have changed the character of the car completely. The owner mentions that the car feels a lot more refined, and they have even done a couple of long highway trips in this car after the modification. The car can easily cruise at speeds of 80–110 km/h all day, and he has touched a top speed of 120 km/h in this car.
On the outside, this looks like a regular Hindustan Ambassador. The custom-made chrome mesh grille, retro headlamps with silver surrounds, and chrome-plated bumpers give it a distinctive appearance. There are elements from Mark 1 and Mark 4 Ambassadors on this sedan. The car comes with 16-inch alloy wheels from the Kia Seltos and so on. The exterior colour of the Ambassador is also different. From a distance, it may look like a black shade, but this is actually Toyota Innova Hycross's colour, "Black Ageha Mica Metallic". Even that gives the sedan a very unique look.
The interior of the sedan is also customised. The dashboard is from a Ford Fiesta, and it comes with a touchscreen infotainment system, faux wooden inserts, electric seats from a Skoda Laura, ambient lighting, a 360-degree camera, a Honda steering wheel, electric ORVMs, a speaker system, AC, and so on. Overall, the owner has transformed the cabin of the stock Ambassador into something premium and comfortable.
Along with the new engine, the workshop had to replace many other parts to ensure smooth functioning. They installed a heavy-duty air filter from a Tata truck and upgraded the radiator too. The video mentions that most of the mechanical components under the hood are from German cars. The overall fit and finish of the work done on this sedan are exceptional, and it is one of the best-looking, clean Ambassadors that we have seen in a long time.