Ambassador Motorcycles
| File:Ambassador logo.jpg | |
| 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 |
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 | |
| DMW Ambassador | 1962 |
References
- ^ a b Chadwick, Ian. "Ambassador Motorcycles". Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- ^ "Ambassador". Retrieved 2008-06-06.