Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson Motor Car merged in 1954 to form American Motors and the former brands would remain in play through the 1957 model year. Before the merger and for two decades afterward the Ambassador would serve as the company’s top-level model. This Country Club 2-door hardtop is said to be one of just 608 produced in 1957 before the Nash name was retired. It looks to be in great shape, having been resurrected with a lot of work done. Located in Whitelaw, Wisconsin, this stoic classic is available here on craigslist for $12,500. Our gratitude goes to T.J. for another amazing tip!
The Ambassador brand was born in 1927 and would be one of the longest-running American automobile nameplates. After restyles in both 1955 and 1956, the 1957 Ambassadors were treated to quad headlights as they had been approved for nationwide use by the Department of Transportation. In this case, they were stacked rather than horizontally like most of the U.S. brands. The car would get AMC’s first new V8 since the merger, a 327 cubic inch unit that came with a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust (255 hp).
As the story goes, this ’57 Country Club Ambassador was purchased from the grandson of its original owner (North Dakota). Though the odometer reads 65,000 miles, within the past 5,000 a host of things have been replaced or serviced. This includes rebuilding the engine and automatic transmission and doing exhaust and radiator work. But the vehicle has been in storage for about a year and the brakes are now weak. All the tires, including the spare, have been swapped.
We’re told that there isn’t any known rust and that most of the two-tone white-over-turquoise paint is original. It’s a well-equipped Nash, including power steering and brakes. The car does not smoke, though the photos suggest otherwise (the seller says that’s vapor due to weather conditions and not engine smoked). This looks like a great vintage car to get rolling again – when was the last time you saw one of these cars?
If you like oddball cars, here’s a winner!
Packard, 👍 Nash, 👍 DeSoto, 👍 👍, Imperial, 👍 and so many others that are now Gone With the Wind, with roads now cluttered with SUVS, crossovers and melted jelly beans 👎 🤮
I have heard that phrase before “melted jelly beans”.
What does that mean?
Thank you
Melted jelly beans usually refers to cars that look like jelly beans that have Melted because they have so little body shape as opposed to cars with good body sculpturing like vintage Cadillacs and Lincolns.
To Cadillac Kid… melted jelly beans usually refers to cars that look like jelly beans that have Melted because of virtually no body sculpturing as opposed to cars with good body sculpturing like vintage Cadillacs and Lincolns.
First family car I remember was a 50 Nash AMBASSADOR. Great car, bought in late 50 and remained in the family until Nov of 59 with only normal maintenance. Only reason it was traded was lack of power steering.(Mom developed arthritis and had trouble parking). For me the last 56 and 57 AMBASSADORS were some of the classiest. Unfortunately not so Grand finale for Nash. Although the AMBASSADOR by Rambler lived on, it never quite lived up. Interesting this is in Wisconsin, as most will recall, Nash was built in Kenosha. Price is Right ✅
BF quote: “The car would get AMC’s first new V8 since the merger, a 327 cubic inch unit….”
Wasn’t the first new V8 since the merger the 250 of 1956? The 1957 327 was a 250 with a larger bore.
“Some original paint.” Looks like that’s the hood and front fenders. Should have painted the entire car.
Well, “Swan Song” may be a bit of a stretch, I always thought that saying was for more successful final ventures, and this was by no means final. Heck, Ramblers were called “Nashes” well into the 60s, as a derogatory phrase. Nash and Hudson were 2 of the best car makers, along with the most successful appliance company, the combination of the 3, should have produced the best car made. And to me, they did.
What is amazing is that this car pushed the limits of quad headlights. In ’57, not all states allowed them( Cal.?) and car makers in ’57 offered goofy looking renditions of single headlight cars. Nash did not on this car for some reason, got away with it. Anyone?
A wonderful find, in that, it can appeal to a large group of folks in the future, who more than likely, never heard of Nash, Hudson, Rambler, or AMC. To them, it’s just an unusual looking, driveable car the whole family can enjoy.
I am the proud owner of a low miles 57 Nash Ambassador Custom four door. It’s the best riding/driving car I have ever owned, even better than my 59 Imperial Crown. The Nash unit body design is very strong and rattle free. So strong, FoMoCo purchased an Ambassador for tear down comparison, when they were designing/engineering the 58 Lincoln. The four-coil suspension is a marvel. Buy this car, and you’re guaranteed to have the most unique car at any vintage car show.
A safe bet that most of the other 607 were melted down decades ago
Unfortunately so many vintage collectibles have been lost to the crusher or destroyed in Demo Derby events 😕! 😢 😭 what a tragic and needless situation.
To answer your question. Never. I have seen the later bathtub Ramblers aplenty but not a full size model like this. Very nice. It would be interesting to see what this goes for.
In 1958 I got this car to go to school.It was my dad’s but he bought a new car.Icant believe this car is the same color as my and had the same spare add on.I put two I n antennas on the rear fenders and fender skirts. The real Hassle was trying to cut holes in the rear deck for speakers.I really liked that car and wouldne aplayer for this one but the wife talked me into buying a camper.
I can not come up with any reason, I shouldn’t buy this car. Of course the normal one, where do I get the money ,there isn’t a reason. I love cars and this car is a piece of automotive folklore. I love cars and this car just speaks to me “How much fun, it would be”. I also enjoy talking cars with people, this car is a rolling advertisement for its contribution to its era, the mid fifties. You could go on forever about, the cars it had to compete with and the future of manufactures in the next decade. I can honestly say and I don’t think I have ever said this out-loud in my life, and meant it. I would not touch this car it is perfect as it is and it always will be, enjoy it and share it, be the care taker to this car.
Melted jelly beans usually refers to cars that look so much like jelly beans that have Melted because they have so little body shape as opposed to cars with good body sculpturing, like vintage Cadillacs and Lincolns .
At least they’re not blaming this on the Studebaker merger…..
Having a life-long fondness for orphans since they were actual new and still on the road, I must admit this one is a Knockout!
Rare even when new, a retired school teacher in the immediate neighborhood had a white on burgundy hardtop coupe. I was 8yo at the time and admired it whenever i was mowing her yard.