Series 80 (Ambassador, 75-78 Matador Sedan & Wagon)
The Series 80 was the luxury flagship of AMC. AMC retained the Series 80 designation for its big car even after dropping the Nash (and Hudson) nameplates that the 1958 models were originally intended to wear. The Ambassador nameplate was used continuously from 1932 until its demise in 1974 -- a period of 42 years. This makes it the longest continually used model name in automotive history.
1958-62 Ambassador
1958 - 1961 Rambler Ambassador
car pictures go here |
Development
AMC and its constituent companies, Nash and Hudson, had lost money in 1954 and 1955, and would continue to loose money during 1956 and 1957. When development of the 1958 models began in early 1956, the outlook was bleak and would become more so throughout the year. The challenge the company was facing was that, on the one hand, the success of the 1958 models would be imperative for the survival of the company, and on the other, the resources available required creative reuse of existing body structures, powertrains and components rather than the development of something brand new. As it turned out, the company, under the leadership of AMC President George Romney, succeeded brilliantly at creative reuse, aided by increasing consumer interest in products somewhat smaller, more economical and less flamboyant than what AMC's competitors were offering. There were some compromises during development, but buyers were not deterred. AMC earned a profit for the first time in 1958, and the 1958 cars, appropriately updated, continued to generate profits until they were replaced in 1963.
The Ambassador model would be a replacement for the Nash and Hudson makes which would not be built after 1957. The Ambassador was intially intended to be sold with Nash and Hudson badges through existing Nash and Hudson dealers, but it became apparent in mid 1957 that a consolidation of the two networks into a single AMC Rambler network was an economic necessity. As a replacement for Nash and Hudson, the Rambler Ambassador would have to offer more to justify its higher price. A larger body shell than that used for the 108" wheelbase Rambler would have been ideal, but AMC did not have the resources to produce two separate body shells. They had to extend the Rambler body shell 9 inches forward of the cowl to accomodate the larger V8 that would be standard in the Ambassador, and thus they got their larger car. They did not get a larger interior. This was an essential compromise given the financial constraints at the time.
The Ambassador received a 5.35 liter V8 as standard equipment, compared with the 4.1 liter V8 that was optional equpment in the 108" wheelbase models. That, and a standard anti-sway stabilizer bar on the front suspension, were the only mechanical differences between the two cars. The increased power was just enough to offset the additional weight. both cars were good straight line performers, which was the only measure of performance for most U.S. car buyers in 1958, and, according to contemporary evaluations, consumed slightly less fuel than their counterparts because of their lower weight.
The Rambler Ambassador on the market
All three 1958 Rambler lines were promoted as "compacts", and that was a magic word in 1958. A better term would have been practical design : comfortable 5/6 passenger interior, less exterior size and vehicle weight. Only the 100" wheelbase American was truly a compact. But "compact" worked. It worked so well that it prompted AMC's four competitors to introduce their own compacts, starting in 1959.
The Ambassador was sold as a "luxury compact", but at 3500 pounds it was not compact. However, it was more so than the 1958 Dodge, Pontiac Chieftain and wagon, Edsel Ranger/Pacer/wagon , which sold for the same price but weighed between 150 and 200 pounds more for comparable models. So with the Ambassador, Rambler dealers could offer their customers a larger car with a more powerful V8 and a more luxurious interior than were offered in the smaller Rambler. All Ramblers used unit body construction, not available in any other U.S. cars except for the expensive Lincoln and Ford Thunderbird, a more thorough anti rust immersion process than available elsewhere, and, because of the success of the 1958 Ramblers, excellent resale value. What they could not offer was a larger interior than the 108" Rambler. While some of their competitors could not do so either - the cost saving measure of stretching a body shell forward of the cowl to create a larger car without expanding the passenger compartment was common then and it is today. However, in public perception, a Pontiac was a step up from a Chevrolet, a Rambler Ambassador was a Rambler. These two factors - lack of a separate nameplate and lack of a larger interior probably limited marketplace acceptance of the Rambler Ambassador.
Body Styles and Trim Levels
The Ambassador was offered in Super and Custom trim, the difference being more luxurious interior trim and exterior chrome on the Custom. A Deluxe was offered for fleet sales from 1959 on. All body styles were 4 door. This was another compromise of the development process. Four door models were more popular than two door, so to cut costs, the 108" body shell, and the 117" Ambassador body shell developed from it, were only available in 4 door body styles. However, hardtop body styles were popular in 1956, so both the 108" Rambler and the Ambassador that followed were available as 4 door hardtops and 4 door hardtop wagons, which was an AMC innovation. The pillarless designs were expensive to manufacture and proved to be less popular than expected, so they were dropped after 1960. Although AMC would offer convertibles in the future, they never again offered a 4 door pillarless body style.
Engines
The only engine offered on the 1958 - 1961 Rambler Ambassador was a 5.35 liter V8. For 1958 and 1959, only was version was available : 4 barrel Holley carburetor, 9.7 : 1 compression ratio, 270 hp.. For 1960 and 1961, that version became optional. The standard engine fo 1960 and 1961 was a 2 barrel Holley, 8.7 : 1 compression ratio, 250 hp.
Transmissions
A three speed manual transmission was standard for all models, all years; an optional overdrive was available. However, it is likely that almost all of these cars came with "Flash o Matic", a three speed automatic manufactured by Borg Warner with a push button dash control.
Production Numbers
| 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | |
| Deluxe sedan | 0 | 155 | 302 | 273 |
| Super sedan | 2.774 | 4.675 | 3.990 | 3.299 |
| Super wagon | 1.051 | 1.782 | 1.979 | 1.376 |
| Custom sedan | 6.369 | 10.791 | 10.949 | 10.100 |
| Custom wagon | 2.742 | 4.341 | 5.002 | 3.794 |
| Custom 4 door hardtop | 1.340 | 1.447 | 1.141 | 0 |
| Custom 4 door hardtop wagon | 294 | 578 | 435 | 0 |
| t o t a l | 14.570 | 23.769 | 23.798 | 16.842 |
VIN Decoder
Unit Body Identification Plate
Body
Model
Trim
Paint
The following colors were available in ????-????. The original color can be determined by looking at the Paint code on the body tag. If there are two codes separated by a dash, the first code is the primary body color and the second code is the upper body (sometimes roof) or accent color. For example, a car that was black with a white top would have a paint code of 1-72. Paint codes may also be prefixed with a P or suffixed with an A. Note that some cars were painted non-standard colors. These cars will typically have a code such as " 00" or "SPEC". This was reserved for large orders in the special color, usually for fleet use.
| Paint Code | Color | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Black | ??? |
Color samples can be viewed at http://autocolorlibrary.com/aclns.html
Sequential Assembly Number
Bibliography
The following sources were used to verify the information contained on this page:
- Series 5800 summary of U.S. production - automobiles. AMC internal memo.
- Series 5900 summary of U.S. production - automobiles. AMC internal memo, dated 9/17/59.
- Rambler sales catalogs, 1958 - 1961.
- AMCRC Rambler Club. 1958 - 1969 Rambler production handbook.
- John Gunnell. Standard catalog of American cars, 1946 - 1975. Kraus Publications, 2002.
- Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Encyclopedia of American cars. Publications International, 2006.
- Ward's automotive yearbook, 1959 - 1962.
- Resource 2
Rambler Ambassador, 1958 - 1962
Development
AMC and its constituent companies, Nash and Hudson, had lost money in 1954 and 1955, and would continue to loose money during 1956 and 1957. When development of the 1958 models began, in early 1956, the outlook was bleak and would become more so throughout the year. On the one hand, it was imperative that the 1958 models would be very successful, or the new company would not be able to continue operating. On the other hand, the resources available required creative re-use of existing bodies and powertrains rather than anything brand new. As it turned out, the company under the leadership of AMC President George Romney succeded brilliantly at adaptive re-use, and their 1958 line coincided with increasing buyer interest in products somewhat less flamboyant and smaller than what AMC's competitors were offering. There were some compromises during development, but buyers did not notice. AMC earned a profit for the first time in 1958, and the 1958 cars continued to generate profits with annual updates through 1962.
The Ambassador model would be a replacement for the Nash and Hudson models, which would not be built after 1957. The Ambassador was initially intended to be sold with Nash and Hudson badges through existing Nash and Hudson dealers, but it soon became apparent that the consolidation of Nash and Hudson dealer networks into a single AMC Rambler network was an economic necessity. As a replacement for Nash and Hudson, it would have to offer more to justify a higher price. A separate body shell from that used for the standard Rambler would have been ideal, and would have added passenger room, but AMC did not have the funds to produce two separate body shells. They had to extend the Classic body shell by 9 inches forward of the cowl to accomodate the larger V8, and thus they got their larger car. They did not get a roomier car. This was an essential compromise within the development process.
The Ambassador received a 5.35 liter V8 as standard equipment , compared with the 4.1 liter V8 that was optional in the 108" Rambler. The Ambassador engine was rated at 250 hp with a two barrel carbuerator, 270 with an optional 4 barrel. That, and a standard anti-sway stabilizer bar on the front suspension, were the only major mechanical differences between the two cars. The increased power was just enough to offset the additional weight. Both cars were good straight line performers, which was all that mattered at the time, and, according to contemporay evalutions, consumed slightly less fuel than their counterparts because of their lower weight.
The Rambler Ambassador on the market
All three 1958 Rambler lines were promoted as "compacts", and that was a magic word in 1958. A better word would have been practical design : standard 5/6 passenger interior, less exterior size and weight. Only the 100 " wheelbase American was truly a compact. But "compact" worked. It worked so well, that it prompted AMC's four competitors to offer compact cars for the first time, starting in 1959 and 1960.
The Ambassador was a "luxury compact", but at at 3500 pounds or more, it was not really compact. It was more so than the 1958 Pontiac Chieftain, Dodge Coronet, Edsel Ranger/Pacer/wagon or Mercury Monterey, which sold for about the same price but weighed about 150 - 200 pounds more. So with the Ambassador, Rambler dealers could offer their customers a larger car than the standard Rambler with a standard V8 larger than that available in the standard Rambler and a more luxurious interior. In addition, the Ambasssador shared with the standard models a unit body, not available from any other U.S. manufacturer in 1958 - 1959 except for the expensive Lincoln and Ford Thunderbird, a more thorough rust prevention process . What they could not offer was a car with additional interior room to justify the higher price. While some of the aforementioned competitors could not do so either - the cost saving measure of stretching a smaller body shell to make a larger car without expanding the passenger compartment was common then and is today. However, in public perception, a Pontiac was a step up from a Chevrolet, a Rambler Ambassador was still a Rambler. These two factors - lack of a separate nameplate and no additional interior room at a higher price- probably limited marketplace acceptance .
Rambler Ambassador production, 1958 - 1961
| 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | |
| Deluxe sedan | 0 | 155 | 302 | 273 |
| Super sedan | 2.774 | 4.675 | 3.990 | 3.299 |
| Super wagon | 1.051 | 1.782 | 1.979 | 1.376 |
| Custom sedan | 6.369 | 10.791 | 10.949 | 10.100 |
| Custom wagon | 2.742 | 4.341 | 5.002 | 3.794 |
| Custom 4 door hardtop | 1.340 | 1.447 | 1.141 | 0 |
| Custom 4 door hardtop wagon | 294 | 578 | 435 | 0 |
| total | 14.570 | 23.769 | 23.798 | 16.842 |
Sources for this article
Series 5800 summary of U.S. production - automobiles. AMC internal memo
Series 5900 summary of U.S. production - automobiles. AMC internal memo
Rambler sales catalogs, 1958 - 1961.
AMCRC Rambler Club. 1958 - 1969 Rambler production handbook
Auto Editors of Consumer Guide. Encyclopedia of American cars. Publications International 2006.
1963-66 Ambassador <--- Empty
Page Title
car pictures go here |
General Information
Surely someone knows something about this car.Body Styles and Trim Levels
Engines
Transmissions
Production Numbers
VIN Decoder
Unit Body Identification Plate
Body
Model
Trim
Paint
The following colors were available in ????-????. The original color can be determined by looking at the Paint code on the body tag. If there are two codes separated by a dash, the first code is the primary body color and the second code is the upper body (sometimes roof) or accent color. For example, a car that was black with a white top would have a paint code of 1-72. Paint codes may also be prefixed with a P or suffixed with an A. Note that some cars were painted non-standard colors. These cars will typically have a code such as " 00" or "SPEC". This was reserved for large orders in the special color, usually for fleet use.
| Paint Code | Color | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Black | ??? |
Color samples can be viewed at http://autocolorlibrary.com/aclns.html
Sequential Assembly Number
Bibliography
The following sources were used to verify the information contained on this page:
- Resource 1
- Resource 2
1967-74 Ambassador <--- Empty
Page Title
car pictures go here |
General Information
Surely someone knows something about this car.Body Styles and Trim Levels
Engines
Transmissions
Production Numbers
VIN Decoder
Unit Body Identification Plate
Body
Model
Trim
Paint
The following colors were available in ????-????. The original color can be determined by looking at the Paint code on the body tag. If there are two codes separated by a dash, the first code is the primary body color and the second code is the upper body (sometimes roof) or accent color. For example, a car that was black with a white top would have a paint code of 1-72. Paint codes may also be prefixed with a P or suffixed with an A. Note that some cars were painted non-standard colors. These cars will typically have a code such as " 00" or "SPEC". This was reserved for large orders in the special color, usually for fleet use.
| Paint Code | Color | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Black | ??? |
Color samples can be viewed at http://autocolorlibrary.com/aclns.html
Sequential Assembly Number
Bibliography
The following sources were used to verify the information contained on this page:
- Resource 1
- Resource 2
1975-78 Matador Sedan & Wagon <--- Empty
Page Title
car pictures go here |
General Information
Surely someone knows something about this car.Body Styles and Trim Levels
Engines
Transmissions
Production Numbers
VIN Decoder
Unit Body Identification Plate
Body
Model
Trim
Paint
The following colors were available in ????-????. The original color can be determined by looking at the Paint code on the body tag. If there are two codes separated by a dash, the first code is the primary body color and the second code is the upper body (sometimes roof) or accent color. For example, a car that was black with a white top would have a paint code of 1-72. Paint codes may also be prefixed with a P or suffixed with an A. Note that some cars were painted non-standard colors. These cars will typically have a code such as " 00" or "SPEC". This was reserved for large orders in the special color, usually for fleet use.
| Paint Code | Color | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classic Black | ??? |
Color samples can be viewed at http://autocolorlibrary.com/aclns.html
Sequential Assembly Number
Bibliography
The following sources were used to verify the information contained on this page:
- Resource 1
- Resource 2