Kolkata Taxi । Note Book

Kolkata is one of the last known habitats of India’s iconic Ambassador Taxicabs. These Ambassador Classic cabs have been a mainstay of Kolkata life since they first rolled onto the streets of the city of joy in 1958.

Modeled on Britain’s 1956 Morris Oxford Series III, the ‘Amby’ was the first car to be made in India. Built by Hindustan Motors until 2014, they’ve been called “King of Indian Roads” due to their reliability and prevalence. This model became so popular within a few years, that by 1962, the Ambassador became the standard taxi model. Being easy to maintain, comfortable and sturdy made them ideal for the Indian chauffeurs. The world’s best taxis no less, according to the BBC’s Top Gear presenters, after an Amby outshone other classics such as Britain’s black cab in a televised showdown in 2012.