Ambassador Motorcycles is a British motorcycle manufacturer. Founded by racer Kaye Don after 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. 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.
History 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. 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.
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 Ambassador Supreme 2017 Suzuki-powered 300cc engine, fitted with USD forks & vintage "cafe racer" styling Envoy 4002021classic inspired design powered by a 399cc engine from Shineray Group, owner of Italian SWM (motorcycles)
References
External links Gallery The Ambassador moped