Photos from the CC Cohort by Corey Behrens.
Followers of the American Motors saga know that during its brief quarter-century existence, the company’s history was a mix of a couple of lucky home runs, and lots of Hail Mary passes. All while pursuing plenty of Siren calls, often with dubious results; like attempting to join the lucrative PLC market (Matador coupe), or the mid-sixties sporty fastback fad (Marlin).
The Ambassador’s role as the company’s full-size offering from 1969-1974 belonged to the latter. A segment the company had abandoned for a few years, but that was too lucrative to ignore. However, as with many things AMC, the Ambassador’s full-size credentials came through a bit of cunning. The secret behind that trickery ain’t hard to guess, not in this shot. After all, doesn’t the obviously long -and chilled- nose on this DPL just gives the game away?
Yes, the topic has been touched upon previously at CC, since American Motors had a history of creating full-sizers “by-styling”. Back in ’49, their Ambassador got a 9″ nose extension over the lower Statesman; it was full-size prestige by nose job. And in ’58 the idea was tried again, only to find few subscribers.
Still, a culture of sorts at AMC was fond of toying with the idea. In ’69, the expedited (desperate?) full-size Ambassador appeared again, with an extended wheelbase that went from 118″ to 122″, 4″ of those gained by pushing the wheels forward. In all, ten additional inches of full-size prestige.
Needless to say, Ambassador sales never took off. Their production numbers were low from the start and went on to ever diminishing numbers. And in wagon form, even more so. Which makes any of them staying around to our day and age all the more remarkable, as is the case of today’s find.
Only about 17K Ambassador wagons were built in 1969, with 7,825 being the DPL trim. In Ambassador language, the upper trim above basic (not available in wagons), and below the top SST trim with fake-wood paneling and all. Should you care, the DPL had arrived as the Ambassador’s LTD fighter trim back in 1966, though as early as 1968 had been demoted to play second fiddle against the SST trim. Reasons? Go figure. Just American carmakers’ penchant for throwing a “new” top trim just about every other year to take over the previous top dog one.
Last, fender badges indicate that this DPL has the 343CID V-8, the trim’s largest mill according to the brochure; available in 2 or 4-barrel carburation. SSTs could top that offer with the 4-barrel 390CID V-8; Javelin and AMX territory.
So the Ambassador’s mission as a high-profit full-sizer never came to full fruition. Was it AMC’s lack of credentials in the full-size-prestige department? Or challenging perceptions about the Ambassador itself?
Not that it matters much nowadays, and indeed, it makes for any surviving one a unique proposal. As previous CC contributors have said. A Caprice or LTD wagon too common for you? This AMC will certainly have a “What’s that?” factor in its favor. Plus that Jimmy-Durante look that few carry so nonchalantly.
Related CC reading:
Racetrack Classic: 1969 AMC Ambassador DPL Wagon – “What’ll You Have, Hipster?”
My Curbside Classic: 1972 AMC Ambassador Brougham Station Wagon
Curbside Classic: 1961 Rambler Ambassador – Does Size Really Matter?
That green wagon is one of the nicest looking wagons I’ve ever seen. Very nice proportions. So often when I see wagons from years ago, it seems that they were often bloated and ill proportioned.
American Motors had almost universally well-proportionend vehicles. And they were well engineered and good buys. They just weren’t a Big Three.
These big nose variants always looked a little odd to me. The ’49 Statesman looks much better than the Ambassador.
The ’69 wagon is better proportioned with the long nose but it still feels a bit off compared to the normal wheelbase model. It is a fantastic find however and I am glad it still exists.
I’ve always been a wagon fan, when a first saw the green Ambassador, at a quick glance i was thinking 68 Skylark, with the slanted side molding.
I had a ’69 SST sedan in the late eighties as a daily driver for a few years. It had the 343 with a four barrel and was otherwise well optioned. It was a great car, I really enjoyed my time with it. It would get up and go and I surprised a few pony cars along the way.
But it was not really a full size car as compared to the big three. Sure, it had the length, but it did not have the width, and since the extra length was all in the front end it did not have the interior room. If you were looking for the attributes of a full size car the step up from a Malibu to an Impala was noticeable. Not so much between a Rebel/Matador and an Ambassador, so why spend the extra money. It was a typical problem the independent companies had, the finances just weren’t there for an additional body shell so they did what they could with what they had.
Nice looking long roof, I hope it has a long life ahead .
-Nate
The longer wheelbase of the Ambassador was not totally devoid of benefits. Trailer towing stability is better and the ride also improves. At least that is the theory. Whether any of it is actually noticeable is an open question.