September Car of the Month: 1957 Nash Ambassador
Boasting headlines in their advertisements like “The Biggest of the Big V-8’s” and “Join the Swing to the Travel King,” the 1957 Nash Ambassador certainly made a statement. A luxury automobile produced by Nash Motors from 1927 to 1957, the Nash Ambassador was the top of the trim line for the first five years of production, becoming a standalone model through 1957. Known for lavish equipment and beautiful construction, it earned the nickname “Kenosha Duesenberg,” with the former being a nod to the place of origin and the latter pointing to opulence.
After the Nash-Hudson merger in 1954, the newly formed American Motors Corporation continued the Nash Ambassador through 1957. From 1958 through 1965, the car was renamed the Rambler Ambassador before changing one last time to the AMC Ambassador from 1966 through 1974, making it one of the longest-lived nameplates in automotive history.
In 1956, the Ambassador received the first American Motors produced V-8 engine that displaced 250 cubic inches. The 1957 Ambassador features the industry-first stacked quad headlights and an upgraded engine to 327 cubic inches, yielding 255 horsepower with its 4 barrel carburetor and dual exhausts. As an aside, Packard and Studabaker were originally supposed to form American Motors along with Nash and Hudson, however, the parties could not come to a suitable agreement. Packard continued to supply parts to AMC through the 1957 model year. The pictured example is equipped with a Packard Ultramatic automatic transmission.
The Ambassador custom boasted standard power steering and brakes, reclining seats that folded flat to form a queen size bed, wide rear seat center armrest that folded down to allow long items to pass through from the trunk. This example also has the optional continental kit and Weather-Eye air conditioning which is the first A/C unit to be installed under the hood and dashboard instead of in the trunk.
Engine: AMC produced 327 cubic inch overhead valve V-8, 255 h.p., forged Crankshaft, 4 Barrel carburetor and dual exhaust.
Brakes: 4 wheel hydraulic drum brakes with vacuum assist.
Transmission: Packard Ultramatic 3 speed automatic
Factory Weather Eye Air Conditioning/heating/ventilation
Steering: power assisted
Suspension: independent front with coil springs, semi-elliptical rear springs with live rear axle.
Power windows
Farina badging (as the body was co-designed with PininFarina of Italy)
Factory installed continental kit
Dual rear view mirrors
Fun facts: Fold down front seats that doubled as a bed for road trips, and window screens were also available as an option!