Remarkably Preserved: 1971 AMC Ambassador Brougham
Over the years, I’ve come to admire American Motors even more because they really were the underdogs of underdogs against the mighty “Big Three.” They did quite a bit with very limited resources and didn’t blink twice about competing in the luxury arena. Although their top-of-the-line Ambassador was about 5 inches shorter and a not quite as wide as their competitors, AMC still offered a stylish and comfortable alternative that still looks good five decades later. This is one of the nicest examples of a 1971 AMC Ambassador Brougham 2-Door Hardtop that we’ve ever featured here on Barn Finds. It’s currently residing in Guttenberg, Iowa and is for sale here on eBay with an asking price of $21,900. The Dealer, Dave Brown Classic Rides, is also willing to listen to offers. I’m giving Rick Helmes an “A” for this AMC tip. It’s a beauty.
Ambassadors had been restyled for 1970, so little changed for 1971 and they still came in three models: a 2-Door Hardtop, 4-Door Sedan, and 4-Door Station Wagon. The Dealer does a great job of providing photos, but not so great in sharing the car’s history or how a 52-year-old car can be in almost “like new” condition. The car’s build sheet shows that it was originally delivered to Hannay’s AMC & Jeep in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Royal Maroon metallic paint is an attractive color and has a beautiful shine. The white pin striping compliments the optional white vinyl top on the sporty “fastback” that looks to be in good shape. Based on the photos, I’m not seeing any issues with the chrome, trim, tinted glass, lenses or anything. It was also ordered with the optional rear bumper guards and wire wheel covers.
AMC promised “limousine-like luxury for six passengers,” and the Ambassador’s cushy interior is both attractive and in remarkable condition. In trying to one-up the competition, All Season Air Conditioning came standard on Ambassadors. Other options on this luxury hardtop include power brakes, power steering, Adjust-O-Tilt steering wheel, and Speed Control. Like the car’s exterior, it’s hard to find any faults with this interior. The seats, door panels, carpet, instrument panel, and dash look great.
Under the hood – no surprise – is a very clean and tidy engine bay. Another option ordered on this Ambassador was the 360-cubic inch V8 that could generate 245 horsepower when new. It is mated to a Shift Command Automatic Transmission. The mileage is listed at 57,000 and based on the overall nice condition of this Ambassador, inside and out, I’m believing that’s the original mileage. Of the 41,674 Ambassadors built for 1971, only 4,579 would be Brougham hardtops like this one. And this has to be one of the nicest examples out there.
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Comments
Omg, that looks like a new car.
Or as we would say in Canada, she’s a beauty eh!
Has the requisite tissue box holder mounted under dash. Why are these so popular as a NOS accessory? Kinda ugly imho.
My folks never did like tissue dispensers in cars, so we had to rely on our shirt sleeves!
Your folks should have shopped at Goodwill and installed a shirt sleeve dispenser in their car.
Fast food napkins!!!
My parents decided the cavernous glove compartment was the place to put anything that didn’t already have it’s own place.
The little woman would get pouty if he didn’t stop for ice cream.
Him: “Now now, dry your eyes. Scoop or soft serve?”
Her: (reaching for snot rag)
“You mean it?” Slides across the bench seat to snuggle up.
Certain cars on here, most from the 50’s through the 70’s evoke many memories for me; this one was a good friend’s choice, in emerald green. His family owned Ramblers and Studebakers and he followed suit.
After he purchased this at 18 years old around 1975 his nickname became The Ambassador!
RIP R.D.
Wow this car is a beauty! My picky side says keep & store these grandpa wheels and tires and locate a set of Javelin rally rims & nice set of tires. Then add dual exhaust. Either style you prefer, you’ve got something nobody else will be showing up in!
Beautiful condition. They were ugly cars back then and even uglier today…..
Somebody really loved this car, show some respect eh?
I have one word for this car, WOW! So cool to see these come out, hope it finds an owner to show it wqual love. mike j knapp of st joseph,mo
I owned a ’67 Ambassador DPL hardtop with a white vinyl top and a similar burgundy body color. This one here is a beauty.
Oh my God – I’ll take it! A 360 too, my favorite color combo of all time, AND – it’s a “hard top coupe”. It’s in unbelievable condition for a 1971 which brings the biggest question – how did they do it. This car checks all the boxes for me without a doubt. If it runs as good as it looks, the price is “spot on “, give or take a little. I probably won’t ever see another 1971 burgundy hard top 2-door ever again. But who knows, with all the classic cars hitting the market…… I still can’t believe it has a 360ci! Thanks Barn Finds! Great article!
I have a ’71 Ambassador that I bought back in the early 1990s for $500 but it’s not nearly as nice as this one which looks like it just rolled out of the showroom. (Did someone bring it back from 1971 in a TARDIS?)
I have the same engine and transmission but no cruise control or tilt wheel. Like this example mine has the optional electric wipers which use a Prestolite motor that is unobtainium, though there are places that can rebuild them.
Although lacking some other options my Ambassador does have power front disc brakes. The master cylinder on this one with equal sized chambers suggests it has drum brakes all around. The HVAC controls in these cars are as confusing as you’ll find anywhere with multiple levers and a temperature control knob for the AC.
I personally like the way these 2-door models look, aside from the crazy stretch ahead of the cowl that AMC used to make the Ambo “bigger” than the Matador. It was the 4-door sedans that got hit badly with the ugly stick. (Wagons kept the same body they started with in 1967.)
The 1972 models brought significant upgrades such as Chrysler Torqueflite transmission replacing the ancient Borg-Warner unit, standard electric wipers, and modernized HVAC controls.
Great Car Great Comments… 🤔
How about Howards .02 🙌
Hi Stan, nice,,( in case some tire of my windy posts),,but briefly( ya right) this was known as the “Kenosha Kadillac”,( “K” instead of “C” to avoid legal problems) and was the best we had to offer. I read, the 360 was the most popular motor across the entire line. This car is very similar to the old mans 1970 Ambassador, 390, ex forest ranger car, with all police gear. Did great burnouts.
They were born in the wind tunnel and developed for the IROC racing series. After GM halted production in 02, IROC series went away. Ugly as they are, they’re very buildable if you want all out power for the drag strip and not break the bank.
Sorry replied to the wrong car!
Haha right on Cooter 🍻
Perhaps always garaged? Only nice day drives? Think the vehicle looks good. Wouldn’t mind taking it for a spin.
Everyone needs an edge. Longer warranty, better corrosion protection or, as in this car, standard equipment air conditioning. You had to go pretty high into the food chain to find a domestic with air in the base equipment list. Of course you still had to order (not delete) a radio, tinted glass and every power assist. For that matter AMC was just getting around to having electric wipers to compliment their Weather Eye heater that they pioneered.
The condition is stunning. It’s hard to believe the true mileage isn’t far far less. ❤
Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder! Looks way better than a mid seventies matador 2 door, now those were pretty bugly…. But again, someone loved and drove them.
My dad’s mom had a Matador Brougham dark red with a black vinal top. She loved the car, except it didn’t have much clearance according to her. Don’t know if she was hitting RR tracks at speed or what, never spent any time in the car, fortunately for the style in my mind. Maybe once a ride, was like get me outta this car.
All that’s on this AMC laugh of luxury could be had as standard equipment, and more, on a Coupe DeVille or a Mark lV. And let’s not forget the modern mechanical engineering. Okay.. nice looking vehicle of no importance and worth little.
The Coupe DeVille had a base price of $6,270
Lincoln Continental Mark IV base price $8,640
Ambassador Brougham coupe base price $3,999
You could buy 2 for the price of the Mark
But to my mind it is much more interesting and worth more for precisely the reasons you listed. I drive a Cadillac CTS that is absolutely loaded with options. All the normal ones plus. So what. Everyone expects that. But this Ambassador with these options is a rare bear.
That lead-in photo, 3/4 rear, shows the best of the body style in my view. I think it is just gorgeous….
best,
bt
Gorgeous car. The maroon color and red interior make this one stand out.
I learned to drive in a ’65 Ambassador.
I MISS AMC!
We had a few of these in our motorpool when i was in KTOWN Germany(1972) but had a 6 with 3 in the tree softly sprung and wallowy even when almost new.
Interesting car. AMC didn’t have the luxury reputation but this looks like a luxury car for sure. Has a bit of Pontiac in it as well as some Mercury too. I like it.
Omg 😱 this is the luxurious a m c car I’ve ever seen in the ambassador series besides the amc concord that came out and that car was considered as luxurious too back then!
If this goes for the asking price, could it be a record Ambassador sale?
Nice ride
Has A/C
Just needs that 390 some duals and abit more tire but other than that it’s a really cool deal
I like it I love it a lot
Unmarked CHP car