1954 Nash Ambassador Custom.

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  • Опубліковано 14 жов 2024
  • Check out the unique features on this cool 1954 Nash Ambassador Custom at the Philadelphia Auto Show's "Cavalcade of Fine Motorcars" sponsored by the AACA. If you like this video like and subscribe to this channel and see many more classic and unusual cars. Some might even be a favorite of yours or like one you use to own. New videos will be uploaded regularly. Thanks for watching.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 101

  • @choward5430
    @choward5430 5 місяців тому +12

    When I was a kid, I absolutely hated these cars. Mostly, old people drove them. Now that I'm old, I get it!

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      I like them to. Thanks for watching.

    • @raygeary8340
      @raygeary8340 5 місяців тому +1

      Ditto! When I was 11, my parents bought a brand new 1952 Nash Statesman Country Club (2-door hardtop), yellow with a black top. I would love to have it now!

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      @@raygeary8340 I bet. Thanks for watching Ray.

  • @edb5956
    @edb5956 5 місяців тому +12

    Back in those days Nash and Hudson were definitely higher end cars. They could compete directly with Chrysler, Oldsmobile, and Buick. The sad part is that very few realized how really great they were. Only now in these awesome videos do we see that greatness and quality. 🥰

  • @tedwalker1370
    @tedwalker1370 5 місяців тому +4

    When I was a child I had a 1/4 scale model car just like that one only it was light blue. Loved that toy to death. It was all plactic and did not survive being played with. Wish I still had it.

  • @edarcuri182
    @edarcuri182 5 місяців тому +3

    Thanks! Great to see that car. The detail under the windows first appeared on the 52 models and was adapted to the Metropolitan when it was introduced in 1954. Nash did extraodinarily well at Le Mans for a couple of years.
    The 54 Nash is credited with being the first with A/C all up front. (Pontiac is said to have a similar design that year - I have never seen one).
    The car was styled by in house designer Ed Anderson and his crew with consultation on the design from Battiste "Pinin" Farina. All Weather Eye refers to the Weather Eye system with the A/C included.

  • @johncaballero8013
    @johncaballero8013 5 місяців тому +6

    A very special car. Incredible condition, solid and well detailed. Enjoyed the video very much!

  • @danielulz1640
    @danielulz1640 5 місяців тому +12

    Gorgeous car with several rare options.

  • @bextar6365
    @bextar6365 5 місяців тому +13

    Outstanding ...quality built car.

  • @plunkervillerr1529
    @plunkervillerr1529 5 місяців тому +6

    Outstanding condition for its age.

  • @alanpareis734
    @alanpareis734 5 місяців тому +3

    Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I grew up with our family car, a 1953 Nash Statesman. Same
    Pinafarina designed body as the ambassador slightly less appointed as the next model down. When we went on vacation, my brother and I often slept in the car, my parents got the cabin or motel room, my father made some arrangement with the cabin court owner which saved us some money, but allowed us to stay longer. In 1959 I learned to drive the car and took my state drivers exam with a state trooper in the passenger seat. On snow and ice, 3 speed stick on the column, 4th overdrive accelerator engaged. Bigger than the Cadillacs of 53 & 54, with those Farina front wheel skirts the Statesman and Ambassadors had the turning radius of a fire truck. Thank You so much.

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      Wow great story. Now letting your kids sleep overnight in the car at the motels parking lot would get you sent to jail. Thanks for watching.

    • @MrSelf-pg2kt
      @MrSelf-pg2kt 5 місяців тому +1

      My younger years were with a 53 Statesman also, straight shift. I learned to drive in it also and took my driver's license test in it. When my Daddy traded it in, 1960, I think, I took the flying Lady hood ornament off before the car left,..I still have that hood ornament.

    • @alanpareis734
      @alanpareis734 5 місяців тому

      @@MrSelf-pg2kt Wow what a classic hood ornament glad you still.have it. If my flaky memory serves I believe the ornament was designed by renounced pinup artist Alberto Vargas. If so his signature is somewhere cast into the ornament or bracket.

    • @MrSelf-pg2kt
      @MrSelf-pg2kt 5 місяців тому +1

      @@alanpareis734 The Ladies were by "Petty" and the name is cast into the ornament itself. Even as a kid I was fascinated by the flying lady.

    • @alanpareis734
      @alanpareis734 5 місяців тому

      @@MrSelf-pg2kt Me too, many times paste waxing the Statesman gave me a chance to know the lady well. Thanks for the correction I do remember the name cast, just remembered the wrong name.

  • @Jasona1976
    @Jasona1976 5 місяців тому +7

    What a rare beauty to be treasured for all time.

  • @stepheneson4107
    @stepheneson4107 5 місяців тому +6

    It's interesting to read the history of Nash and other smaller manufacturers. They all had to be unique in some fashion in order to distinguish themselves from their larger competitors.... sometimes comically so; but this model seems to have been beautifully executed. Thanks for sharing this one.

  • @wmalden
    @wmalden 5 місяців тому +3

    “Speaker vents” - for really HOT hit tunes!
    On the back of the front seats are robe cords for lap robes or blankets.

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      😅👍Thanks for watching.

    • @gcfifthgear
      @gcfifthgear 4 місяці тому

      Duo-Sonic front speakers (seen on most all 1952-57 Nashes)

  • @bryantsemenza38
    @bryantsemenza38 5 місяців тому +3

    That’s an amazing Nash. Only one I saw of this caliber with all the options.

  • @aaronwilliams6989
    @aaronwilliams6989 5 місяців тому +5

    That would be cool to have! Gorgeous!

  • @mikecesario514
    @mikecesario514 5 місяців тому +4

    This Nash is so beautiful, made in Kenosha, Wi, by workers who took great pride in detail. Those ropes behind the front seats were for blankets and/or coats. The ribbed window trim is extruded aluminum.

  • @nomebear
    @nomebear 5 місяців тому +4

    Engineering wise, the Nash seemed to be more advanced than many other cars of that era. The robust overhead valve 6-cylinder engine has been around, performance shops are still tinkering with it. Some shops are getting as much to 700 hp or better out of it.

  • @jerrycallender9352
    @jerrycallender9352 5 місяців тому +2

    I remember when dealers covered their windows with brown paper until the 'unveiling' of the new models and on the
    advertised date, with people waiting on the sidewalk, the paper would come down and we got the first view of the new cars.

  • @russwabuda1556
    @russwabuda1556 5 місяців тому +4

    very nice, thank you

  • @chrisjeffries2322
    @chrisjeffries2322 5 місяців тому +5

    Simply Deluxe. 💋

  • @toddbonin6926
    @toddbonin6926 5 місяців тому +3

    This is a dream car!!!!

  • @stevenfromer3816
    @stevenfromer3816 2 місяці тому +1

    Unique,beautiful,I want one. Very nice car.

  • @bryanaisenbrey7188
    @bryanaisenbrey7188 5 місяців тому +2

    My Grand Dad liberated a 53 in the same color from a farmer’s barn. Paid $50 for it. Back in 1971. Took me two days to clean all the bird crap off it. Shined up real good. No rust, nice interior. Had a standard 6 with a 3 speed OD. No AC, but otherwise a twin to this one including the color and hood ornament! It only had about 70,000 miles on it. Grand Dad drove it about 6 months before he passed away. Car got sold to someone and now it’s lost to the sands of time.

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      Wow neat story and you'll have the memories forever. Thanks for watching Bryan.

  • @JoeDeola
    @JoeDeola 4 місяці тому +1

    We had a 1952 plain Jane statesman six cylinder stick. We would dream of the Le Mans engine and white walls. We drove that car all through the winters with no problems . In my later years, I also had a 54 and a 57 and enough ramblers to start used car a lot. Had a 60 ambassador with a 327 AMC that would beat anyone back in 1962 and 1963. Known by all as rambler Joe.

  • @jerrycallender7604
    @jerrycallender7604 5 місяців тому +7

    The hood mascots were handmade and signed by the artist.

  • @gcfifthgear
    @gcfifthgear 4 місяці тому +1

    The ribbing below the door windows began with the 1952 Statesman and Ambassador and continued onto the Metropolitans. The wire wheel covers were used on many makes of 1950s cars, including Plymouth and Pontiac (all that was switched out was the center cap!) And the LeMans option referred, as you mentioned, to dual carburetors such as used in the Nash-Healey sports car, "Weather Eye" was Nash's name for its modern heater system; "ALL-Weather Eye" was their name for their new air conditioning system, which was the first air conditioning system with all the components under the hood. Other makes still has the compressor in the trunk, which led to air being forced into the car through plastic tubes at the rear of the car!

  • @bftdr
    @bftdr 5 місяців тому +5

    those things under the sidewindows were called saddle sides. they were supposed to be reminiscent of a saddle. mercury used them in 1955 and 1956 on the upper trim level models.

  • @davidkastin4240
    @davidkastin4240 5 місяців тому +3

    Wow that's a gorgeous Nash. Must be a top of the line model. Nash didn't hold anything back on this one. My car is not exciting and mostly plastic but it does have a cult following at least 😖😂

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому +1

      For sure an upper level Nash. Thanks for watching Dave.

    • @garysmith8276
      @garysmith8276 5 місяців тому +1

      These cars had class. Today your lucky if you can think of one.

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      @@garysmith8276 Yep. Thanks for watching.

  • @gymshoe8862
    @gymshoe8862 5 місяців тому +2

    I was a muscle car nut in the 60's and had zero interest in any Nash, they just didn't appeal to me at the time--but now I'm older and wiser and this car is excellent! I overlooked an interesting car because it didn't seem sexy or fast.

  • @2cartalkers
    @2cartalkers 5 місяців тому +2

    7 main bearings----SUWEET!

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      Thanks for watching.

    • @edarcuri182
      @edarcuri182 5 місяців тому +1

      Fully counterbalanced crank, too! They did well racing at LeMans as those engines did not break.

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      @@edarcuri182 Thanks for watching.

  • @poky1958
    @poky1958 5 місяців тому +2

    it's great

  • @1940limited
    @1940limited 5 місяців тому +3

    Do you lift she shift lever to start it? Doesn't say "Lift To Start" in the shift knob.Maybe these were key start?

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому +1

      Not sure. Thanks for watching.

    • @gcfifthgear
      @gcfifthgear День тому

      @@Mikesclassicautoworld Nashes with Hydra-Matics used the shift lever as the starter switch (rather like the clutch-pedal start used on manual-shift Nashes). You had to make sure the car was in neutral before you started off!

  • @dave1956
    @dave1956 5 місяців тому +2

    It’s quite beautiful now but I never really cared much for Nash vehicles. Just a personal preference.

    • @1940limited
      @1940limited 5 місяців тому +2

      I never did either,but I like these. I'd like to drive one just so see what it's like.

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому +1

      👍Thanks for watching.

  • @jerrycallender-qm7zr
    @jerrycallender-qm7zr 4 місяці тому +1

    The LeMans was the Nash equivalent of the Hudson 'Twin H'
    Packard was first with air conditioning in 1939.

  • @KDoyle4
    @KDoyle4 5 місяців тому +2

    The owner said it's a 235 cubic inch six? I believe it's a 252.6 cubic inch six.

  • @timr31908
    @timr31908 5 місяців тому +3

    Doesn't look like it has much steering range in the front... How is that even functionable

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      Interesting point. I should have asked. Thanks for watching.

    • @gcfifthgear
      @gcfifthgear День тому +1

      @@Mikesclassicautoworld George Mason liked the enclosed front wheels; Nash made wind-tunnel tests proving the 1949 Airflytes were aerodynamically superior to contemporary models with exposed wheels--however, Nash never used it in their advertising!. Yet it made tire changing trickier and the turning circle was larger than a similar car with exposed front wheels. (You will notice that the 1957 Nash finally opened the front wheels and boasted easier steering than earlier models)

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  День тому

      @@gcfifthgear thanks for the info. 👍Thanks for watching.

  • @ervinthompson6598
    @ervinthompson6598 24 дні тому

    .....and you wondered where Chevy got the gas cap idea for the '56 from.....i thought the Airflyte was a separate model !!

  • @jerrycallender9352
    @jerrycallender9352 5 місяців тому +1

    ...and Packard offered air conditioning in 1939.

  • @2cartalkers
    @2cartalkers 5 місяців тому +1

    That back seat is big enough for drive in movies (if you know what I mean).

  • @VanWinger
    @VanWinger 5 місяців тому +2

    When you had a date at the drive in fold the seat down

  • @jaydee4009
    @jaydee4009 5 місяців тому

    How much is a car like this worth?

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому

      I'd say it isn't as hot as it once was but its worth more to those who are familiar with it. I know thats not the best answer but I think its true.

  • @AndrewHeller-jn7dx
    @AndrewHeller-jn7dx 5 місяців тому +3

    The skirt was built into the fenders.
    *LeMans is pronounced: Lay-Man. The last letter, an "s", is ALWAYS SILENT! &;...->See Below, Too:
    *A little more sporty; or, sportier; is correct;..."More Sportier", is NEVER correct!

    • @Mikesclassicautoworld
      @Mikesclassicautoworld  5 місяців тому +1

      Thanks for watching Andrew.

    • @jaydee4009
      @jaydee4009 5 місяців тому

      In America, we say the "s" (unless you're a Communist or a Pinko)!

    • @AndrewHeller-jn7dx
      @AndrewHeller-jn7dx 5 місяців тому

      @@jaydee4009
      In any; &, every country, that it is said, it is said incorrectly.
      As from the French language, it is always silent; and, thus: NOT pronounced!

    • @jaydee4009
      @jaydee4009 5 місяців тому

      You are wrong. First of all, it's not even supposed to be one word. That's the Americanization of it. Secondly, we pronounce the "s" all the time - with a "z" sound. Think of the car by Pontiac it's pronounced "Luh-mahnz." In other words, this isn't France.

    • @AndrewHeller-jn7dx
      @AndrewHeller-jn7dx 5 місяців тому

      ​@@jaydee4009
      We DisAgree 100% again.
      Having NO common grounds for any discussion, there is NO point in going ANY further w/: you.