Throughout the 1960s, the Ambassador was American Motors’ top-of-the-line automobile. And to make it more distinctive than the Classic it was based upon, the 1965-66 Ambassadors gained wheelbase and unique styling, including stacked headlights. This 1966 edition is a 3-seat wagon in 880 trim, the Ambassador starting point. It seems well-equipped, though sports “poverty” hub caps. Located in McCordsville, Indiana, this nice wagon is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $14,500. “Sam61” found this cool tip for us as vintage wagons are “in”!
In the first half of the decade, AMC was focused on perpetuating its economy car image. That changed in 1965 as the Ambassador was repositioned to compete as a full-size car, though its exterior dimensions fell just a little short compared to the Chevy Caprice or Ford LTD. But the wheelbase was four inches longer than the Classic (but had the same interior dimensions), and the reworked styling from 1963-64 was quite different. You could say the changes worked because Ambassador sales went from 18,600 in 1964 to 64,000 in 1965 and then 71,000 in 1966.
The seller’s wagon has a 327 cubic inch V8 engine, which was optional in ’66 yet standard two years earlier. It also has a 3-speed automatic transmission (Borg-Warner?), and we assume both are original to the machine. But there is no mention of mileage or if either has ever been rebuilt. The wagon has factory air conditioning, and we presume power steering and brakes.
Not much else is said about this Ambassador, which was now badged as an AMC in 1966 instead of Rambler (they were moving away from that name). The body, paint, and interior all seem nice enough in the photos, and there is nothing said of any repairs done or needed. It’s presented as a nice wagon that you can drive home. It might be a bit pricey for a “Rambler” since the listing is now a month old. It should attract a little attention at Cars & Coffee, plus be practical at other times.
This is in amazingly original condition. It’s hard to imagine that there are many of these with a 3rd seat in existance.
With the 3rd row seat there is no spare tire because there’s no room for one. This car would have come equipped with “Captive-Aire” tires from the factory, essentially a tire within a tire. Of course many new cars today don’t come with spare tires either, so once again AMC was ahead of their time. :)
The automatic transmission is indeed made by Borg-Warner, probably model M8. I see a power brake booster but the master cylinder looks like the drum type – front disc brakes were available on these starting in 1965 but there were few takers. This also has the relatively rare electric windshield wiper option. Another rare option is the head rests on the front seats visible in the last photo. The seats are probably AMC’s famous individual recliners. Interesting air filter, too tall for the housing and definitely did not come that way from the factory. (I’ve owned Ramblers with the 327 V8.)
Price is way out there. I remember when these were $100 used cars!
I suppose it would be silly to question someone with a moniker like yours, you,,,are,,,correct. Dang, never knew that about the tires. I was certain the spare tire was under the right rear compartment next to the 3rd seat, as I remember many rusted wagons with the spare hanging out. I see those tires are long gone, and I wonder if there is space under that rear panel, otherwise, no spare? That seems like a pretty hefty gamble on AMCs part. Be a deal killer for me.
BTW, this was called a “5 door”, because the back was only a door, not a tailgate/door, like Ford had that same year.
The regular wagons without the 3rd row seat did have a spare tire compartment. I used to have a 1964 Classic wagon, same under the skin as this Ambassador, and the spare tire was in a compartment where the 3rd seat is in this wagon.
Three-seat wagons finally got a spare tire in 1967 when AMC debuted the larger Rebel/Ambassador models. Those larger cars had room for the spare tire.
I do believe the spare tire is on the passenger side wheel well. You can see that the wheel well is larger on that side. My 68 Sportwagon have a hidden spare tire compartment on. The same side.
@Jonathan de leon – To verify this I pulled out my 1965 Classic/Ambassador factory shop manual. (1963-1966 Classic and Ambassador all have the same underlying body structure.) In the Fuel section it states the following:
“Three-Seat Station Wagon: A seventeen gallon fuel tank is located inside the right rear quarter wheelhouse panel behind the right rear wheel.” The “Wheel and Tire” section talks about the run-flat tires.
That is why the wheel housing is larger on the passenger side in pre-1967 Rambler 3-seat wagons. In 1967+ 3-seat wagons the spare tire lives in that space.
I did notice a power steering reservoir. Very nice original wagon, thin white walls and full wheel covers would boost the exterior a bit. I am curious though, if it had no spare tire what is under the large cover on the rear passenger side? Pricy in my opinion but it’s just an asking price.
Check the 2nd photo which is a rear 3/4 view of the passenger side. If you look carefully you’ll see the gas cap high up on the quarter panel. (It’s body color with a chrome strip that matches the chrome trim on the car.) The gas tank is what’s under the cover on the rear passenger side.
This reminds me of the 1968 Rebel wagon with the 343 and automatic that I bought around 1980 for $200. Drove it for 2 years and sold it for what I paid. Pretty decent car.
Ambassadors were equipped with stacked headlights in 1965 and 1966, and the ’67s and ’68s had them as well.
In the pictures in the ad the odometer shows 71649 I think. Really neat car, every time I look at Barn Finds I find a car I want. Good thing the wife keeps the check book!
@ WB of 116 inches a lill too big for me. I love one piece chrome stamped grills for many of the ‘60s cars. BUT, even more – any car w/stacked head lghts (mostly ford).
Havin trouble switchin out from the standard ‘wagons’ to sprinter style ‘Trucks’ or ‘SUVs’. Even the subie wagon’s morphed into an SUV. I guess my ‘niche’ is too small for the merican public (auto manufacturers). There’s been movement back toward the ‘mini-p/u’ so w/a ‘topper’ I guess I got options. At my age, probably no worries, so the ‘ford fox’ ’85 LTD (sm 1, 105 inch WB) will last me “to the end”.
really clean solid wagon. if you get for around 10k be a great buy.
I have been in contact with the seller prior to this being on Barn Finds. I got some photos of some rust spots. Pretty good shape and yeah I’d say $9-10k.
Not the most flattering color – even “Forest Service Green”
would be a huge improvement.
Where AMC wagons are concerned, I’m torn between my admiration for the “coffin nose” mid-70s wagons and these stacked-headlight mid-60s wagons. Both have much that I find desirable, especially when a 3rd-row rear-facing seat is thrown in the mix. For sheer weirdness I guess I’d lean toward the coffin nose–the last gasp of AMC big-car bravado.