Despite the visible rust and that dent on the left front fender, the seller says this 1962 Rambler American 400 Convertible has solid floors and rocker panels. I wish they had shown a photo with the top down but they say it isn’t working, so this one needs a lot of work. Still, it’s a very cool car and it’s posted here on craigslist in Hastings, Minnesota and they’re asking $3,900. Here is the original listing.
Do I detect a hint of 2024/25 scowling/frowning/aggressive facia design here?! On a Rambler? A Rambler American? No way, this was 1962, the world was a friendly place and people were all happy, laughing, dancing, and holding hands. There was no road rage, no impending doom with world events (like the Cuban Missile Crisis), and… I’m kidding, of course, we’ve always had road rage and impending doom, it’s just that carmakers have taken it upon themselves to create angry and aggressive-looking vehicles now. I can’t imagine Rambler designers even being aware that there’s a bit of a furrowed brow and down-turned angry mouth grille look here.
Ahhh, that’s better, friendly tail lights! The second-generation Rambler American is by far my favorite of the series, I just love this quirky, fluffy, lumpy design, and a convertible would be fantatsic, even though this one doesn’t work. At just 14.5 feet in length, this is a nice-sized project car even for a one-car garage. I think that dark spot on the upper trunk seam is a piece of molding sticking out, I don’t believe that’s rust. We don’t see inside the trunk or anything underneath this car, unfortunately, but if it is a Minnesota car that’s showing body panel rust, I’d bet there could be more lurking. The second-generation Rambler American was made for three short model years: 1961, 1962, and 1963 and they were based on the previous-gen cars, literally, as in using the same chassis and everything.
The second-generation Rambler Americans looked modern by comparison. They were still very, very, very budget-minded for budget-minded buyers and this 400 is a top-trim level, replacing the Custom name for 1962, which was now the mid-trim level. An automatic transmission is a nice option for this car, as would be power steering and power brakes. Power windows or power locks weren’t available in the Rambler American, a buyer had to move up to the Classic or Ambassador for those features. This is it for interior photos but hey, at least there’s one, and it looks great other than a couple of dash cracks.
The engine is an AMC Typhoon 196-cu.in. OHV inline-six with 125 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. This OHV engine was standard on the 400 series and optional on the low and mid-trim levels (Deluxe and Custom). This one has an automatic as mentioned, along with new brakes, new brake lines, new tires, a new water pump, a new aluminum radiator, and more. They say the top isn’t ripped but it isn’t working for some reason, and this would be a great car to tinker with. Are there any fans of the second-generation Rambler American out there? I sure hope so.
Testing
Sorry, “Error 403” again. The author, a renowned vintage tv-a-holic didn’t mention the hilarious show, 3rd Rock from the Sun. In it, 4 aliens assume human forms, and travel to earth in a red Rambler American convertible like this. It, to the producers, was about as odd a car that fit the bill. I wondered what didn’t make the cut. This is a great find, has a lot going for it. Good price, economical, a ragtop, and best of all,,( fanfare please) it’s got an automatic. This, is what will be collectible in the future for most. I always wondered about the ill formed wheel wells, any ideas? With the seemingly minimal rust on the outside, being a northern car, I’d look it over pretty good. If the unibody is rusted, it’s a big deal.
Hastings, used to pick up flour there. Great folks.
I keep forgetting about that show since I’m still stuck in the black-and-white TV era. (Happy belated birthday, by the way!)
Sorry, I just can’t help myself! IMO 3rd Rock, like this Ugly American fortunately missed me! 😅 🤣 However American, like Nash (beginning in early 50s) featured a reclining seat extremely popular with young men for obvious reasons. Parents of young girls often refused to let their daughters go on dates for similar Obvious reasons 🙄. 😲
The author struck upon the reason I never cared for this generation…. that nasty, mean look of the front end. The next generation looked much happier. It wasn’t as frumpy either.
He’s right though. We need happier faces on cars today. I guess our current vehicles reflect how aggressive we’ve become to others.
I won’t RAMBLE on about the numerous reasons I would pass on this RAMBLER, but IMO this was one of the ugliest American 😉 cars ever built. The price for the condition is way off base.
Stylish!
These are actually based on the 1950 Nash Rambler which had been discontinued in 1955. AMC kept the tooling for the small Nash and brought that model back as the Rambler American a few years later. This gave them a small, economical “new” model to sell when a recession hit without having to spend a fortune on new tooling.
From 1958-1960 the rounded body of the original car was kept with minor changes. For 1961 the outer body panels were squared off but underneath it was still the same 1950 Nash through 1963.
That line of rust down the edge of the fender is typical due to poor drainage in that area. You’d see a lot of them like that back in the day.
I owned a 1962 American years ago. These drive like 1940s cars because they are 1940s cars. (Ball joints? What are those? It’s trunnions all the way, baby! You want electric wipers even as an option? Surely you jest!)
The only major upgrades on this 1962 model from the Nash Rambler are the OHV engine available that year (which was still based on the old 1941-vintage flathead) and a dual-circuit master cylinder which was standard on all AMC cars starting in 1962. Other than that it’s still 1950.
Who is the designer? looks a lot like an NSU Prinz. Regards Roger.
This one made me immediately think of the Ford Falcon convertible in the Brad Pitt/George Clooney “Oceans” films…with a smile. AMC (Nash +) cars were always ‘interesting’ designs. Remember the station wagon with the squished down and in rear section? Wasn’t till the AMX design that they sort of got it….IMO. You’ll not see to many of these are Cars & Coffee.
This one made me immediately think of the Ford Falcon convertible in the Brad Pitt/George Clooney “Oceans” films…with a smile. AMC (Nash +) cars were always ‘interesting’ designs. Remember the station wagon with the squished down and in rear section? Wasn’t till the AMX design that they sort of got it….IMO. You’ll not see to many of these at Cars & Coffee.
Edmund A Anderson was in charge of styling. Fun fact He requested a promotion, and was told to leave if he wasn’t satisfied with his job. Perhaps this was his revenge on AMC. I’m not sure if his request was before or after this POS 🤔
If Lt. Columbo hadn’t chosen the Peugeot 403 Cabriolet as his daily driver, this Rambler would have been a close second. Mrs. Columbo might have objected, though…
To me this has a bit of ’61s Ambassador look to its front, tho severely smoothed. I too, am always questioning the rear wheel placement in regard to the arch.
The 195.6 engines weren’t part of the Typhoon series. Typhoons included the 199, 232 and 258 engines.
I got that info here, Rick:
https://www.automobile-catalog.com/car/1962/2885645/rambler_american_400_convertible_196_ohv_six_flash-o-matic.html#gsc.tab=0
“…fans of the second-generation Rambler American out there?…”
Loved mine.
Had the same but in white w/blk vert top. Asa ‘compact’ it
was huge to me. As above AMC “bought” Nash and it’s first
gen this skin was put on the nash mechanicals… so this became the above:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSaCdzX0Gqw
skip 1st’n last 20 sec. Ignore the slam (shame) & under hood but…
THAT svelte lill body (Pinnafarina) became the big square box above. I
still loved it (18 y/o @ the time). I’d pull up to the only light in town & folk on sidewalk would laugh at me. It was so smooth’n quiet they thought it stalled out (well, not as quiet as today’s pedestrian hazards).
Rambler American’s were available with power steering and brakes and air conditioning as well.
You are correct, sir, my mistake! Thanks for that information. I misread the 1962 Rambler brochure.
https://xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/1962-AMC-Rambler.pdf