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Canadian Diplomat: 1966 Rambler Ambassador DPL

Rambler hit it out of the park with their fifth-generation Ambassador, in my opinion. This beauty is a Canadian car and it’s a 1966 Rambler Ambassador DPL, the top of the line model. It’s on Craigslist in Germantown, Wisconsin and the owner isn’t messing around, they say “Plain and simple $6700 Firm not a penny less. If you cant afford it or have Rambler Mentally I can’t help you. I dont have time to waste with stories.” Little did Pat L. know that this was a top-three car for me when he sent in this tip. Thanks again, Pat!

I always get a kick out of people calling these cars AMC Rambler Ambassadors. It’s like saying GM Buick Riviera. It is a confusing mish-mash with AMC, though, so I can see why the name gets used. Somehow AMC sounds more modern than Rambler does, maybe that’s why it gets used more often than not. This car is obviously in storage where it’s been for the last eighteen years. Heated storage, not a rattly old metal storage unit like some of us have our cars in. The fifth-generation Ambassador was a two-year model and I think it’s the best of the bunch, but that’s just my personal preference. The cheese-grater trim on the leading edge of the front fenders and also on the back and little touches like that set it apart from the ’65s. Also, the DPL, short for Diplomat, replaced 1965’s 990-H model as the top of the line two-door hardtop model.

There are no interior photos but you can see the over-the-top-cool houndstooth interior fabric through the dusty, and new-for-’66 square rear window. The 1965 models had a bit of the previous generation look in the rear roofline with a wraparound rear window, that’s gone for the modern ’66 Ambassadors. This was really a modern looking car, just what the doctor ordered for 1966. Here is what that interior would have looked like. The seller says that “It is not a turn key car it will need some work.” I’m assuming that it will need interior work as well as exterior and mechanical work. That’s how I roll, worst-case-scenario-Scotty-G. I wonder if the cool scale model Ramblers come with the sale? I’d be afraid to ask this seller, he’s not messing around with such nonsense it sounds like.

This engine photo makes up for not having any interior or passenger side photos, no? Look at that thing of beauty! (insert pause here while SG goes and dabs his eyes) This is AMC’s 327 cubic-inch V8 and it also is equipped with power brakes, power steering, and AC! (another pause here) No red hoses and no green and white Interstate battery! (major pause) And it’s clean enough to do an appendectomy on, if a person were so inclined and had the proper tools. That is a thing of beauty and it should have had around 270 hp with the 4-barrel carburetor. This car “needs a a fuel pump and gas tank cleaned” but hopefully other than that and some general tinkering the next owner will have a jewel box on their hands.

Comments

  1. Avatar jmolsn Member

    All I can say is Wow!! Love it!!

    Like 4
  2. Avatar RoughDiamond

    Already gone so no original listing to see dang it.

    Like 0
    • Avatar PatrickM

      Not only gone… It’s been deleted by author. Not sure if sold or if he got a lot of comments about his attitude. If someone is going to post an ad, then they should be willing to talk for at least a few minutes, then get down to brass tacks.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Don

        The man who bought it spent 4 hrs with a fine tooth comb inspecting it. At the end of the 4 hrs he asked me what was the best price was and i told him $6700. And that is what I got for it he also wanted additional items above and beyond. The car went to a dood home and I am able to see it have visitation privileges with just a phone call.

        Like 0
    • Avatar Don

      I sold it.

      Like 0
  3. Avatar That AMC guy

    Great car with an amazingly clean engine bay! Hope for the buyer’s sake that it looks as good underneath as it does up top! Going by imperfect memory I think 1966 is the year the “Rambler” name was removed from Ambassadors. Same same as with the Marlin.

    AC may be aftermarket judging by the universal dryer spliced into the hose and lack of a fan shroud, but it may have been part of a repair if original parts were not available. Also hopefully the dash has not been hacked up for a modern stereo given the pair of speakers in the back. (Marlin had duals in the back for Vibra-Tone installations, not sure on Ambassador.) Maybe a period-correct under-dash 8-track player.

    Guess we’ll never know since it’s already gone!

    Like 2
    • Avatar Bob C.

      Correct on 1966 being the debut year for AMC. The Rambler name soldiered on until 1968 for the Rebel and 1969, the final year, for the American.

      Like 1
      • Avatar dweezilaz

        Yes. The Marlin and the Ambassador were no longer referred to as “Ramblers” by 1966. They were AMC Ambassadors and Marlins.

        Nowhere is the word Rambler used on either car or in the brochure but pointedly featured on the Classic.

        So this 66 is an AMC Ambassador. The 65 was a Rambler Ambassador.

        At the time I suspect people still called them Nashes or Nash Ramblers.

        65,66 and 67 are, to my eye, the best looking post war Ambassadors, even though my parents had a 72.

        A 69 Rambler {American} was an AMC Rambler. Like a GMC Colorado. The company name also served as the brand name.

        Like 0
  4. Avatar Alexander Member

    “Don’t have time to waste?” For such a hardline on the $6700 price tag, you’d think the owner would clear all the crap off the car for the photo shoot! Love the vinyl roof. From one angle it doesn’t look much different than a 65-66 Ford Galaxie hardtop.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Graham Line

      “Clear all the crap off the car”? After carefully staging the ‘garage find’ photos?

      Like 1
      • Avatar PatrickM

        But, remember, the ad has already been deleted by author.

        Like 0
  5. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Boy Scotty, minus the tape that interior is killer! And with that red engine the red heater hoses could look pretty good.

    Like 2
  6. Avatar Little Cars Member

    Listing deleted. Guess he didn’t want all the extra attention to unload this car to a bigger audience.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    Just think of how much more junk can fit in that garage with that old car gone!

    Like 1
  8. Avatar Mike

    All that clutter looks kinda staged. Maybe the seller thought that it had to be that way if selling on CL.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar Denis Flaherty

    Nice car..great buy. Probably stayed in Wisconsin, that’s where it was born and lotsa fans. 327 was a very quick engine and tough as hell..I drag-raced ’em.

    Like 1
  10. Avatar MrF

    I once had a 65 990H. It was much like this one, except the hounds tooth upholstery was black and white–a little easier on the eye. Wonderful chrome dash too. One oddity was that the transmission started in second gear, unless low was engaged manually (and probably also if floored from a stop).

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Wrong Way

    Love this car! I am confused as to why if this guy claims to be so found of it why does he pile trash all around it? The post has been deleted! Being a fan of these cars, I would have liked to see if he moved it outside to take some better pictures of it! I think that I would have bought it at his price if the post wasn’t removed!

    Like 0
  12. Avatar P Wentzell

    I wonder if the promos sitting on the roof were included in the sale.

    Like 1
    • Avatar Don

      Each and everyone who saw the car wanted the promos for free, typical want more then just the car. The car sold just shy of a weeks time of being listed. Lots of conversations and lots of No Shows to see the car. It sold and I got my asking price other wise it still would be listed.

      Like 0
  13. Avatar Little Cars Member

    “Promo’s” is a catchall for all models these days. To my eye, those are Corgi or Dinky toys in 1/43 scale. Too small to be 1/25th scale promotional. I think I see a Corgi Marlin in front, I have this one in red in the original box. The Rambler in back and the other one may be Brooklins or some other upscale brand. They look detailed, much nicer than the promos offered with the real cars when they were new. Johan had the licensing to produce scale models (kits and promos) of the fullsize AMC cars from 1958 all the way to the mid-1970s. One of my favorites is the 69 Ambassador convertible and SC/Rambler.

    Like 0
  14. Avatar PatrickM

    Before I even read the ad…!!! Why do people treat cars this way?? I know they aren’t family members, but, we paid good, hard-earned cash for them. So many folks really miss the point, and yet, we see so much of this on BF.. Somebody, please, send them back to school.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Don

    This was my car I went to Canada on 2001 and drove it back to Wisconsin. You have to play hard ball there are too many nose pickers who want to takd a walk down memory lane. I showed it 3 times, the 3rd person paid for it at my azki g price. He bought it on his 37th wedding anniversary. He had a 66 DPL like mine it was in his wedding, he lost it in a fire about 8 yrs ago. It was and still is a beautiful car that in now in better hands then mine.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Wayne

      I’m the lucky guy that bought the DPL from my friend Don. I didn’t even know that he had it, safely tucked any in heated storage. It is every bit as nice, and rust-free, as it was presented. I bought it, as Don noted, to replace one lost when my building was hit by lightning and destroyed. Also lost a ’61 Ambassador, ’65 Marlin, and ’66 Ambassador convertible. We moved to Florida shortly after buying the car, and am now finally working on it, getting it ready to tackle Route 66 next year, start to finish. It’s a great car, with dealer installed underdash A/C, floor shift automatic, and that awesome red and black houndstooth interior complete with the 2 matching pillows. Thanks Don, hope to stop by with it if our return circuit brings us up there!

      Like 2

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