Austin Ambassador
Manufacturer	British Leyland
Production	1982-1984
Predecessor	Leyland Princess
Successor	Austin Montego Rover 600
Class	fullsize car
Body style(s)	4-door hatchback
Engine(s)	1.7 L O-Series Straight-4 2.0 L O-Series Straight-4
Transmission(s)	four speed manual three speed automatic
Wheelbase	105 inches (2670 mm)
Length	179 inches (4550 mm)
Width	69.5 inches (1760 mm)
Height	55 inches (1400 mm)
Curb weight	2784 pounds (1263 kg) unladen

The Austin Ambassador was a large hatchback automobile introduced by British Leyland (BL) in 1982. The car was a heavily updated version of the Leyland Princess, an ageing model which lacked a hatchback. Only the doors and inner structure were carried over, but the slightly wedge-shaped design betrayed the car's Princess origins, and it was not considered a truly new model. Sales were very low and the model was discontinued in 1984. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... The British Leyland Motor Corporation (often abbreviated to simply BL), was a Britain in 1968. ... The Leyland Princess is a medium-to-large car that was produced in the United Kingdom by British Leyland from 1975 until 1981. ... The Austin Montego is a British mid-size saloon car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland (BL), and its successors, from 1984 until 1994. ... The Rover 600 Series is a mid-size automobile launched early in 1993. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... A full-size car is term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car, usually having a wheelbase greater than 2. ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback shape like this 2004 Bentley Continental GT can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is a term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo... BL O-Series engine from an Morris Ital The BL O-Series engine was a straight-4 automobile engine family produced by British Leyland (BL) as a development of the BMC B-Series engine family. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... BMC O-Series engine from an Morris Ital The BMC O-Series engine was a straight-4 automobile engine family and a development of the BMC B-Series engine family. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... “Gearbox” redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Kerb (sometimes mis-spelled as curb by Americans) weight is the total weight of a vehicle with standard equipment, all necessary operating consumables (such as motor oil and coolant), a full tank of fuel and not loaded with either passengers or cargo. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Not a hatchback: a fastback shape like this 2004 Bentley Continental GT can be confused with a true hatchback Hatchback is a term describing an automobile design, consisting of a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo... “Car” and “Cars” redirect here. ... The British Leyland Motor Corporation (often abbreviated to simply BL), was a Britain in 1968. ... The Leyland Princess is a medium-to-large car that was produced in the United Kingdom by British Leyland from 1975 until 1981. ...

Unlike the Princess, there was no 2.2 litre version; the Ambassador was initially offered in 1.7 and 2.0 litre variants, in L, HL and HLS trims. Instead of the premium 2.2 litre models, there were the HLS and Vanden Plas trim levels, with a twin-carb version of the 2.0 litre engine. Bendix-Technico (Stromberg) 1-barrel downdraft carburetor model BXUV-3, with nomenclature The carburetor, carburettor, or carburetter (see spelling differences), also called carb (in North America) or carbie (chiefly in Australia) for short, is a device that blends air and fuel for an internal combustion engine. ...

In 1983, the 2.0 HL was upgraded to the more powerful twin-carb engine. The Ambassador was built in right hand drive only and thus was never exported, remaining a home market product.

The Ambassador was discontinued in 1984, with no official replacement, though its gap in the Austin-Rover range was effectively filled by the slightly smaller Montego. The Austin Montego is a British mid-size saloon car that was produced by the Austin Rover subsidiary of British Leyland (BL), and its successors, from 1984 until 1994. ...

UK engine and trim options	L	HL	HLS	Vanden Plas
1.7
2.0
2.0 twin carb

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Special versions

Like the Leyland Princess before it, Ambassadors were converted by specialist coachbuilders into hearse and limousine variants.

Parts bin components

The headlights were shared with the Morris Ital. Much of the internal trim was also similar or identical to that seen on other BL products. The Morris Ital was launched in June 1980. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Austin Ambassador

• The Austin Ambassador page at the Leyland Princess web site