page_title: Nash Ambassador
section_title: 1954
hierarchical_section_title: Nash Ambassador / The last Nash Ambassadors / 1954
caption_attribution_description: English: 1955 Nash Ambassador Custom, a four-sedan made by the newly organized American Motors Corporation (AMC) that was the merger of Nash-Kelvinator with Hudson Motor Car Company in 1954. This is a full-sized automobile and the Custom models included the continental spare tire mount that increased overall vehicle length by 10 inches. Standard was on the Ambassadors was Nash's venerable overhead-valve 252.6 cu in (4.1 L) straight-six. This car has the optional "Le Mans Dual-Jetfire Six" version with higher compression and dual Carter side-draft carburetors producing 140 horsepower, as well as the popular GM-sourced Hydra-Matic automatic transmission. The LeMans name comes from the racing heritage of the Nash-Healey sports cars that were campaigned in the 24 Hours of Le Mans events. This car also has AMC's front-mounted fully-integrated heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system. The interior features the original upholstery with individually adjustable and relining front seats. Picture taken at the Antique Automobile Club of America (AACA) 2015 Hershey meet that is held every October in Pennsylvania.
context_page_description: Ambassador was the model name applied to the senior line of Nash automobiles from 1932 until 1957. From 1958 until the end of the 1965 model year, the Rambler Ambassador, then 1966-1972 as the American Motors Ambassador, then 1973-1974 as AMC Ambassador, were the products of American Motors Corporation, which continued to use the Ambassador model name on its top-of-the-line models, making it "one of the longest-lived automobile nameplates in automotive history."
  From 1927 through the mid-1932 model year, the Ambassador name was applied to a high trim club sedan body style, one of Nash's most prestigious senior models. The Ambassador series was the "flagship" in the Nash line.
context_section_description: In 1954 the Nash Ambassador was the first American automobile to have a front-end, fully integrated heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning system. The heating and ventilation system was called Weather Eye and now could be equipped with Nash-Kelvinators' advanced Automobile air conditioning unit. While other manufacturers in America at the time offered A/C on some models, their air conditioning units were driven by a large and heavy, trunk mounted expander and heat exchanger that carried the air into the car via clear plastic tubes and out through ceiling mounted vents. Nash's unit was inexpensive, compact, fit under the hood, and could either circulate fresh or recycled air. With a single thermostatic control, the Nash passenger compartment air cooling option was described as "a good and remarkably inexpensive" system. The option was priced well below systems offered by other carmakers (in 1955, Nash offered it at US$345, against $550 for Oldsmobile or $570 for Chrysler); other makers, such as Ford, did not even offer optional air conditioning. (At the time, even a heater was not always standard equipment.)
  The Ambassador continued with only a few changes. A new "floating" grille concave grille and partially chromed headlamp bezels were added to the front end. A redesigned instrument panel was a major change inside. The base trim was called "Super" while the higher "Custom" models featured a continental spare tire carrier and many other upgrades was available in 4-door sedan and two-door "Country Club" hardtop forms. The standard 252.6 cu in (4.1 L) I6 was now rated at 130 hp (97 kW; 132 PS) at 3,700 rpm with its 7.6:1 compression ratio and a one-barrel Carter carburetor.
  Nash-Kelvinator merged with ailing Hudson Motor Car Company as of January 14, 1954, to form American Motors Corporation (AMC), and both Nash and Hudson dealers sold the compact-sized Ramblers that were identical save for the "Nash" or "Hudson" badging. Although the "senior" Nash and Hudson models continued to be marketed, it was sales of the Rambler that were powering the company's bottom line. As the compact Rambler's fortunes increased, sales of the senior Nash cars, including the Ambassador, decreased. A total of 21,428 Ambassadors were built in 1954.
caption: 1955 Ambassador Custom sedan LeMans
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