Austin Ambassador
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Austin Ambassador | |
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| Manufacturer: | British Leyland |
|---|---|
| Production: | 1982-1984 |
| Predecessor: | Leyland Princess |
| Successor: | Austin Montego Rover 600 |
| Class: | fullsize car |
| Body style: | 4-door saloon |
| Engine: | 1.7 L O-Series Straight-4 2.0 L O-Series Straight-4 |
| Transmission: | four speed manual three speed automatic |
| Wheelbase: | 105 inches (2670 mm) |
| Length: | 179 inches (4550 mm) |
| Width: | 69.5 inches (1760 mm) |
| Height: | 55 inches (1400 mm) |
| Curb weight: | 2784 pounds (1263 kg) unladen |
The Austin Ambassador was a large hatchback automobile introduced by British Leyland in 1982. The car was a heavily updated version of the Princess, an ageing model which lacked a hatchback. Only the doors and inner structure were carried over, but the slightly wedge-shaped design betrayed the car's Princess origins, and it was not considered a truly new model. Sales were very low and the model was discontinued in 1984.
Unlike the Princess, there was no 2.2 litre version.
The Ambassador was initially offered in 1.7 and 2.0 litre variants, in L, HL and HLS trims.
Instead of the premium 2.2 models, there was an Austin Ambassador Vanden Plas with a twin-carb version of the 2.0 litre engine. HLS was no longer the top-specification trim level, unlike the Princess.
In 1983, the 2.0 HLS was upgraded to the more powerful twin-carb engine. This was also used on versions sold in Europe and in New Zealand.
The Ambassador discontinued in 1984, with no official replacement, though its gap in the Austin-Rover range was effectively filled by the slightly smaller Montego.
[edit] Trivia
- The Austin Ambassador is mentioned in a John Shuttleworth song where he sings about his "Austin Ambassador Y Reg".
