Ambassador Motorcycles: Difference between revisions

Ambassador Motorcycles
Industry	manufacturing and engineering
Founded	1946
Defunct	1964
Fate	The company was taken over by DMW in 1963
Headquarters	Ascot, Berkshire UK
Key people	Kaye Don
Products	motorcycles

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 19:53, 24 January 2009

Ambassador Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer. Founded by racer Kaye Don after WW2, the company produced lightweight motorcycles with Villiers and JAP engines and imported Zundapps from Germany. Production started in 1947 with a 197cc Villiers engined bikes. In 1953 a model was produced with electric starters and the first Ambassador twin appeared in 1957. The company was taken over by DMW in 1963 who continued production until they closed the company in 1965.^[1]

History

Founded by Irish motorcycle racer and 1920’s Brooklands star Kaye Don in 1946 as “U.S. Concessionaires Ltd.” The company was started to import American cars. Motorcycle development started with a 494cc vertical twin JAP engined prototype. ^[1] In 1947 the small Villiers engines were introduced and proved successful so were used until 1964. Ambassador motorcycles were costly and didn’t sell well but exports to Australia and New Zealand were successful.^[2]

Models

Model	Year	Comments
Popular	1951	Villiers-powered fitted with girder forks until 1953
Courier	1951	Villiers-powered
Embassy	1951	Villiers-powered
Supreme	1951	First fully sprung Ambassador with telescopic forks and plunger rear suspension
Sidecar	1953	197cc Villiers
Self Starter	1953	197cc Villiers
225cc Supreme	1954	Swinging arm rear suspension
150cc Popular	1956	Villiers 30C
Envoy	1956	Villiers
250cc twin	1957	Villiers engine
Statesman	1958	175cc
Popular	1959
"3 Star Special"	1959
Envoy	1959
Super S	1959
Electra 75	1961
Sport Twin	1961
175cc ‘Scooter’	1961
197cc Popular	1962
50cc ‘Moped’	1962	Villiers 3K two-speed
DMW Ambassador	1962

References

^ ^a ^b Chadwick, Ian. "Ambassador Motorcycles". Retrieved 2008-06-06.
^ "Ambassador". Retrieved 2008-06-06.

External links

[ian-1] Chadwick, Ian. "Ambassador Motorcycles". Retrieved 2008-06-06.

[cyber-2] "Ambassador". Retrieved 2008-06-06.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 | company_name = Ambassador Motorcycles
 | company_logo =
-| fate = The company was taken over by [[DMW_%28motorcycle%29|DMW]] in 1963
+| fate = The company was taken over by [[DMW (motorcycle)|DMW]] in 1963
 | successor =
 | foundation = 1946
@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 }}
+'''Ambassador Motorcycles''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[motorcycle]] manufacturer. Founded by racer [[Kaye Don]] after WW2, the company produced lightweight motorcycles with [[Villiers Ltd|Villiers]] and JAP engines  and imported [[Zündapp|Zundapps]] from Germany. Production started in 1947 with a 197cc Villiers engined bikes.  In 1953 a model was produced with electric starters and the first Ambassador twin appeared in 1957.  The company was taken over by [[DMW (motorcycle)|DMW]] in 1963 who continued production until they closed the company in 1965.<ref name="ian">{{cite web|url=http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/britbikes/brit_a.html|title=Ambassador Motorcycles|last=Chadwick|first=Ian|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref>
+==History==
-'''Ambassador Motorcycles''' was a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[motorcycle]] manufacturer. Founded by racer [[Kaye Don]] after WW2, the company produced lightweight motorcycles with [[Villiers_Ltd|Villiers]] and JAP engines  and imported [[Z%C3%BCndapp|Zundapps]] from Germany. Production started in 1947 with a 197cc Villiers engined bikes.  In 1953 a model was produced with electric starters and the first Ambassador twin appeared in 1957.  The company was taken over by [[DMW_%28motorcycle%29|DMW]] in 1963 who continued production until they closed the company in 1965.<ref name="ian">{{cite web|url=http://www.ianchadwick.com/motorcycles/britbikes/brit_a.html|title=Ambassador Motorcycles|last=Chadwick|first=Ian|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref>
+Founded by [[Ireland|Irish]] motorcycle racer and 1920’s [[Brooklands]] star [[Kaye Don]] in 1946 as “U.S. Concessionaires Ltd.” The company was started to import [[United States|American]] cars. Motorcycle development started with a 494cc vertical twin [[JA_Prestwich_Industries_Ltd#Motorcycles|JAP]] engined prototype. <ref name="ian"/> In 1947 the small [[Villiers]] engines were  introduced and proved successful so were used until 1964.  Ambassador motorcycles were costly and didn’t sell well but  exports to Australia and New Zealand were successful.<ref name="cyber">{{cite web|url=http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/ambassador.htm|title=Ambassador|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref>
-==History==
-Founded by [[Ireland|Irish]] motorcycle racer and 1920’s [Brooklands]] star [[Kaye Don]] in 1946 as “U.S. Concessionaires Ltd.” The company was started to import [[United States|American]] cars. Motorcycle development started with a 494cc vertical twin [[JA_Prestwich_Industries_Ltd#Motorcycles|JAP]] engined prototype. <ref name="ian"/> In 1947 the small [[Villiers]] engines were  introduced and proved successful so were used until 1964.  Ambassador motorcycles were costly and didn’t sell well but  exports to Australia and New Zealand were successful.<ref name="cyber">{{cite web|url=http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/euro/brands/ambassador.htm|title=Ambassador|accessdate=2008-06-06}}</ref>
 ==Models==
@@ Line 116: / Line 115: @@
 {{reflist}}
-==Links==
+==External links==
 *[http://www.vintagebike.co.uk/Bike%20Directories/Ambassador%20Bikes/Ambassador%20Index.htm  Gallery 1]
 *[http://www.cybermotorcycle.com/gallery/ambassador/index.htm Gallery 2]
 *[http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~pattle/nacc/arc0372.htm The Ambassador moped]
 {{British motorcycle manufacturers}}
 [[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]
 [[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]]

v t e British motorcycle manufacturers
Manufacturing in the United Kingdom
Current	AJS Ariel CCM Cheney Greeves Hesketh Métisse Norton Triumph Wasp
Defunct	Abbotsford (1919–?) ABC (1919–1923) Aberdale (1946–1959) Abingdon (AKD) (1903–1925) ABJ (1950–1954) Ackland (1919–1924) Acme (1902–1922) Advance (1905–1947) AEL (1919–1924) AER (1937–1940) AJR (1925–1926) AJS Motorcycles Ltd (1909–2000) AJW (1928–1976) Akkens (1919–1922) Alecto (1919–1925) Alert (1903–1906) Alldays & Onions (1903–1915) Allen Norton (1990–1994} Ambassador (1946–1964) Ariel (1902–1970) Armstrong (1980–1987) Ascot-Pullin (1928–1930) AMC (1937–1966) Baker (1927–1930) Bat (1902–1926) Baughan (1920–1936) Beardmore Precision (1914–1930) Blackburne (1913–1922) Bradbury (1902–1924) Brough (1908–1926) Brough Superior (1919–1940) BSA (1919–1972) Calthorpe (1909–1939) Chase Brothers Motorcycle (1903–1906) Chater-Lea (1900–1936) Clyno (1909–1923) Corgi (1946–1954) Cotton (1918–1980) Coventry-Eagle (1901–1939) Coventry Victor (1919–1936) DMW (1945–1971) DOT (1908–1978) Douglas (1907–1957) Dunelt (1919–1935) Duzmo (1919–1923) EMC (1947–1977) Excelsior (1896–1964) Francis-Barnett (1919–1966) Greeves (1953–1976) Haden (1912–1924) Hazlewoods Limited (1895–1923) Healey (1971–1977) Hesketh (1981–1988) Humber (1898–1930) HRD (1922–1928) Ivy (1911–1934) James (1902–1966) JAP (1903–1939) Levis (1911–1939) Martinsyde (1919–1923) Matchless (1899–1966, 1988–1990) McEvoy (1926–1929) Megelli (2004–2014) Montgomery (1902–1939) Ner-A-Car (1921–1926) New Hudson (1903–1958) New Imperial (1901–1939) Norman (1935–1963) Norton-Villiers (1966–1972) Norton Villiers Triumph (1972–1978) NUT (1912–1933) OEC (1901–1954) OK-Supreme (1882–1940) P&P (1922–1930) Premier (1908–1921) Panther (1904–1967) Quasar (1975–1982) Quadrant (1901–1928) Raleigh (1899–1967) Rex-Acme (1899–1933) Rickman (1960–1975) Rover (1902–1924) Royal Enfield (1893–1971) Ruby (1909–1932) Rudge (1911–1946) Scott (1908–1965) Silk (1976–1979) Singer (1900–1915) Sprite (1964–1974) Sun (1911–1961) Triumph (1885–1983) Tandon (1947–1959) Sunbeam (1912–1964) Velocette (1904–1971) Villiers (1898–1966) Vincent-HRD (1928–1959) Wilkinson (1911–1916) Wooler (1909–1954) Zenith (1905–1950)