The Mark 4 Ambassador's 1980 diesel variant was India's first-ever diesel car — and the government was so wary of it that private citizens weren't initially allowed to buy one.
Median 102 hp across 486 similar cars
Lead trim: 1.5 BMC B-series diesel (37 bhp)
Hindustan Ambassador Mark 4Mark IV · 1979–1990
- 0spots by members
- Unclaimednobody has spotted one yet
- 0sets it belongs to
Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Hindustan Ambassador Mark 4 yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactThe Mark 4 Ambassador's 1980 diesel variant was India's first-ever diesel car — and the government was so wary of it that private citizens weren't initially allowed to buy one.
A major 1979 facelift that broke from the flat 1950s look, with a smaller, wider chequered grille, square park lamps and amber indicators below a higher bumper. A 1.5 L BMC B-series diesel joined the petrol in 1980, powering the first diesel car in India; it was at first available only as a taxi or for government use because the Indian government restricted private ownership of diesel cars, and it was then the most expensive car built in India.
Collectors Spotted in the Hindustan Ambassador Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Hindustan Ambassador yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 BMC B-series diesel (37 bhp) | 1980–1990 | 1.5 L Inline-4 | 37 hp | — | — | — | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Hindustan Motors looked to France for comfort: the Ambassador Grand's cabin acoustic insulation was engineered by the French supplier Trèves, not built in-house.
After more than three decades of the same basic Ambassador, the Nova update of 1990 finally modernized the fundamentals — new steering column, better brakes, better electricals.
The Mark 4 Ambassador's 1980 diesel variant was India's first-ever diesel car — and the government was so wary of it that private citizens weren't initially allowed to buy one.
In 1977 Hindustan bumped the Ambassador Mark III to a bigger 1760cc engine for one reason: there wasn't enough power left over to run a full air conditioner otherwise.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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