A complete redesign in 1965 restored the Rambler Ambassador to the full-sized class once again.
When Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors in 1954, Nash’s flagship Ambassador model embarked on a bumpy journey. The classic Nash-based Ambassador was discontinued in June of 1957, replaced in October by the 1958 Rambler Ambassador, based on a lengthened version of the corporate Rambler platform. Then in a 1962 redesign, the Ambassador was demoted to the mid-sized category, if you will, as now it shared its modest 108-in wheelbase with the Rambler Classic.
But when George Romney left American Motors and headed off to become governor of Michigan, he was replaced as CEO by sales manager Roy Abernethy, and Abernethy was a big-car man. He set the wheels in motion to restore the Ambassador to full-sized status for 1965. The resulting product was still on the Rambler unit-body platform, but with its wheelbase stretched to 116 inches. That was a bit shorter than the 119 inches of the Ford Galaxie or Chevrolet Impala, but for American Motors, small-car headquarters, it was close enough.
AMC vice-president of design Richard A. Teague and his small styling staff (around 30 people, with plenty of overtime) worked through a number of studio proposals before they settled on a production design. While it shared its doors and greenhouse with the intermediate-class Rambler Classic, the Ambassador recieved a longer front doghouse and distinctive front and rear-end treatments, including vertical quad headlamps. The vertical headlamps became the identifying Ambassador styling feature from ’65 through ’68.
Oddly enough, ’65 was the first Rambler Ambassador with a standard six-cylinder engine. (From ’58 to ’64, a V8 was standard.) AMC had introduced a totally up-to-date 232 CID six the year before, and with a two-barrel carburetor and 155 hp it was considered worthy of the big-car line. Two optional powerplants were offered: a 287 CID V8 with 198 hp, and a 327 CID V8 with 270 hp. All could be paired with a three-speed manual, automatic, or AMC’s novel Twin-Stick floor-shifted overdrive transmission. (See our Twin-Stick feature here.)
The Ambassador was offered in two trim levels, 880 and 990, and a full range of body styles, including a convertible (above) and the Cross Country wagon (below). The 990 Cross Country was distinguished by its tasteful slash of faux-woodgrain vinyl trim. True to form for AMC, the wagons outsold the convertible by a five-to-one margin and the two-door hardtop by two to one.
The redesigned Ambassador was nothing but a success for AMC as its sales volume more than tripled to 64,000 cars in ’65, even while the company’s total sales slipped 15 percent that year. Technically speaking, the ’65 Rambler Ambassador was also the last Rambler Ambassador, as the automaker was in the midst of a corporate rebranding. In 1966, the Rambler Ambassador became the American Motors Ambassador.
Always liked these, especially the wagons and convertibles, but thought the configuration of the stacked headlamps and the way the fromt fenders came to a point looked awkward.
Born and raised in “Ramblertown”, we had a kindred connection with Rambler/AMC. My grandfather, who came to America as a boy, settled in Milwaukee, like a million other immigrants. Milwaukee was an unusually busy place, and anyone could have a job and a crack at the American dream. While my grandfather never had any connection with Rambler, he was very proud they were made in Milwaukee and drove nothing but Ramblers. His last Rambler was very similar to the lead photo. While it was near the end of his driving, mostly relegated to sitting in the back yard , smoking cigarettes and listening to the ball game, it was the nicest car he ever had, and was very proud of it.
Be that as it may be, Rambler was still behind the times. Reeling from the COTY award in ’63, these still had trunnion front ends, vacuum wipers, and heaven help you if you needed to change a clutch. The mechanicals were top notch, and painters from other countries, brought with them their expertise and work ethics, it was a great place to live and grow up and Rambler was a big part of it.