I wonder how many times any of us have said, “Wow, what a beautiful Rambler Classic wagon!” I’ve thought it and must have said it over the years as I’m a big fan of any AMC products. This 1964 Rambler Classic 770 Cross Country Wagon is on another level; this thing is gorgeous. The seller has it posted here on craigslist just east of Denver, Colorado, and they’re asking $10,500 or offer. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
This car looks so great in most of the photos. The new Uniroyal radial tires have incredibly dirty white walls, and I’d have to wonder what it would look like with squeaky clean tires. If that’s the biggest glitch in the appearance, that’s like complaining about a fly while you’re lounging on your private tropical island. I did notice some orange peel in the paint in spots, and we don’t know if this car has been repainted; there’s no mention of paint or rust in the description.
I just wanted to get that over with right away so we can concentrate on what a great-looking wagon this is. The second-generation Rambler Classic was made for 1963 and 1964, and they were so good that Motor Trend awarded the entire lineup (including the similar Ambassador line) the coveted Car of the Year award. They came in a variety of body styles, but, strangely, there was no convertible. And then I started thinking, what if there was also a two-door wagon?
The interior is as beautiful as you’d expect, and the seats, or front seat – we don’t see the back seat at all – appear to have been reupholstered in light blue vinyl. They do show an overall photo of the rear cargo area with the rear seat folded down, so that’s cool. The unique suitcases in the back appear to be speaker housings, pretty creative. A third seating area would have been an option, but there’s no mention of that on this car.
New for 1964 was a 287-cu.in. OHV V8 with around 200 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque, and this one has air-conditioning that needs some work, as it isn’t blowing cold. It also has power steering. The three-speed automatic sends power to the rear wheels, and there’s a bunch of new parts (starter, alternator, etc.) and upgrades to make this one a nice driver. Any thoughts on this beautiful Rambler Cross Country wagon?
Weeeeeelll, be a nice day in the Badger when I spend $10gs on a Rambler, and would never do so, but like the ’62 Ford, I’m simply flabbergasted at what is showing up here. There’s a lot of garages out there, Sam. A minor correction, a bit misleading, the MT CotY award was for 1963. 1964 was Ford, and the jury is still out on why that came about. No matter, it did little for sales. Not many Big 3 buyers even considered a Rambler, but they had a following, usually someone connected somehow to AMC. 1963 started off wonderfully. No wars, yet, a president we all liked, the space program, Andy Griffith an Mr. Ed, the Beatles and ROCK and ROLL, and Ramblers. Okay, Studebakers too. As a sheltered kid, and compared to today, it was USA, USA, and you know, I remember it being a great time to be in America. With all the industry Wisconsin had, it was the place for anyone to get a job, and slice at the “dream”. Somebody really checked all the boxes here and probably still was below $3grand. For another $200 bucks, though, most went with the Country Squire. A wonderful find,,,for $5grand maybe.
Nice power from that 287 mill. đ
My first car was a â63 Rambler wagon identical to this one. Got it around 1973. It was a six cylinder however, in dark turquoise with a matching interior. The top of the drivers front fender was rusted through, despite the rest of the car being in good shape. Dad determined that a design flaw was allowing road salt and moisture to accumulate there. We did DIY repairs using fiberglass mesh and bondo as I didnât have money to get it fixed properly. At the time I was playing hockey so the storage was welcome for gear and hauling the net out to the ponds. The downside was as a 16 year old being teased constantly about having a station wagon that wasnât âcoolâ.
The price on this one seems fair given its condition, if I had a place to store it Iâd buy it just for the nostalgia factor. GLWTS.
If itâs as nice in person as it appears to be in the pictures it should find a new home close to its asking price relatively soon. Ramblers/AMC products arenât really mainstream anymore so the pool of people searching for one isnât particularly big, but a site like this might expose it to someone in the market for a wagon that isnât married to a specific year, make or model.
It will offer a lot of utility and if lucky, not need much attention (money) to make it a reliable driver. This car is a good way to get into the hobby for not a lot of money.
Steve R
perfect car for an island… a 6 would be even better.. easier to work on…
I miss AMC!
We had a ’65 550 two-door sedan for a while. Very nice car to drive, even with the 199 cid six. If the paint is original ’60s American Motors metallic, it’s a miracle that it looks that good.
Maybe it’s just the squarish sixties styling, but this wagon has an off road vibe like a Volvo XCountry. And it has AC! It’s hip to be square. BTW interesting sound system.
My Dad worked for Kelvinator Appliances and we got a new Rambler company car every year. I remember a family vacation to the Smokey mountains in this car’s twin. He was furious when a big “See Rock City” tag was strapped to our bumper while visiting there but eight-year-old me thought it was pretty cool. (The tag, not the car.)
The pastor of our church bought a new one of these only with the three on the tree. He drove 5 of us boys to church camp in it. Everytime I see one of these I have good memories. I lived out in the woods with no neighbors or close by friends. So spending a week with a bunch of guys playing games and FISHING! Was a good time for me. Being the smallest in the group I got stuffed in the middle of the front seat. Pastor let me shift once I proved I could do it. (I think I was 10 years old at the time.) I used a friend’s Rambler wagon for Prom and I would like to find one of these and restore it.
My parents had a white 64 when I was an early teen. 3rd row seat and 3-on-the-tree with the 287. Those vacuum wipers, though! Great if not accelerating, but if so, dangerously slow moving.
This was the model I had my first driving experience in. Sort of. I’d say about 1963, my dad had the Rambler wagon for our, then, young family of we 5 kids & mom. As well as for his young burgeoning business as a industrial supplier of mechanical and hydraulic items to the still booming paper mills and many other plants & mills in northern N.Y. & Vermont.
So, one fine day at about age 4 I somehow escaped from my folks not too watchful eyes and went out to the car to play/pretend drive. Y’all need to remember this is long before steering column key and shift locks. I still remember pulling the shift lever and the car rolling down our short, inclined driveway. Fortunately, no traffic interfered with my slow roll across the street, into the ditch and onto Mr. Johnson’s yard.
I guess I must have got a REAL GOOD spanking after that because I have absolutely no memory of the aftermath of my very first drive.
My first car. I really cant say anything good about it, and I sure don’t miss it. Got me back and forth from my restaurant job and that was it.
If my brother was still alive I would by this car for him When he got his license my mom’s car was a 64 rambler 770 classic cross country with a 327 and manual 3 speed with overdrive trans it was robbins egg blue and the interior had individual reclining seats that folded flat into the back seat to make beds the car was super quick sleeper that y brother won many stop light races with it and many submarines races ah hmm he loved that car but moved on to his 57 Chevy belair gasser ” midnight confession”gaĂfindins
Got a 63. Paid significantly more for it a year plus ago. 6 cyl. Three on tree. 65,000 miles. Runs like it has half that. No history on it unfortunately. I was 11 years old when my dad dragged home my almost exact car for me to play with in 1972! Didn’t realize it ( I remember it being a Rambler wagon) but when my mom found a picture… only thing different was the color. Almost 50 years later, I end up with same car!
I had a 1964 Classic 770 wagon the same color as this one years ago, but with the ancient 195.6 six-cylinder engine, Flash-O-Matic transmission, no power steering, and of course no AC. Talk about slow! I’m sure this one moves along nicely with the 287 V8 but don’t try taking corners too quickly with that massive engine and AC compressor up front!
I’m surprised to see a well-equipped example like this one that has AC, factory AM/FM radio, and even electric wipers without reclining seats. (It has a solid front seat back.)
Just wondering how many classics in this (apparent) condition are going for $10.5k?
cool wagon. i prefer the prior years to this 1. i agree the tires really need some bleach white. it would have made the listing pop.
My mom worked for a guy at Hudson before the merger. They went separate ways, but he opened an AMC dealership and always gave her the pick of the used car litter. We had several Ramblers, all dead reliable.
Listing update: this one must be gone; the seller has deleted the ad.