Ambassador Motorcycles: Difference between revisions
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{{British motorcycle manufacturers}} |
{{British motorcycle manufacturers}} |
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[[Category:Motorcycle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] |
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[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] |
[[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United Kingdom]] |
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Revision as of 22:56, 2 February 2012
| Industry | Manufacturing and engineering |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Defunct | 1964 |
| Fate | Taken over by DMW in 1963 |
| Headquarters | Ascot, Berkshire, UK |
Key people | Kaye Don |
| Products | Motorcycles |
Ambassador Motorcycles was a British motorcycle manufacturer. Founded by racer Kaye Don after the Second World War, the company produced lightweight motorcycles with Villiers and JAP engines and imported Zundapps from Germany. Production started in 1947 with a 197 cc 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 494 cc 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 did not 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.