The seller refers to this 1966 AMC Ambassador DPL as a stunning example and I don’t know a living human who would argue with that statement. The seller has it listed here on eBay in Grand Rapids, Michigan as a classified ad, and they’re asking $25,900 or you can make an offer. Thanks to Rick H. for sending in this tip!
I could see a person not liking stacked headlights or not being a fan of AMCs (well, I can’t see that part), or not liking some other feature, but this car appears to be in beautiful condition. I’m not a fan of the wheels at all, but that’s a personal preference. I get it, though, with a 327 V8 this car moves nicely and I can see where an owner may want to sport it up a bit as far as wheels go.
I’m SO glad that they didn’t put dual exhaust sticking out under the rear bumper six inches, though. Sporty wheels are one thing but let’s not go overboard. The 1965 and 1966 Ambassadors are my favorites, the ’66 in particular. The 1965 models were still known as Ramblers and they had a wraparound rear window. The 1966 cars are AMC Ambassadors without a Rambler name anywhere, and the rear window is square and more modern looking. This car is the top-trim DPL version, too, an added bonus.
The underside looks clean and solid as does the body, but the interior is the real star of this Ambassador. This black and white houndstooth fabric on the seats and door panels is very cool and it appears to be in almost new condition. The back seat and the two pillows also look great. The trunk also looks clean and tidy.
The engine and engine compartment are clean enough to eat off of. This is AMC’s 327 cubic-inch V8 which would have had 270 horsepower and 360 lb-ft of torque. The seller says that both the engine and automatic transmission have been rebuilt. This looks like a winner, are there any fans of this era Ambassador out there?
Obviously, there are a few posts I simply can’t contain myself, motorcycles, oddballs, trucks, and of course, Rambler/AMCs. Just about everything Scotty seems to cover.
I’ve said many times, go ahead and laugh, but we were mighty proud of this car. It was our “top of the line”. While we, I say we, as if these were our cars, never could get out of 4th place, probably because of cars like this. We never had a car that could compete with Imperials, but for the middle folk, like my grandfather( his last car a ’65 Ambassador, 4 door) this was as good as it got, and for good reason. As mentioned, this was the 1st year for “AMC”, but stalwarts, like me, called them Ramblers for many years after. Personally, I’d lose the mags, this just isn’t that kind of car, and I always thought the steering wheel was too big, a carry over from non-P/S days. I’m in the dislike for stacked headlights( the stacked CAR headlights, that is, what did he say?) and AMC used mostly all off the shelf stuff, B/W, Bendix, and built by folks that really cared about what they did. What ever happened to that? Great find, fo sho.
The seats and pillows have been reupholstered. The larger houndstooth pattern on the doors is the correct look, but is apparently unavailable, since this is the second Ambassador I’ve seen lately with the smaller pattern.
Weren’t these available twin stik 4sp wow
1965 was the last year for the funky Twin-Stick setup.
I noticed the same thing. Looks strange with the mismatched patterns. But a beautiful car non the less. Although I would tend to be around 10-12G if I was a buyer.
Good luck
You are correct. The smaller pattern houndstooth is available, the larger had not been in the past. I don’t know if SMS Auto Fabrics has reproduced the larger pattern yet or not.
My Uncle (RIP) never drove anything except AMC products. I was a youngster back then, not even old enough to know why some like Fords and some like Chevy’s but I knew not many folks liked American Motors Vehicles. Uncle Rivers stay brand loyal until his demise in the early 80’s. He passed with a 2 year old AMC in his garage.
interesting car, well maintained and beautiful color if the price is right it will sell quickly.
I like this car just as it is. I might try a different set of rims but the ones on it wouldn’t keep a smile off my face while driving it. Dad had quite a few Nash and Rambler and AMC vehicles over the years. I learned to drive on a ‘63 Rambler American wagon with the three on the tree and manual overdrive. I would like to own one myself someday. Just so happens I drove by the old AMC dealership where dad bought his last few Ramblers from. Sadly there were no cars on the lot but seeing the still empty building brought back some good memories.
Nice style !!!!My dad had AMC’s when we were growing up . Some nice some awful but the memories remain Clear.. Happier times. miss the old days!!!
A ’66 Ambo DPL was my first car, given to me by my Dad. Black with a white roof. Mine had the 232-6, which was a great smooth running motor. I currently own a ’65 Ambo 880 with the 327, which I’ve had since ’82.
The rear window is the same. The big difference is the taillights, and the chrome trim along the top from headlight to taillight is a slightly different shape. There are other differences in the chrome “decoration” but that’s about it.
The rear window on the hardtop was new for 66, squared off and not wrap around as in ’65.
This is a two door hardtop not a two door sedan. Not the same roofline.
You have the ’65 two door sedan:
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/AMC/1965_AMC/1965_Rambler_Ambassador_Brochure/1965%20Rambler%20Ambassador-08-09.html
Different grille for ’65 along with the tail lights. Better looking than the 66 to my mind, as was the ’67 compared to the ’68.
66 two door sedan:
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/AMC/1966_AMC/1966%20AMC%20Ambassador%20Brochure/image10.html
Roofline is still different, not as “fast”, more upright
From the eBay ad (somebody is a little confused).
The Rambler American is a compact car that was manufactured by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) between 1958 and 1969. For its third generation, the American emerged with what would be its only completely new design. The entire line was treated to neat and trim lines with pleasing simplicity with characteristic tunneled headlights with a simple horizontal grille between them. The Rambler American’s wheelbase grew by six-inches or 152 mm (to 106 in or 2692 mm) and the interiors were made more spacious.
A friend of mine had a Ambassador wagon of the same vintage in the early
’70s, a bit worn but to quote John Cameron Swayze, “takes a licking and
keeps on ticking.” We spent many an hour cruising (!) Colorado Springs
when we should have been in school. Easy start as well, the key was broken
in the ignition so all that was needed was a screwdriver. Same friend also
had a ’64 Chevy Impala 4 door that today would considered a “survivor”,
low miles and in excellent, original condition.
Makes me wonder why AMC isn’t still with us today. Beauty.
A series of really badly designed cars in the 1970’s….doomed them.
Other than the Javelin & the Amx and even neither of them sold well.
If I were to become the new owner of this magic car the ONLY thing that I would do before showing it off to all and sundry, is to adjust the trunk catch so that the chrome strip lines up with the fender strips. I’m fussy about things like that!
Really nice car but whoever prepped for paint did an awful job at tapping things up. Paint all over moldings and trim pieces. I don’t understand why this happens. It really takes away from the paint job.
We just had a ’63 come into the auto parts store yesterday. Iwas the only one that recognized it. Unfortunately we don’t have plug wires in stock for a 59 year old AMC 327.
JCH841,
They probably did have a set of plug wires for a 63 Rambler, either the 6 or the 8, but it’s likely that the computer parts list doesn’t have a listing.
This generation were a lot better looking than the heaps of the mid 1970’s.
AMC really suicided itself with some of those horrid 1970’s offerings.
When they really didn’t have the finances to overcome such poor designs.
I had a 65 wagon with all the bells and whistles. Green with wood grain, green interior, full green carpeting, roof rack. Bucket seats with a console. 327 with a four-speed from the factory, power steering power brakes. It was owned by a little old lady, she bought a new car and sold it to me cheap. Hell of a nice car!!!
They never offered a 4 spd.
They did in 66 and while I heard that was the first year I also heard some 65s were built. If he really had that it was super rare.
Well I’m sure the old woman didn’t put it in, the car was bought new from the dealer. The shifter had two finger ears to get it into reverse.
Not being rude nor argumentative but no 66’ amc came with a 4-speed.
The Walnut on the door and rear side panels is missing.
That is really nice and very clean.
I got a new 63 Ambassador Brougham 2dr HT, Black Vinyl top over burgundy that was an elegant car. It was a company car but I was very proud of it and took meticulous car of it and treated it like my own.. Put 60K on it in 2 years. Because of the high mileage the lease company took it back and gave me a flogged out 73 Malibu to finish the lease with. What a piece of “S” compared to the AMC. The Brougham was a classy car even for a 30 year old to be proud to drive. The company redeemed themselves by giving me a new 76 Monte Carlo, white vinyl over dark green with white interior.. That was a beauty but had to be repainted when new because every piece o front sheet metal was a different shade of green. They said they were painting the small pieces separately and then assembled them at the end of the line. Bad idea.
the 4 speed was available in Ambassadors. Just saw one at a car show and have seen others. it was very rare
Hello JL,. I worked on this car in a shop in the early seventies, an older woman driving a station wagon with a 4-speed, very unique I thought. When she put it up for sale I just had to have it. I bought it cheap and sold it cheap! I think now it was a 1966, first year of the Borg Warner 4 speed in an ambassador. Oh well !!!
Many people are not aware that until the Feds [DOT & EPA] started requiring every car to be certified for how options effected safety and fuel mileage, many options that officially were not available on certain models were indeed available, but it sometimes took some persuasion to get dealers to place an unusual order, because if the buyer didn’t go thru with the purchase, that weirdly optioned car might sit on the lot for months, even a year or more.
In 1973 I wanted to order a new Dodge B-200 LWB tradesman van with 318 V8, Stick shift, cruise control, and factory A/C. All the factory info said if you wanted A/C and cruise, you had to order the Torqueflite trans. A friend of mine from one of the antique car clubs I was a member of, also worked for Chrysler, and his wife worked in the order dept. He said that if the truck came in with the correct numbers for V8, 3-speed stick, cruise and A/C, it was very likely to be built that way.
I went from Dodge dealer to Dodge dealer looking for someone willing to OK the order. I finally found Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, MD who was willing to place the order, as long as I put down a $1,000 deposit. [But no guarantee it would come in as requested.] The deposit was refundable if the truck came in with the automatic.
There was a 4 month wait because Dodge vans were selling like crazy, but it did finally come in, exactly as ordered! However there was one interesting addition to the truck; a hand-written note taped to the dash pad above the radio, explaining that the fuse for the cruise control circuit was not installed [the fuse was taped to the note]! The note also said I should install a brake lite switch on the clutch pedal to cut-off the cruise if the clutch pedal was pushed in. [I did, it worked great!]
Another claim that GM, Ford & Chrysler all said was; Tinted glass was required when ordering A/C. However all 3 would allow the tinted glass to be deleted on a special order.
I remember wandering thru the brand new cars on the dealer’s back lot & seeing a green 1969 Plymouth Fury hardtop with a BLUE Dodge Monaco interior, even the dash!