1973 Ambassador Brougham Sedan with 401 V8

The Ambassador logo from 1958 to 1961

The Ambassador was the top-line automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1958 until 1974. The vehicle was known as the AMC Ambassador, Ambassador V-8 by Rambler, and Rambler Ambassador at various times during its tenure in production. Previously, the name Ambassador had applied to Nash's "senior" full-size cars. The Ambassador nameplate was used continuously from 1927 until 1974 (the name being a top-level trim line from 1927-31); at the time it was discontiued, Ambassador was the longest continuously used nameplate in automotive history. All Ambassador models were built in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 424 pixelsFull resolution (1700 × 900 pixel, file size: 266 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 424 pixelsFull resolution (1700 × 900 pixel, file size: 266 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links OriAMClogo. ... Image File history File links OriAMClogo. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... An advertising image featuring the 1934 Nash Ambassador. ... Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors Corporation Nash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the United States from 1916 to 1938. ... Nickname: K-town Keno Kenowhere Location of Kenosha within Wisconsin Coordinates: Country United States State Wisconsin Counties Kenosha Settled 1836 Government  - Mayor John M. Antaramian Population  - City 96,845  - Density  3,795. ...

Prologue

Following George Mason's unexpected death in the fall of 1954, George Romney (whom Mason had been grooming as his eventual successor), succeeded him as President and CEO of the newly-formed American Motors. Romney recognized that to be successful in the postwar marketplace, an automobile manufacturer would have to be able to produce and sell cars in sufficient volume to amortize the high cost of tooling. Toward that end, he set out to increase AMC's market share with its Rambler models that were selling in market segment in which the Big Three (General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler) did not yet compete. While development of a redesigned 1958 Nash Ambassador, based on a stretched and reskinned 1956 Rambler body, was almost complete, AMC's designers were also working on a retrimmed Hudson equivalent, called Rebel, to offer Hudson dealers. George Walter Mason (b. ... George Wilcken Romney (July 8, 1907 – July 26, 1995) was chairman of the American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962 and was elected three times as the Republican Governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969. ... For other uses of Amortization, see the Amortization disambiguation page. ... A Market segment is a subgroup of people or organizations sharing one or more characteristics that cause them to have similar product needs. ... General Motors Corporation, also known as GM or The General, an American multinational corporation, is the worlds largest auto company. ... “Ford” redirects here. ... For other uses, including the Chrysler Brand, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ... In automotive engineering, the bodywork of an automobile is the structure which protects: The occupants Any other payload The mechanical components. ... Designers at work in 1961. ... Hudson Logo Hudson Six-40, 1914 1917 Hudson Phaeton The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1957. ... Typical car dealership selling used cars outside, new cars in the showroom, as well as a vehicle entrance to the parts and service area in the back of the building. ...

However, as sales of the large-sized Nash Ambassador and Hudson Hornet models slowed, it became clear to Romney that consumer confidence in the historic Nash and Hudson nameplates had collapsed. Reluctantly, he decided that 1957 would be the end of both nameplates, and the company would concentrate on the new Rambler line, which was registered as a separate marque for 1957. An advertising image featuring the 1934 Nash Ambassador. ... Advertisement for the 1954 Hudson Hornet The Hudson Hornet was an automobile produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan between 1951 and 1954. ... A marque (French for brand and pronounced as mark) is a brand name, most commonly used for automobile brands. ...

1958-62

1958 Ambassador V-8, Custom pillarless hardtop

Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 381 pixelsFull resolution (1470 × 700 pixel, file size: 304 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions front of this car interior view of this car File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 381 pixelsFull resolution (1470 × 700 pixel, file size: 304 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Other versions front of this car interior view of this car File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on...

1958

Despite the fact that the Nash and Hudson names were canceled, work on the car itself continued, and it debuted in the fall of 1957, wearing stretched Rambler bodywork, a 117-inch (2972 mm) wheelbase, plusher interior and exterior trim, the exclusive 327 in³ (5.4 L) 255 bhp (gross) V8, the prototype Hudson Rebel's "V-Line" grille, as well as an available body style exclusive to its line, a pillarless hardtop station wagon. A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... Estate car body style (Saab 95) A station wagon (United States usage), wagon (Australian usage, though station wagon is widely used) or estate car (United Kingdom usage) is a car body style similar to a sedan car but with an extended rear cargo area. ...

Management had found that the public associated the Rambler name with small economy cars, and did not want the upscale nature of the new Ambassador to be as closely associated with Rambler's favorable, but economical image. Therefore, a decision was made that the larger Ambassador would be marketed as the Ambassador V-8 by Rambler in order to identify it with the Rambler name's burgeoning success, but to indicate an air of exclusivity by showing it to be a different kind of vehicle. However, the car wore "Rambler Ambassador" badges on its front fenders.

The 1958 Ambassador was a substantially longer car than the 108-inch (2743 mm) wheelbase Rambler Six and Rebel V-8, although both lines shared the same basic body, styling, and visual cues. However, all of the Ambassador's extra nine inches (229 mm} of wheelbase (and, therefore, overall length) were added ahead of the cowl, meaning that the passenger compartment had the same volume as the smaller Ramblers. Through effective market segmentation, the Ambassador was positioned to compete with the larger models offered by other automakers. 1959 Rambler Six sedan The Rambler Six was an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation (AMC). ... The Rambler Rebel was an automobile was a product by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) of Kenosha, Wisconsin between 1957 and 1961. ... A Market segment is a subgroup of people or organizations sharing one or more characteristics that cause them to have similar product needs. ... A products position is how potential buyers see the product. ...

Model identification was located on the car's front fenders and deck lid. Super trim level Ambassadors featured painted side trim in a color that complemented the body color; Custom models featured a silver anodized aluminum panel on sedans and vinyl woodgrain decals on station wagons. Ambassador body styles included a four-door sedan and a hardtop sedan, a four-door pillared station wagon, and the aforementioned hardtop station wagon, a bodystyle that first saw duty as an industry first in the 1956 Nash and Hudson Rambler line, on which all of the 1958 Ramblers were based. These inexpensive carabiners have an anodised aluminum surface, and come in many colours. ... A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ... The Nash Rambler was an American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash Kelvinator Corporation between 1950 and 1957. ...

1959

For 1959, the Ambassador received a revised grille, side trim, and redesigned rear door skins and tailfins.

1960

1960 Ambassador V-8 by Rambler, sedan

1960 saw the Ambassador lineup totally reskinned, wearing new fenders, hood, deck lid, door skins, roofline, grille, taillights, bumpers, windshield, and backlight. The tailfins were reduced in height and were canted to either side. The overall effect was rather fresh, as the new roof had a lower, lighter look, to complement the lower fins and grille. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

1961

In 1961, however, the Ambassador received an unusual new front-end styling that was overseen by AMC's in-house design department headed by Edmund Anderson. The new face consisted of a trapezoidal grille and headlights that floated in a body-colored panel, while the front fenders arched downward and forward of the leading edge of the hood. Different from anything else on the market, AMC's marketing department promoted the look as "European." While the new look was meant to distinguish the Ambassador from the lower-priced Ramblers, it was neither a consumer success nor well received in the automotive press. Overall sales fell as the entire industry was experiencing a recession. The hardtop sedan and wagon models did not return for 1961. Sir Edmund Anderson (d. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

1962

By 1962, the Ambassador's body shell was in its seventh season on the market. And while Rambler sales had been good enough for third place in industry sales (behind Chevrolet and Ford), management was working on a revolutionary and somewhat costly design set to debut for the 1963 model year. In the meantime, American Motors needed to save money, and since the Ambassador's sales had fallen in 1961, it was decided that the car would be downsized for 1962 to share its body and 108-inch (2743 mm) wheelbase with its Classic line mate. Accordingly, the car was marketed as a Rambler Ambassador. The Rambler Classic was an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from 1961 to 1966. ...

The 1962 Ambassador received a new front end, which was very similar to the 1961-62 Classic's, but with a crosshatch grille, recessed center section, and Ambassador lettering. New, rectangular taillights were seen at the ends of restyled rear fenders, which lost their fins entirely. Exterior trim was reshuffled, and a new 2-door pillared sedan debuted. A new '400' trim line was added at the top of the line, with Super and Custom models remaining.

Despite its similarities to the 1962 Classic, the Ambassador was given one major and important differentiator: exclusive use of both the 287 in³ (4.7 L) and 327 in³ (5.4 L) V8 engines, as the Classic V8 was no longer available.

1963-64

1963

Romney left AMC in 1962 to join the Michigan gubernatorial race, which he went on to win. Meanwhile, a completely redesigned Rambler lineup appeared, following Romney's philosophy that Rambler's best chance for survival lay in smaller cars that had a high degree of interchangeability in parts to keep tooling costs and production complexity to a minimum. The completely redesigned Ambassador lineup was introduced with this philosophy in mind for the 1963 model year. Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Largest metro area Metro Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ...

Designed by Edmund Anderson and Richard Teague, the 1963 Ambassador's shape was much tighter, cleaner, and smoother, with almost all of its parts interchangeable between it and the new Classic. Wheelbase was increased to 112 inches (2845 mm), while overall length remained similar. The new car was rather innovative, as the company engineered a revolutionary new way to stamp bodies, which would allow for door openings to be made of two stampings, instead of multiple smaller pieces which would be welded together, as had been industry practice. The new door stamping design greatly reduced production complexity, ensured higher quality fit and finish, and that bodies would be less beholden to rattles and leaks over time. Sir Edmund Anderson (d. ... Richard Teague was a principal designer for the American Motors company. ...

Curved side glass and push-button door handles were new and costly upgrades, but contributed to the new Rambler's handsome, elegant, and modern Mercedes-like styling, by adding greater elegance in detail. The front end drew slight controversy, due to its forward-thrusting upper and lower ends and vertical bar "electric shaver" chrome grille insert. The Ambassador's grille was differentiated from the Classic's grille by its use of the Ambassador name in script in the small vertical area between the upper and lower grille sections. Round quad headlights were slightly recessed in chrome bezels mounted side-by-side within the grille at its outermost edges. Buttons on a handheld calculator. ...

Ambassadors once again came in 2-door sedan, 4-door sedan, and 4-door wagon body styles, but new trim lines debuted. 880 was the Ambassador's base trim line, replacing the previous year's Super, while uplevel 990 trim replaced the Custom and 400.

When it debuted, the Ambassador retained V8 engines exclusively, until AMC's new CEO, Roy Abernethy, ordered that the smaller 287 in³ unit be installed in Classics at midyear, so that AMC's standard intermediate-sized car could more directly compete with its GM and Ford rivals, all of which had been available with V8 engines since 1961 and 1962, respectively. Roy Abernethy (b. ...

Sales were brisk, and the redesign was billed a success, with Motor Trend Magazine bestowing Car of the Year status on the entire 1963 Rambler line, including the Ambassador. Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... Motor Trend magazine was the first to give a Car of the Year award, doing so to a Chrysler in 1949. ...

1964

The 1964 model year introduced minor trim changes and new options. The "electric-shaver" grille on the 1963 model was replaced with a flush-mounted design, and the engine and transmission options were widened. A two-door hardtop body style called 990-H was added for the first time since 1957. Base 880 models were dropped from the line, and the Ambassador took on the trusty 327 in³ V8 as its standard engine again. A hardtop is a term for a rigid, rather than canvas, automobile roof. ...

1965-66

1965

1965 Ambassadors featured stacked headlights, a hardtop 990 model shown.

However wild the success of the new Ramblers was, Roy Abernethy was not completely satisfied. Using the experience he gained as an outstanding salesman as a guide, Abernethy closely looked at the direction that American Motors' competition was going and decided that the company would be much more successful if its products competed more directly with the Big Three. He would achieve this by pushing all AMC vehicles further upmarket among the various market segments, shaking off the company's economy car image, and offering vehicles once again in all three major American car size classes: compact, intermediate, and full-size. The American and Classic were strong competitors in the former two segments, so for the 1965 model year, he set his sights on turning the Ambassador into a proper full-size car by stretching the Classic's body and wheelbase and giving it much different styling. The general sizes of automobiles at that time were based on industry standard wheelbase lengths, rather than on the vehicle's interior and cargo space. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A Market segment is a subgroup of people or organizations sharing one or more characteristics that cause them to have similar product needs. ...

Despite the fact that the Ambassador rode the same platform as its 1963-64 forebears, the 1965 model looked all-new. Sporting a 116 in (2946 mm) wheelbase, four inches longer than the Classic, the Ambassador received longer, squared-off rear fenders with vertical wrap-around taillights, taller decklid, squared off rear bumper mounted low, and squarer rear wheel arches. At the front, the Ambassador again sparked minor controversy with its new vertically stacked quad headlights, which were slightly recessed in their bezels, as they flanked an all-new horizontal bar grille. This new wall-to-wall grille projected forward, horizontally, in the center, to create an effect somewhat opposite to 1963's grille treatment. The decklid (or deck lid) is the cover over the trunk/boot of motor vehicles that allows access to the main storage or luggage compartment. ...

Once again, all of the Ambassador's extra wheelbase was ahead of the cowl, meaning that interior volume was the same as the intermediate Classic. Another new body style debuted in the Ambassador lineup for 1965: an attractive new convertible offered as part of the 990 series. This was the first time a convertible was offered in the Ambassador line since the 1948.

Ambassadors also saw an expanded list of trim lines, convenience options, and engine choices. The 990 and 990-H models were back, while 880 models rejoined the line and slotted below the 990. A new 800 series was added as a base model. Ambassadors came standard with AMC's new 232 in³ (3.8 L) Inline-6 engine, which was the first time since 1956 that an Ambassador was available with six cylinders. The time-tested 287 in³ (4.7 L) and 327 in³ (5.4 L) V8 were optional.

American Motors' management decided that the Ambassador could once again accept a standard six-cylinder engine, since its full-size competitors (e.g. Bel Air and Impala, Ford Custom 500 and Galaxie, as well as Plymouth Fury) came with six-cylinder engines as standard equipment. They therefore appealed to a wider range of customers than the Ambassador was getting. Also, since the Classic was now smaller and styled differently, the Ambassador six-cylinder would not threaten to cannibalize Classic 6 sales, which were the company's sales volume leaders. The changes were on target as sales of the repositioned Ambassador more than tripled. Chevrolet (IPA: ʃɛv. ... The Chevrolet Impala is an automobile built for the Chevrolet division by General Motors. ... 1966 Ford Galaxie 7 Litre Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ford Galaxie For other uses, see Galaxie (disambiguation). ... The Plymouth Fury was an automobile made by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1956 to 1978. ...

1966

The 1966 hardtops featured a formal roof design - DPL model shown.

For 1966, minor changes greeted the Ambassador range, but they were meaningful. Twin rectangular grilles were stacked atop each other and affixed to either side of Ambassador front fenders at their leading edges. Hardtop coupes received a redesigned roofline, which was squarer in appearance, and therefore more "formal", as the backlight no longer wrapped slightly around the C pillars. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Base 800 models left the line and a new DPL hardtop coupe debuted at the top of the range. The DPL (short for "Diplomat") was complete with luxury features like a vinyl roof, wire wheel covers, special interior trim and fabric, and optional throw pillows to give it a more luxurious air so that it might compete with the new Plymouth VIP, Ford LTD, and Chevrolet Caprice. The 232 in³ I6, as well as the 287 and 327 in³ V8s remained in the line, but transmission selections now included a new console mounted four-speed manual. Most Ambassadors continued to be ordered with automatic transmissions. The Plymouth Fury was an automobile made by the Plymouth division of the Chrysler Corporation from 1956 to 1978. ... It has been suggested that this article be split into multiple articles accessible from a disambiguation page. ... The Chevrolet Caprice (later called Caprice Classic) was a series name of automobile produced by Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, in the United States from the 1965 through 1996 model years. ...

Perhaps the biggest change, however, was that the Ambassador lost its historic Rambler nameplate, as the car was now marketed as the "American Motors Ambassador". Abernethy was again responsible for this marketing move, as he attempted to move the stylish new Ambassador even further upmarket. To him, that meant that the Rambler name, and its economy car image would be eschewed to give the car a clean slate in a market that was turning away from economy and toward V8 performance. However, 1966 Ambassador sales fell despite these efforts.

1967-1968

1967 Ambassador DPL convertible with its top up. Late model TuboCast II wheels.

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1967

In 1967, AMC introduced a completely restyled Ambassador, now on a 118 inch (2997 mm) wheelbase. Once again, it was four inches longer than the new Rambler Rebel's 114 inch wheelbase. The Ambassador was positioned as a "luxury intermediate", but had as much interior space as other full-size cars from Ford or GM. The convertible was offered again - this time in DPL trim - for 1967; but it would be the final year with only 1,260 built. It was unique with a new "split stack" folding mechanism that did not intrude into the backseat area. Also in 1967, AMC shifted its fastback Rambler Marlin (rechristened, like the Ambassador, as the American Motors Marlin in 1966) to the longer Ambassador chassis and gave it the Ambassador's front end to harmonize with its longer restyled body. 1969 AMC Rebel sedan The AMC Rebel (known as the Rambler Rebel in 1967) was an intermediate car produced from 1967 to 1970. ... Cover of Motor Trend magazine, featuring 1965 Marlin The Marlin was a mid-sized fastback sporty car built by American Motors from 1965 to 1967. ... Cover of Motor Trend magazine, featuring 1965 Marlin The Marlin was a mid-sized fastback sporty car built by American Motors from 1965 to 1967. ...

The car once again looked completely new, with a more rounded appearance that sported sweeping rooflines, "coke-bottle" fenders, greater glass area, and a recessed grille that bowed forward less than that of the 1965-66 models. Taillights were wider, rectangular, and divided by one central vertical bar. The 880 two-door sedans sported the identical roofline as the hardtops, but had slim B-pillars that gave them a more open-air coupe appearance.

AMC's long-lived 327 in³ V8 was finally replaced by an all-new 343 in³ V8 (5.6 L), which was based on the 290 in³ V8 that debuted for 1966. With a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, the 343 V8 produced 280 bhp.

Unfortunately, sales of the redesigned models were disappointing, due to customer confusion caused by the entire company's abrupt upmarket push, which seemed uncomfortably "me too" to the traditional Big Three customers and they also alienated American Motors' loyal buyer base. Abernethy's ideas weren't working, and instead resulted in a new round of financial problems for American Motors. As a result, Abernathy was released from AMC by its Board of Directors later that year, and was replaced by William V. Luneberg and Roy D. Chapin, Jr. Roy D. Chapin Jr. ...

1968

For 1968, a new SST trim line was placed above the now mid-line DPL trim for the Ambassador. AMC, which had been a pioneer in the field of air conditioning through its Kelvinator refrigerator division, decided with the advice of marketing executive Mary Wells Lawrence to add greater market distinction to the Ambassador line by making air conditioning standard equipment. This was the first time any volume car manufacturer had done so, something that even Cadillac and Lincoln had not offered on their luxury cars - some costing more than twice as much as Ambassador. While all Ambassadors came with air conditioning as standard, consumers could order the car without air as a "delete option" and to decrease the base price if they so desired. As AMC pointed out in their advertising campaign for the Ambassador, the only other cars that offered air conditioning as standard equipment in 1968 were Rolls-Royce and various sports car manufacturers. Mary Wells Lawrence (born Mary Georgene Berg, 25 May 1928, in Youngstown, Ohio, United States), more often known professionally as Mary Wells, is a retired American advertising executive. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... For other uses, see Cadillac (disambiguation). ... Lincoln is an American luxury automobile brand, operated under the Ford Motor Company. ... Rolls-Royce car may refer to vehicles produced by: Rolls-Royce Limited (1906-1973) Rolls-Royce Motors (1973-2003) Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (2003-present) // Rolls-Royce cars Rolls-Royce Limited vehicles 1904-1906 10 hp 1905-1905 15 hp 1905-1908 20 hp 1905-1906 30 hp 1905-1906...

Due to slow sales, both the convertible and pillared coupe models were dropped from the line, leaving the 990 hardtop coupe and sedan, DPL hardtop coupe, sedan, and wagon, and new SST hardtop coupe and sedan in the line to soldier on. Marlins were also discontinued to make way for the new AMC Javelin pony car. 1973 AMC Javelin AMX Pierre Cardin edition The AMC Javelin was a sporty coupe_type automobile in the pony car class built by American Motors Corporation between 1968 and 1974. ...

Styling changes were minor. Taillights were now recessed in body-color bezels that were divided by a single central horizontal bar. Front headlight bezels were similarly body colored. The grille was dominated by a strong horizontal bar, while its outline had squared off edges, which wrapped forward into the inner headlight extensions. Fender-mounted marker lights were added at the front and rear as standard equipment, as the federal government had mandated their application (along with seat belts beginning 1 January 1968) to all passenger cars sold in America for 1968. However, AMC's most enduring styling feature also debuted on the Ambassador for 1968, as flush-mounted paddle-style door handles replaced the former push-button units on all American Motors cars, save the Rambler American. At midyear, AMC's new top mill, the "AMX 390" in³ (6.4 L) (315/325 hp) V8 became an option in the Ambassador line, bringing the total of engine options up to four. The original Rambler was an automobile produced of the Thomas B. Jeffery Company then by its successor, Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and finally, by its successor, American Motors Corporation (all in Kenosha, Wisconsin). ... American Motors produced a series of widely-used V8 engines before being absorbed into Chrysler. ...

American Motors started a new advertising campaign created by Wells, Rich, and Greene, Inc., that stressed each cars' value for the money and attempted to bring AMC back to their practical-car roots in customers' minds. It worked, and sales improved for AMC's flagship.

1969-1974

1969 AMC Ambassador (New Zealand model; note right-hand drive)

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1969

In 1969, the Ambassador received a major restyling, with a longer 122" (3099 mm) wheelbase, the longest ever produced by AMC. The front end appearance was revised with new quad headlight clusters mounted horizontally in a new molded plastic grille. The grille itself was a blackout affair with a chrome horizontal bar that connected the headlight clusters. The hood was redesigned to accommodate the grille's raised center portion, and it faintly recalled Packard's classic grille/hood combination. Richard A. Teague, AMC's Vice President of Styling, had worked at the luxury car manufacturer before joining AMC. Parking lights were rectangular and mounted horizontally in recessed wells in the front bumper, just beneath each set of headlights. The entire front fascia leaned forward slightly to lend an air of forward motion to the car's appearance. The Packard family coat of arms, adopted as the companys logo in 1928 Packard red hexagon wheel hub center made its debut in 1905, with the color red added in 1913 Packard was a United States based brand of luxury automobile built by the Packard Motor Car Company of... Richard A. Teague was a principal designer for the American Motors company. ...

At the rear, ribbed rectangular taillights were mounted inboard the Ambassadors rearward-thrusting rear fenders. Square ribbed marker lights of similar height were mounted at the trailing edge of each fender side. The deck lid had a slightly higher lift over. The base and DPL sedan and hardtop models had no decorative panel connecting the taillights while the top-line SST versions featured a panel painted red to match the taillights. Station wagons saw vertical wraparound taillights once again.

The interiors were upgraded and a new deeply hooded dashboard clustered instruments and controls in front of the driver.

The 1969 Ambassador stressed luxury, with the marketing tagline "It will remind you of the days when money really bought something." The combination of rich velour upholstery, individually adjustable reclining seats, standard air conditioning, and the longer wheelbase were highlighted in advertisements with Ambassador's posh limousine ride at an economical price. AMC's efforts worked, and Ambassador sales shot up again.

1970

For 1970, the rear half of hardtop coupes and sedans was treated to an overhaul to mirror its intermediate 1970 Rebel's tail. On hardtop coupes, this restyling resulted in a sloping roofline that saw upswept reverse-angle quarter windows. The belt line kicked up at the point the hardtop's rear windows swept upward, and tapered back to the fender end, meeting a new loop-type rear bumper.

On sedans, the roof line showed a slimmer C pillar, squared-off rear door windows, and met a belt line that kicked up beneath the trailing edge of each rear door window. The belt line tapered back to the same rear fascia as the hardtop coupe's. This rear fascia contained a new ribbed taillight lens that stretched wall-to-wall and included twin square white reverse light lenses in its center.

Station wagons received no change to their rooflines, doors, and rear fascias. However, all Ambassadors received a new grille insert at the front, showing several widely-spaced bright horizontal bars with one wide, body colored horizontal grille bar extending to each headlight cluster. The 290 in³ V8 was replaced for 1970 by a new 304 in³ (5.0 L) V8. The 343  inin³ V8 was also supplanted by a 360 in³ (5.9 L) V8.

1971

1971 Ambassador station wagon

For 1971, base models were dropped, as the sedan-only DPL trim line was relegated to base model status, and a new top-line Brougham trim line was added above mid-line SST models. Both SST and Brougham models came as hardtop coupes, sedans, and wagons. The DPL came with AMC's new 258 in³ Inline-6, but SSTs and Broughams offered the 304 in³ V8 as standard equipment. Automatic transmissions were standard equipment across the line. The "AMX 390" V8 gave way to a new 401 in³ 335 bhp V8 as the top engine option. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Styling changes consisted of a new fascia up front. It featured headlights contained in their own chrome pods separate from, but flanking the new grille, which had a rectangular surround, with rounded edges. The grille insert was recessed and featured a bright vertical bar pattern. A second set of parking lights was added outboard of the headlight clusters, and they wrapped around the fender sides to eliminate the need for separate front marker lights.

Taillights on hardtop coupes and sedans still ran wall-to-wall, but grew taller, while backup lights were moved further outboard approximately eight inches in from either fender side. Once again, the wagon received few changes at the rear, but added a new design for its optional woodgrain side trim, which filled in its upper bodysides. Its lower edge flowed downward aft of its peak at the leading edge above each front wheel house in similar fashion to Buick's traditional side sweepspear styling cue.

1972

Minor changes greeted 1972 Ambassadors, as AMC's biggest news for the year was the addition of the AMC Buyer Protection Plan warranty, which included the industry's first 12 month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty as standard equipment on every model in the range. Mechanical features were upgraded in each model to increase durability and quality, the most notable of which was the standardization of electric windshield wipers, replacing AMC's ancient vacuum-powered units.

The base DPL was canceled, as well as six-cylinder engine availability. The Ambassador was a V8-only car for the first time since 1964. This made the Ambassador the only volume-produced American car with air conditioning, an automatic transmission, a V8 engine, and a factory warranty all as standard equipment, all while being priced less than the Big Three's similarly-sized cars. Ambassadors were now available in SST and Brougham trim only. Styling changes were limited to a new crosshatch grille at the front.

1973

SST models were dropped from the line, as all Ambassadors became Broughams. An AM radio and tinted glass were added to the extensive standard equipment list. Heftier front and rear bumpers were included, in order to comply with federal bumper regulations that required all passenger cars to withstand a 5mph frontal impact, and a 2.5mph rear impact without damage to the engine, lights, and safety equipment.

Ambassadors complied with the regulation by accepting a shock-absorbed front bumper the jutted slightly forward from the front fascia. This bumper showed a more prominent upper portion at the lower edge of the grille. Large black rubber bumper guards were tacked to the rear bumper to help it comply, as well. The grille gained heavier horizontal bars and headlight bezels took on blackout trim in their recessed portions.

1974

Ambassador sales had remained steady since 1970, despite the lack of major changes to the vehicle. However, the 1974 model year would bring out the biggest Ambassador — just as the 1973 Arab Oil Embargo sparked gasoline rationing across the nation. The Ambassador sedan was stretched seven inches (178 mm) compared with the 1973 versions. This additional length was due to a new front end design and energy absorbing bumpers. This article or section should be merged with 1973 energy crisis On October 16th, 1973, as part of the political strategy that included the Yom Kippur War, OPEC cut production of oil, and placed an embargo on shipments of crude oil to the West, with the Netherlands, specifically targetted. ...

The 1974 Ambassador Brougham was no longer available as a 2-door hardtop, leaving just the sedan and wagon in the line. The hardtop's cancellation was due in part to low sales volume, as well as the introduction of a sleek, sporty new Matador coupe. It was probably not seen as suitable for AMC to build a formal-styled Ambassador version from the same platform. 1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ... An automobile platform is a shared set of components common to a number of different automobiles. ...

Styling changes for the sedan and wagon included new front fenders and hood, grille, bumpers, rear fascia, instrument panel, interior trim, hood ornament, and a new font for the Ambassador nameplate. The grille showed off a new squared-off loop-type design surrounding the circular recessed quad headlights, and featured a forward-protruding center. The insert held a crosshatch pattern dominated by two thick horizontal bars that connected the headlight bezels and contained new parking lights between them. These parking lights had amber lenses, followed the grille protrusion forward, and were overlaid by the grille's crosshatch trim. Headlamp bezels were once again blacked out in their recessed areas. The new hood and front bumper followed the grille's central protrusion forward, giving the car a slight "coffin nose" look. The contemporary Matador saw a similar frontal treatment, but with a much more pronounced effect and with different single headlamp clusters, hood, and grille insert. 1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ...

At the rear, the new bumper was much larger and backed by shock absorbers, as it was beefed up to comply with new National Highway Traffic Safety Administration regulations for standardized front and rear bumpers on passenger cars that could sustain a 5 mph (8 km) impact with no damage. Fiberglass end caps were added to the ends of each rear fender on sedans. They wrapped inward to create a recessed space that met a carryover decklid. In this space was mounted the new rectangular taillight housings, which featured taller white backup lights mounted inboard of the new taillights. The license plate moved from the rear bumper to the area between the new taillight assemblies, and the whole taillight and license plate system on the sedans was surrounded its own loop of chrome trim. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, often pronounced nit-suh) is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, part of the Department of Transportation. ... The decklid (or deck lid) is the cover over the trunk/boot of motor vehicles that allows access to the main storage or luggage compartment. ...

The cargo area and the rear design of station wagons remained similar to previous Ambassadors, save for a massive new bumper and revised taillamps. The wagon was available with two-row bench seats for six passengers or with a rear-facing third row for a total eight seat-belted passengers. All came with numerous practical, appearance, and comfort items as standard. These included a two-way opening tail gate: (1) hinged at the bottom for convenient loading or hauling long cargo and (2) hinged at the side to open as door for ease of entry and exit for passengers or cargo; wood grained semi-transparent vinyl side and rear trim, a full-length roof rack; as well as a chrome and wood grain roof air deflector to help keep the tailgate window clean. Transparent glass ball In optics, transparency is the property of allowing light to pass. ... Roof racks are bars that are secured to the roof of a motor car. ...

Powertrain selections remained the same with only V8 engines mated to automatic transmissions. Other increases for 1974 included a larger capacity fuel tank (24.9 gallons or 94.2 liters) and an alternator producing 62 amps. New sound insulation made the Ambassador even quieter. All came with a very lengthy list of standard equipment that was typically optional on competing makes. These included comfort items such as air conditioning and vanity mirror to appearance enhancements such as pin striping and whitewall tires. American Motors produced a series of widely-used V8 engines before being absorbed into Chrysler. ... The gallon (abbreviation: gal) is a unit of volume. ... Current can be measured by a galvanometer, via the deflection of a magnetic needle in the magnetic field created by the current. ... Pin striping on a motorcycle fuel tank. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with tire. ...

Sales of all full-size vehicles, regardless of the automaker, fell significantly in 1974 as America's focus shifted to smaller cars. Ambassador sales were no different, and in June 1974, the final AMC Ambassador rolled off the Kenosha, Wisconsin assembly line, ending a nameplate that had been in continuous production in some form for 48 years. Nickname: K-town Keno Kenowhere Location of Kenosha within Wisconsin Coordinates: Country United States State Wisconsin Counties Kenosha Settled 1836 Government  - Mayor John M. Antaramian Population  - City 96,845  - Density  3,795. ...

Epilogue

Because AMC was focusing its attentions on their newly acquired Jeep line, the redesigned Matador coupe, and the AMC Pacer, which would debut in 1975, the company would not put forth the money to give the full-size Ambassador, and its Matador sedan and wagon counterparts, a new lease on life after 1974. Much of the car's tooling had been around since the 1967 model year, and rather than invest in what appeared to be a declining market, AMC decided to spend its money on smaller cars and sport-utility vehicles. For other uses, see Jeep (disambiguation). ... The AMC Pacer was a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980. ...

However, the Ambassador lived on in spirit as that similarly sized and styled Matador became available in uplevel "Brougham" trim from 1975-76, and unique Barcelona trim in 1978. 1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ...

Specifications

• Length: 206.5 in (1969); 208 in (1970), 210.8 in (1971-72); 212.8 (1973-74)
• Width: 77.2 in
• Wheelbase: 117" (1958-61); 108" (1962); 112" (1963-64); 116" (1965-66); 118" (1967-68); 122" (1969-74)

This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

References & Further Reading

External links

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AMC Ambassador

• AMC Rambler Club
• American Motors Owners Association
• Nash Car Club
• Nash Healey History
• Nash in the UK
• 1967 Ambassador information, factory Data Book, and more
• 1970 Ambassador information and specifications