1965 AMC Ambassador

1965 ambassador 990 convertible

no matter how success new ramblers achieved in marketplace, roy abernethy not satisfied. using experience gained outstanding salesman guide, abernethy closely looked @ direction american motors competition going , decided company more successful if products competed more directly big three. achieve pushing amc vehicles further upmarket among various market segments, shaking off company s economy car image, , offering vehicles once again in 3 major american car size classes: compact, intermediate, , full-size. american , classic strong competitors in former 2 segments, 1965 model year, set sights on turning ambassador proper full-size car stretching classic s wheelbase , giving different styling. general sizes of automobiles @ time based on industry standard wheelbase lengths, rather on vehicle s interior , cargo space. 1965 ambassador represented fundamental shift in corporate ideology, shift away fuel-efficient vehicles, bigger, faster, , potentially more profitable cars.

although ambassador rode same platform 1963–64 forebears, 1965 models looked all-new. american motors designer richard a. teague styled 1965 ambassador panache , gave car overall integrated look. motor trend magazine agreed, calling strikingly handsome automobile. built on 116-inch (2,946 mm) wheelbase 4 inches (100 mm) longer classic, teague extended beltline level stacked quad headlights vertical taillights. new ambassadors attractive built amc s detroit-based competitors, , list price of around $3,000, few quibble cost of ownership. new disc brakes power brakes optional.

the ambassador received longer, squared-off rear fenders vertical wrap-around taillights, taller decklid, squared off rear bumper mounted low, , squarer rear wheel arches. @ front, ambassador again sparked minor controversy new vertically stacked quad headlights, recessed in bezels, flanked all-new horizontal bar grille. new wall-to-wall grille projected forward, horizontally, in center, create effect opposite 1963 s grille treatment. front end design provided bold, rugged appearance.

once again, ambassador’s entire wheelbase ahead of cowl, meaning interior volume same intermediate-sized classic. new body style debuted in ambassador lineup 1965: attractive new convertible offered part of 990 series. first time convertible offered in ambassador line since 1948. ambassador body styles (except 990-h coupe) offered seating 6 passengers, coupes , convertibles having option of buckets seats center console , floor shifter. ambassador 990-h up-scale two-door hardtop model, available in 5-passenger form.

ambassadors saw expanded list of trim lines, convenience options, , engine choices. 990 , 990-h models back, while 880 models new economy leaders in 1965 ambassador line, $2,512 price two-door sedan not attractive compared models better trim, buckets seats, , special interiors. ambassadors came standard amc s new 232 cu in (3.8 l) inline-6 engine, first time since 1956 ambassador available 6 cylinders. far more popular in ambassador, however, 2 time-tested 287 , 327 cu in (4.7 , 5.4 l) amc v8 engines.

american motors management decided ambassador once again accept standard six-cylinder engine, since full-size competitors (e. g. bel air , impala, ford custom 500 , galaxie, plymouth fury) came six-cylinder engines standard equipment. therefore appealed wider range of customers ambassador getting. also, since classic smaller , styled differently, ambassador six-cylinder not threaten cannibalize classic 6 sales, company s sales volume leaders. changes on target sales of repositioned ambassador more tripled.

motor trend magazine tested ambassador convertible twin-stick overdrive transmission , found commendably economical, averaging 16.4 mpg‑us (14.3 l/100 km; 19.7 mpg‑imp) on 1,000 miles (1,600 km) run, , noting ... traveling comfort ambassador s biggest selling point, along exceptionally powerful bendix duo-servo drum brakes ...with thin bucket seats recline, driver , passengers can enjoy high degree of riding comfort... many passers-by commented on car s looks... our summary: nice, comfortable, quiet, built family automobile rather neglects performance market.