Merlin Garages of Carmarthenshire, Britain’s only importer of the Hindustan Ambassador, is planning a new, soft-top version of the 1950s Morris Oxford-based car for the British market.

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Merlin Garages owner David Darrell hopes he might also eventually get a contract to design and build a hard top version for India, complete with air conditioning.


Merlin Garages has been importing the Ambassador as a classic car and an open top version may generate good interest.


Darrell has come up with plans for a soft-top version of the Ambassador and is working with engineering and design experts at the University of Wales, Swansea, to finalise the plans.


Darrell has been working closely with Hindustan Motors, which currently manufactures the ‘Amby’ in West Bengal, and the Welsh Assembly-run Wales Trade International (WTI) organisation.

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He said, “Thanks to the support of WTI, I have met with the motor company’s representatives to discuss the concept of a 21st century Ambassador.


“There is a real possibility now we could design the version here and even manufacture a soft top and hard top version in Wales.”


Deepesh Rathore / Tilak Swarup

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