Hello George and everybody else
I have been very interested to read this thread about your machine, which as 33d6 has correctly advised you, is a 1954 Ambassador Popular. The Ambassador factory model year, in common with quite a few other manufacturers, ran from September to September and therefore although your bike was manufactured in November 1953, it is considered to be a 1954 machine.
I can advise you that according to the Ambassador Machine Register, yours is one of only three '54 Populars currently known to survive (as of August 2014), with records being held for a further four '54 Populars, but these are classed as 'unverified' machines in that they may no longer exist. The 1954 and 1955 Populars are quite easy to recognise as they are the only 'hard-tailed' Ambassadors where the frame tubes curve around at the rear axle. All the other Ambassadors, which didn't utilise rear suspension, had their frame tubes ending on a point by the rear axle.
Just for the record I have attached a photo of a 1947 Series I Ambassador and as already been mentioned by others on this thread, you can see the visual differences between yours and this machine, with its Villiers 5E engine. Currently there are no known surviving Series I's. At this post-war period, exports were considered essential and it is thought that most of the Series I's ended up overseas, so it is not impossible that one may turn up one day….
I feel that while 33d6 has provided a great deal of accurate and correct factual information, just for the record (and with the greatest of respect) I would just like to correct a couple of minor mistakes:
It was mentioned above that "I would expect Ambassador started the Popular frame number sequence off at 11000 and yours is the 34th off the line". This is not the case. The latter part of the Ambassador frame numbers (11034 in your case George) was merely a sequential production number that was used across all models in the range and ran through all years. From the information that I hold, I can tell you that Ambassador used at least three frame numbering systems prior to the company's sale to DMW, with the main one being used from 1950 until 1960 and began at around about the number 2000 and ended at around 20000. In 1960 it began again. Pre-1950 Ambassadors used an entirely different frame numbering system.
I would also like to mention that as the VMCC Ambassador marque specialist and with the greatest of respect to the team in Allen House, when it comes to Ambassador motor cycles, I hold far more information on the marque than is held at headquarters. I should stress though that I work very closely with and am a long-standing member of the VMCC.
I think I’ve rambled on (bored you all to tears!) for long enough now, but I would just like to mention the fabulous photo posted by wink. The machine in the photo is either a 1951 or 1952 Ambassador Embassy (with a 197cc Villiers 6E engine) and has been modified a little, no doubt to cope with a bit of field use, but what a great picture. Thank you for sharing it.
If I can assist anybody with any Ambassador enquiries, please contact me on ambassadorguide@gmail.com
Michael Easton
Co-author of "A Guide to Ambassador Motor Cycles"
