Chevy/Ford. Stacked headlights are just as polarizing for most folks as the age-old debate between Chevrolet and Ford. I’m a big fan of stacked headlights, and others don’t like them at all. Some can take them or leave them. This 1968 AMC Ambassador SST Sedan can be found listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Hanford, California, and the seller is asking $4,000. Here is the original listing.
There’s just something fresh, crisp, clean, and modern about stacked headlights for me. The 1960s would turn out to be an interesting era anyway, no matter whether your paired headlights were horizontal or vertical. In the case of the Ambassador SST in this period, you also got “rally lights” in the new sixth-generation grille. The sixth-generation of the Ambassador was only made for 1967 and 1968, a short run, but the final coffin-nose generation of the Ambassador was only available in 1974. My favorite generation of the Ambassador was right before this one, the fifth-gen cars for 1965 and 1966. I don’t know many people with a favorite generation of the AMC Ambassador. Do you have one?
The seller says this car retains its original paint – 44A, Caravelle Blue Iridescent, according to the data plate they show in the photo gallery – but clearly the right front fender has something going on. The trim and badges are missing from the RF fender, and it’s as faded as the memory of the good ol’ days. The left rear quarter panel is also faded, as you can see above. I’m not sure what’s going on there, but otherwise, this looks like a straight car. Speaking of straight, I’m rarely a fan of exhaust tips poking out of the back like that, but at least they don’t appear to have long chrome extensions. Dual exhaust was optional for the 343 V8, and “big, shiny wheel discs” (i.e., wheelcovers) were standard on the SST line.
The original seat fabric is great, other than the obvious split on the driver’s seat bottom portion. Is that a 60/40 seat? Individual reclining seats were standard on the SST line, but a center armrest and headrests were optional. This one doesn’t have headrests or a center armrest that I can see. The back seat looks perfect. Air-conditioning was standard on this car, but power windows were optional. The little square portion of color-matched vinyl on the doors is interesting. I’m not sure how that made it past the otherwise usually spot-on AMC interior designers. The trunk is huge, and it looks clean overall. This car was $3,151 new.
Kudos to the seller for taking photos of just about every part of this car. The engine is AMC’s 343-cu.in. OHV Typhoon V8 with 280 horsepower and 365 lb-ft of torque when new. It’s said to run great and is backed by a Borg Warner three-speed automatic sending power to the rear wheels as the automotive Gods intended. This one has optional power steering and power brakes, with the fronts possibly being optional power disc brakes (for V8s), and there should be a standard (for V8s) oil cooler in there somewhere. At $4,000, you’d be hard-pressed to find a cheaper, more unusual, and popular Cars & Coffee vehicle than this straight SST sedan. Not to mention, most likely just a nice driving and riding car. Any thoughts on this one?
I really like these stacked-headlight versions, though I am still partial to the ’59 version. Enjoyed this drivetrain in my 68 Javelin SST. Not a dragon slayer, but it embarrassed some C3’s…
I’m absolutely on the stacked headlights side of the fence too Scotty…….. (Umm….. make mine a Pontiac please!!!)) But seriously, Ford, Plymouth Pontiac AMC. I think they all look great. I never noticed the door panels on these until Scotty brought it up, it is a bit of an odd design, but its unique, and its not grey like every other interior we see today. I like it.
Well, SG knows I will disagree on the stacked headlights, but will agree whole heartedly on the “as God intended” remark. I’m actually surprised the author said that, with most, if not all his vehicles, or the ones he endorses, are FWD. Stacked headlights was a marketing gimmick that practically every car maker jumped on. AMC was generally a trend follower, and ’68 was the last year. I was glad to see them go.
Couple things as mentioned, this has A/C and I believe was standard on the Ambassador, not many offered, electric wipers, also, the dual exhaust was an option with the 343 or 390, and probably part of the “SST” package. Contrary to belief, “SST” did not mean “Super Sonic Transport”, but “Super Sport Touring” and this car became known as the “Kenosha Kadillac”[sic]. You couldn’t have gone wrong here, but too late. Cars like this don’t stick around long, unlike the $5 figure ones. This is what people today want, and a big thanks to the seller for not gouging someone needlessly. California isn’t all bad,,
H-man, I don’t own any front-wheel drive vehicles, they’re either rear-wheel drive or AWD. Even my motorcycles are rear-wheel drive or AWD (Rokon). I prefer rear-wheel drive, or 4WD for pickups.
This is a lot of vintage goodness in 2026 for $4,000 for sure. New tires, a new battery, and the “runs great” part add to the mystery of why this car is still for sale.
Me thinks that a 390 Ambo would have dual exhausts standard. A/C was also standard but order sheets had a delete box. i observed a 68 Ambo with 343 and electric windows but no A/C. This car has power drum brakes, based on the master cylinder.
Cool cars the Ambassadors 👍 😎
Interesting you mention stacked headlights SG. Not long ago it occurred to me that many US manufacturers jumped on the bandwagon at about the same time, and most jumped right back off the bandwagon at about the same time. No trendiness, peer pressure, etc. in Detroit…..
I agree with Scotty Gilbert . Alot of solid car for the money. If anything goes wrong with it, its simple enough you can fix it. Built like a tank tough .
Nice car. I had a well used 68 Ambassador SST 2 door that I bought for $50 in the early 80’s. Dark green with what was left of a white vinyl top. It had power steering and brakes, and even the air conditioning worked. The 343 had plenty of power for me, and even at that time there weren’t many around. I drove it for several years until the engine jumped time and bent some pushrods. Even then, it ran enough to move the car. I couldn’t see rebuilding the engine on a fifty dollar car, so I junked it. It was in Texas and solid with no rust. One of several cars I wish I’d kept.
Lovely car. Assuming everything works like they should, the engine and drivetrain works like they should, and there’s no rust holes to compromise the frame, I would imagine all it needs is to be repainted.
fair price for a clean western crew cab AMC. little TLC and you’re ready to go
I won’t ever join FB so I can’t really get a good look at this really nice ride. Too bad FB doesn’t have a guest feature for their Maketplace listings. I am close enough to Hanford and might be tempted to have my wife bring it up. Interesting and certainly priced right.
+1 on the tasteful dual exhaust.
These are nice looking. The ‘65-‘66 does have more interesting sculpting around the stacked headlights but this is still a nice design. I’ve always liked the ‘70-‘73 Ambassador. Kind of partial to them. We had a ’70 wagon that stubbornly lasted past family car status through several hand offs into the early ‘80s. My cousin always lamented not getting the desirable heads off the 360.
Old dude up the street had one just like this but teal and it was absolutely pristine well after it’s best by date. Someone probably inherited it or bought and drove it into the ground in two years.
Listing update: this one is “out of stock,” did one of you grab it?
??? ” Out of stock ” ??? Does anyone actually keep these in stock anymore ?? Just bad humor on my part. Looks like O.K. car for the money