Bulldog wanted a new thread so I'll share some pictures of an Abu Ambassadeur 5000D Baitcaster I picked up at a pawn shop this summer. See this post for that good news/ bad news story :https://fiberglassflyrodders.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6165
Anyway, it's model 5000D, the "D" stands for direct drive. There is a drag control, but like a fly reel, the handle will turn backwards when the line is stripped.
I emailed Garcia with the serial # and they told me these reels were produced between 1974 and 1977. They also sent me a schematic for the reel and a PDF file of a catalog listing for this model. This was less than 3 hours after I contacted them! Great customer service. I'd like to link or post the PDF, but I don't know how to.
I've read alot about these reels (Abu's in general) in magazines and online and I've never heard a bad word said about them. Guess I got a good one.
I cleaned and lubed it, filled it up with line and it's ready to fish. I have zero experience with bait casters, so I lawn casted it before the only time I fished it (skunked). I thought I got strange looks lawn casting a fly rod, boy they really look at ya wierd when you're out chucking a baitcasting rig in the yard.
Again, I love green.


Thanks for looking, Tom.

You did get a great reel. I collect them or should say I have four or five of the D models, or 5 of the C (BlaCK mODEL) and 8-10 of the Red model with 4 screws. Also have half a dozen leather cases that I have put some of the reels in with some tool kits (wrench and oil). I don't pay over 40 for them and have seen them on eBay for up to 200 bucks. They are collectables. I used to used them for trolling but now use 6000 or 6500's. Great for getting the big trout that are down deep. I only tried bait casting a couple times and after hours of undoing birdsnests, I gave it up. Just not coordinated enough.
Tightlines
Jim the deserttrout

I always get a sick feeling when I hear about an Ambassadeur reel. My uncle had a prized one he kept in the bottom of one of those metal many-tiered tackle boxes they had back in the 50's. I can still see that gleaming red reel in its brown leather case. Well, long story short, I could not resist that tackle box and one day absentmindedly left it behind my uncle's car, a big Hudson, which completely flattened it when my uncle backed up to leave our house. That was a very bad year.