Long after the ignition turned off, Delhi Police’s last two Ambassadors are set to be auctioned

Due to court hearings and legal procedures, the auction of both vehicles was delayed, a police source said, adding, “They are now ready for auction after receiving necessary permission from the respective courts — Patiala and Saket.”

Besides being in bad shape due to the accidents, the two cars have long surpassed their operational tenure of six-and-a-half years. The lifespan of a petrol- or diesel-run four-wheeler in the Delhi Police is either 1.5 lakh kilometres or six-and-a-half years, whichever comes first, a police officer said.

One of the cars was bought for Rs 1.53 lakh in 1994, and the other for Rs 3.20 lakh in 1999. After they became defunct, the vehicles were stationed at Mandir Marg and Delhi Cantonment police stations, before being brought to the security wing during court hearings.

Manufactured by Hindustan Motors till 2014, the iconic cars were based on the Morris Oxford series model that was first made in the United Kingdom. They were commonly used in the Police Control Room (PCR) unit and by DCP-level officers.

It was in 2011 that the Delhi Police decided to phase out its oldest inductee. The bulky Ambassadors, a mainstay on city roads until the 2000s, soon made way for sleeker Hyundai Accent and Maruti SX4 vehicles, as they were easy to maintain and fuel efficient. The then Police Commissioner, B K Gupta, was the first to switch to a white SX4, a senior officer said.

The Delhi Police now has vehicles like the Toyota Innova and Fortuner, Maruti Ciaz and Ertiga, Mahindra Bolero and Tata Safari. Among these, Innova, Ertiga and Bolero are used in the PCR unit. Fortuners are used for jammer systems and in VIP convoys. Ciaz and Ertiga are used by ACP- and DCP-level officers, while the new model of Tata Safari SUVs is given to district DCPs, Special Commissioners and the Police Chief.

The force has also stopped buying Gypsys and replaced them with SUVs, though over 400 Gypsy vehicles still remain with the Delhi Police, said a source.

According to an officer, once a police vehicle passes its lifespan, it is declared ‘condemned’. Tenders are then floated to auction these vehicles in a lot, the officer said. Private bidders take the vehicle to get it scrapped, which can take one to two months.

The last auction was done on December 12, 2024, for 90 vehicles, including a bus, a truck, a Gypsy, an old Toyota Innova, a Tata Safari, Ambassador cars, and some motorcycles. The last two Ambassadors will similarly be auctioned alongside other vehicles, the officer said.

An officer said they are in the process of auctioning other vehicles lying in the police yard as well.

A Delhi Police assistant sub-inspector, who used to drive an Ambassador, recalled that the vehicle was incomparable in terms of design and raw power. “But Ambassadors used to overheat quickly, so officers had to turn off the AC,” said the ASI, who drove the vehicle while being posted in the Special Cell. He added that the vehicles, while smooth, were notorious fuel guzzlers.