I'm Seventy-Six years old and remember every detail of this car. My dad was sales manager of Cunningham Nash in Clinton Iowa and drove this as his demo. The Ambassador we had was this aqua and white color, with a Continental kit. The engine was the Packard patrician V8. The features I thought were exceptionally cool were the front seats which folded back flat with the back seats to be used as beds for camping, the pull up starting gear shift lever, the top portion of the rear taillight lifted up for access to the gas tank filler cap, the seats were leather and satin woven material, and the car was the pinnacle of luxury in those years. I loved that car even as a child and I was proud to be riding in it. It was a beautifully luxurious automobile. Thanks ever so much for this video, it brought back exceptionally fond, wonderful memories.
Hi R N, Happy to read this car brings back memories :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
WOW..What memories this brings back..my grandma also had a 55 Ambassador..I would have a blast riding around in it, in Southern Oregon with her as a kid, in the mid-late 60s! Even though it was 10-15 yrs old, even then; she kept it garaged, and it was always spotless! She and Grandpa had purchased it new.. Sort of a beige color, with white accents..she owned it for the remainder of her life. When she passed away in '73, my aunt (her daughter) sold it at a yard/estate sale..more than likely, for far too little! And, yes; it even had the in-dash, factory A/C! Talk about a car that was "way ahead of it's time"..especially for it's price-point! It had comparable amenities to Lincolns, Caddies and Imperals of the day..for FAR less money.
Hi James, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Grandma's car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
Hi ferlenarab, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Fathers car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
Ads you might already know, most cars had 6 volt electrical system. Did you notice the extra cap on the battery? This is an 8 volt battery, which some installed to make the starters spin faster. When one of these 8 V batteries were installed, the mechanical voltage regulators had to be adjusted up to 8 Volts to charge the battery. Another thing, you might have noticed that the shift lever was in the "R" position. These improved next generation Hydra-Matics did not have a Park position. Placing the transmission into the "R" position locked the output shaft just like if it had Park. Revertse was accomplish by a sliding idler gear just like in a manual transmission, so, a Hydra-Matic often clunked or ground into reverse if the idle was too high. To start, you had to move the shift lever to "N", at the same time using the braking system to prevent the car from rolling. Rolls-Royce licensed and built this transmission through 1967. The next generation Hydra-Matic, named the "Jetaway" added the Park position and could be started in Park or Neutral. Though still a 4-speed, the internals were entirely different from previous Hydra-Matics. Also, so Nash could 'hang' with it's competitors, it purchase the smaller Packard V8, used in the Clippers, and Ultramatic from Packard-Studebaker, and made it available in the 1955-6 Ambassadors. In 1957, Nash came out with their own 327 V8, which was larger than most other standard V8's and almost as powerful as the Corvette 'fuelly' 283 V8. American Motors was an up and growing auto manufacturer until George Mason put a quash on things and also the mis-direction and management of George Romney.
Hi Automated Electronics, Thank you for viewing and sharing your knowledge. Hope you see many more cars on this RU-vid Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
I happen to have a 1962 Rambler Classic Custom California Emissions sedan. My late dad bought it brand new in Southern California. New California models were required in most parts of the state to have a factory PCV Valve to control smog causing emissions, starting in 1961
Hi Max Headroom, Happy to read you have a cool car too :-) Thank you for viewing & sharing. Hope you see many more cars on this RU-vid Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
Hi Bob, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your Dads car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
Good looking Nash; keep Nash history alive. My first car in 1948 post WWII & age 16, was a 1941 Nash Ambassador with a BW over-drive. I think it survived the war in a garage. Nash build a stout car in those days.
Hi Joseph, Happy to read this car brings back memories of your car :-) Thank you for viewing and sharing. Hope you see many cars on this Channel you enjoy! Please Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
Automobiles from this era have a particular aroma and I swear I could smell it as soon as Lou climbed in. An enlightening video which filled a gap in my knowledge of Nash - Hudson - American Motors automobiles.
I have always loved Nash automobiles. I use to belong Nash Car Club of America. Years ago my father in law was going to buy a new car. My mother in law said that she does not care if he buys another car, as long as it's a Rambler. I inherited a 72 Malibu and love the car, however I also love Nash Rambler, and AMC cars. Watching this video has made my day. The beautiful styling proves that this work of art has character. Thanks for sharing. I know that I will watch this video many times.
Hi LINO AZEVEDO, Happy to read you're in love with this car :-) Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
To start the engine ...the gearshift handle at its end has a short quick turn toward the driver.It puts the gearshift knob in an easy place for the driver to grasp & pull rearward, engaging the starter. Unique to this era of Nash.
My father purchased a new '52 Nash with the same body style. Very proud of this car. After moving to L.A. after a Navy stint in Alaska, he decided to two tone the car in this combination. Bought a new 1957 wagon. Spent lot'sa time riding in the back window package shelf.
My father bought one of these '55 Ambassadors in 1958. It was the family car until 1962. Ours was yellow and white. Cool old cars. Very unique and rare now.
My father had a 1954 Statesman Super four door sedan. Years later, after having owned Chryslers, Cadillacs and Lincolns, he said he never had a better riding car than that Nash.
Nash had air conditioning starting in 1954 and was the first company to put all the components under the hood and at a reasonable price. All systems in cars are like that today.
I think that Nash's parent company was Nash-Kelvinator, before Nash cars became part of American Motors Corporation. I suppose that Nash car Air Conditioning, came from Nash-Kelvinator.
I believe Nash was the first manufacturer to integrate heating and a/c functions into the dash area (1954). Check out this amazing '57 Nash for sale: www.stlouiscarmuseum.com/inventory/listing/1957-nash-ambassador-custom-country-club-hardtop/
Hi ZEZERBING, Happy to read you enjoy this engine :-) Hope you see many more cars on this RU-vid Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
@@loucostabile thanks i talk to jeff every day. I am just a kid but I can replace brake pads. I help maintain the nash. I went over to Jeff's house Thursday to help him. Jeff is a close friend of mine. Please contact me on my email and we can talk thanks. Your Friend, Mousey's Small Engines
Hi Andrew P. Schubert, Happy to read you appreciate this car :-) Clearly your Dodge Truck likes it's fuel. Thank you for viewing, sharing and I believe you're going to see many more cars on this Channel you'll enjoy. Hope you Subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
Lou this Ambassador is amazing. The styling is heavily influenced from the '52-'53 Nash-Healey 2-seater which was designed (as is the Ambassador) by the Italian design house Farina. These cars were well engineered but alas just did not have the capital and customer base to sustain. As innovative as this company was through the decades eventually they were a day late and a $ short. Long live AMC.
Curious about the transmission. The column indicator shows " N/ 3/ 4/ L/ R " Obviously no PARK engagement but what about the 3 and 4? Is the 3 equivalent to DRIVE and 4 the OVERDRIVE?
Hi R Crompton, I e-mailed Jeff and here is his response --- Hello Lou,Best way was to scan the part of the owners manual that describes the operation of the GM Hydra-matic transmission.Jeff --- If you Google 1955 Nash Owners Manual you should be able to find info, hope that helps, Lou
Ray, is somewhat incorrect. On the larger Hudsons and Nashes, the grilles were quite different. Hudson placed the headlights in the fenders, for example. However, in 1955 Hudson Ramblers and Nash Ramblers (as well as Metropolitans) were distinguishes solely by badging.
Hi Is1amization by Immigration, Thank you for viewing and sharing your thoughts. Hope you see many more cars on this RU-vid Channel you enjoy. Please subscribe, and hit the "bell" so you can see all the cars when they are uploaded on this RU-vid Channel, Lou
is it true that in the last years before Nash and Hudson became Rambler, some rude people said disrespectful things like, 'NASH today.... TRASH tomorrow' ??
@@loucostabile An old timer told me that the unibody rust was a problem. Body rust = compromised structural integrity if it's in the wrong place. The area behind the front wheels is especially critical, and I recall seeing a warning to check this area carefully if considering buying one. AMC adopted deep dip chromate primer starting 1958, I suppose to combat this. To be fair to Nash, other makes had similar sayings among the detractors. FORD = 'Fix Or Repair Daily', 'Found On Road Dead', for example.
My daily driver is a '90 thunderbird. Runs like a top but looks bad. Went to a orphan car show and saw one...Sooo beautiful and a lot of detail. It was the first post-war car that evoked the jet age motif
Unique for sure, but I guess "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"....The dash controls reference A/C, but I don't really think the car is equipped with it. Cool looking engine though...
This car came out when I was a boy. To my very young eyes it was incredibly ugly compared to the "low priced three." Age has not improved it's appearance. Mechanically it was a good car and the fit and finish was better than Chrysler, GM and Ford...especially GM and Ford.
HI zeek wolfe, "Age has not improved it's appearance" Thank you for making me laugh out loud :-) Hope you see many cars on the Channel you do enjoy, Lou
It's ok, that's why they make different cars for everybody to enjoy a style & budget that fits with them. Glad you viewed and shared a comment. Please type into RU-vid.com "My Car Story With Lou" and I hope you'll see many cars you'll enjoy, Lou
a lot of these cars were weird looking. however I look at the styling of the time compared to today, and try to understand the time period that they were built it. these car were "styled", not built. a different time indeed.
ZEZERBING Yep, I will grant you that. Nowadays, it's about aerodynamics and economy, but that doesn't mean they have to be cookie cutter the same. In 1955, a Nash was a Nash and a Ford was a Ford, and there was no mistaking which was which. Today, we have the Chevrobuillac.
