1954 Nash Ambassador: American Dream

The Nash Ambassador was an American classic that represented a golden age of automotive engineering and design. Produced from 1932 to 1957, it was a full-size vehicle that boasted luxurious features, advanced engineering, and innovative designs. 

Source: Kimballstock

From its Art Deco-inspired styling to its advanced safety features, the Nash Ambassador was a testament to American ingenuity and engineering excellence. It had a unibody construction that made it stronger and safer than other cars of the time, and it was one of the first vehicles to offer a padded dashboard and seat belts as standard equipment. 

The origins

Source: Hotrod Hotline

The creation of the Nash Ambassador was a remarkable story of American ingenuity and engineering excellence that began in the early 1930s. The original design was a collaboration between Nash’s chief engineer, Nils Eric Wahlberg, and the renowned designer, Raymond Loewy, who both shared a passion for creating an automobile that was both luxurious and technologically advanced. Wahlberg’s engineering expertise and Loewy’s artistic vision resulted in a stunning vehicle that boasted advanced engineering, luxurious features, and an Art Deco-inspired design that was unlike anything else on the road. The Ambassador’s sleek lines and bold contours made it an instant classic, and it quickly became known as the ultimate symbol of American automotive luxury and engineering prowess. Over the years, the Ambassador continued to evolve, with new features and designs introduced regularly. In the late 1940s, the brand introduced the revolutionary “Airflyte” design, which made it more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient. The Airflyte design also made the vehicle more spacious inside, with larger windows and a roomier cabin. The Nash Ambassador was also renowned for its advanced safety features, including a unibody construction, padded dashboard, and seat belts. These features helped protect passengers in the event of an accident, making the Ambassador one of the safest automobiles of its time. But perhaps one of the most innovative features of the Ambassador was its “Weather Eye” ventilation system, which was introduced in the early 1950s. This system allowed drivers to control the flow of fresh air into the car, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable driving experience regardless of the weather conditions outside. Despite facing competition from other manufacturers, the model remained a beloved classic for many years, thanks to its unique design and advanced features. Today, it remains a testament to American engineering excellence and design innovation, and its story continues to inspire generations of enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

The 1954 model year

Source: Mecum Auctions

The 1954 version featured many upgrades and improvements from the previous model year. This sleek and stylish automobile featured more advanced technology, luxurious interiors, and bold exterior design, making it one of the most sought-after vehicles of its time. In 1954, the second edition of the revamped vehicle was released, following its introduction in 1953. The exterior of the 1954 edition featured a bold, streamlined design that was both modern and sophisticated. The car was longer and lower than previous models, with a wide, chrome-plated grille and sculpted lines that flowed seamlessly from front to rear. The 1954 model also featured a redesigned roofline with a lower, sleeker profile, as well as new taillights and a more prominent Nash emblem. Inside the 1954 release, drivers and passengers were treated to a luxurious and comfortable ride. The car featured plush, high-quality upholstery, elegant dashboard controls, and a spacious cabin with ample legroom and headroom. The 1954 model also introduced new safety features, including a padded dashboard and a dual-brake system, which provided added protection in the event of an accident. Overall, the 1954 edition was a significant improvement over previous models, with a range of advanced features and technologies that made it one of the most desirable cars of its time. From its powerful engine and sleek exterior design to its luxurious interior and safety features, the 1954 release was a truly remarkable automobile that set the standard for years to come.

Did you know?

Source: Mecum Auctions

The 1954 release was the first car to offer a built-in, factory-installed air conditioning system. This feature, called “Weather Eye,” was an innovative design that provided both heating and cooling functions, and was controlled by a dashboard-mounted thermostat. The system was praised for its effectiveness and convenience and helped set the standard for modern automotive climate control systems.

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1950 Nash Ambassador Super: A worthy rival for the Big Three

The controversial design of this iconic car was colloquially dubbed “bathtubs”, however, the revolutionary Airflyte design of those years looked very exotic, even impressive, and the technical characteristics compared with what the modern auto industry offered, was progressive. 

Source: Auto Vercity

When it comes to the 50s classic cars, the iconic 1957 Chevy Bel Air or 1955 Thunderbird immediately come to mind. But these celebrities had a worthy competitor which was not inferior to the offspring of the Big Three, not in fancy design, not even in technical characteristics. 1949-1951 full-size vehicles from Nash corporation were famous as “bathtubs”: because of the smooth fastback roof, pontoon sidewalls, and a horizontal line along the entire perimeter, half-hiding both the rear and front wheels, these machines really resembled inverted bathtubs. In addition, they had extremely smooth lines without a single corner, and a one-piece curved windshield instead of two flat halves. However, in comparison with other Detroit products, Nash machines looked very innovative, even if not serious.

The origin

Source: Wikiwand

The Airflyte design was developed by Meade Moore and Ted Ulrich under the direction of the company’s chief engineer Nils Wahlberg, who since the 1930s was looking for the optimal body shape to reduce air resistance. Advertising the new 1949 Ambassador the corporation assiduously emphasized its style and claimed that its novelty had more than 20% less aerodynamic drag than other leading car brands. In fact, during testing in a wind tunnel, Nils Wahlberg found that fully closed wheel arches help improve aerodynamics by 20% and therefore reduce fuel consumption. As a result, he insisted on using such an unusual solution as half-closed wheels. He had no problem making Nash-Kelvinator president George Mason agree with it because Mason was an aerodynamicist and wanted to freshen up the conservative style of their post-war vehicles. For the front wheels to turn freely, they had to make a different track: 1397 mm in front and 1537 mm in the rear.

Source: Auto Vercity

The first 1949 Ambassador received a load-bearing (“unified”) body instead of a separate frame like in 1941-1948. This model also was marked with a very spacious “Super-Lounge” interior, and the spring suspension of all wheels ensured a very smooth ride. The instrument panel consisted of one dial “UniScope” with all the necessary sensors, fixed on the steering column at the driver’s eye level. In the middle of the leather-covered dashboard was only the control unit for the radio and heater “Weather Eye”.   

1950 model year

Source: GoodFon

The Nash Ambassador of 1949-1951 release was available in only two body styles:2 or 4-door fastback sedan and three trim levels – Super, Super Special, and Custom priced between $2,170 and $2,363. In 1950, the appearance of the model did not change, except for an extended rear window with a windshield wiper. Engine power increased to 115 hp, and the list of options included seat belts (for the first time on an American vehicle), a 5-position adjustable front sofa (Airliner Reclining Seat), and a Hydramatic automatic transmission with a Selecto-Lift lever on the steering column, which at the same time performed the function of a starter crank. Closed wheel niches, panoramic glass, curved front windows, and a Nash feature – folding sofas that could comfortably provide overnight accommodation for three adults. That’s why the Nash Ambassador was so popular among the 50s youth. Consumers compared the technical specification of the vehicle with the level of Cadillac, and the automatic transmission from GM Hydramatic made the trip smooth and pleasant. Despite its very solid appearance, the car had a fairly small weight – 1520 kg or 3450 pounds.

Did you know?

Source: Model Cars Magazine

Eight 1950 Nash Ambassadors participated in the  Carrera Panamericana, a 2,172-mile (3,495 km) endurance race across Mexico. 47 out of the 126 cars that started in this “competition of heroic proportions and vast distances” were classified as finishers. Three Ambassadors finished all nine milestones, but the car that took first place was disqualified.

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