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Ambassador Motorcycles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ambassador Motorcycles
IndustryManufacturing and Engineering
Founded1946
HeadquartersCamden, London, UK
Key people
Kaye Don, Darran Clarke
ProductsMotorcycles & 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

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b Chadwick, Ian. "Ambassador Motorcycles". Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
  2. ^ Tragatsch, Erwin (2000). The New Illustrated Encyclopedia of Motorcycles. London: Quantum Publishing. p. 560. ISBN 1861603428.
  3. ^ "Ambassador". Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 6 June 2008.
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