Ambassador Series 1

[gossie]

Hi also from Australia.
Very late '40s my Dad had a maroon colour Ambassador.  It was a 197 with Web forks.  He had it I guess for about four years until selling it for a car.
The reason I ask is that I'm yet to find any information on an Ambassador in that particular colour all over.
As a pre. teenager I used to ride it around our back yard.    He often dropped me off to school on it and often went shopping Saturday mornings.  Can well remember going a long way at one time fishing.....great days.
Any information on a maroon colour Ambassador would be appreciated.

[murdo]

Hi gossie, sorry cannot help you with the maroon Ambassador. Turned out mine is a Royal Enfield.

[gossie]

Yes "murdo", I noticed yours was on old RE.....nice thing to have.

From searching around I wonder if my Dads was a series 2?   Have seen pics of S1 and S3s that look like what I remember except the colour does not match.  Someone might know?

Anybody know if anybody has an Ambassador on the Gold Coast or near in Australia........I'd love to have a look at it if so.

[murdo]

What about the motorcycle museums at Haigsleigh (west of Gatton) or at Nabiac. I was at Nabiac last week taking photos of the RE's they had there, but I cannot remember if they had any Ambassadors. Give them a ring and ask them?

[gossie]

Thanks for that info.  Both have websites but no mention of Ambassador.
I might get up to the Haigsleigh one in the future when up that way just to take a look see.   Thanks again.

[murdo]

Nabiac has lots more than what is on their website, over 900 bikes in all. Haigsleigh has lots not on display, but if you ask them they will take you out the back to look at something special. Another one is in Peterborough in South Australia that has some unusual bikes.

[cardan]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Ambassador-Motorbike-/111190982466

I think I'd want the bike to be very clean and running well for that price...

Leon

[gossie]

Well well well, how interesting.   That's about a 1500k south of here so there's no way I would go look at it.....pity.  Will keep an eye on it to see what it makes??

There was or perhaps still is another one on UK eBay with a chequerd tank that look in far worse condition than the OZ one.
So would it be a Series 3??

[gossie]

The Series I was 1947 only. It had a single down tube frame and was not of the cradle type but instead had an open bottom section with the engine supported on engine plates.
The Series II was 1948 and also powered by the 5E. It had a different single down tube cradle type frame but posssibly with a detachable lower frame section.
Then of course we get the Series III for 1949 & 50 with a proper single down tube cradle frame and the 6E engine.
Ambassador never used a twin down tube frame. To answer your query I've just ploughed through "A Guide to Ambassador Motor Cycles" by Michael Easton and Fred Hibbert which lists(with pictures) every model of Ambassador made. Sorry, no twin down tubes.
Many makes of British lightweight used Webb pressed steel girder forks, from the early 30's through to the early 50's but offhand I can't think of anyone using a twin down tube frame. Can we have a photo?
Cheers,

 Could you tell me the difference between a 5E and 6E Villiers engine?    I'm still trying to work out in my head what year my Fathers Ambassador may have been.
I seem to be only able to pull up 6E pics.  From memory his bike had one exhaust pipe on near side.   Does 5E and 6E both have same exhausts.

[64hip]

Hello
Re: Ambassador Motor Cycles
I'm only an infrequent visitor to these pages, but if anybody needs any help or advice with anything Ambassador related (the British manufacturer, not the Moto Guzzi machines, or the badged up Chinese machines), please get in touch.
This is best done by email - ambassadorguide@gmail.com
Thanks
Michael Easton
VMCC and BTSC Ambassador Marque Specialist
Co-author of "A Guide to Ambassador Motor Cycles"
Keeper and compiler of the Ambassador Machine Register

[Rex]

A Guide to Ambassador Motorcycles? That's a best-seller right there..

[R]

10+ years betwixt replies
Business is brisk ....

I'm a little surprised that Ambassador doesn't have a web page or 2 on the brand.
Easily done, and helps bring like minded fiends together.
Sp deliberate !

[33d6]

I have a copy of “A Guide to Ambassador Motorcycles”. It’s very good. In fact it can easily stand as a textbook example of how to present the practical information needed to identify exactly what you have.
Yes it’s a niche publication but does that matter? There were many British niche manufacturers, Dot, Greeves, Norman and so forth. All could do with an equivalent practical guide. It would cut through an awful lot of bull dust.
Of course getting a prospective owner to actually read one is another thing altogether.
Anyway, Happy New Year to all. Hope none of you are caught up in the various natural disasters dominating the news.
Cheers,

[cardan]

Happy New Year to you too!! My natural disaster is limited to my usually-bone-dry grass being lush, green and long enough to need constant mowing - not a usual Adelaide summer activity. So all good here, but who knows what awaits later in summer...

I wanted to buy a bike book from the UK the other day, but the "postage" + "import duties" (whatever they are - way more than GST) more than doubled the cost, so that one is on pause. I don't have an Ambassador, but I'd read the book and probably enjoy it.

Cheers

Leon

[R]

If the seller is quoting "import duties" or "customs fees" then they are using ebays global shipping program.
Which is a complete rip off  !!!

May have been fine back when nothing was flying during covid.
But now all is back to "normal", way past its use by date.

I had a little booklet mailed to me recently, came by Royal Mail.
Was quite inexpensive.

Ask that supplier if they will post by Royal Mail ?
Seems some Oz suppliers have books posted out here in bulk, can be quite competitive.
Worth hunting about ?