The 1962 AMC Rambler Classic Wagon seen here is supposedly all original, but it looks like it’s had a repaint; although a very, very, very nice repaint. This car is located in Fort Myers, Florida and it’s listed on eBay with a current bid price of $5,600 and no Buy It Now price. There are still six days left on the auction so this will be one to watch if you’re a fan of these cars. There most likely isn’t another one in this unbelievable condition out there, especially in this color.
This thing is amazing, the seller has a boatload of photos on the eBay link showing just about every square inch of this car and it’s the nicest one that I’ve ever seen. He also shares a great story about how he found it just sitting in someone’s yard with a “For Sale” sign on it. One test drive was all it took and it came home with him. The seller also says that this is a “2-owner car”, I’m assuming there were two owners before he bought it. AMC made 3,134 of these wagons in 1962.
This paint color is called Algiers Rose Copper Metallic and it looks great to me. I’m not a person who would be afraid of driving a “pink” car what so ever. I have a Prius as my summer road trip business car, for the love of Pete; I’ve heard just about every comment that supposed “car guys” could possibly throw at me for supposedly not being a “car guy”. I can’t be the only one out there who would be confident enough to drive this car!
The interior is just as nice, or nicer, than the exterior is; front and rear! How this car can be original is beyond me, especially with over 85,000 miles on it. The seller does mention that it’s the original sheet metal and original color, so I’m pretty sure that it’s been repainted at some point. 1961 and 1962 cars were first-generation AMC Rambler Classics and in 1963 they really changed the design to a more “modern”, sleeker style. I prefer these “classic” Classics, though.
The seller mentions that this engine “hums like a sewing machine with that great sound only the cast-iron 195.6 OHV motor can make!” From what I’ve found, AMC offered a standard aluminum block but cast-iron was a no-cost option. I guess the original owner didn’t want to take a chance on the aluminum block. Does anyone have any experience with the aluminum block 3.2L, 195.6 c.i. six-cylinder engines in these cars? This looks like a fantastic car, are you a fan of these “classic” AMC Rambler Classic wagons?
What a beautiful car! Makes me wonder how the model can look so stuck up and unhappy when she’s around it…
Scotty, I’d rock the pink, too!
Jamie, it’s because she lost a shirt button sitting down for the pose ;)
1962 Nissan Armada?
That kicked-back window on the rear doors works here much better than on the Armada.
Wow, so there’s someone else that sees the resemblance too! The roofline is the same.
I own a 62 Rambler Classic in two door flavor. it’s a great little car and you don’t ever see another one when your out and there lies the problem. parts a mofo to find. and what your find is worked over or just barely better then what you have and the front windshield pillars into the foot wells rot out and you can’t see it until the car is apart. but I’d rock it if I didn’t have one already.
My dad was a Rambler dealer in the early 60s. Rambler was the number 3 selling make in 1961. The 61s had aluminum blocks that were plagued with problems. Sales suffered greatly as a result. I don’t know what the exact issue was with the engines, but can only assume that warpage of the heads or blocks might have been a problem.
This brings back fond memories of a neighbor who had a Rambler in this color.
BTW I think the model is unhappy because she found out she has to check her luggage :)
Scotty knows, me being from Milwaukee, I always have a soft spot for AMC’s, Rambler’s in particular. And this is no exception. Somebody clearly went gonzo on the repaint. It looks as if they took the car apart ( or some awful creative masking). I agree with Dave, while we had plenty of ’62’s in “Ramblerville”, it was not a very popular model. Things turned around in ’63, when Rambler got MT’s “Car of the Year”, and was much more successful. My grandfather had this motor in his ’61, and as a kid, I remember not even hearing it running. The trunnions rusted out on that car, and was a shame, as the rest of the car was in decent shape. He junked it, and bought a ’65 Ambassador. Rambler’s were great cars during this period. Super find here.
re: supermodel wannabe, ya gotta start somewhere.
Imagine having to junk a car for rust issues that young. They may not make ’em like they used to but in some ways they are a whole lot better.
I had a 61 pink over rose 4-door thru the 90’s as a daily driver with the aluminum inline 6-cyl. These engines were prone to over heating which led to blown head gaskets – 3 to be exact in the time I drove it. With the head off, imagine looking into a toilet bowl with the lid off, the only obstructions in the block were the piston cylinders seemingly free standing in this bowl surrounded by water. The problem with the design was that there wasn’t a lot of sealing surface under the head. Another problem I encountered was finding head gasket sets, as they are pretty much obsolete. I was lucky enough to come across an excellent supplier in Ohio who had a small stash of these gasket sets, but they weren’t cheap. Eventually I came across an individual who “just had to have this car,” and to this day still owns & shows it locally at various car show events. After selling the 61, I came across a 63 2-door Classic with the cast iron 6-cyl & 3-speed on the column and just 30k on the odometer. I drove that one until there was no floor left in it; perfectly solid on the outside view, but totally Flintstone on the inside. By the way, this one was buttercup yellow. If nothing else, Rambler definitely had some unique colors in their day.
#2 choice for a wagon right behind a 72-76 GM Full Size Clam Shell Wagon
We had a ’62 in green with OD, an iron block and the run-flat tires that were mandatory with the 3rd seat option.
Pop was involved in casting iron, steel and aluminum and thought the lightweight block wasn’t ready for prime time. Learned to drive in it, but much preferred my mom’s ’65 550 two-door.
The ’62s metallic paint went pretty much flat after two or three years. Dad replaced it with a ’69 Rebel wagon which was a much nicer car.
Wow!! An amazing car. While in high school and college in the mid to late 60s I had a 1960 Ambassador 4 door sedan ($500) that was fully loaded with 327 V8, Holley 4 barrel, factory air conditioning, power windows, brakes and steering. The dash was almost identical to this 62, except for the air conditioning outlet in the center of the top of the dash. It had the same black brackets in front of the rear seat to hold the back of the front seat level to make a bed. I drove that car way too fast over the Cascades (from Seattle to eastern Washington), especially considering the tires available at the time. The automatic transmission push buttons would light up at night. One of many stories: I loaned my car to a friend but didn’t shut off the car before he took off. I got a phone call late at night asking me how to start it. He almost broke off the ignition key since he didn’t know that you pushed the neutral (N-START) transmission button to start the car. I miss that car, but still have the 1967 Marlin ($1500 less $500 trade in) that I replaced it with in 1970…
We would love to see a picture!
I forgot to add that my 60 Ambassador came with at least one (maybe two) pillows that matched the factory seat upholstery! A very nice touch…
Who brought out the doberman?
I’ll just leave this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqmTMiIMG74
My Dad had one of these with the aluminium block…it was a lovely little car, but the block cracked in it…I remember Dad taking the damaged engine to be heli-arced, and it ran well enough after the repair…but Dad being a cautious man traded the little Rambler in on a 1963 Dodge
This incredible car went unsold at $14,000 and was relisted, and then sold at $15,900!
Looks are very deceiving with this car. Still a okay different car but not worth the money it sold for
Good evening, great wagon and ours is a 1962 Classic 400 Cross Country, 34064 miles. Original condition, I replaced the 196 aluminum with same 196 in cast iron 1990. James is the name of the car as in home James. This car served as transport for a boat club and still has the decal on the vent window. Black, red roof, red black and silver interior.
Sold?