Hindustan Ambassador Going Out Of Production

Superfly · Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:49 am

After 57 years in production, assembly for these cars will cease this week.
The Ambassador hasn't changed much making it the oldest new car on the market.
I have yet to visit India but when I do, I hope to ride in one of these. I'm sure they will still be on the road for many years to come. I've only seen one once here in Thailand. This car is based on the 1950s British Morris Oxford.
Too bad these were not exported with steering wheels on the left side. They could have been marketed towards young hipsters that want to be retro without spending the higher dollar amount that most retro cars cost.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...-hindustan-ambassador-9442244.html

Aesma · Tue Jun 03, 2014 10:40 am

Long time no see Superfly, and of course you come back talking about an old, strange (ugly ?) car !

To export that thing they would need to change everything according to current rules, it wouldn't be cheap. Even modern Indian cars that were supposed to export well are not even made for exportation for the same reasons, engine pollution, lack of security, etc.

Superfly · Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:05 am

Quoting Aesma (Reply 1):
Long time no see Superfly, and of course you come back talking about an old, strange (ugly ?) car !

It's a loveable car for all the wrong reasons. I love the retro-chic quality of this car.

Quoting Aesma (Reply 1):
To export that thing they would need to change everything according to current rules, it wouldn't be cheap.

Not sure how security is much of an issue - as long as it's made of the same gauge of metal as its original Morris Oxford it was based on. I'm sure a simple engine swap with a modern Tata or even a Toyota engine along with front disc brakes an steering wheel with airbag would be able to meet the basic safety requirements without raise the price that much.

BTW, a lady-friend of mine here in Bangkok along with her father's help restored a Morris Oxford.
I've seen more Morris here than Hindustans.

mad99 · Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:31 am

57 years is good going... i guess time ran out.

Anyway this got me thinking of the last Tata Nano and i had a look around but not sure if its selling well or not. The crash test did not get the hoped 4 stars, just missed it by 4.. yep 0 stars.

Superfly · Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:36 am

Quoting mad99 (Reply 3):
Anyway this got me thinking of the last Tata Nano and i had a look around but not sure if its selling well or not. The crash test did not get the hoped 4 stars, just missed it by 4.. yep 0 stars.

Ouch!
That is really bad.
I bet the Ambassador is safer than the Nano.

mad99 · Tue Jun 03, 2014 11:45 am

Quoting Superfly (Reply 4):
I bet the Ambassador is safer than the Nano.

I bet it is as well.

I thought to myself, maybe they should market it showing the crash test then another test using 3 up on a bike crashing into the test block but then i'd probably take my chances on the bike. Hoping family members soften the blow and at least not being trapped in the burning wreak

Dreadnought · Tue Jun 03, 2014 12:27 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 2):
Not sure how security is much of an issue - as long as it's made of the same gauge of metal as its original Morris Oxford it was based on. I'm sure a simple engine swap with a modern Tata or even a Toyota engine along with front disc brakes an steering wheel with airbag would be able to meet the basic safety requirements without raise the price that much.

Already been done. I had one of these when I lived in India almost 15 years ago, and its engine was an Isuzu unit. They've been buying more modern engines for ages.

But the whole design is dangerous, in modern terms. It makes you appreciate a lot of what the safety engineers have been up to (though we love to complain). You get into some of these vehicles like the Ambassador or the Tata Sumo, and realize that in a crash, the dashboard is designed specifically to hammer your femurs through your hip-bone - well, you get the idea. Truly unsafe at any speed.

dtw2hyd · Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:01 pm

Quoting Aesma (Reply 1):
To export that thing they would need to change everything according to current rules, it wouldn't be cheap. Even modern Indian cars that were supposed to export well are not even made for exportation for the same reasons, engine pollution, lack of security, etc.

At least in UK there were dealers who imported and brought up to local standards. Quite a few auto geeks in other countries imported these cars. If I recall correctly it was awarded best taxi in the world by Top Gear last year.

If is basically an off-road sedan suitable for rural India. Good for folks from rural India and politicians chasing vote banks in those areas. I guess its thick gauge steel works as poor man's armored vehicle. Lot of politicians survived against crude IED attacks.

I think it is way too expensive, starting from $16,000. You can get a modern Turbo Diesel sedan with all modern safety features like ABS, EBD and Airbags for same price. Hence the demise.

WingsFan · Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:46 pm

Too bad. Although it was horrible when judged by almost every modern car parameter, it was still one tough ride.
It was a perfect vehicle for (non existent) rural Indian roads.

At least one other classic British design is doing quiet well in terms of keeping the tradition alive in India.

http://royalenfield.com/motorcycles/classic-chrome

sturmovik · Tue Jun 03, 2014 2:49 pm

I learnt to drive on one of these, with no power steering or any creature comforts of any sort. I can probably drive a lorry with no problems whatsoever

It's kinda sad to hear this news, we've had two of these in our family, and my late granddad had quite a few over the decades as an official car. As a kid, nothing could beat stretching out in the back seat of one of these and taking a nap while it plodded along at whatever speed it could muster. I've toyed with the idea of buying one, maybe in a decade or so it'll go up in value.

BarfBag · Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:04 pm

Good riddance to bad rubbish.

L-188 · Tue Jun 03, 2014 4:11 pm

There was one that was running around Anchorage a few years ago. I haven't seen it since our company moved offices.

Still as an iconic Indian car, theis one is right up with the old Checker company taxis in the US.

larshjort · Tue Jun 03, 2014 5:42 pm

Quoting WingsFan (Reply 8):

At least one other classic British design is doing quiet well in terms of keeping the tradition alive in India.

http://royalenfield.com/motorcycles/classic-chrome

My little sister bought her first motorbike from a guy who had just bought a brand new Royal Enfield and driven it home to Denmark

falstaff · Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:05 pm

Quoting Superfly (Thread starter):
After 57 years in production, assembly for these cars will cease this week.

I'd say it is one of the last of the "great" turd cars from yesteryear that somehow remained in production long after it was outdated. I would love to have one.

Superfly · Tue Jun 03, 2014 6:08 pm

Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 6):
Tata Sumo

Was that sold in Japan?
Could a Sumo Wrestler fit in one?

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 7):
At least in UK there were dealers who imported and brought up to local standards. Quite a few auto geeks in other countries imported these cars.

Nice!.

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 7):
If I recall correctly it was awarded best taxi in the world by Top Gear last year.

That's taking it a bit far.
I still like the Checker, Ford Crown Victoria and Toyota Crown Comfort better.
Oh an the London taxi as well.

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 7):
I guess its thick gauge steel works as poor man's armored vehicle. Lot of politicians survived against crude IED attacks.

I've been reading about that.
Will these new Tupperware cars survive such an attack?

Quoting sturmovik (Reply 9):
I learnt to drive on one of these, with no power steering or any creature comforts of any sort. I can probably drive a lorry with no problems whatsoever

If I ever visit India, let's go ride in an Ambassador.

Quoting L-188 (Reply 11):
Still as an iconic Indian car, theis one is right up with the old Checker company taxis in the US.

True.

dtw2hyd · Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:03 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 14):
Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 7):
If I recall correctly it was awarded best taxi in the world by Top Gear last year.

That's taking it a bit far.
I still like the Checker, Ford Crown Victoria and Toyota Crown Comfort better.
Oh an the London taxi as well.

Watch this video. You have find full episode though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbP-GhH5Ci4

Quoting Superfly (Reply 14):
Will these new Tupperware cars survive such an attack?

I think most Indian politicians moved on to armored BMW/Benz or domestic SUVs.

On your Tupperware note. Have you seen Ice Road truckers India. Those trucks are stick built.

WingsFan · Tue Jun 03, 2014 7:13 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 14):
Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 7):
If I recall correctly it was awarded best taxi in the world by Top Gear last year.

That's taking it a bit far.
I still like the Checker, Ford Crown Victoria and Toyota Crown Comfort better.
Oh an the London taxi as well.

Remember, its a 'Top Gear' award. It is as reliable as a Marlboro's claims to health benefits.
It is my favorite show for entertainment. Just don't expect have any expectation for objectivity.

WingsFan

sturmovik · Tue Jun 03, 2014 9:08 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 14):
If I ever visit India, let's go ride in an Ambassador.

It's a deal.

Superfly · Wed Jun 04, 2014 4:41 am

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 15):
Watch this video. You have find full episode though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbP-G...H5Ci4

Sorry but I can't stand Jeremy Clarkson's voice. Can't sit through an entire episode of him running his mouth.

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 15):
On your Tupperware note. Have you seen Ice Road truckers India. Those trucks are stick built.

...and Tata now owns Jauguar?

Quoting WingsFan (Reply 16):
Just don't expect have any expectation for objectivity.

Quoting sturmovik (Reply 17):
It's a deal.

Cool! Let's ride in an Ambassador to a Bollywood club or something.

dtw2hyd · Wed Jun 04, 2014 12:15 pm

Quoting WingsFan (Reply 8):
At least one other classic British design is doing quiet well in terms of keeping the tradition alive in India.

I am surprised to see Royal Enfield here. Not sure how successful it is.

http://www.enfieldmotorcycles.com

Quoting falstaff (Reply 13):
I'd say it is one of the last of the "great" turd cars from yesteryear that somehow remained in production long after it was outdated. I would love to have one.

I think they kept updating the model until end. Latest model had 2L Turbo Diesel, Disk brakes... But with such heavy body it needed a large engine making it prohibitively expensive. One has to love bench seats (particularly front). Not sure if it ever had modern dash board.

Like any classic it used to break down frequently, but easy to fix, per say with duct tape and chewing gum and keep going to next auto repair shop.

Quoting Superfly (Reply 18):
...and Tata now owns Jauguar?

Yep, from Nano to Jauguar/Landrover. Stick built TATA Lorry (or) hand built JAL, no big difference, I guess. TATA turned around JAL without loosing its British identity, which even Ford couldn't do.

Superfly · Thu Jun 05, 2014 3:58 am

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 19):
I think they kept updating the model until end. Latest model had 2L Turbo Diesel, Disk brakes... But with such heavy body it needed a large engine making it prohibitively expensive.

They should have dropped in a Buick 3.8 liter V6.

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 19):
One has to love bench seats (particularly front).

They could have gone with a 50/50 split-bench seat for the front.

DIJKKIJK · Thu Jun 05, 2014 9:09 am

Quoting mad99 (Reply 5):
I thought to myself, maybe they should market it showing the crash test then another test using 3 up on a bike crashing into the test block but then i'd probably take my chances on the bike. Hoping family members soften the blow and at least not being trapped in the burning wreak

Quoting Dreadnought (Reply 6):
But the whole design is dangerous, in modern terms. It makes you appreciate a lot of what the safety engineers have been up to (though we love to complain). You get into some of these vehicles like the Ambassador or the Tata Sumo, and realize that in a crash, the dashboard is designed specifically to hammer your femurs through your hip-bone - well, you get the idea. Truly unsafe at any speed.

The Ambassador being sold now is a lot different from the original Morris design. It has been completely reworked by Indian engineers keeping Indian road and weather conditions in mind. And for these conditions (Low speed, bad roads), the Ambassador is the safest that there is. Of course, you don't want to drive one on a German autobahn for sure.

If asked to choose between a Merc and an Ambassador to drive on a dusty road in Rajasthan, the Ambassador is a no brainer.

comorin · Thu Jun 05, 2014 12:51 pm

Supe,

The ultimate cool ride in Delhi is a white Ambassador with a red beacon on top. This means you can zip through traffic that the merely rich in their Benzes cannot. The red beacon is a privilege issued by the Home Ministry, and Delhi loves its class system!

One more note: The Ambassador is a modern turbo'up version of its better looking predecessor, the hallowed Landmaster, also based on an old Morris design.

Superfly · Fri Jun 06, 2014 8:17 pm

Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 21):
The Ambassador being sold now is a lot different from the original Morris design. It has been completely reworked by Indian engineers keeping Indian road and weather conditions in mind. And for these conditions (Low speed, bad roads), the Ambassador is the safest that there is. Of course, you don't want to drive one on a German autobahn for sure.

If asked to choose between a Merc and an Ambassador to drive on a dusty road in Rajasthan, the Ambassador is a no brainer.

Sounds like these Ambassadors will have a high resale value as a result. Unless road conditions change in parts of India, these cars will still be in demand.

Quoting comorin (Reply 22):
The ultimate cool ride in Delhi is a white Ambassador with a red beacon on top. This means you can zip through traffic that the merely rich in their Benzes cannot. The red beacon is a privilege issued by the Home Ministry, and Delhi loves its class system!

One more note: The Ambassador is a modern turbo'up version of its better looking predecessor, the hallowed Landmaster, also based on an old Morris design.

Sounds nice.
If I drove one, would I'd be able to impress some lovely Bollywood actresses such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan or Lara Dutta?

DIJKKIJK · Fri Jun 06, 2014 8:41 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 23):
Sounds like these Ambassadors will have a high resale value as a result. Unless road conditions change in parts of India, these cars will still be in demand.

Ambassadors still do the work in India very well. Unfortunately, the younger Indian customers look upon it as a relic of their socialist past and love to hate it. They all prefer the newer Japanese and Korean designs. So the only big users of the Ambassador are the government and a few die hard enthusiasts.

Actually, I've read somewhere that the Indian government still prefers using the Ambassador as it is the only Indian car that can be installed with bullet proof armor.

comorin · Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:09 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 23):

Sure! Tell them who you are and the rest will take care of itself!

Aishwarya Rai has been putting on the pounds so that front bucket seat will be perfect.

ltbewr · Sat Jun 07, 2014 2:40 pm

Apparently labor unrest is also a factor in the end of production of this relic of a car. I suspect that Japanese and Korean brand SUV's are taking over the sales of many of these cars.
Still to have a longevity - including it's origin vehicle in the UK - that rivals the VW Type 1 & 2, is of interest. But it is time to move on to more economical, safer and easier to drive vehicles and retire the Ambassador.

andz · Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:04 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 18):
Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 15):Watch this video. You have find full episode though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbP-G...H5Ci4
Sorry but I can't stand Jeremy Clarkson's voice. Can't sit through an entire episode of him running his mouth.

Richard Hammond did the piece about the taxis, including one of our deadly Toyota Hiace minibuses.

BarfBag · Sat Jun 07, 2014 3:35 pm

Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 24):
Actually, I've read somewhere that the Indian government still prefers using the Ambassador as it is the only Indian car that can be installed with bullet proof armor.

Actually no, they prefer newer but Indian cars. As Prime Minister, Vajpayee used Mahindra Scorpios. The current PM Modi arrived at his swearing in ceremony in the same. Anand Mahindra is in talks with the government to build stretched armored Scorpios for the PMs fleet, to replace the armored BMW 7s that the previous government acquired.

None of the lower level government staff like the Ambys; given a choice they's pick a more modern fleet option. It must be remembered that Indian intercity roads have improved dramatically in the last 15 years. Driving along major national highways, the biggest problem now isn't crappy roads but drivers speeding in their sports sedans. I've had guys in E350s blow past me at probably 200km/h+ on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. The police need faster cars to catch these morons, and at 2x the speed limit, the cars should be impounded and crushed.

Superfly · Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:30 pm

Quoting DIJKKIJK (Reply 24):
Unfortunately, the younger Indian customers look upon it as a relic of their socialist past and love to hate it.

Younger folks in any society usually have poor taste in cars.

Quoting comorin (Reply 25):
Tell them who you are and the rest will take care of itself!

LOL!

Quoting comorin (Reply 25):
Aishwarya Rai has been putting on the pounds so that front bucket seat will be perfect.

She's been putting on the pounds in all the right places!

Quoting andz (Reply 27):
our deadly Toyota Hiace minibuses.

My goodness, are those things designed to be death-traps? When ever riding in one, I always have that lingering feeling that I might die or end up in a hospital. Those things crash all the time, wobble a lot an just do not feel safe inside.

Quoting BarfBag (Reply 28):
The current PM Modi arrived at his swearing in ceremony in the same. Anand Mahindra is in talks with the government to build stretched armored Scorpios for the PMs fleet, to replace the armored BMW 7s that the previous government acquired.

I'm really liking this new Modi guy the more I hear about him.

Quoting BarfBag (Reply 28):
I've had guys in E350s blow past me at probably 200km/h+ on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway...
... the cars should be impounded and crushed.

Yikes! That's a bit heavy-handed. Just make them eat from a barfbag instead.

Quoting BarfBag (Reply 28):
The police need faster cars to

NO!

HAWK21M · Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:41 pm

Thats one oldy gone..........

dtw2hyd · Sat Jun 07, 2014 7:59 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 23):
If I drove one, would I'd be able to impress some lovely Bollywood actresses such as Aishwarya Rai Bachchan or Lara Dutta?

I think cheapest drive they have might be an Audi Q7. If I recall correctly they bought a Mini Cooper for Baby Bachchan.

Quoting Superfly (Reply 29):
I'm really liking this new Modi guy the more I hear about him.

I read India building a tunnel from his house to the nearest airport to avoid traffic.

nickh · Sun Jun 08, 2014 12:06 am

Back in the day - in the 1960s and 1970s when I lived in India, if you owned a vehicle you owned one of two domestics - either the FIAT 1100 (D) series models or the HAL Ambassador.

The Ambassador was considered a bit more luxurious (!) a bit more expensive than the FIAT 1100 (built under license by PAL/India), but then it really varied, since people would outfit their vehicles with so much aftermarket stuff, it would put SEMA to shame.

I remember that my uncle used to own a PAL/FIAT 1100D with actual Dual Air Horns that he installed just for show - (a-la the Rolls Royce air horns).

Both cars would be gussied up with all sorts of chrome treatments, etc., making them (in my opinion) more gaudy than they already were.

Considering the seriously anemic performance of both vehicles, I am still surprised that they would get over some of the 'ghats' - the steep hilly, unimproved mountain roads in some parts of India, back then.

I remember people could pack 6-8 passengers into one of the 1100s or the Ambassadors as Taxis and they could still manage to move at 35+mph on the roads.

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_1100

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindustan_Ambassador

The strangest modification to an 1100D that I ever saw, was that someone had managed to convert it to a "rally car" - now keep this in perspective - a car with barely 50bhp, inline-4-cylinder rear wheel drive car, body-on-frame, flimsy little thing attempting to go up against the Audi Quattro Rallye cars of the day.

-Nick

aerorobnz · Sun Jun 08, 2014 3:37 am

I'd love to have seen it modernised with a Citroen/Mini 1.6 Turbo with about 220bhp...

andz · Sun Jun 08, 2014 3:13 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 29):
Quoting andz (Reply 27): our deadly Toyota Hiace minibuses.
My goodness, are those things designed to be death-traps? When ever riding in one, I always have that lingering feeling that I might die or end up in a hospital. Those things crash all the time, wobble a lot an just do not feel safe inside.

Here it is lack of maintenance, no mandatory roadworthy test intervals, overloading and lawless drivers that are the problem.

The government brought in a taxi improvement programme to replace the Hiace with the Quantum, all that did was ensure that more are killed when one crashes!

Superfly · Sun Jun 08, 2014 4:47 pm

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 31):
I think cheapest drive they have might be an Audi Q7. If I recall correctly they bought a Mini Cooper for Baby Bachchan.

Oh well. So much for that pipe dream.

Quoting dtw2hyd (Reply 31):
I read India building a tunnel from his house to the nearest airport to avoid traffic.

Sweet!

Quoting nickh (Reply 32):
The Ambassador was considered a bit more luxurious (!) a bit more expensive than the FIAT 1100

I can believe it. At this point, we're comparing a British design against an Italian design.

Quoting nickh (Reply 32):
Both cars would be gussied up with all sorts of chrome treatments, etc., making them (in my opinion) more gaudy than they already were.

I hate when people do that to cars. It's particularly bad in the third world and developing nations.

Quoting andz (Reply 34):
Here it is lack of maintenance, no mandatory roadworthy test intervals, overloading and lawless drivers that are the problem.

Same here in Thailand. Here they're called 'minibuses'. The drivers are often hyped up on a drug called yabba and often go 3 days without sleep. They often drive like maniacs an often end up in a ditch. I try to avoid taking them.

Superfly · Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:14 pm

BTW, I just stumbled across this video on YouTube about the recent Ambassadors.
They have come in to the 21st century an offer business class interior features.
The interiors look sophisticated with individual reading lamps, tray tables, power seats, power windows, air conditioning an such.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPE4fkBFqfY

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 33):
I'd love to have seen it modernised with a Citroen/Mini 1.6 Turbo with about 220bhp...

I think the Buick 3.8 liter would fit in very well an provide ample hoursepower an more importantly - toque.

BarfBag · Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:32 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 29):
Yikes! That's a bit heavy-handed. Just make them eat from a barfbag instead.

Street racers have their cars impounded and crushed elsewhere. Not heavy-handed.

On the other hand you never have to worry about an Ambassador facing such a fate. It cannot make the speed limit.

Aesma · Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:37 pm

BTW Superfly, have you heard of the new Citroën C4 Cactus ? It seems it tries to please you, what with the plastic bumpers on the sides looking like faux-wood panels, and the front seats merged to look like a bench :

Of course it's too small and cheap and underpowered for your liking !

Superfly · Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:46 pm

Quoting BarfBag (Reply 37):
Street racers have their cars impounded and crushed elsewhere. Not heavy-handed.

Where? Sounds heavy-handed to me.

Quoting Aesma (Reply 38):
BTW Superfly, have you heard of the new Citroën C4 Cactus ?

Ugh!
My eyes!
My eyes!

Revelation · Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:50 pm

Quoting nickh (Reply 32):
The strangest modification to an 1100D that I ever saw, was that someone had managed to convert it to a "rally car" - now keep this in perspective - a car with barely 50bhp, inline-4-cylinder rear wheel drive car, body-on-frame, flimsy little thing attempting to go up against the Audi Quattro Rallye cars of the day.

Quoting aerorobnz (Reply 33):
I'd love to have seen it modernised with a Citroen/Mini 1.6 Turbo with about 220bhp...

Indeed I'm wondering if the enthusiast crowd hasn't managed to put a better lump into the vehicle...

Hey, if we in the US can do this:

... the very inventive people in India must be up for taking the Ambassador to the next level!

BarfBag · Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:13 pm

Quoting Revelation (Reply 40):
... the very inventive people in India must be up for taking the Ambassador to the next level!

You western guys have such appalling taste in car customization. Tell you what ? I'll round up a dozen examples of the Ambassador and send it to you to implement whatever hideous big wheelie fix you want. Send me a nice E39 M5 in return . Sounds like a fair trade

Quoting Superfly (Reply 39):
Where? Sounds heavy-handed to me.

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19339955/n...eet-racers-souped-up-cars-crushed/

Superfly · Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:15 pm

Quoting Revelation (Reply 40):
Hey, if we in the US can do this:

Fixed that for ya.
We've done this in the US.

nickh · Sun Jun 08, 2014 8:42 pm

Quoting Superfly (Reply 35):
The drivers are often hyped up on a drug called yabba and often go 3 days without sleep.

I remember another little 'trick' that lorry (truck) drivers in India used to (and probably still do) use to stay awake for long periods of driving:

Lick your fingers to get them wet, then stick them on the opposing poles of the generator (or alternator) or battery for a nice 50-ampere jolt of awake-juice.

Seriously, I have heard of drivers doing that - I can imagine that a few have lost their lives and/or brain cells in doing so.

-Nick

Revelation · Sun Jun 08, 2014 9:28 pm

Quoting BarfBag (Reply 41):
You western guys have such appalling taste in car customization.

Just unlocking the full potential of the automobile, my friend!

Quoting Superfly (Reply 42):
Fixed that for ya.
We've done this in the US.

Now that is something!

I found one that ticks a few of your boxes: station wagon and woodie too!

dtw2hyd · Mon Jun 09, 2014 12:22 am

Barefoot drivers and shutting off engine were couple of oddities I remember from Ambassador/Padmini days. Second one actually made it here with hypermiling, though not safe with power assisted steering/brakes.

Superfly · Mon Jun 09, 2014 4:03 am

Quoting BarfBag (Reply 41):
You western guys have such appalling taste in car customization.

Customization on cars is in bad taste period. The worst violations I've seen are here in Thailand.
Cars nearly destroyed because the owner put in all sorts of goofy lights inside an outside the car.

Quoting BarfBag (Reply 41):
Quoting Superfly (Reply 39):
Where? Sounds heavy-handed to me.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/19339955/n...eet-racers-souped-up-cars-crushed/

Wow, that's in my own backyard. According to the article, those are heavily modified cars that are in illegal street races. The police has to get a court order an prove that the car has been modified to be crushed. Since they're crushing lowered Acuras, no big loss there...

Quoting nickh (Reply 43):
I remember another little 'trick' that lorry (truck) drivers in India used to (and probably still do) use to stay awake for long periods of driving:

Lick your fingers to get them wet, then stick them on the opposing poles of the generator (or alternator) or battery for a nice 50-ampere jolt of awake-juice.

That is just sick! Wow!

Many of these minibuses that drive between Bangkok to Pattaya and Hua Hin have these sort of drivers. Some times it's worth it to spend the extra money on a private taxi or rent a car yourself.
In fact, Nok Mini has started service between Don Mueang and Hua Hin with their Saab340. The road between Bangkok and Hua Hin is so dangerous because of these drugged out minibus operators and truck drivers.

Quoting Revelation (Reply 44):
Now that is something!

I thought I had shown that already. Here is the video showing this flying Ford Pinto that almost went in to production.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzv4q5EEy1k

Quoting Revelation (Reply 44):
I found one that ticks a few of your boxes: station wagon and woodie too!

That isn't authentic simulated wood paneling for cars. That looks to be linoleum intended for a recreation room in a house. It's also missing the concealed headlights, hood ornament, vinyl roof, luggage rack and power glass moonroof.

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