Nash Ambassador History

Full-size car · 1932–1957

History

The Ambassador name first appeared in 1927 as the top trim of the Nash Advanced Six and became a standalone model in 1932 as the straight-eight 'Ambassador Eight'. It served as Nash's senior, most luxurious full-size car for the rest of the marque's life, giving it one of the longest-running nameplates in automotive history.

Postwar Ambassadors led with Nash's signature innovations: the fresh-air 'Weather Eye' heating/ventilation system, the fold-flat 'Bed-In-A-Car' that let the seats convert into a sleeping space, and from 1949 the radically streamlined, enclosed-fender 'Airflyte' bodywork nicknamed the 'bathtub'. By 1954 the Ambassador offered an early integrated front-mounted air-conditioning setup tied to the Weather Eye.

For 1952 Nash introduced 'Golden Airflyte' styling penned with Italian coachbuilder Pinin Farina, a look that carried the Ambassador through its final Nash years. After Nash merged with Hudson to form AMC in 1954, the Ambassador continued as a Nash through the 1957 model year, after which the badge passed to AMC.

Generations

Airflyte ('bathtub') · Airflyte (1949–1951)

Photo: “File:NASH Ambassador Custom sedan 1949c.jpg” by Finoskov / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

The radically streamlined, enclosed-fender 'bathtub' Airflyte — the first all-new postwar Nash design, with unitized construction and the Weather Eye system.
- 1949
  Photo: “File:1949 Nash Ambassador (3889875269).jpg” by JOHN LLOYD from Concrete, Washington, United States / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0
- 1950
  Photo: “File:1950 Nash Ambassador Airflyte 3.8.jpg” by Vauxford / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
Pinin Farina era · Golden Airflyte (1952–1957)

Photo: “File:1955 Nash Ambassador Custom four-door sedan in green and white at Rambler Ranch.jpg” by CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz, a photo credit would be appreciated if this image is used anywhere other than Wikipedia. Please also include the location of the image: the Rambler Ranch collection in Elizabeth, Colorado. See: https://www.ramblerranch.com / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.

Restyled with Italian coachbuilder Pinin Farina for Nash's 'Golden Anniversary' 1952 cars; the look that carried the Ambassador to the end of the Nash brand in 1957.
- 1953
  Photo: “File:1953 Nash Ambassador hardtop Hershey 2015 - 1of6.jpg” by CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz — a photo credit is required if this image is used anywhere other than Wikipedia. / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
- 1954
  Photo: “File:1954 Nash Ambassador Super (26557904283).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
- 1955
  Photo: “File:1955 Nash Ambassador Custom sedan in Turquoise and White, front left.jpg” by Mr.choppers / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 . Cropped to 16:9.
- 1956
  Photo: “File:1956 Nash Ambassador Super four-door Sedan.jpg” by CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz, releases all rights but a photo credit would be appreciated if this image is used anywhere other than Wikipedia. Please leave a note at Wikipedia here . Thank you! / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain
- 1957
  Photo: “File:1957 Nash Ambassador (32464694).jpg” by Joe Ross from Lansing, Michigan / Wikimedia Commons , licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 . Cropped to 16:9.