American Motors Corporation Model Descriptions and General Information 1956 Statesman and Ambassador 1956 Statesman Gets a New Look The 1956 Nash Statesman received a major facelift. The front and rear fenders were restyled. There were larger front running lights and new taillights. A revised hood ornament was used and one- piece rear windows replaced the three piece '55 unit. The chrome side stripping now included a shallow 'Z' shape on the side and outline moldings on the hood and rear fenders. A 12-volt electrical system was used for the first time. Statesman was being phased out, - so the only Statesman model available for 1956 was the "Super" four-door sedan. Surprisingly, even though its days were numbered, the Statesman engine was redesigned to fit an overhead valve cylinder head and a 1956 Statesman 4-Door Sedan. two-barrel carb. This did increase the power to 130 hp, ten more than the two carb L-Head had produced, and more importantly 15 more foot-pounds of torque. It also allowed the compression ratio to be reduced to 7.47:1 letting the Statesman return to regular grade fuel. This motor was shared with the Rambler, albeit there with a one-barrel carb and ten less horsepower. 1956 Ambassador Ambassador for 1956 still offered the 6 and 8 cylinder variants, though the six mimicked the Statesman in that only one body style was offered; the 4-Door Super. It too shared all the styling changes of 1956 Statesman, but on the seven inch longer wheelbase of the 1956 Statesman 4-Door Sedan. Ambassador. This rear treatment was typical of the Statesman The 1956 Nash Ambassador Eight shared the same styling and Ambassador changes as the Ambassador Six. The V-8 was still the Packard built engine, but a larger 352 cubic inch displacement block was fitted. As in 1955, this motor was only available with Packard's Ultramatic transmission. Other notable styling changes were the variety of two- and three-tone color schemes offered, using the "Z" chrome as a break line for two of the tones, and the roof for the third color. 1956 Ambassadors were noted for being the last full-size AMC vehicle with a six cylinder engine. However, in 1956 AMC did introduce its own 250 cu. in V8 for Ambassador and Hudson Hornet "Specials", which were, in reality, Rambler Custom 2-Door Hardtops. This engine would grow to 327 cubic inches for 1957, and power the regular-sized Ambassadors, with the 250 V8 1956 Ambassador 4-Door V8 Super Sedan. becoming the upscale engine for the Rambler. But 1956 was a sales disaster with Statesman and Ambassador only accounting for a little over 16 thousand cars, a drop of over 24 thousand from the previous year. 1956 Ambassador 4-Door Super Six Sedan. 1956 Ambassador "Special" V8. The chassis was that of a Rambler, but the front and rear sheet metal matched the Ambassador. Rambler did not offer a 2-Door Hardtop in 1956, making this model very unique – not to mention that only 706 were made. 1956 Ambassador "Special" V8. Note the dramatic difference in wheelbase. 17 American Motors Corporation Model Descriptions and General Information Ambassador 1957 The 1957 Nash Ambassador was available only with a 327 cubic inch AMC V-8 engine in two-door hardtops and four-door sedans. Super and Custom trim levels were provided, however. The Ambassador Six and Statesman Six were discontinued, leaving AMC with no vehicle in this price range. It was determined that the Rambler V8 now being offered would pick up the slack, but in reality, as the Country deepened into recession, the "economy car company" needed an "economy big car" It is baffling that AMC, with its supposed understanding of the marketplace, did not see this coming and retain either the Statesman or the Ambassador 6 for 1957. 1957 Ambassador 2-Door Hardtop Coupe. However, the new Ambassador received a major front-end facelift Only 3,561 coupes were produced in 1957. incorporating the first four-beam headlight system use on any U.S. car. Also seen was a completely new cellular grille, front parking lights on top of the front fenders and a new "lightning streak" side trim, usually painted an offsetting color to break up the huge slab sides of the car. The 1957 Ambassador production dropped again by half. With no 6-cylinder big car, buyers moved to other manufacturers with more economical makes. But even the V8 car, which had continued to receive a loyal following, suffered a 25% drop in sales. The U.S. recession was hitting home hard, and big cars were out - especially those from a company touting value and economy. The Ambassador would have to find a new market niche to survive. 1957 Ambassador V8 4 Door Sedan. This car was the first to use the AMC 327 V8. Note big "V" in the grille. 1957 Ambassador V8 4 Door Sedan. The three tone paint scheme is shown. Dual exhausts were standard on the 327; the exhaust tips were optional at extra cost. 1957 Ambassador Advertisement. The V8 was touted because it was AMC's own. It was well that AMC was out from under the deal with Packard, because by 1957 the big 352-374 V8 was history and Packard, like Hudson for Nash, became a re-badged Studebaker, with a puny 289 cu. in. mill. 18 .