for 1966 in the Rambler American. These V8s were an all-new design featuring a thin-wall-casting block, heads, and manifold. With a 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust, the 343 V8 produced at 4800 rpm and of torque at 3000 rpm. The old torque tube design was eliminated by a new four-link, trailing-arm rear suspension system providing a more comfortable coil spring ride. American Motors promoted the new 1967 Ambassador as an "uncompromising automobile with the red carpet ride" in print advertisements, as well as in an innovative TV commercial. Unfortunately, sales of the redesigned models were disappointing, due to customer confusion caused by the entire company's abrupt upmarket push, which seemed uncomfortably "me too" to the traditional domestic Big Three's customers and they also alienated American Motors' loyal buyer base. Abernethy's ideas of entering new markets were not working. These strategy changes resulted in a new round of financial problems for American Motors. Because of this, Abernathy was released from AMC by its board of directors later that year and was replaced by William V. Luneberg and Roy D. Chapin, Jr. USPS sedans American Motors provided specialized fleet options for commercial and municipal customers. Taxi and police versions were heavily used and not available to the general public. A purchase order was made by the General Services Administration (GSA) of 3,745 Ambassador base 880 four-door sedans for use by the United States Postal Service (USPS), most to be built in factory right-hand-drive. There were six vehicles for review for this purchase and tested was a left-hand drive AMC Ambassador 880 sedan with its back seat removed. Not all of the units ordered for the postal service had right-hand drive. Specifications included factory heavy-duty fleet options such as rubber floor mats, upholstery, and the deletion of the rear seat. Most came with the base I6 engine along with column-shift automatic transmission and "Twin-Grip" (limited-slip differential). All came with an identification metal plate on the dash near the ashtray. American Motors took advantage of this large fleet order in its marketing for the Ambassadors. Print advertisements in popular magazines headlined "We Deliver" and described that Ambassadors will provide safety, reliability, and a "red-carpet" ride. The engineering to make the cars right-hand-drive served as the template for other American Motors vehicles based on the Ambassador platform destined for foreign right-hand-drive markets such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The Rambler Rebel and