Hindustan

The HM Contessa might bring along an all-new powertrain and chassis combined with a new body and interiors. This could hark strongly to Hindustan Motors’ JV with French Peugeot and the mechanicals that the venture would yield. HM Contessa comebackHindustan Motor’s Contessa was popularised as the ‘Desi Muscle Car’ in the 1980s and it might make a comeback in an ICE and an electric guise. The HM Contessa name has been registered in the country by Hindustan Motors Ltd. The HM Contessa might take…

A few days ago, the rumours of an electric Ambassador making a comeback became garnered a lot of attention. Hindustan Motors has instead registered and trademarked the name “Contessa”, which was another iconic car from the Indian maker. Does it mean that the Contessa and the Ambassador are coming back? Picture of Peugeot e-Legend concept as a reference According to MotorBeam, Hindustan Motors has registered the “Contessa” name. With the rumours of Contessa revival already making the headlines, the new trademark will…

Hindustan Motors was founded in 1942 and was part of the Birla Technical Services conglomerate. It operated out of the now defunct plant in Uttarpara, Hoogly District, West Bengal. HM Ambassador to be back as an EV!The HM Ambassador, which was based on the Morris Oxford Series III, was brought to India as the Mark 1 HM Ambassador in India in the year 1957. The car later went on to serve the nation’s elite as well as the common man through the early years of Indian independence. This feat helped Hindustan Motors endure to…

No one needs an introduction about the Hindustan Ambassador, it is a legend when it comes to India’s automobile industry. It stayed on sale for a very long time. Eventually, the manufacturer had to discontinue the Ambassador because new stricter emission norms were implemented and the sales were not strong. However, according to a report by The Times of India, Ambassador could return to the Indian market within the next 2 years. For reference only Right now the Groupe PSA owns Ambassador. They bought it for Rs. 80…

The iconic Hindustan Ambassador is coming back. (Photo: Hind Motor)Hind Motor Financial Corporation of India (HMFCI) has joined hands with French carmaker Peugeot to revive the iconic Hindustan AmbassadorOne of the most classic Indian cars that remained a status symbol for decades, Hindustan Motor’s Ambassador is set to be launched in a new avatar. The iconic car was discontinued in 2014 after the manufacturer cited a lack of demand and debt. Now, Ambassador 2.0 is expected to be launched in two years in India as per…

The Memoir of a Lapsed Revolutionary 432pp, ₹499; Navayana (Gita Ramaswamy’s memoir is a story of struggles and victories) It was the 1980s. In Ibrahimpatnam, Telangana, south India, landless Dalits were being exploited by the wealthy upper castes, who, like movie villains, brandished whips and guns. Enter 30-year-old Gita Ramaswamy. In her teens, she had escaped her brahminical family, who had tried to “cure” her of Naxalism with shock treatment and sedation. She was disillusioned by the Emergency, but held on to…

In the archives and manuscripts section of the British Library in London, the item identified as ADD MS 89154/11/21 is a small notebook. This notebook is 4 x 6 inches with a black and white print on the cover that says “The Iveagh Bequest, Kenwood.” The first entry in the notebook begins: “Nov 1st. And so, suddenly, I’m off to India. The last time I had gone it was because of another death — that of Sanjay.” No Photography Allowed: A drawing by Amitava Kumar of Shiva Naipaul’s notebook stored in the British Library.…

Hindustan Motors had several models on sale in India. The most popular and commonly seen vehicle on road was Ambassador. The other car which was popular was the Contessa sedan. Hindustan Motors also used to sell an SUV in the market. It was called Trekker and was not the most good looking vehicle from the manufacturer. The Trekker had a very utilitarian boxy design and was used in many parts as people carrier. Hindustan Trekker is now rarely seen on our roads and here we have one such video of a 1982 model Trekker SUV…