For the Ambassadors' detractors who thought they had seen the last of the dinosaurs, wait! Hindustan Motors is poised to make a comeback to Nepal with new, improved versions of the Ambassador: the Nova Classic and the Grand.

The cars may look like something out of a timewarp for the uninitiated, but for those familiar with this silhouette from their childhood days traveling through India, there is some brand loyalty. However, the Ambassador's dealers in Nepal, Cube International, is not resting on nostalgia alone to sell the product. "The reason this car has staying power despite all the new competition is because it is great value, it is sturdy and it is economical," says Cube's Pragyan Rana.

The Nova Classic comes with an LPG engine and is ideally suited for a taxi, and the first unit was sold in Kathmandu this month. Cube estimates that with the Supreme Court's deadline of two years on replacement of taxis more than 20 years old in Kathmandu, Pokhara and Bhairawa running out this month, there is a market for more than 700 new taxis. The Nova Classic is an affordable Rs 950,000 and gives 12km/l for diesel and 10 km/l for petrol on a 2 litre engine, which compares favourably with a 800cc Maruti.

The Ambassador Grand is more luxurious and can cost up to Rs 1,350,000 with power steering and air-conditioner. "If you see it as a luxury vintage car that won't put a hole in your pocket and as an economical car, then it's a great buy," Rana says whose company also sells jeeps and vans.