The Ambushers marked the third of four spy satires featuring Dean Martin as “Matt Helm,” although a 12 Aug 1965 LAT item revealed that producer Irving Allen purchased screen rights to Donald Hamilton’s 1962 source novel as the intended follow-up to the first installment, The Silencers (1966, see entry), while it was still in production. Richard Levinson and William Link were attached to develop the screenplay. The project was then pushed back in favor of an adaptation of Murderer’s Row (1963), which was released in late 1966 (see entry), and carried a title card in the end credits announcing the upcoming release of The Ambushers. Herbert Baker replaced Levinson and Link, and on 1 Mar 1967, DV confirmed that Martin would return for the leading role as part of a three-picture deal with Allen and Columbia Pictures. The 23 Jun 1967 DV “Film Castings” column also noted the involvement of actor Mauritz Hugo.
       According to the 5 Apr 1967 Var, fashion designer Oleg Cassini conducted a worldwide search for eleven international models to appear in the picture modeling his “new wave look” fashions, which would be merchandised as a promotional tie-in. This role reportedly included the supervision of all male and female wardrobe, makeup, and hairstyles. A 6 Aug 1967 LAT article named Inga Neilson among those chosen to star, while Betty Worledge was hired by the studio as the models’ “den mother” during the shoot. Tom Wood served as the unit publicist.
       Principal photography began 24 Apr 1967, as stated in a DV production chart published four days later. Most location filming was completed in Central Mexico, with the 6 Aug 1967 LAT naming sites such as Acapulco, Fortín de las Flores, Orizaba, Las Brisas resort and its beach club, La Concha. Items in the 22 Mar 1967 Var and 30 Mar 1967 DV indicated that shooting also took place in Cuernavaca and the Estudios Churubusco in Mexico City. According to the 17 Jan 1968 Var, approximately $1 million was spent in Mexico.
       The unit returned to Los Angeles, CA, in mid-May, as the 16 May 1967 DV reported their use of the Hotel Bel-Air parking lot. A 10 May 1967 Var news item placed the completion of principal photography around late Jun 1967.
       The Ambushers opened in Chicago, IL, on 20 Dec 1967, and two days later in New York City. The Los Angeles engagement consisted of screenings at twenty-eight theaters and drive-ins beginning 27 Dec 1967.