Ambassador Motorcycles
Encyclopedia
Ambassador Motorcycles was a British motorcycle
manufacturer. Founded by racer Kaye Don
after the Second World War, 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. The company was taken over by DMW in 1963 who continued production until they closed the company in 1965.
motorcycle racer and 1920’s Brooklands
star Kaye Don
in 1946 as “U.S. Concessionaires Ltd.” The company was started to import American
cars. Motorcycle development started with a 494 cc vertical twin JAP-engined prototype. 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.
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
manufacturer. Founded by racer Kaye Don
Kaye Don
Kaye Don was a world record breaking car and speedboat racer who became a motorcycle dealer on his retirement from road racing and set up Ambassador Motorcycles.-Biography:...
after the Second World War, the company produced lightweight motorcycles with Villiers and JAP engines and imported Zundapps
Zündapp
Zündapp was a major German motorcycle manufacturer. The company was founded in 1917 in Nuremberg by Fritz Neumeyer, together with the Friedrich Krupp AG and the machine tool manufacturer Thiel under the name "Zünder- und Apparatebau G.m.b.H." as a producer of detonators...
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. The company was taken over by DMW in 1963 who continued production until they closed the company in 1965.
History
Founded by IrishIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
motorcycle racer and 1920’s Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
star Kaye Don
Kaye Don
Kaye Don was a world record breaking car and speedboat racer who became a motorcycle dealer on his retirement from road racing and set up Ambassador Motorcycles.-Biography:...
in 1946 as “U.S. Concessionaires Ltd.” The company was started to import American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cars. Motorcycle development started with a 494 cc vertical twin JAP-engined prototype. In 1947 the small Villiers
Villiers Engineering
Villiers Engineering was a manufacturer of motorcycles and cycle parts, and an engineering company based in Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, England....
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.
Models
| 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 |