Ambassador Motorcycles
| Industry | Manufacturing and Engineering |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| Headquarters | Camden, London, UK |
Key people | Kaye Don, Darran Clarke |
| Products | Motorcycles & Bespoke Clothing |
Ambassador Motorcycles is a British motorcycle manufacturer. Founded by racer Kaye Don after the World War II, 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.[1] The company was taken over by DMW in 1963 who continued production until they closed the company in 1965. Ambassador Motorcycles was reformed in late 2016.[citation needed]
History
[edit]Founded by Irish motorcycle racer and 1920s Brooklands star Kaye Don in 1946 as "U.S. Concessionaires Ltd.", the company was started to import American cars.[2] 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.[3]
Models
[edit]| 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 | |
| Ambassador Supreme | 2017 | Suzuki-powered 300cc engine, fitted with USD forks & vintage "cafe racer" styling |
| Envoy 400 | 2021 | classic inspired design powered by a 399cc engine from Shineray Group, owner of Italian SWM (motorcycles) |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Chadwick, Ian. "Ambassador Motorcycles". Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
- ^ Tragatsch, Erwin (2000). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles. London: Quantum Publishing. p. 560. ISBN 1861603428.
- ^ "Ambassador". Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
