1957 would be the last year for the Nash Ambassador, such as this 1957 Nash Ambassador Custom sedan that is listed on eBay with no reserve and a single $500 bid. This big beauty is located in Burns, Wyoming and it’s a project car, but for those of us who are huge Nash fans it would be nice to own one someday.
The Ambassador name lived on with Rambler and AMC products but not for Nash. I prefer the 1956 Nash Ambassador, at least for the grille and headlight treatment, but a last-year model has to be desirable, doesn’t it? This car sure is different from a 1957 Chevy, it’s hard to believe that they’re even from the same decade, the Nash looks fairly outdated when a person compares the two cars. There is rust to deal with as you can imagine, both outside and on the floor boards.
This car “has been sitting in a field since 2000. My Dad purchased this car from someone in FL off an add in Hemmings, had it shipped to IL, and when Illinois got their hands on the title, they screwed it up by one number. Fast forward to my Dad moving to Wyoming to be with me, passing away and then finding out when I went to put it in my name, that IL had screwed up one number in the VIN and I could not transfer it. Wyoming cannot help me, Illinois will not help me, and I have too many other things on my plate right now. So, I have the Illinois title, you can get a new one, use the car for parts, whatever.”. Whew, I’m tired after reading that! So, there is no title which may or may not be a problem for the next owner.
The “tires are trash. Glass is all good except for the windshield. The interior is in “sitting in a field for 20 years,” shape. REALLY ROUGH. I have a couple of door handles and an arm rest, the hub caps continental kit and I believe all the hard wear to attach it. Then there are the 2 white pieces of trim in the one pic, on the floorboard…NO IDEA what they are for, lol. The seats are in it, but are really bad.” There are a few interior photos and yeah, it’s rough, to say the least. There aren’t any engine photos but this one should have AMC’s 327 V8 which would have had a healthy 255 hp and 345 lb-ft of torque. Of course, it’ll need to be rebuilt like everything else on this big beautiful boulevard barge does. This will most likely end up being a parts car for someone doing a restoration on their Nash Ambassador. Are there any Nash Ambassador fans out there?
These last-gasp Nashes always reminded me of Soviet-era car styling, and when compared to the svelt lines of the Big Three’s 1957 offerings – the Kenosha Kadillaks look downright frumpy. Even Studebaker-Packard’s cars were better proportioned, and that company was even more cash-strapped than American Motors!
61 years on, it would be nice to see someone save the Ambassador, just because its a model that the world has largely forgotten…
…I’m not at all tempted, though…
American Motors was flush with cash! They were minting money on the Rambler. There was no need to invest in large Senior cars given the highly profitable Ramblers were the way to the future
There sits a once proud and glorious, but now tired and beat looking old Badassador with a whole lot more troubles than it deserves but, in the end, we are all at the mercy of low level government bureaucrats and the apparently uncorrectable clerical errors that they constantly make. I live in constant fear that when I arrive at the Pearly Gates, they won’t let me in because of some minor clerical error and I shall therefore be forced to spend all eternity at the ‘other place’. Ah well, pass the marshmallows.
I’ll beat this drum one more time…There needs to be some type of national system for sorting out missing titles to old cars, or as in the case of this car, one that has some title error that isn’t as a result of some shady dealings.
The states that don’t require titles on old cars need to do just that…require titles. Hell, they could mandate it, and make money! What government agency doesn’t like money? When you go to register for the year’s new sticker, you will need to fill out a form and buy a proper title from Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire etc.
Trying to get a car registered in Ohio or Florida without title is next to impossible, unless you pull a fast one with the VIN. But what choice do you have?
I’m dealing with this now in NJ. Oddly…it’s a time consuming but efficient if that’s not incompatible. The court declares you the owner for $300 plus legal publication ( the real system scam).
Let us know how it turns out. The last time I did an application for a lost title in NJ (which has thankfully been about 4 years ago now) the ONLY way you could get it was
1) if the car had been abandoned at a repair station, then do a bunch of paper work, post an ad in the local paper, etc. etc. Usually took about 2-3 months if all your paperwork was done correctly.
2) if the car was abandoned or left anywhere else other than a repair shop, unless you could find the registration and the person who’s name was on the registration and have them apply for a new title, you were SOL.
It’s been ages since I’ve had to deal with DMV registrations. In NY, “titles” aren’t a thing for pre-1973 vehicles. You were given a registration card in your name, and when it came time to sell, you signed the back of the registration indicating your releasing claim to vehicle. This, along with a bill of sale, allowed a new owner to register the vehicle.
Lost registration cards weren’t a big deal [at least they weren’t] .. a notarized bill of sale did the trick
Greetings All,
I think the white trim pieces are the rear pillar trim for inside the car.
The white trim pieces are the front seat side bolsters that go at the bottom edge of the seat frame. they trim it out to a finished look and to prevent the fabric from fraying where it wraps under the frame.
These Ambassadors are certainly the forgotten ones. At least they got a new lease on life through Rambler and AMC until 1974. I owned a 1973, by the way.
Leaving drugs and alcohol out of the equation (I’d have to think these were designed by sober, straight people), what the motivation was for this styling? It’s unconventional in every way, pretty typical of Pininfarina. The 1st car, I believe, with quad headlights, stacked, no less. If you could accept the styling, these were actually very nice cars, before the cheaper built Ramblers hit the scene. I don’t think the title snafu is unobtainable, just be prepared for a day at the DMV, or several return trips, and an inspection in there somewhere (for an added fee, of course). I hope you like to stand out in a crowd, (unlike the silver jelly bean cars) because you will draw a crowd with this. It is pretty cool.
The styling was motivated by the desire to stretch another year out of Farina’s 1952 Nash, which was a lot more coherent than this monster. My dad had a ’55 Statesman Super (same body, shorter nose) and it was OK. No idea how it drove. I think the continental kits were Nash’s main profit center in the later years.
Generally title problems as described require a photo of the VIN# and or an inspection by an authorized agent of the state. Sometimes a cop or just an inspection station. No VooDoo.Oh and umm patience!
Just knew someone with the sane problem. Out of state transfer with messed up numbers. State police stopped by and did a visual inspection at his home.
My experience has been this: no title, no help from the DMV. Period. Nobody ever said “Try a lein” or “abandoned car” thing. These DMV bureaucrats just don’t care about your title problem. Period.
Bill of sale? No dice. OK, maybe in some states, but in FL and OH they just laugh you out of the office. Frankly I think this inconsistent policy just leads to people fudging titles and VIN numbers. Again, if they had a good method for dealing with the cross-state title issues, the states would make more money, and less shady stuff would occur.
I love the oddballs; and this Nash checks that box quite nicely. Depending on the severity & location of the rust, she could be saved. I hope someone takes her into their care.
As far as the title issue is concerned, I would think that most states would accept a bill of sale as proper ‘titles’ didn’t come into existence until early 1970s.
I prefer the ’59 Rambler version significantly more than the Hudson. Mini-MB batwings and all.
We got a 54 Nash Ambassador from Gramma, in 1964. It had something like 20,000 miles on it. As I remember, it had 4 speed automatic, huge 6 cyl, with dual side draft carbs. Reclining seats, made the interior into a bed. Magnetic window screens for the side windows for spending the night mosquito free in your Nash. It was an awesome car, but outdated even in 64. I happen to think they are beautiful, but in the same way my mongrel dogs are beautiful. They definitely represent a time gone by. The subject 57, is worth saving. You will be the only one with one at the car shows… If this one has that 327 engine, it’s a great engine. Would move this car around nicely
Those cars are beautiful when all restored. Check out the other ones on ebay in good condition.
The nice thing on this one is the fully opened front wheel wells and subsequent tighter turning circle.
Then add in the unique tail lights, zig zag chrome and stacked headlights….. mmmm…. what’s not to like.
This, the 55 and 56 Hudson [with V Line Styling] and 56-57 Studebakers are a few of my favorite 50s cars.
Don’t forget the cool hood ornament,,,
I agree with Beatnik. Too much work. But, I know exactly where Burns, Wyoming is…26 miles east of Cheyenne…about 16 miles west of the Nebraska border. I lived in Cheyenne for 26 years. Not that that has anything to do with this car or cars in general. Just thought I’d throw that in there.
March 2018 issue Hemming’s Classic Car had an article on a two door hardtop version, much better looking than the four door, IMO.
https://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hcc/2018/03/Picking-Up-the-Pieces—-1957-Nash-Ambassador-Custom-Country-Club/3751551.html
I would enjoy hearing the sales script for this original sale on the Dealer Lot. Not sure that even Zig could flip one from the big 3 fin pedalers. How did these sales guys survive?
They didn’t Chuck…Sadly.
For one year (1963 or ‘64?), Rambler actually became one of the “big three”. But you’re right, they struggled and ultimately failed to keep up that momentum.
Yup, I obtained a 67 Divco Milk truck from up east W/lost title, brought it to Florida, did homework first. Not hard, file a lein against it for storage, towing, anything, place a notice in newspaper three times, pay da $$$$, get the new title
took a couple months.
The seller must have a few AMC’s. In the next to the last picture of the car there is a ’60 or ’61 Rambler in the background. If you notice it has the same reversed slant C pillar as the ’57. Also the standard radio control knobs are the same as a ’52 Nash-Healey & a ’63 Rambler Classic, chrome outer with black plastic inner. A little bit of worthless trivia.
What’s really cool is that you have a place to set a bunch of groceries before you even open the trunk.
I think the front end styling of the ’57 Ambassador is very, very nice and about 5 years ahead of its time (think ’63 Pontiacs or ’62 Chrysler Newports). The two-door hardtop ’57 Ambassador is the most beautiful car Nash ever made–would just about give my left arm for one. I’m trying to finish the restoration of a ’54 Ambassador two-door hardtop. They are extremely rare and hard to find cars, which to me, makes them even more desirable.
The steel used in the 50’s was plain carbon steel that would oxidize quickly. Thus any of these cars that spend even just two years in those areas would show rust all along the bottom of them. I live in central California. Never freezing temperatures and never snow or salt. The sun is what causes damage to our old cars here. About to buy a 1957 Nash Ambassador 4 door Custom with the continential kit on the back. Not a speck of rust anywhere on the car, body or chrome. Car was always in this area. Also a lot of old cars in my area have the original factory air conditioning.