While GM, Ford, and Chrysler Corp. were heavily involved in a 1957 postwar slugapalooza, recently formed American Motors (1954) was trying to find its way forward in a hypercompetitive automotive market. AMC, brought together by the merger of Nash and Hudson, jettisoned both those brand names for the 1958 model year, making today’s find, a 1957 Nash Ambassador Custom, the end of the line for that iconic brand. Looking oh-so fifties in its pink finish, this gently used four-door sedan is located in Macon, Illinois, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,500. Thanks are due to T.J. for this discovery!
By ’57, American Motors was seemingly singularly focused on the Rambler, with a few Metropolitans thrown in for good measure. As for actual Nash models, two trim levels still existed: the Custom and the Super, both spread across two body styles, a two-door hardtop and a four-door sedan. Less than 10K, in total, were assembled, and our subject car is one of only 600 to see the light of day in ’57. As noted earlier, this Ambassador looks period correct with its two-tone finish and gobs of chrome fittings and stainless steel trim. It all seems to be complete and shows well – there’s no indication of body rot or structural issues. There is, however, something marring the passenger side doors and fender; surface rust, mold, or just general mung? Of note are the over-under headlights, a styling cue that was a distinctive feature of later Pontiacs and Fords.
V8 power was the order of the day, and in this case, it’s a 255 gross HP 327 CI (not the 327 most are familiar with) engine, connected to a “Flashaway” automatic transmission. No word is given regarding running and driving characteristics, but the seller does add, “New gas tank, tires, tail pipes, front end aligned, brakes, carburetor, fuel pump, spark plugs, radiator gone through.” Oh, and that hood support, I was told that’s known as a Propolator 3000.
The interior’s upholstery is about what one would expect from a domestic car of this era; it’s a color-matching and contrasting vinyl and woven fabric combination that just screams 1957. It all appears to be in nice condition, owing to the 43 K-mile claim – though admittedly, there is no documentation to back up that mileage recording. The star of the show is the dash and instrument panel, which is centered across the width of the dash as opposed to being in front and center of the driver. Beneath the instruments is a full-width expanse of what looks like a turned metal (aluminum?) trim panel – very stylish and industrial at the same time.
While the mileage claim, assuming authenticity, is this car’s calling card, the same could be said for its minimal production stat – this is a rare one! Likely acquirer? Hard to say, maybe a Nash or AMC aficionado? Whatever the case, I imagine this Ambassador Custom will have a more limited appeal, wouldn’t you agree?
sHuT uP aNd TaKe My MoNeY
Rare as hen’s teeth! Worth noting is that the car has factory air conditioning, although it’s not currently functioning.
This is a beautiful worthy project. Those hood props were poplar back in the day.
A buddy has one almost identical to this one. Hood props on these (and Studebakers) were a must, as the hoods were just a single thickness stamping with no inner frame. Super flimsy. On the plus side, I think the seats in these also fold flat to make a bed.
With its heavily facelifted 1952 body shell these were a very tough sell against the ’57 models from the Big 3. Nash and Hudson brands were gone for 1958. Factory air is a rare plus. (At the time AMC had just about the most advanced automotive HVAC system available.)
This was one of the earliest U.S. cars to be equipped with dual headlights. (Those headlights were not actually legal yet in all 48 states in 1957.)
Despite having been hit hard with the ugly stick these were very comfortable road cars with the AMC 327 V8 providing plenty of motive power. The “Flashaway” automatic transmission is actually the GM Hydramatic.
Text in the description says the car is offered on Craiglist but the link actually takes you into the pit of Facetube.
Thanks for pointing that out, it’s fixed now.
JO
These cars aren’t that bad-looking. If you want ugly, look at the front end of the Hudson version of this car. It was a very sad end to a once-respected make. Oh, the mileage claim? None of the numbers on the odo line up, which means you-know-what. Still, the car doesn’t look like it’s been rode hard and put away wet either.
I think the original early 1950s design was much cleaner, this thing has had a few too many facelifts. However I definitely agree the Hudson version looked truly awful.
It’s too bad that the 1955 Pinin Farina Ambassador “Speciale” proposal was never put into production. AMC management judged it to be “too European” for American tastes, not to mention the tooling costs being prohibitive.
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/1955-nash-ambassador-pinin-farina-speciale/
That’s an air conditioning compressor for factory air.
It looks like it has surface mold, but the seller has an alloy rim for a water hose spool and a nice trailer and that guy would wash off mold.
With the chrome so nice it doesn’t seem surface rust would be an issue.What is that stuff?
I’m avoiding work this morning once again by being auto detective. The Facebook ad gives larger and more photos. There is a bit of surface rust in the engine compartment. The passenger front door shows previous work or damage at bottom. The front fender shows some damage too with what looks like paint off and showing grey primer underneath. Not sure if it is surface rust too. No photos of what’s under the trunk cover or underneath the car. “Mung” is term used for general dirt, sometimes mixed with sweat and skin cells, found in something as common as a wristwatch movement and band before it is cleaned and serviced. Sounds like a mixture of road dirt and oil for cars as well.
Interesting vehicle, especially that Pininfarina design. But a two by four for a hood prop? That’s what I’m seeing isn’t it?
Again a seller destroys any hope of establishing credibility by claim actual miles on a car that clearly refutes it! Why lie about something so obvious? Those of us who know cars realize that a 68 year old car with 143,000 miles is going to be better than one with only 43,000 miles but ok – lie to me once, I don’t believe anything you say after that!
The parent company, Nash-Kelvinator, was a manufacturer of cars and refrigeration equipment, hence the standard A/C in many top of the line models.
The merger with Nash and Hudson was to begin the formation of another automaker with the size and economies of scale needed to compete with the big three. Studebaker/Packard was to have joined up, but that didn’t work out as planned for anyone.
Pinin Farina worked with Nash on the 1953-54 Nash Healy, doing design and assembly in Italy on completed chasis from the UK. The US-sourced engine was installed in the USA, prefiguring Cadillac’s Allanté, but with another international stop allong the assembly line. Before computers and reliable transatlantic cables, that must have been very complicated to orchestrate.
Some late Nash cars still carry Pininfarina badges; there seems to be some debate as to how much actual design they did, but the oval grille certainly looks more Italian than Detroit.
The car looks quite awkward from some angles and not so much from others. I still like it.
I NEVER thought that these looked good. (Although the Pinin Farina car is great looking!) Even as a youngster gearhead I knew what these were. (Uncle Dwain had one of these AND his favorite Kaiser.)Both ugly to me. I can appreciate the engineering and possibly the driving experience. But you still have to see it in order to get in it.
No thank you! Oh, the dash is cool!
Sold… $7500
Girl friend’s father tried to give me the Hudson version. I had a ’56 Chevy, which I had maintained since my father bought it new, and so I politely said “no thanks”, this is in 1966. I knew what was wrong with the Chevy (nothing), so this Hudson surrounded by weeds, was a real pig in a poke, although, as the father said, it was a far more comfortable car than my Chevy. And it had 3 colors of paint, white, pink, and grey as I remember it.
The Pinin Farina Speciale, is Beautiful. This Ambassador not so much, although I do like the view from the rear. Reminds me of 50’s Olds 98.
When I was a kid I thought they were ugly,,but now not so much,,I don’t know if its the roof ,probably the grill for sure that made these cars “ugly” the rear look kinda looks Packerdish, but am sure they were comfortable and reliable and actually wouldn’t mind one now
I spy with my little eye … an air conditioning dash vent, an air conditioning compressor, and air conditioning insignia on the door!
What do you see with your big eye?(lol)