If you want a perfect example of what AMC was producing for middle America in the early 1970s, this is it! Resplendent in Baja Bronze Metallic paint that I think may be original (there’s no sign of masking around the various emblems and trim, so if it isn’t original, it was at least prepared well) and lots of chrome, it’s obvious that this Ambassador was someone’s pride and joy. It is being offered to settle an estate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and is listed here on eBay. I will tell you that I think their $13,998 buy it now price is awfully ambitious, but as it states in the ad, “no reasonable offer refused.”
If you zoom into this picture, you’ll see the car was last licensed in May 2015. Hopefully sitting for a couple of years (presumably) hasn’t hurt anything. I especially like the clean lines of the Ambassador from the rear; the front is a little busy for my tastes. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like this dreamboat in my garage, though.
Wow, what a period interior. According to AMC this was gold. I’d call it brown, or at least gold-brown, but hey, I’m not complaining. It pains me to see the speakers (which I believe are newly installed) cut into those mint door panels. Oh well–wait until you see the trunk! And the other thing I wonder about is a mention of interior and exterior LED lighting. My hope is that those are replacement bulbs only, not additional “glow”.
We’re told that the car is pre-wired for a sub woofer. I can only assume that means that someone has removed that speaker from the trunk since this picture. I hope so. Is that a bias-ply spare tire? I’m guessing with just under 70,000 miles (and I believe that) it might actually be the original spare, but I thought AMC’s from this point in time had that weird inflatable spare with the pressurized can to inflate it. Of course, someone could have swapped it out for a real wheel/tire like my Dad did in our Hornet.
This good looking engine is under the hood, along with some more shiny paint. I’m not sure if the color difference here is as a result of a repaint or not. I’m pretty sure some components under here have been rattle canned, but it looks like it was done relatively well. All in all, if the price can be brought down to a more reasonable figure, I think this could be a cool cruiser–but I’d leave the sub-woofer and LED’s behind! What do you think this boulevard cruiser is worth? And would you like to own it?
It’s sad to think with all of the great looking automobiles that were being built and sold by the big three back then, that someone actually signed off on this design. REALLY ? ? ? What kind of person bought these ?
Take a good look and think of 80s Caprices.
Front end looks like a Torino, back like a Dart
sparkster I for one am glad they did. These were a solid honest car.with a great ride, plenty of power more so with the optional 401. What more could you ask for? You don’t drive this car hanging off the hood looking at the front end anyway. It didn’t look any less contemporary then anything else at the time.
I think the 72 Pontiac Grandvilles, Ford Thunderbirds and Mercury Grand Marquis weren’t attractive but am not going to walk on them. The sister car was the Matador as you can see the roof line/doors are the same. The Matador was favored by many Police departments and officers who remember them will always have something good to say.
The Ambassador was AMC’s luxury car. In 1970 it was the only car other then the Cadillac that came standard with A/C. It had a better ride and interior then the Matador at about half the cost of a Lincoln or ‘llac.
AMC was in business because NOT everyone liked what the “Big Three” was making. Many forget the Games GM had played on the public. The Corvair coverup to the massive defective motor mount scandal. The early 70’s were profitable years for AMC as a result of many who wanted change.
They are not essentially rare as they come up for sale quite often in nice condition. A testament to the owners thinking a lot of them. The ask is very energetic to say the least. My guess the seller isn’t sure what it is worth and would take a fair offer.
Your Funny.. OLD PEOPLE
You need to consider the era, because frankly, there just wasn’t a lot of really cool cars for fair money; Corvettes, yeah, Cadillacs-yeah, but not a lot the average woking slob could lay out his samoleans for & expect the dealer to back the warranty! Anyways; Lotsa folks bought ’em, including cop folks. Besides, you oughta know that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ , what else could explain a skinny guy with a huge girlfriend who’d squash him in a false move on the dance floor?! Really, the cars were nice, if not ultra refined & they were a great $$ deal besides. The fact that the AMX’s & American models, Hornets & a couple others were danged fast at the races, shows the company’s serious attempts to win a reluctant, & fickle public. (Personally, I think the thought of the older ‘Ramblers’ which looked like refrigerators bothered some folks, who were also too fickle to even drive a later AMC product demo at the dealer’s! ) Too bad, they missed out!
What do I think it’s worth? 2 grand…would I like to own it? Sorry, but no…it does look like it’s in nice shape, though.
How hard is it to get mechanical parts for these?
Not an issue. Surprisingly Autozone can get almost anything you need. For the rare chance they cannot. Many great AMC specific clubs on the net that would be glad to offer assistance. Lots of dedicated venders who have spent their adult life catering to American Motors. Jeff Kennedy @ Kennedy American for one is a one call source. Eddie Stakes @ plannethouston AMX is a wealth of information as well.
Many of the 1156 1157 retrofit LED bulbs do not blink properly in the older cars. I prefer the gradual glow of real bulbs
Why would anybody put LED bulbs in an old car?
You also need to replace the blinker if you go to led, has to do with how much amperage is running through the circuit.
Lose the whitewalls, slap on a set of dog dishes, set up a stakeout and execute the arrest warrant for violating this machine with a bunch of aftermarket electronic gizmos.
All kidding aside. Nice car. Would make a great sleeper.
I like it for what it is! I like the color…I had a 2001 Acura CL SType that was sundance gold with black leather.
AMC got a lot of mileage out of this chassis…same basic sedan till the end of the Matador run.
At least it doesn’t have a plaid interior like our 76 Matador fastback bro-ham coupe. Our Matador came with 14″ bias and full size spare.
Nice car….$4500
I like the brocade fabric. If wheel covers were hats I think these would be a “pork pie.”
This just screams “I’m driving with grandpa”. What’s missing is the cigar smell and a Sinatra 8-track.
Great cars, and unlike GMs full sizers of the time, the back door windows went all the way down! AMC is the best!
I guess I’m one of the few that really likes the
front (& back) ends on these. AMC at their finest.
I saw a two door parked just South of Cave Junction,
Oregon a few years back,in great shape.Should have bought it.
The only value I can see is duplicating an undercover or detectives car from an old TV show.
Other than that, who knows.
I would love to have this….lots of my kin worked in Kenosha AMC. But really…what in the heck could have cost 29K as his investment. Didn’t see anything there other than a sweet original (almost) car. That Garmin and stereo add may have even detracted from the value based on the install.
Better known as “Kenosha Can”
Who bought these??? Just about every law enforcement agency this side of the Pacific. AMC was a hummin’ in the late 60’s-early 70’s. My old man had a ’70 Ambassador, that was an ex-forestry car, with all the police equipment. 390 AMX motor, that car could burn rubber for a block. It was on the extreme low end, option wise, but couldn’t kill it ( my brother and I tried) This car was clearly used by some grandchild, that more than likely, got it for nothing from grandma, as I highly doubt grandma ( or grandpa, for that matter) would cut holes for speakers, fancy sound system and dual chrome exhaust tips and the factory “AM” radio, obviously didn’t cut it.( the ball game was good enough for grandpa) Nice comfy car. I don’t think people will be jumping over one another to get this, but a very nice car, and that’s about it. Wisconsin’s finest ( I’ve had a few of these in my rear view mirror.)
https://presteblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/ambocop72.jpg
Love it… It just has too many doors.
This about fits it….
Wow….just woke up….finally realized
that it’s a Ambassador and not a Matador.
Had I realized that earlier I wouldn’t
have posted the picture…getting older
is a real bummer….
Nothing done to it that can’t be undone. For a third the price would be a nice car to own.
Those door panels are pure unobtanium, and they’re butchered. You’d have to learn to live with the speakers in them.
AMC was miles ahead of the big 3 during these years. The size was more appropriate, ( see 1977 Impala / Caprice or 1979 LTD/Marquis). A/C was standard equipment ( GM Ford & Chrysler charged over $500 for it ). They held up well even in severe operating conditions. I like this car, though I’d have to lose all the aftermarket stuff. I think an appropriate price would be closer to $5k considering the work that would be neede to return it to stock.
WOW, you have an EYE for Cars…. I am Looking at a 1950 Ford Custom Flathead V8… 2Dr Coupe… Any Feed-back? John
Always likes AMC for its quikiness. AMC was the one make in the 1970’s that actually took risks
Drove a few while serving in Germany but we had the 6 and 3 n the tree very wallowy on the road very softly sprung did not like the Autobahn much above 70mph but we tried to blow them up just because we did not give a damn.
Back when we could buy real automobiles…
The styling is nothing to write home about, but compare to say a ’72 Fury or LTD and it’s no worse than those (the Impala/Caprice probably was more sleek ). To me the tail is fairly attractive except that the rear window seems too tall relative to the side windows. But I LOVE to see a survivor car like this, even though it’s not really an enthusiast’s ride. Plus it’s something offbeat, I would definitely look at it at Cars & Coffee. Kudos to the previous owners for conserving it. Asking price seems a bit steep, maybe $7,000 to $8,000 is more like it.
I agree with you on the price. The $13K seems a little ambitious and yet the estimates of $4-$5K too low. I don’t see anything that couldn’t be fixed or repaired except for the door cards. As for the ride, stiffer shocks would do the trick. Parts are no problem. Mileage is probably a little low.
If the A/C is up and running, what other car could give you the same pleasure for so little money. A good looking car for the times.
The back actually reminds me a little of a 1971 Mercury Marquis. It had lights running across the back in the bumper with divisions on either side. Marquis had same style in 1969, 1970, 1971 and in 1972 the center part was just decorative. 1971 Ford LTD had same style with a light in the middle, then they put a reflector in the middle in 1972. The 1971 Ford LTD had 8 lights that lit across the back. I had one. I love seeing today’s Dodge Chargers and Lincoln MKZs with the LEDs across the back, but of course those older ones wouldn’t look right with the LEDs.
Cool old car. Find or make some period appropriate speaker grills for the door panels and get a set of 15″ Magnum 500s painted AMC correct.
Bet this has the funky 3D effect trim on the passenger side of the dash.
A few years ago, a pretty nice Ambassador like this showed up in Pull A Part. I was amazed and pleased at how thoroughly stripped it was the next week I saw it.
Some one sprayed that trunk black, as all AMCs had trunks painted the color of the car. Maybe to cover rust?