I agree; the Rambler looked, Idk...normal in the back, whereas we used to say that my aunt's Chevy wagon looked like it had, well...a fat ass in back by comparison, lol.
The AMC Ambassador wagon was the only new car my parents would buy until they stopped making them. They would buy a new one every two or three years. When they brought it home from the dealership I could hardly wait to go for a ride and breathe in that wonderful new car aroma.
@@HAL-dm1eh - The Blue Book value on used AMC products was measurably lower than Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Through the late sixties and into the early seventies, my father owned three AMC vehicles. He said they were great values as used but poor as new because the loss in resale value.
My father moved to the United States from Germany in 1973 due to his secondment, and he ordered his fleet car to the hilt: 1973 Chevrolet Impala with 400 cid V8 engine. That became our first-ever American car, station wagon, car with V8 engine, air-conditioning, power windows, power locks, etc., and the largest car we ever owned. Being 7-year-old boy in 1974, I couldn't believe how ENORMOUS the car was and was very fascinated with the air conditioning on hot days and with the power windows. My mum had to learn how to drive the massive car gingerly and carefully since she was so used to driving the tiny Mini in Germany. One negative thing about the Chevy was that annoying seat belt interlocking alert. My father, being the electrician by trade before becoming the executive director, figured a way to disable the system. We kept the car until 1976 until the company insisted on replacing it with a smaller Malibu (one of two worst fleet cars we ever had). We regretted not buying it from the company and keeping it for a longer bit.
Their interior quality has really stood the test of time better than most any manufacturer including many international manufacturers. I’ve noticed it in many videos on AMCs that are fifty years old
The first family car I remember was my dad's 1969 AMC Ambassador DPL (diplomat) wagon... he was so proud that it was the first new car he bought....and it came standard with AC. We had that thing until 1980. Good times
Cool. Between the two I pick the AMC. Just more fun to drive and a little smaller. That wind deflector on the back of the roof actually worked, kept the glass clean.
The fully reclining seats were an innovation from the Nash Motors portion of AMC, a feature which originally stemmed from their "Bed-in-a-Car" option first developed in 1936, and later modified in 1950 and called "Airliner Reclining Seats". However, many of us who owned AMCs just referred to them as "Nash seats", and they were remarkably comfortable if you had a need to sleep in your car on long road trips or overnight drives.
I learned of "Nash seats" from an episode of Happy Days in the mid-late '70s. My dad, watching with us, then explained how his '60 Rambler Super had them.
My family had a 66 Chevy 9-seat wagon growing up...when going on a long road trip, my parents would fold down the 2nd seat, load the luggage there (and the roof rack, if necessary), and then put their 3 kiddos in the rear facing seat....it worked great for them (no more listening to: "are we there, yet?") and for us (we just simply played kids games, including mooning other cars...)...
Sorry Adam, but you left out the best car of all, our 1973 Pontiac Grand Safari. That car had so much torque my mom used to make all us kids car sick the way she was on the gas off the gas and then hit those over assisted power brakes. Funny memories. That car went through Jungle Habitat in central NJ many times. What a hoot. Always loved that clamshell tailgate. That car was a monster. Never gave my parents a problem. Great car.
Where AMC excelled in the early 70s was with their lower-end four-door Matadors, which were tough, plain-Jane utilitarian vehicles. This is why so many of them were used by police departments or government agencies. As a matter of fact, in the late-70s one of my best friends bought a government-issue 1970 Matador four-door with a six-cylinder engine, and this was such a tough, reliable car. My friend loved this car, but also joked that the only options this car came with was a steering wheel and a heater.
My Dad bought a 72 Chevy Kingswood wagon brand new. In 1973 parlance that would be an Impala wagon. Dad worked in construction and that wagon got a lot of heavy use plus we had 6 kids so we often loaded it up. Ours was a 6 passenger model - Dad wanted the larger underfloor storage area that the 6 passenger model provided. A manual tailgate was standard, like the blue one in your pictures. Never had an issue with it. We did have to replace the rear window motor but as I recall it was easy to get to in the spare tire well. The weight may have hurt the gas mileage, but to this day its the best car I ever drove in the snow! Lots of memories in that car. It went through a few of us kids. I was the last to have it as a snow/winter car.
In my neighborhood it seemed most new wagons were the plain but aero-looking Chevy Impalas, and only a few were fancier wood-paneled Estate versions. The interiors of Chevy Impalas in that '71-'76 era were really disappointing and I think shouted "Cheap!". (As a kid I couldn't stand all the "foreign-style" symbols on the dashboard knobs.) But that glass-into-the-roof/tailgate-down-into-the-floor electric tailgate operation was fascinating plus the rear sweep of curved side glass in all the GM full-size wagons seemed so modern - and sure was distinctive.
@@audieconrad8995 I had forgotten the 'Typhoon' moniker. My first was a 'Y' Block (312 Ford, 1956), followed by a 'Rocket' (303 Olds V8, 1953). I've run a 409 (replacement for a 348 in a 1959 Impala Sport Coupe), 'Nailhead' Buicks, Cadillacs (390, 472, 500), various other engines in various vehicles. My current 'daily' is a flatfendered Jeep with hopped up 225 Buick 'Odd Fire' V6 which GM called 'Fireball' until they sold it to Kaiser who rechristened it 'Dauntless'. The 'Typhoon' was akin to a 327 Chevy (among my all time favorites), if not a bit more 'punchy'.
AMC's best selling wagon was the Hornet Sportabout, in a segment the Big 3 had abandoned (some years half of all Hornets sold were Sportabouts). The Ambassador's most direct GM competition was the Olds Cutlass Cruiser or Buick Skylark wagon, mid-size but plush. Chevy for whatever reason gave the Caprice wagon an Impala-level interior, Caprice sedans and coupes were much more luxurious.
My parents had a 1972 Chrysler Town & Country with the third seat. That car was later replaced with a 1975 model. My brother and I loved riding back there on the family trips. My aunt and uncle had one of those clamshell wagons. Theirs was a 1975 Buick Estate Wagon. My great-grandmother never liked sitting on the right side of the middle seat in that car, but did like it in our car, the Chrysler. As an adult I've always wanted a GM clamshell wagon. But that AMC is a real beauty.
Mom's '69 had a 343. Light and quick for a wagon. That was the car I often used for my high school dates, did lots of 'parking' on Mulholland Drive and at drive in theaters.
My choice would be the AMC wagon as it did not have the clamshell tailgate which were very trouble prone. As you indicated the interior finish of the AMC was superior to the Chevrolet and due to the weight difference gas mileage would have been better. AMC hands down! Thanks for the video.
Fun fact- The AMC Ambassador was the first car to come with A/C as standard equipment! Hard to believe nowadays that ANY car wouldn't have A/C as standard equipment. I think the first year was 1969.
AMC all the way, especially for towing and hauling. More of a work horse drive train with the 360 or 401, and the torque flight, and still enough comfort and a little luxury to keep the family happy on road trips. Love the horizontal speedo with the wood grain, I would love to see that make a comeback somehow.
Love this video. Regarding the price difference between the 2 wagons, when you take into account that the Ambassador had air conditioning standard whereas on the Caprice a/c was an extra cost option, there really wasn't that much of a price difference. I didn't appreciate the Ambassador back then, but now I agree with you. I'd pick the Ambassador.
Among pilots back in the 1980's there was a slogan: "If there is an Ambassador in the parking lot, you can bet the FAA is around". The Federal Government bought thousands of these dowdy but reliable cars for the use of government personnel. FAA inspectors show up unannounced at airports and when a plane pulls up, they do a "ramp check", or check all the documents of the people flying the aircraft. Most government agencies prefered Chrysler products; The FAA has traditionally been the "low man on the pole" and wound up with these cars. Great video!
"Car Nut" since '51 and really appreciated in the Fall of '55 my Dad buying a '56 Mercury 9 Passenger Wagon! There were 8 of us and was the very first time did not have to stand up looking out a back window!!!
I would have chosen the Ambassador too. I worked for a Pontiac - AMC dealer back then and thought that they were very underrated. I owned a couple of them and was very happy with them.
Enjoyed the video. I voted for the AMC by currently owning one. Admittedly mine in a 68 Ambassador DPL wagon so it's very similar but not identical. We just drove it from NC to Florida and back about a week ago. Great smooth trip. Last year, drove it from NC to Kenosha to Freeport Maine to NC. Also a smooth trip. Still a great road car.
I've owned two GM clamshells, including a 1973 Caprice Estate which was a delight to drive and utterly reliable, with never an issue with the many power assists, including the tailgate. Mine was unfortunately equipped with the 400-2, which wasn't very enthusiastic. The optional 454-4, or even the prior year 402-4, would have been a much better fit. The perforated vinyl seats were breathable and supportive, but I believe the same as found in the Impala wagon. The Ambassador does look infinitely more plush.
That AMC was a nice looking Wagon, The only Wagon I ever Owned was a 1970 Biscayne 6 pass, V8 Auto No Air, was a nice wagon but no frills other than PS...Standard Interior, with carpets etc..Plain Jane Chevy at best.....
My parents bought a number of AMC cars through the years. One of them was a 1973 Ambassador Brougham , not a wagon but a 4 door sedan. silver with a silver vinyl top blue interior. They purchased it shortly after I got my drivers license many wonderful memories of that car.
My parents bought a new 73 Caprice Estate wagon. Our first car with a/c and power windows and locks. That 3rd seat was so hot in the summer. You would freeze in the front seat and roast in the back!! The car was a lemon from day one. I remember we picked it up early evening and the very next day we had it in for service!
We had a set of cousins whose family car was a 1973 Caprice Estate wagon. When they came for a visit, and were pulling out to go home, I looked at the car and thought, "That's the biggest car I've ever seen!" It was as massive as a Suburban. As for the mouse fur headliners coming down, there was a van conversion shop in my hometown that repaired them at very little cost, and they looked as good as new. I had two Oldsmobiles done by them.
That's one nice AMC wagon! Can't believe they still had vent windows in '73 though. Also the Chevy Titan 90 and GMC Astro 95 semi tractors had that C3-style inverted radio bay.
I had a 74 Caprice Estate wagon, with a 454, not that fast, but it did tow well, had it for over ten years and the only thing that went bad was the power steering pump, was extremely reliable car. Used to drive it to a place called needles in the California desert (115°+ in the summer), Towing a trailer and the car never overheated, wish I had it now. If I had known dual exhaust got me 30 horsepower I would have had it put on.
In 1977, I bought a 1971 Ambassador wagon. I needed a wagon for work, and the car lot had two, a 1971 Pontiac, or the AMC. The Poncho had the valves replaced on one side, so I was a little leery. I ended up getting the AMC even tho the dealer didn't really wanted to sell it as he was using it. Car had a 360 w/ 4bbl. Went like hell
My Dad would’ve picked the AMC since he would not have been very trusting of what he saw then as a complicated and finicky tailgate mechanism in the GM wagons. Riding forward or backward in the rear proved to be of no consequence to me when I rode in my friends’ station wagons back in the day. Dad bought the ‘66 Valiant wagon, and that’s the experience we had with domestic wagons. Here in Hawai’i with small parking stalls, a compact car was the thing to have. My cousin had a 1974 Belair wagon here, and that was a pain to park.
@@patrickflohe7427 Indeed, Dad WAS surprised that the electric tailgate window on the ‘66 Valiant survived our 10 years of ownership without a hiccup. Here in Hawai’i, full-sized vehicles were…and are…a true pain to park. Our roads and parking stalls are smaller than mainland ones. I was happy to see Adam “rescue” that brown, full-sized Marquis 4-door a year or so ago. That car was lovely and needed room to stretch its legs. It had no opportunity to do so on O’ahu.
Great video. I like the look and performance of the AMC, but I was a Chevy kid growing up, and always liked the wraparound glass on the Caprice wagons. Shame they didn’t give the wagon the dual exhaust for the 454ci, since it really needed the extra 30hp.
I remember reading Consumer Reports back in the 1970s and in full-size comparos Ambassadors came in last because they're really midsized. I was also watching an old Mission Impossible episode and was shocked to see an Ambassador limo. The squared off rear roofline gives the AMC the practicality nod in this one for cargo.
The pull-down tailgate of the Ambassador is more practical than the Chevy's clamshell design in that once the tailgate is down, it increases the length of the cargo area and makes it possible to support longer loads like, for example, lumber or a small snowmobile. I really miss that capability in my Saturn wagon. As far as I know, today's SUV's are all hatchbacks. (except for the Aztec) 😁
Love seeing the wagons, would like to see a full comparison of the big 3 wagons and the big 3 mid sized wagons that’s more what I think of when looking at the AMC wagons
My folks had a '73 Buick Estate Wagon. The clambshell rear door was the coolest feature and it also had the advantage of allowing you to pull right up to a loading dock without having to make room for the opened rear door. The front facing rear seat was also nice, but you had to be a small, strong and flexible child to access that space. Once in, you were faced with a shallow foot well, meaning your knees were at your chest for the duration.
We always had wagons - big family - and it was choice to get to ride in the 'way back'. Well out of reach of Mom. I remember a Pontiac but the others are lost in the seas of memory. Having said that, I would most definitely go for the Caprice. Irrational, probably but I had a 76 Caprice and it was a solid sedan - albeit a gross polluting smoker by the time I bought it for $300!
Those Chevys were everywhere. I'd vote for the AMC because of it's uniqueness. But it holds up pretty well against the Chevy in other categories anyway.
IMHO, the 1969 Ambassador wagons were among the most beauiful station-wagon models offered by any domestic manufacturer of that era. My family co-owned an AMC Dealership, with Friday mornings being our K.A.T. (Kenosha Auto Transport) delivery time, out of the Norristown (Philly Zone) freight yard. It was the very best time to be a kid (all the NEW CAR SMELL a 13 y/o's lungs could handle!!)....
Naturally the AMC wagon has the obligatory Midland 23ch CB radio under the dash too. Both my parent's Buicks had the same exact radios. Glad they weren't weird. (for that reason at any rate. )
I have seen lots of the Kingswood and Safari station wagons with the clamshell rear tailgate, but the Ambassador station wagon seems to be a rarity here; but I also agree with Adam, it has a nicer interior, and performance would likely be lively.
My dad was a real carguy when it came to knowledge of ride, handling and features and we had a new 1971 Ambassador Wagon with the 401. That was the car I learned to drive on ( it was a rocket ship). My father then traded it in for a 1975 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon with the 454. You got the features right for sure, the AMC was more nimble but not as smooth, where the Chevy was a luxury ride but a sloth, fyi: having 273 rear end gears didn't help. Seating was terific and the extra storage behind the third row was very useful on trips and fortunately we had no problems with the clam shell tailgate. Thanks for bringing back a bit of my younger days.
One thing you forgot to mention is that the third row seat passengers have the rear diff encroaching into the floorpan. I was amazed to see that when I bought my 74 Custom Cruiser. I think Ford had the best wagon back then.
But 2 adults can still sit in the clamshell 3rd row, the Ford 3rd row is useless unless you're 4 years old. I've had 2 clamshells and a Colony Park and the GM wagon is the better wagon in my opinion.
@@rafaelfiallo4123 I’ve had two full size adults in the third row of my 74 Country Squire and I’ve sat in it myself with a friend driving and I’m not small by any means. I still have my 74 Olds Custom Cruiser and the Squire plus a 78 Colony Park. I say the Fords are better and sales reflected that too by a long way. Don’t get me wrong. I love the Olds. I just don’t think having a large intrusion of the differential into the floorpan was a good design. But I love the clamshell idea.
@@markbehr88 I would have to see it to believe it. I had a 76 Colony Park and I'm no giant and I tried to sit in that little tiny seat and I could barely get one ass cheek on it, 2 adults back there would have to be really good friends.... you notice the would only show kids back there in any of the advertisements.
I remember driving a 1973 Caprice Wagon when I was a teen and it was a boat. Barely fit in the lane, I recall. But it was incredibly spacious, silent and comfortable. The AMC compares in size to a GM mid-size wagon, not a Caprice wagon.
AMC integrated the climate controls for 1972, the wood speedometer was also 1972. The back left of the rear had a locking box with the spare tire on the right.
Props to showing a big AMC they always fascinated me because they were so rare. I grew up in the 80s and 90s and there were plenty of 70s big three stuff around, but the only big AMC I saw was a Matador that I glimpsed in a parking lot at night. And I lived in Wichita Kansas, which had more American iron than the coasts at that point.
I bought a 69 ambassador 4 door for a hundred $ in 1982? It's still my favorite car I've owned! 6 cylinder, drove perfectly, and I could blast through 2 feet of snow on any given day!! No frills, fantastic car!
The dash is actually pretty neat compared to some of the hideous instrument clusters in GMs of the time. I like the wood grain treatment better than most.
I was young but alive in this time and I don't remember any AMC wagons at all in the 70's/80's except Hornets, then later Concords and Eagles. In my area the Chevys and Fords were very very popular. I do remember one family that had a B body Mopar, like a Fury or Coronet or something. Not many bigger Mopar wagons around, but I guess the Aspen/Volare did quite well and there were plenty of those later in the 70's.
I have always been interested in cars. I remember all kinds of wagons on the roads in the 1970s and 80s but have no recollection of any AMC wagons other than the Hornet.
Perhaps the difference in price is from the Ambassador standard equipment list which included air conditioning, am radio, whitewall tires, tinted glass, roof rack, radial tires and more. I'm not sure what you got with the Caprice, but I'm pretty sure it did not include air conditioning which was about a $400+ option.
@@johnmaki3046 That was a Motorola radio. I read in a number of magazines back then that routinely rated AM’s radios as some of the best sounding in the industry. GM’s radios tended to be very bass heavy while AM had balanced mid range that offered great clarity and a spacious sound.
AMC DID have a LOT of GREAT IDEAS! It's sad that their quality control went down the drain in the "70s! I HATE to see what GREED (at the EXECUTIVE LEVEL) DIMISHED THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY TO! This SAME situation is RUINING the auto industry WORLDWIDE today!
@@johnmaki3046 Yes, but remember AMC was living on next to no profits in its later years with many years causing losses that were never recouped. The fact that quality fell (across the industry) is not AMC”s fault, but a heroic attempt at survival. The cars were still very sturdy and long lasting, but detail quality took a hit, for sure, as it did on all makes. I am not sure that greed was solely responsible.
-Glass actually flexes 15 degrees? -Glass Formed at 15 degrees from end to end? -Track the glass rides in rotates the glass 15 degrees in its travel? -Other Which might it be ??
I grew up in the 70s and one of my friends had a AMC Hornet with the straight 6 engine, we made fun of it all the time, but in truth it was the most dependable practical car any of us had. While I was patching rust holes in my mustang my friends Hornet had no rust and just kept going through all the abuse we gave it
I didn't think anything rotted out worse than a AMC Hornet. We had 74 that Dad ordered brand new in Oct of 1973 at the start of the oil embargo and the end of 35¢ / gallon gas. Took delivery just before Christmas of 73. By the summer of 1976 it already had holes rusted in the front fenders.🤮
We always had station wagons in our family.. a red 1957 Ford (3-on-the-tree).. I can still hear my mother grinding the gears and smelling that burning clutch.. next a 1961 Chevy 6 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 and my favorite, a solid navy blue (no faux wood) 1967 Ford with a 289cui.
The AMC was a great looking wagon. They were very rare where I grew up in Pasadena, CA in the 1970s. We had 1968 and later a 1973 Chrysler Town & Country which was a beast! 😂
The problem with GM clamshells was the rear window water drain would get clogged causing leaks or freeze ups in the winter, sometimes leaking water into the spare tire well. If the drain in the well was clogged it would rust an rot away causing water, dirt and salt to fly up on the electric motor and cable drive for the rear window, especially if there was no spare tire. I remember back in the 80’s and 90’s you would see these wagons rusted out in the rear and the spare tire hanging out. Also, on the other side, the bottom of the saddle tank for the gas lacked protection from salt and dirt and would rust and leak fuel. These were the first two things you looked for when buying used wagons. That and the sagging leaf springs that air shocks would fix. All in all these were unique and stylish wagons, nothings been done like them since
This is (for me) your ultimate video. It really hits home for so many reasons. I have a personal and up close experience with the clamshell wagons as I owned a 1976 Pontiac Bonneville Grand Safari wagon that was loaded with every option except cornering lights. The power rear gate never ever acted up and the space behind the third row seat would make a modern CUV cry with envy, I put it on a truck scale and it weighed over 5600 lbs. It was so large I moved my sister-in-law's entire apartment (furniture, clothing-everything) in one load. It was not as quiet as some other wagons and the LEAF SPRING rear suspension was a bit stiff. Highway cruising was wonderful and passenger comfort was outstanding. And oh what a wonderful sound when you punched it and all 4-barrels opened up. The sound did cost gas money as steady cruising was good for about 11 mpg. Playing hot rod took that number into the single digits. And after 44 years of marriage and 46 cars, this is still my wife's favorite! For reasons I will go into later, I'd definitely go with the Ambassador wagon over the Chevy in 1973. I was in the market for a new wagon in 1973. Was totally In love with a friend's '72 Ambassador Brougham wagon. That wagon started my love affair with AMC. But family was all GM (in-laws) or Ford (my dad). I wanted the Impala wagon but it was too long for my garage. So I settled for a Gran Torino wagon in pee green because they were giving them away because of the oil embargo. I was not fond of that car as it always had "drivability" issues. I should have bought the Ambassador!
My mom had a 73 Pontiac Catalina Safari wagon. We never had any problems with the clam shell rear end. I thought it was a great idea, although the opening and closing of each section they would slow up some (but not to the point if being a problem) over time
I would get the AMC with 401 also. Those comfy seats would of been nice while sitting in those gas lines a few months after I bought the HMS Ambassador. The end of the era was nigh.
The Ambassador Brougham was awesome! I loved riding in ours, but I didn't enjoy driving it 4 years later. Land yacht feel and easy to steer into trouble for a young driver. My dad ordered it new, shipped to our new home in KY, and got a job selling them when he picked it up! Great car and wonderful memories.
My dad was co-owner of a Chevrolet dealership in 1973 where I spent countless hours as a kid when these were both sold. The AMC (Ford also) was walking distance from my dad’s dealership so I was able to see and drive some of these either right off the truck or as recent trade-in’s . The Chevy you show had few trim upgrades so I would argue wasn’t 100% apples to apples but the issue with the AMC was the fit and finish. Neither were awesome in this era, but the big three automakers were considered to have superior quality and fit and finish. No one can deny AMC had some design advantages in this era, think Javelin, but their quality held them back markedly. I remember a lady coming in with her AMC Ambassador and trading it for a GM model only a year old because the driver’s door kept falling off the hinges.
It is interesting how rich the AMC wagon appears on the interior. You can see the Jeep influence coming through as well. AMC always made do with less and had some interesting efforts. It is interesting we live and suv/crossover world now. They are the station wagons of today. I do not know why GM did not dress up its wagons interiors. They did not happen until Roadmaster Limited wagon in the 1990's and Caprice Classic wagon in the 1990's. I would take a 1981 Pontiac Bonneville Safari or a 1985-1986 Pontiac Parisienne Safari and a Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser 1980-1990 wagon with dual power seats and a few other features. Thank you Adam.
I had a 66 Rambler American Wagon with chrome slotted wheels in 1973. My Dad traded in a 1967 Caprice wagon with a 396 that was great for a new 1973 Kingswood wagon. Mine was a 6cyl with a 3 on the tree and I took my driving test in the "boat" 73 since it was an automatic. No problem!
Looking back today, the AMC wagon is far better in many ways, but in the early 1970s GM dominated that market with all the different models of wagons available. There was Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Chevrolet versions available to suit people's moods. Then there was the Ford and Chrysler wagons who were also very stylish looking vehicles too. It was a different story in 1973 than it is today.
The 73 AMC HVAC controls are identical to the 72. The side switch for AC cooling was last seen in 1971. The linear woodgrain speedometer was also on the 72 Ambassador, though all the wood in 72 was a burl pattern.
I drove my Aunt’s Ambassador Brougham from Seattle to San Diego and back. It was very uncomfortable. I’m 6’1 and the top of the seat angled forward right at shoulder level, making me slouch a bit. After hours of driving, I couldn’t wait to get out of the thing. But you’re right about power and handling. That 360 could really get up and go.
A correction on the Chevy glass, the rear pane of glass did NOT bend (it was solid glass, not a bendable plastic). It was curved and slid in and up at the same time on a pretty ingenious track that stowed the curved glass safely into the ceiling. These tracks have to be kept free from debris like leaves or acorns, french fries, candy or fingers from the third row occupants in order to do this intricate dance but it really was ingenious engineering. Personally I think it was great and would much rather sit on the back of this car with it open, on the actual floor rather than a tailgate suspended by cables or a strange linkage the may not enjoy the stress of two or three adults sitting on it.
I’d have picked a 1973 Volvo 145 wagon! I had a ‘69 and it was very practical - the flat floor & upright back tailgate gave you a lot of storage space.
AMC, hands down, and I’m a GM guy. Great power train with that 401/Torqueflite combo, and it’s just so much cooler. I’m not a big fan of the GM clamshell wagons. For full size Chevy wagons, I much prefer the pre-clamshell Kingswood Estate.
I bought a severely used '73 Caprice in the 80's, and man, that thing was a tank, and it didn't go past a gas station with that big V8. AMC's cars were cool designs and good looking, but they weren't too popular in central MA where I grew up, and I'm not sure why. Probably because their dealer network wasn't nearly as well developed as the competition. You'd see them on the road but not nearly as common as the Big 3.
That Ambassador wagon I can't recall seeing much of, so despite all those selling points that, in this 2023 context, seem so convincing, AMC just didn't have the appeal in the full-size market no matter how much better they actually were. The Chevy and Ford wagons definitely continued to win the popularity contest, by far. Chrysler wagons in my memory - and yes, I'm relying only on childhood memory - were a distant third (they seemed to me to be even more imposing size-wise than any GM or Ford). Then again, my neighborhood seemed to be a world of mid-size vehicles in many driveways, as really, a lot of families could get away with a more manageable Malibu or Torino or equivalent, and in '73, they were guzzling gas at only a slightly reduced rate than all the full-size wagons, much to the chagrin of a lot of U.S. drivers who faced the sudden doubling of the cost of a gallon of gas that same year.
I LOVE the Caprice Estate. I own one today'. A mint 76 Chevy CAPRICE wagon. It is my pride and joy and never sees rain or bad weather... So many thumbs up on the road and often. people approach, if im in a parking lot... Everyone has their station wagon Fun Story!!!! Lol Everything new or rebuilt under the hood too. New tires and exhaust... Heavily waxed and beautiful interior.... Maroon/wood..Red interior, delux rubber bumpers/strips, clock. AC, 400 4bbl, roof rack. power locks cruise.. 3 forward seats with the 2nd row split (yes, nice nice fearure) Power tailgate door and rear window... works like new from the key switch which has 7 positions including a vertical neutrsl position (depending what you want to open or close.. Window, Gate. Or Both simultaneously) also has 2 switches on the dash for interior operation of the tailgate.. Window works any time.. but for the tailgate door to operate the gear shift selector MUST be in Park!!! T H A N K S for this Awesmoe Video Sir!! Later!!!❤
Another Awesome Educational Video Adam !! I requested about a Year ago about doing a Video on an Automobile my Dad had in my Youth for which I recently learned was very Rare due to it's very Limited Production Build's. The 1979-82 Mercury Marquis. My Dad Bought New a 1981 Marquis (Brougham) 2 Door in two-tone paint, a Silver-Cream mix over Navy Blue with the Navy Blue Landau Padded roof with Light Blue Leather interior. In 1981 Mercury only Produced just under 3000 two Door Marquis . That explains why I've been unsuccessful finding one on-line anywhere For Sale or at a Car Show. If at some point in the near Future doing a segment on Your channel on the 79-82 Mercury Marquis, Marquis Brougham or the Top Trim for those Year's the Grand Marquis. Thank you & appreciate your consideration on 1 of Your Fans Request.
That wagon is one of the best looking AMC cars ever made. Very classy and not odd in any way.
I agree; the Rambler looked, Idk...normal in the back, whereas we used to say that my aunt's Chevy wagon looked like it had, well...a fat ass in back by comparison, lol.
Agreed 100%
I like his "handsome" description when he uses it, usually he's right on the money.
I like this AMC too.
Unlike most of their vehicles, this doesn’t look weird.
It still has a weird nerdy factor but to a lesser degree.
The AMC Ambassador wagon was the only new car my parents would buy until they stopped making them. They would buy a new one every two or three years. When they brought it home from the dealership I could hardly wait to go for a ride and breathe in that wonderful new car aroma.
Sounds like you had wise parents.
@@HAL-dm1eh - The Blue Book value on used AMC products was measurably lower than Ford, GM, and Chrysler. Through the late sixties and into the early seventies, my father owned three AMC vehicles. He said they were great values as used but poor as new because the loss in resale value.
Mom had a 1973 Ambassador SST purchased new.
Cool 🥰
My father moved to the United States from Germany in 1973 due to his secondment, and he ordered his fleet car to the hilt: 1973 Chevrolet Impala with 400 cid V8 engine. That became our first-ever American car, station wagon, car with V8 engine, air-conditioning, power windows, power locks, etc., and the largest car we ever owned. Being 7-year-old boy in 1974, I couldn't believe how ENORMOUS the car was and was very fascinated with the air conditioning on hot days and with the power windows. My mum had to learn how to drive the massive car gingerly and carefully since she was so used to driving the tiny Mini in Germany.
One negative thing about the Chevy was that annoying seat belt interlocking alert. My father, being the electrician by trade before becoming the executive director, figured a way to disable the system. We kept the car until 1976 until the company insisted on replacing it with a smaller Malibu (one of two worst fleet cars we ever had). We regretted not buying it from the company and keeping it for a longer bit.
Grew up in AMC cars. Will never forget the iconic door handles.
Still look good over 50 years later. Door handles are becoming flush again.
Jeep still uses them on the wranglers rear tailgate.
Their interior quality has really stood the test of time better than most any manufacturer including many international manufacturers. I’ve noticed it in many videos on AMCs that are fifty years old
@@LlyleHunter couldn't agree more!
Amc Wagon would be my vote, thanks for the video.
The first family car I remember was my dad's 1969 AMC Ambassador DPL (diplomat) wagon... he was so proud that it was the first new car he bought....and it came standard with AC. We had that thing until 1980. Good times
My folks owned a '68 Ambassador with A/C. But it also had the standard 232 6. Was a slug on steep grades especially with A/C on.
Mom got a new '69 Ambassador SST with the 343. Our second new car after Dad's Corvair.
AC was standard and all Ambassadors came with ac.
Cool. Between the two I pick the AMC. Just more fun to drive and a little smaller. That wind deflector on the back of the roof actually worked, kept the glass clean.
Oh, the Ambassador for sure! Excellent, thanks Adam!
I like the Caprice estate
The disappearing tailgate is what sells me
I don't care for the coffin look...
The fully reclining seats were an innovation from the Nash Motors portion of AMC, a feature which originally stemmed from their "Bed-in-a-Car" option first developed in 1936, and later modified in 1950 and called "Airliner Reclining Seats". However, many of us who owned AMCs just referred to them as "Nash seats", and they were remarkably comfortable if you had a need to sleep in your car on long road trips or overnight drives.
And fathers hated it when boyfriends picked up their daughters in one!
@@boataxe4605 I often drove Mom's '69 Ambassador SST wagon to the local passion pits (drive in theaters) and to Mulholland Drive back in the day.
I learned of "Nash seats" from an episode of Happy Days in the mid-late '70s. My dad, watching with us, then explained how his '60 Rambler Super had them.
AMC used full coil seats. My ’70 Ambassador had some of the most comfortable seats I’ve ever sat in.
Knew a couple of people who lived in ambassadors one wagon one not
The Chevy tailgate was marketed by GM as the Glide Away Door. The term clamshell was a moniker bestowed by others.
My family had a 66 Chevy 9-seat wagon growing up...when going on a long road trip, my parents would fold down the 2nd seat, load the luggage there (and the roof rack, if necessary), and then put their 3 kiddos in the rear facing seat....it worked great for them (no more listening to: "are we there, yet?") and for us (we just simply played kids games, including mooning other cars...)...
Sorry Adam, but you left out the best car of all, our 1973 Pontiac Grand Safari. That car had so much torque my mom used to make all us kids car sick the way she was on the gas off the gas and then hit those over assisted power brakes. Funny memories. That car went through Jungle Habitat in central NJ many times. What a hoot. Always loved that clamshell tailgate. That car was a monster. Never gave my parents a problem. Great car.
Where AMC excelled in the early 70s was with their lower-end four-door Matadors, which were tough, plain-Jane utilitarian vehicles. This is why so many of them were used by police departments or government agencies. As a matter of fact, in the late-70s one of my best friends bought a government-issue 1970 Matador four-door with a six-cylinder engine, and this was such a tough, reliable car. My friend loved this car, but also joked that the only options this car came with was a steering wheel and a heater.
My Dad bought a 72 Chevy Kingswood wagon brand new. In 1973 parlance that would be an Impala wagon. Dad worked in construction and that wagon got a lot of heavy use plus we had 6 kids so we often loaded it up. Ours was a 6 passenger model - Dad wanted the larger underfloor storage area that the 6 passenger model provided. A manual tailgate was standard, like the blue one in your pictures. Never had an issue with it. We did have to replace the rear window motor but as I recall it was easy to get to in the spare tire well. The weight may have hurt the gas mileage, but to this day its the best car I ever drove in the snow! Lots of memories in that car. It went through a few of us kids. I was the last to have it as a snow/winter car.
We had the Chevy in all green, no fake wood paneling. The green was the shade of Turtle Wax car polish. It was a great car.
In my neighborhood it seemed most new wagons were the plain but aero-looking Chevy Impalas, and only a few were fancier wood-paneled Estate versions. The interiors of Chevy Impalas in that '71-'76 era were really disappointing and I think shouted "Cheap!". (As a kid I couldn't stand all the "foreign-style" symbols on the dashboard knobs.) But that glass-into-the-roof/tailgate-down-into-the-floor electric tailgate operation was fascinating plus the rear sweep of curved side glass in all the GM full-size wagons seemed so modern - and sure was distinctive.
The Ambassadors were a very all'round solid car. Gorgeous green! That 401 was no slouch - definitely meant business.
Interesting video Adam!
Mom's '69 was a 343, light and quick.
@@-oiiio-3993 ah! The Typhoon 343! Very solid [and not so well known] motor! 👍🏻
@@audieconrad8995 I had forgotten the 'Typhoon' moniker.
My first was a 'Y' Block (312 Ford, 1956), followed by a 'Rocket' (303 Olds V8, 1953). I've run a 409 (replacement for a 348 in a 1959 Impala Sport Coupe), 'Nailhead' Buicks, Cadillacs (390, 472, 500), various other engines in various vehicles.
My current 'daily' is a flatfendered Jeep with hopped up 225 Buick 'Odd Fire' V6 which GM called 'Fireball' until they sold it to Kaiser who rechristened it 'Dauntless'.
The 'Typhoon' was akin to a 327 Chevy (among my all time favorites), if not a bit more 'punchy'.
@-oiiio- lotta classics my friend! A flatfendered jeep with 225 - wow!
Keep'er between the lines brothah!
@@audieconrad8995 Rubber side down.
AMC's best selling wagon was the Hornet Sportabout, in a segment the Big 3 had abandoned (some years half of all Hornets sold were Sportabouts). The Ambassador's most direct GM competition was the Olds Cutlass Cruiser or Buick Skylark wagon, mid-size but plush. Chevy for whatever reason gave the Caprice wagon an Impala-level interior, Caprice sedans and coupes were much more luxurious.
I agree, AMC Hornets (talk about chunky little cars!) were way more common when I was growing up in the 1970s than any Matador or Ambassador.
AMC seemed pretty focused on basic, solid mechanicals, taking their pick of the other OEM parts bins. I like that.
Never noticed the very Buick-like curve to the Ambassador wood grain applique before. A very handsome wagon indeed!
My parents had a 1972 Chrysler Town & Country with the third seat. That car was later replaced with a 1975 model. My brother and I loved riding back there on the family trips. My aunt and uncle had one of those clamshell wagons. Theirs was a 1975 Buick Estate Wagon. My great-grandmother never liked sitting on the right side of the middle seat in that car, but did like it in our car, the Chrysler. As an adult I've always wanted a GM clamshell wagon. But that AMC is a real beauty.
The right middle row seat was called a jump seat.
I liked it, but my fave is the way back.
My folks owned an Ambassador with the 360 that I learned to drive in. Damn I loved that car, thanks for the nostalgia.
Mom's '69 had a 343. Light and quick for a wagon. That was the car I often used for my high school dates, did lots of 'parking' on Mulholland Drive and at drive in theaters.
Hands down, the Ambassador wagon would be my choice. Great looking car.
My choice would be the AMC wagon as it did not have the clamshell tailgate which were very trouble prone. As you indicated the interior finish of the AMC was superior to the Chevrolet and due to the weight difference gas mileage would have been better. AMC hands down! Thanks for the video.
In my opinion, the 1973 Ambassador and Matador were some of the nicest looking of the AMC products.
Rear end collision damage on the Caprice must have been a fun repair.
Absolutely! 😮
Not to mention the rust on the rear bottom sheet metal section after water was accumulated when the rear tailgate disappeared during heavy rainstorms.
@@P00katube I was gonna say this. You didn't need to get hit from behind to have that tailgate become a nightmare.
Fun fact- The AMC Ambassador was the first car to come with A/C as standard equipment! Hard to believe nowadays that ANY car wouldn't have A/C as standard equipment. I think the first year was 1969.
AMC all the way, especially for towing and hauling. More of a work horse drive train with the 360 or 401, and the torque flight, and still enough comfort and a little luxury to keep the family happy on road trips. Love the horizontal speedo with the wood grain, I would love to see that make a comeback somehow.
Love this video. Regarding the price difference between the 2 wagons, when you take into account that the Ambassador had air conditioning standard whereas on the Caprice a/c was an extra cost option, there really wasn't that much of a price difference. I didn't appreciate the Ambassador back then, but now I agree with you. I'd pick the Ambassador.
My Dad had an Ambassador wagon. There were 7 in our family. It was a great car. Comfortable and dependable.
I really love the old American station wagons, they have so much charm to them! Funnily enough, I associate them with christmas movies.
Woodgrain speedo is kinda wild but the AMC is a sharp looking wagon!
Thanks for doing wagons!!!! So cool
Among pilots back in the 1980's there was a slogan: "If there is an Ambassador in the parking lot, you can bet the FAA is around".
The Federal Government bought thousands of these dowdy but reliable cars for the use of government personnel. FAA inspectors show up unannounced at airports and when a plane pulls up, they do a "ramp check", or check all the documents of the people flying the aircraft.
Most government agencies prefered Chrysler products; The FAA has traditionally been the "low man on the pole" and wound up with these cars.
Great video!
In the past I have urged Adam to do a 'fleet sales vs personal sales' video. So far we have not seen it.
"Car Nut" since '51 and really appreciated in the Fall of '55 my Dad buying a '56 Mercury 9 Passenger Wagon! There were 8 of us and was the very first time did not have to stand up looking out a back window!!!
I would have chosen the Ambassador too. I worked for a Pontiac - AMC dealer back then and thought that they were very underrated. I owned a couple of them and was very happy with them.
Enjoyed the video.
I voted for the AMC by currently owning one. Admittedly mine in a 68 Ambassador DPL wagon so it's very similar but not identical. We just drove it from NC to Florida and back about a week ago. Great smooth trip. Last year, drove it from NC to Kenosha to Freeport Maine to NC. Also a smooth trip. Still a great road car.
I've owned two GM clamshells, including a 1973 Caprice Estate which was a delight to drive and utterly reliable, with never an issue with the many power assists, including the tailgate. Mine was unfortunately equipped with the 400-2, which wasn't very enthusiastic. The optional 454-4, or even the prior year 402-4, would have been a much better fit. The perforated vinyl seats were breathable and supportive, but I believe the same as found in the Impala wagon. The Ambassador does look infinitely more plush.
That AMC was a nice looking Wagon, The only Wagon I ever Owned was a 1970 Biscayne 6 pass, V8 Auto No Air, was a nice wagon but no frills other than PS...Standard Interior, with carpets etc..Plain Jane Chevy at best.....
My parents bought a number of AMC cars through the years. One of them was a 1973 Ambassador Brougham , not a wagon but a 4 door sedan. silver with a silver vinyl top blue interior. They purchased it shortly after I got my drivers license many wonderful memories of that car.
To me, the crossover and SUV are a station wagon, just lifted higher for the heavier weight people have put on over the past 50 years.
My parents bought a new 73 Caprice Estate wagon. Our first car with a/c and power windows and locks. That 3rd seat was so hot in the summer. You would freeze in the front seat and roast in the back!!
The car was a lemon from day one. I remember we picked it up early evening and the very next day we had it in for service!
5:00 A "family car", even if you're in the process of starting a family.
We had a set of cousins whose family car was a 1973 Caprice Estate wagon. When they came for a visit, and were pulling out to go home, I looked at the car and thought, "That's the biggest car I've ever seen!" It was as massive as a Suburban. As for the mouse fur headliners coming down, there was a van conversion shop in my hometown that repaired them at very little cost, and they looked as good as new. I had two Oldsmobiles done by them.
That's one nice AMC wagon! Can't believe they still had vent windows in '73 though.
Also the Chevy Titan 90 and GMC Astro 95 semi tractors had that C3-style inverted radio bay.
I wish everybody still had vent windows.
I had a 74 Caprice Estate wagon, with a 454, not that fast, but it did tow well, had it for over ten years and the only thing that went bad was the power steering pump, was extremely reliable car. Used to drive it to a place called needles in the California desert (115°+ in the summer), Towing a trailer and the car never overheated, wish I had it now. If I had known dual exhaust got me 30 horsepower I would have had it put on.
In 1977, I bought a 1971 Ambassador wagon. I needed a wagon for work, and the car lot had two, a 1971 Pontiac, or the AMC. The Poncho had the valves replaced on one side, so I was a little leery. I ended up getting the AMC even tho the dealer didn't really wanted to sell it as he was using it. Car had a 360 w/ 4bbl. Went like hell
I'd love to see the '73 Gran Torino Wagon with the 400 in the mix. Only because I miss mine.
My Dad would’ve picked the AMC since he would not have been very trusting of what he saw then as a complicated and finicky tailgate mechanism in the GM wagons. Riding forward or backward in the rear proved to be of no consequence to me when I rode in my friends’ station wagons back in the day. Dad bought the ‘66 Valiant wagon, and that’s the experience we had with domestic wagons. Here in Hawai’i with small parking stalls, a compact car was the thing to have. My cousin had a 1974 Belair wagon here, and that was a pain to park.
We never had a bit of trouble with those tailgates and windows.
@@patrickflohe7427 Indeed, Dad WAS surprised that the electric tailgate window on the ‘66 Valiant survived our 10 years of ownership without a hiccup. Here in Hawai’i, full-sized vehicles were…and are…a true pain to park. Our roads and parking stalls are smaller than mainland ones. I was happy to see Adam “rescue” that brown, full-sized Marquis 4-door a year or so ago. That car was lovely and needed room to stretch its legs. It had no opportunity to do so on O’ahu.
Great video. I like the look and performance of the AMC, but I was a Chevy kid growing up, and always liked the wraparound glass on the Caprice wagons. Shame they didn’t give the wagon the dual exhaust for the 454ci, since it really needed the extra 30hp.
-Definitely easy to add though.
I remember reading Consumer Reports back in the 1970s and in full-size comparos Ambassadors came in last because they're really midsized. I was also watching an old Mission Impossible episode and was shocked to see an Ambassador limo. The squared off rear roofline gives the AMC the practicality nod in this one for cargo.
Wonderfully esoteric comparison that you're only going to find on this channel. Totally love these videos!
Here here, you can’t geek out too much more than this. And I love it! But give me power windows please, regardless of the brand.
@@scottlevine7646 So true! I don't think I've ever seen an AMC with power windows! I guess they made them, but I've never seen one.
The pull-down tailgate of the Ambassador is more practical than the Chevy's clamshell design in that once the tailgate is down, it increases the length of the cargo area and makes it possible to support longer loads like, for example, lumber or a small snowmobile. I really miss that capability in my Saturn wagon. As far as I know, today's SUV's are all hatchbacks. (except for the Aztec) 😁
Love seeing the wagons, would like to see a full comparison of the big 3 wagons and the big 3 mid sized wagons that’s more what I think of when looking at the AMC wagons
Agreed!
What's interesting is that the Matador wagon was identical in dimensions to the Ambassador from the firewall back.
That AMC wagon is gorgeous!
My folks had a '73 Buick Estate Wagon. The clambshell rear door was the coolest feature and it also had the advantage of allowing you to pull right up to a loading dock without having to make room for the opened rear door. The front facing rear seat was also nice, but you had to be a small, strong and flexible child to access that space. Once in, you were faced with a shallow foot well, meaning your knees were at your chest for the duration.
We always had wagons - big family - and it was choice to get to ride in the 'way back'. Well out of reach of Mom. I remember a Pontiac but the others are lost in the seas of memory.
Having said that, I would most definitely go for the Caprice. Irrational, probably but I had a 76 Caprice and it was a solid sedan - albeit a gross polluting smoker by the time I bought it for $300!
Those Chevys were everywhere. I'd vote for the AMC because of it's uniqueness. But it holds up pretty well against the Chevy in other categories anyway.
IMHO, the 1969 Ambassador wagons were among the most beauiful station-wagon models offered by any domestic manufacturer of that era. My family co-owned an AMC Dealership, with Friday mornings being our K.A.T. (Kenosha Auto Transport) delivery time, out of the Norristown (Philly Zone) freight yard. It was the very best time to be a kid (all the NEW CAR SMELL a 13 y/o's lungs could handle!!)....
Naturally the AMC wagon has the obligatory Midland 23ch CB radio under the dash too. Both my parent's Buicks had the same exact radios. Glad they weren't weird. (for that reason at any rate. )
I have seen lots of the Kingswood and Safari station wagons with the clamshell rear tailgate, but the Ambassador station wagon seems to be a rarity here; but I also agree with Adam, it has a nicer interior, and performance would likely be lively.
The clamshell tailgate was cool, though!
My dad was a real carguy when it came to knowledge of ride, handling and features and we had a new 1971 Ambassador Wagon with the 401. That was the car I learned to drive on ( it was a rocket ship). My father then traded it in for a 1975 Chevrolet Caprice Estate Wagon with the 454. You got the features right for sure, the AMC was more nimble but not as smooth, where the Chevy was a luxury ride but a sloth, fyi: having 273 rear end gears didn't help. Seating was terific and the extra storage behind the third row was very useful on trips and fortunately we had no problems with the clam shell tailgate. Thanks for bringing back a bit of my younger days.
One thing you forgot to mention is that the third row seat passengers have the rear diff encroaching into the floorpan. I was amazed to see that when I bought my 74 Custom Cruiser. I think Ford had the best wagon back then.
But 2 adults can still sit in the clamshell 3rd row, the Ford 3rd row is useless unless you're 4 years old. I've had 2 clamshells and a Colony Park and the GM wagon is the better wagon in my opinion.
@@rafaelfiallo4123 I’ve had two full size adults in the third row of my 74 Country Squire and I’ve sat in it myself with a friend driving and I’m not small by any means. I still have my 74 Olds Custom Cruiser and the Squire plus a 78 Colony Park. I say the Fords are better and sales reflected that too by a long way. Don’t get me wrong. I love the Olds. I just don’t think having a large intrusion of the differential into the floorpan was a good design. But I love the clamshell idea.
@@markbehr88 I would have to see it to believe it. I had a 76 Colony Park and I'm no giant and I tried to sit in that little tiny seat and I could barely get one ass cheek on it, 2 adults back there would have to be really good friends.... you notice the would only show kids back there in any of the advertisements.
@@rafaelfiallo4123 they were decent sized Husband and Wife.
Great video of America cars from the 70s. Bill from the UK 🇬🇧
I remember driving a 1973 Caprice Wagon when I was a teen and it was a boat. Barely fit in the lane, I recall. But it was incredibly spacious, silent and comfortable. The AMC compares in size to a GM mid-size wagon, not a Caprice wagon.
Exactly!
AMC wagon is my choice.
AMC integrated the climate controls for 1972, the wood speedometer was also 1972. The back left of the rear had a locking box with the spare tire on the right.
Props to showing a big AMC they always fascinated me because they were so rare. I grew up in the 80s and 90s and there were plenty of 70s big three stuff around, but the only big AMC I saw was a Matador that I glimpsed in a parking lot at night. And I lived in Wichita Kansas, which had more American iron than the coasts at that point.
I bought a 69 ambassador 4 door for a hundred $ in 1982?
It's still my favorite car I've owned! 6 cylinder, drove perfectly, and I could blast through
2 feet of snow on any given day!! No frills, fantastic car!
The dash is actually pretty neat compared to some of the hideous instrument clusters in GMs of the time. I like the wood grain treatment better than most.
I wish you could have done a close up of the window sticker on the AMC.
Love that Ambassador!
I was young but alive in this time and I don't remember any AMC wagons at all in the 70's/80's except Hornets, then later Concords and Eagles. In my area the Chevys and Fords were very very popular. I do remember one family that had a B body Mopar, like a Fury or Coronet or something. Not many bigger Mopar wagons around, but I guess the Aspen/Volare did quite well and there were plenty of those later in the 70's.
I have always been interested in cars. I remember all kinds of wagons on the roads in the 1970s and 80s but have no recollection of any AMC wagons other than the Hornet.
Perhaps the difference in price is from the Ambassador standard equipment list which included air conditioning, am radio, whitewall tires, tinted glass, roof rack, radial tires and more. I'm not sure what you got with the Caprice, but I'm pretty sure it did not include air conditioning which was about a $400+ option.
It was EXPENSIVE, so was the am/fm "stereo" radio then!
@@johnmaki3046 That was a Motorola radio. I read in a number of magazines back then that routinely rated AM’s radios as some of the best sounding in the industry. GM’s radios tended to be very bass heavy while AM had balanced mid range that offered great clarity and a spacious sound.
AMC DID have a LOT of GREAT IDEAS! It's sad that their quality control went down the drain in the "70s! I HATE to see what GREED (at the EXECUTIVE LEVEL) DIMISHED THE AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY TO! This SAME situation is RUINING the auto industry WORLDWIDE today!
@@johnmaki3046 Yes, but remember AMC was living on next to no profits in its later years with many years causing losses that were never recouped. The fact that quality fell (across the industry) is not AMC”s fault, but a heroic attempt at survival. The cars were still very sturdy and long lasting, but detail quality took a hit, for sure, as it did on all makes. I am not sure that greed was solely responsible.
-Glass actually flexes 15 degrees?
-Glass Formed at 15 degrees from end to end?
-Track the glass rides in rotates the glass 15 degrees in its travel?
-Other
Which might it be ??
Right. I rather doubt that the glass physically bends as it retracts into the roof.
I grew up in the 70s and one of my friends had a AMC Hornet with the straight 6 engine, we made fun of it all the time, but in truth it was the most dependable practical car any of us had. While I was patching rust holes in my mustang my friends Hornet had no rust and just kept going through all the abuse we gave it
I didn't think anything rotted out worse than a AMC Hornet. We had 74 that Dad ordered brand new in Oct of 1973 at the start of the oil embargo and the end of 35¢ / gallon gas. Took delivery just before Christmas of 73. By the summer of 1976 it already had holes rusted in the front fenders.🤮
Cool content. The Olds Vista Cruiser would be a cool car to review as well. Thanks Adam!
We always had station wagons in our family.. a red 1957 Ford (3-on-the-tree).. I can still hear my mother grinding the gears and smelling that burning clutch.. next a 1961 Chevy 6 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤 and my favorite, a solid navy blue (no faux wood) 1967 Ford with a 289cui.
The AMC was a great looking wagon. They were very rare where I grew up in Pasadena, CA in the 1970s. We had 1968 and later a 1973 Chrysler Town & Country which was a beast! 😂
I've never seen one of these AMC's in the wild, but I applaud that unique "sweep" treatment of the wood grain vinyl... Very nice idea.
The problem with GM clamshells was the rear window water drain would get clogged causing leaks or freeze ups in the winter, sometimes leaking water into the spare tire well. If the drain in the well was clogged it would rust an rot away causing water, dirt and salt to fly up on the electric motor and cable drive for the rear window, especially if there was no spare tire. I remember back in the 80’s and 90’s you would see these wagons rusted out in the rear and the spare tire hanging out. Also, on the other side, the bottom of the saddle tank for the gas lacked protection from salt and dirt and would rust and leak fuel. These were the first two things you looked for when buying used wagons. That and the sagging leaf springs that air shocks would fix. All in all these were unique and stylish wagons, nothings been done like them since
This is (for me) your ultimate video. It really hits home for so many reasons.
I have a personal and up close experience with the clamshell wagons as I owned a 1976 Pontiac Bonneville Grand Safari wagon that was loaded with every option except cornering lights. The power rear gate never ever acted up and the space behind the third row seat would make a modern CUV cry with envy, I put it on a truck scale and it weighed over 5600 lbs. It was so large I moved my sister-in-law's entire apartment (furniture, clothing-everything) in one load.
It was not as quiet as some other wagons and the LEAF SPRING rear suspension was a bit stiff. Highway cruising was wonderful and passenger comfort was outstanding. And oh what a wonderful sound when you punched it and all 4-barrels opened up. The sound did cost gas money as steady cruising was good for about 11 mpg. Playing hot rod took that number into the single digits. And after 44 years of marriage and 46 cars, this is still my wife's favorite!
For reasons I will go into later, I'd definitely go with the Ambassador wagon over the Chevy in 1973.
I was in the market for a new wagon in 1973. Was totally In love with a friend's '72 Ambassador Brougham wagon. That wagon started my love affair with AMC. But family was all GM (in-laws) or Ford (my dad). I wanted the Impala wagon but it was too long for my garage. So I settled for a Gran Torino wagon in pee green because they were giving them away because of the oil embargo.
I was not fond of that car as it always had "drivability" issues.
I should have bought the Ambassador!
The Ambassador - hands down. Thanks for yet another great presentation Adam.
My mom had a 73 Pontiac Catalina Safari wagon. We never had any problems with the clam shell rear end. I thought it was a great idea, although the opening and closing of each section they would slow up some (but not to the point if being a problem) over time
I would get the AMC with 401 also. Those comfy seats would of been nice while sitting in those gas lines a few months after I bought the HMS Ambassador. The end of the era was nigh.
Sadly, we have HUGE pick-ups and SUVs that are MORE HOG than anything from the 60s-70s!
The Ambassador Brougham was awesome! I loved riding in ours, but I didn't enjoy driving it 4 years later. Land yacht feel and easy to steer into trouble for a young driver. My dad ordered it new, shipped to our new home in KY, and got a job selling them when he picked it up! Great car and wonderful memories.
My dad was co-owner of a Chevrolet dealership in 1973 where I spent countless hours as a kid when these were both sold. The AMC (Ford also) was walking distance from my dad’s dealership so I was able to see and drive some of these either right off the truck or as recent trade-in’s . The Chevy you show had few trim upgrades so I would argue wasn’t 100% apples to apples but the issue with the AMC was the fit and finish. Neither were awesome in this era, but the big three automakers were considered to have superior quality and fit and finish. No one can deny AMC had some design advantages in this era, think Javelin, but their quality held them back markedly. I remember a lady coming in with her AMC Ambassador and trading it for a GM model only a year old because the driver’s door kept falling off the hinges.
It is interesting how rich the AMC wagon appears on the interior. You can see the Jeep influence coming through as well. AMC always made do with less and had some interesting efforts. It is interesting we live and suv/crossover world now. They are the station wagons of today. I do not know why GM did not dress up its wagons interiors. They did not happen until Roadmaster Limited wagon in the 1990's and Caprice Classic wagon in the 1990's. I would take a 1981 Pontiac Bonneville Safari or a 1985-1986 Pontiac Parisienne Safari and a Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser 1980-1990 wagon with dual power seats and a few other features. Thank you Adam.
Ford/Mercury and Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth also had great comparison wagons.
I had a 66 Rambler American Wagon with chrome slotted wheels in 1973. My Dad traded in a 1967 Caprice wagon with a 396 that was great for a new 1973 Kingswood wagon. Mine was a 6cyl with a 3 on the tree and I took my driving test in the "boat" 73 since it was an automatic. No problem!
Looking back today, the AMC wagon is far better in many ways, but in the early 1970s GM dominated that market with all the different models of wagons available. There was Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Chevrolet versions available to suit people's moods. Then there was the Ford and Chrysler wagons who were also very stylish looking vehicles too. It was a different story in 1973 than it is today.
The 73 AMC HVAC controls are identical to the 72. The side switch for AC cooling was last seen in 1971. The linear woodgrain speedometer was also on the 72 Ambassador, though all the wood in 72 was a burl pattern.
I had a Sportabout 4-door wagon 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 and that car was fast and very reliable.
I drove my Aunt’s Ambassador Brougham from Seattle to San Diego and back. It was very uncomfortable. I’m 6’1 and the top of the seat angled forward right at shoulder level, making me slouch a bit. After hours of driving, I couldn’t wait to get out of the thing. But you’re right about power and handling. That 360 could really get up and go.
A correction on the Chevy glass, the rear pane of glass did NOT bend (it was solid glass, not a bendable plastic).
It was curved and slid in and up at the same time on a pretty ingenious track that stowed the curved glass safely into the ceiling.
These tracks have to be kept free from debris like leaves or acorns, french fries, candy or fingers from the third row occupants in order to do this intricate dance but it really was ingenious engineering.
Personally I think it was great and would much rather sit on the back of this car with it open, on the actual floor rather than a tailgate suspended by cables or a strange linkage the may not enjoy the stress of two or three adults sitting on it.
I’d have picked a 1973 Volvo 145 wagon! I had a ‘69 and it was very practical - the flat floor & upright back tailgate gave you a lot of storage space.
AMC, hands down, and I’m a GM guy. Great power train with that 401/Torqueflite combo, and it’s just so much cooler. I’m not a big fan of the GM clamshell wagons. For full size Chevy wagons, I much prefer the pre-clamshell Kingswood Estate.
I bought a severely used '73 Caprice in the 80's, and man, that thing was a tank, and it didn't go past a gas station with that big V8. AMC's cars were cool designs and good looking, but they weren't too popular in central MA where I grew up, and I'm not sure why. Probably because their dealer network wasn't nearly as well developed as the competition. You'd see them on the road but not nearly as common as the Big 3.
That Ambassador wagon I can't recall seeing much of, so despite all those selling points that, in this 2023 context, seem so convincing, AMC just didn't have the appeal in the full-size market no matter how much better they actually were. The Chevy and Ford wagons definitely continued to win the popularity contest, by far. Chrysler wagons in my memory - and yes, I'm relying only on childhood memory - were a distant third (they seemed to me to be even more imposing size-wise than any GM or Ford). Then again, my neighborhood seemed to be a world of mid-size vehicles in many driveways, as really, a lot of families could get away with a more manageable Malibu or Torino or equivalent, and in '73, they were guzzling gas at only a slightly reduced rate than all the full-size wagons, much to the chagrin of a lot of U.S. drivers who faced the sudden doubling of the cost of a gallon of gas that same year.
I concur.
I LOVE the Caprice Estate. I own one today'.
A mint 76 Chevy CAPRICE wagon. It is my pride and joy and never sees rain or bad weather... So many thumbs up on the road and often. people approach, if im in a parking lot... Everyone has their station wagon Fun Story!!!!
Lol
Everything new or rebuilt under the hood too.
New tires and exhaust... Heavily waxed and beautiful interior....
Maroon/wood..Red interior, delux rubber bumpers/strips, clock. AC, 400 4bbl, roof rack. power locks cruise.. 3 forward seats with the 2nd row split (yes, nice nice fearure) Power tailgate door and rear window... works like new from the key switch which has 7 positions including a vertical neutrsl position (depending what you want to open or close.. Window, Gate. Or Both simultaneously) also has 2 switches on the dash for interior operation of the tailgate..
Window works any time.. but for the tailgate door to operate the gear shift selector MUST be in Park!!!
T H A N K S for this Awesmoe Video Sir!!
Later!!!❤
Another Awesome Educational Video Adam !! I requested about a Year ago about doing a Video on an Automobile my Dad had in my Youth for which I recently learned was very Rare due to it's very Limited Production Build's. The 1979-82 Mercury Marquis. My Dad Bought New a 1981 Marquis (Brougham) 2 Door in two-tone paint, a Silver-Cream mix over Navy Blue with the Navy Blue Landau Padded roof with Light Blue Leather interior. In 1981 Mercury only Produced just under 3000 two Door Marquis . That explains why I've been unsuccessful finding one on-line anywhere For Sale or at a Car Show. If at some point in the near Future doing a segment on Your channel on the 79-82 Mercury Marquis, Marquis Brougham or the Top Trim for those Year's the Grand Marquis. Thank you & appreciate your consideration on 1 of Your Fans Request.