Nash Ambassador: which version to buy
If you are choosing a Nash Ambassador from the two versions in this catalogue, the split is not a trim difference. It is two generations, two bodies, two engines, and two gearboxes. 5.3 MT (1 generation, Cabrio, 1932–1948) has 127 hp from 5300 cm³, a Manual 3-speed, RWD, and a measured kerb weight of 1480 kg.
If you are choosing a Nash Ambassador from the two versions in this catalogue, the split is not a trim difference. It is two generations, two bodies, two engines, and two gearboxes. 5.3 MT (1 generation, Cabrio, 1932–1948) has 127 hp from 5300 cm³, a Manual 3-speed, RWD, and a measured kerb weight of 1480 kg. 4.1 AT (3 generation, Sedan, 1952–1957) has 120 hp from 4100 cm³, an Automatic 3-speed, RWD, and kerb weight not measured. Power gap is 7 hp (5.8%). Displacement gap is 1200 cm³ (22.6% less on 4.1 AT). Specific output is 24.0 hp/l on 5.3 MT versus 29.3 hp/l on 4.1 AT. If you want the larger engine, the Cabrio, and a measured weight, buy 5.3 MT. If you want the later Sedan, the smaller engine, and an Automatic, buy 4.1 AT.
People searching Nash Ambassador for sale, 1954 Nash Ambassador specs, 1957 Nash Ambassador engine, or 1950 Nash Ambassador weight are usually trying to pick one of these two catalogue lines, not a third one that is not listed here.
Generations: what actually changed
1 generation ran 1932-01-01 to 1948-12-31. Body: Cabrio. Versions in this catalogue: 1 — 5.3 MT. Years that often appear in searches (1947, 1948) sit inside this generation if they sit in the production window at all; this catalogue does not split 5.3 MT by calendar year.
3 generation ran 1952-01-01 to 1957-12-31. Body: Sedan. Versions in this catalogue: 1 — 4.1 AT. Searches for 1954 Nash Ambassador specs, 1955 Nash Ambassador, 1956 Nash Ambassador specs, and 1957 Nash Ambassador specs map to this generation’s single listed version. Restyling is not a separate generation here.
There is no listed generation covering 1949, 1950, or 1951. Those years are a gap between 1 generation stop (1948-12-31) and 3 generation start (1952-01-01). A listing tagged Nash Ambassador 1949, 1950 Nash Ambassador engine, or 1951 Nash Ambassador for sale is not identified as either 5.3 MT or 4.1 AT in this data.
What the later generation changed, by numbers that exist:
- Body: Cabrio → Sedan.
- Engine size: 5300 → 4100 cm³ (−1200).
- Power: 127 hp / 93 kW → 120 hp / 88 kW (−7 hp / −5 kW).
- Gearbox type: Manual → Automatic (both 3 speeds).
- Front suspension: Dependent, leaf spring → Independent, spring.
- Rear suspension: still Dependent, leaf spring.
- Brakes: still Drum front and Drum rear.
- Drive: still RWD.
- Engine placement: still Front, longitudinal.
- Fuel type: still Gasoline.
What extra you “buy” by moving from 5.3 MT to 4.1 AT is therefore not more horsepower. You buy the Sedan, the Automatic, Independent, spring at the front, and a smaller 4100 cm³ engine that makes more power per litre. You give up 7 hp, 1200 cm³, the Cabrio, the Inline 8 that is only recorded on 5.3 MT, the Carburetor label (only on 5.3 MT), and the only measured kerb weight in the set (1480 kg).
Nash Ambassador engine and specs
Exact version names as in the database:
| Version | Generation | Body | hp | kW | Nm | Displacement (cm³) | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Speeds | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 MT | 1 generation | Cabrio | 127 | 93 | not measured | 5300 | Gasoline | 8 | Inline | not measured | Manual | 3 | RWD |
| 4.1 AT | 3 generation | Sedan | 120 | 88 | not measured | 4100 | Gasoline | not measured | not measured | not measured | Automatic | 3 | RWD |
5.3 MT engine extras from the same row: Front, longitudinal; Carburetor; valves per cylinder not measured. Cylinder count and layout are not measured on 4.1 AT — do not fill them in from outside this table. 4.1 AT fuel grade is 76; 5.3 MT fuel grade is not measured.
Nash Ambassador motor in this catalogue is therefore two gasoline engines only: 5300 cm³ / 127 hp with Manual, and 4100 cm³ / 120 hp with Automatic. There is no listed engine for 1949, 1950, or 1951.
Specific output (hp ÷ displacement in litres):
- 5.3 MT: 127 / 5.3 = 24.0 hp/l.
- 4.1 AT: 120 / 4.1 = 29.3 hp/l.
4.1 AT makes 5.3 hp/l more from a smaller engine (+22% specific output) while still trailing by 7 hp absolute. If the buying question is “which engine works harder per litre,” the answer is 4.1 AT. If the question is “which engine is larger and stronger on the badge,” the answer is 5.3 MT.
Power in kW: 93 versus 88 — same 5 kW gap as the 7 hp gap.
Torque Nm is not measured on both versions, so you cannot rank them on twist. Any “which has more torque” claim is outside this data.
Performance, mpg, and economy
0–100: not measured on 5.3 MT and not measured on 4.1 AT.
Top speed: not measured on both.
Fuel consumption (city / highway / combined): not measured on both. There is no mpg figure to rank 5.3 MT against 4.1 AT.
CO2 and eco class: not measured on both.
Tank: not measured on both.
You cannot choose on acceleration, top speed, or mpg using this catalogue. The only mechanical numbers that differ and are measured are power, displacement, gearbox type, and (on 5.3 MT only) kerb weight.
A rough power-to-weight figure exists only where weight exists: 5.3 MT is 1480 kg / 127 hp = 11.7 kg/hp. 4.1 AT kerb weight is not measured, so kg/hp for 4.1 AT is not measured. Do not assume the Sedan is lighter.
Dimensions, weight, and chassis
Kerb weight: 1480 kg on 5.3 MT; not measured on 4.1 AT. Searches for 1950 Nash Ambassador weight do not match a listed year; the only weight in this file is 1480 kg on 5.3 MT (1932–1948 Cabrio).
Gross weight: not measured on both.
Ground clearance: not measured on both.
Wheels: not measured on both.
Tank: not measured on both.
Chassis that is measured, for a buyer who cares how it sits and stops:
5.3 MT — front Dependent, leaf spring; rear Dependent, leaf spring; front brakes Drum; rear brakes Drum.
4.1 AT — front Independent, spring; rear Dependent, leaf spring; front brakes Drum; rear brakes Drum.
The only listed chassis upgrade from 5.3 MT to 4.1 AT is the front suspension: Dependent, leaf spring replaced by Independent, spring. Rear and brakes do not change in this data. Drive stays RWD. Engine stays Front, longitudinal.
Which version to choose
Use the arithmetic, not a story.
Choose 5.3 MT if you want:
- The only Cabrio in the file.
- The larger engine: 5300 vs 4100 cm³ (+1200, +29.3% versus 4.1 AT).
- More listed power: 127 hp vs 120 hp (+7 hp).
- The only version with cylinder data: 8, Inline.
- A Manual 3-speed.
- The only measured kerb weight: 1480 kg, and the only kg/hp you can compute: 11.7.
- Production years 1932–1948, including search years 1947 and 1948.
Choose 4.1 AT if you want:
- The only Sedan.
- An Automatic 3-speed instead of Manual.
- Higher specific output: 29.3 hp/l vs 24.0 hp/l.
- Front Independent, spring instead of Dependent, leaf spring.
- Fuel grade 76 (the only fuel-grade label in the file).
- Production years 1952–1957, which is where 1954, 1955, 1956, and 1957 Nash Ambassador specs searches land in this catalogue.
Do not choose on mpg, 0–100, top speed, tank, clearance, wheels, or gross weight — all not measured. Do not choose on torque — Nm not measured on both. Do not choose on cylinder layout for 4.1 AT — cylinders and layout not measured.
What the later car does not buy you: more horsepower. 4.1 AT is the weaker of the two on peak power (120 vs 127) and the smaller on displacement. The “extra” versus 5.3 MT is body (Sedan), gearbox (Automatic), front suspension (Independent, spring), and 5.3 hp/l more specific output.
What the earlier car does not buy you: an Automatic, a Sedan, or independent front springs. 5.3 MT is the heavier-documented, more powerful, larger-displacement Cabrio with Manual and RWD.
There is no third listed version to split the difference — no Nash Ambassador Custom or Nash Ambassador Super row, and no 1949 / 1950 / 1951 generation in this data. If a sale listing uses those names or years, it is not one of the two catalogue anchors 5.3 MT and 4.1 AT unless the seller also matches engine, gearbox, and body to the table above.
Reliability / problems: not measured in this dataset. Do not infer a reliability ranking from the 7 hp gap or the 1200 cm³ gap.
For sale (including Australia): this catalogue has no prices and no stock. The buying choice here is mechanical: 5.3 MT for 127 hp, 5300 cm³, Manual, Cabrio, 1480 kg; 4.1 AT for 120 hp, 4100 cm³, Automatic, Sedan, independent front springs.