AMC Ambassador

AMC Ambassador
1958 Ambassador hardtop station wagon
Overview
Manufacturer	American Motors Corporation (AMC)
Also called	Ambassador by Rambler American Motors Ambassador Rambler Ambassador IKA Ambassador
Production	1957–1974
Model years	1958–1974
Assembly	Kenosha Factory, Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S. Australia (AMI) Córdoba, Argentina (IKA) Costa Rica (ECASA)
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size/Full-size
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Predecessor	Nash Ambassador

First generation
1958 Ambassador V8, Custom sedan
Overview
Also called	Ambassador V8 by Rambler
Model years	1958–1959
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop sedan 4-door station wagon 4-door hardtop station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	327 cu in (5.4 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	117 in (2,972 mm)

Second generation
1960 Ambassador V8 by Rambler
Overview
Also called	Rambler Ambassador
Model years	1960–1961
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door hardtop sedan 4-door station wagon 4-door hardtop station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	327 cu in (5.4 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	117 in (2,972 mm)

Third generation
1962 Rambler Ambassador
Overview
Also called	Rambler Ambassador
Model years	1962
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	327 cu in (5.4 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108 in (2,743 mm)

Fourth generation
1963 Rambler Ambassador 880 Sedan
Overview
Model years	1963–1964
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door coupe (1963) 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door hardtop (1964)
Powertrain
Engine	327 cu in (5.4 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	112 in (2,845 mm)
Length	188.8 in (4,796 mm)
Width	71.3 in (1,811 mm)
Height	55.3 in (1,405 mm)

Fifth generation
1965 Rambler Ambassador 990 2-door hardtop
Overview
Also called	Rambler Ambassador AMC Ambassador
Model years	1965–1966
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door hardtop 2-door convertible
Powertrain
Engine	232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 287 cu in (4.7 L) V8 327 cu in (5.4 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed with overdrive "Twin-Stick" on console (1965) 4-speed manual (1966) 3-speed automatic 3-speed “Shift-Command” on console
Dimensions
Wheelbase	116 in (2,946 mm)
Length	200 in (5,080 mm)

Sixth generation
1967 AMC Ambassador DPL convertible
Overview
Model years	1967–1968
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door sedan (automobile) (1967 only) 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door hardtop coupe 2-door convertible (1967 only)
Powertrain
Engine	232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 290 cu in (4.8 L) V8 343 cu in (5.6 L) V8 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 3-speed with overdrive 4-speed manual 3-speed BorgWarner automatic 3-speed “Shift-Command” on center floor console
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118 in (2,997 mm)
Length	202.5 in (5,144 mm)

Seventh generation
1969 AMC Ambassador SST 4-door sedan
Overview
Also called	American Motors Ambassador Rambler Ambassador
Model years	1969–1973
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon 2-door hardtop coupe
Powertrain
Engine	232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 290 cu in (4.8 L) V8 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 343 cu in (5.6 L) V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122 in (3,099 mm)
Length	206.5 in (5,245 mm) (1969) 208 in (5,283 mm) (1970) 210.8 in (5,354 mm) (1971–72) 212.8 in (5,405 mm) (1973)

Eighth generation
1974 Ambassador Brougham sedan
Overview
Model years	1974
Body and chassis
Class	Full-size
Body style	4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed Torque Command automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	122 in (3,099 mm)
Length	217.8 in (5,532 mm)

The Ambassador was the top-of-the-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 between 1927 and 1931); at the time it was discontinued, Ambassador was the longest continuously used nameplate in automotive history.

Most Ambassador models were built in Kenosha, Wisconsin. They were also built at AMC's Brampton Assembly in Brampton, Ontario from 1963 to 1966. Australian Motor Industries (AMI) assembled Ambassadors from knock-down kits with right-hand drive. The U.S. fifth generation Ambassadors were produced by Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) in Córdoba, Argentina from 1965 to 1972, as well as assembled by ECASA in Costa Rica from 1965 to 1970. Fifth and seventh generation Ambassadors were modified into custom stretch limousines in Argentina and the U.S.

Following George W. 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 domestic Big Three (General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler) automakers 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.