Although a bit shorter, the third-generation Rambler Classic has a strong family resemblance to the Ambassador, other than the front clip, which was unmistakably a Rambler Classic face. And for good reason, they were mostly the same from the A-pillar back. This 1965 Rambler Classic 770 two-door hardtop is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Brea, California, and they’re asking $11,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to T.J. for the tip!
Other than the mismatched driver’s door, and oddly, right straight down through the rocker panel only in the door area (?!), this car appears to be in nice shape. The third-generation Rambler Classic was made for only two years, 1965 and 1966, in this two-door hardtop body style, and also a two-door sedan, a four-door sedan, a four-door wagon, and a two-door convertible. Rambler referred to them as “Sensible Spectaculars.”
Actually, all three Rambler models for ’65 were Sensible Spectaculars: the compact American, full-sized Ambassador line, and the mid-sized Classics. An instant way to tell a ’65 Classic or Ambassador from a ’66 is the rounded-edge rear window. The 1966 models were crisp, but in 1965, the edges wrapped around a bit as seen above. I’ve always wondered what it would have looked like to continue the red tail light treatment across the back in place of the trim… I like it.
The seats appear to have been redone, at least the fabric insert without a vinyl portion at the leading edge, and they look perfect and I’m sure are comfortable. The color is perfect for a Frost White car. I wonder if Brea, California has ever had frost? The coldest average temperature is 47 in January, so I’m guessing snow shovels are a tough sell there. 1949 is the last time there was a memorable “snow event” there. Where’s my suitcase?! The back seat looks perfect; that thing on the seat looks like a stick or something, not a tear in the fabric. We don’t get to see the trunk or the underside, but I’m assuming they’re both solid.
The engine is a V8 but we don’t know which one, or I don’t know. One of you may be able to tell the difference between AMC’s 287 and the 327 by looking at this one. It would have had either 200 or 270 horsepower and is backed by an automatic transmission. The seller says it runs great and everything works. They list the mileage as 55,000 miles, and it could very well be. The driver’s door is the only wild card that I can see, what are your thoughts about this Classic?
The Rambler 327 engines came in red and the 287 in blue. So unless this one has been repainted a different color it’s the 287 engine.
A friend of mine in high school had a 1965 Classic hardtop that looked pretty much identical to this one. However his had the 327 V8 engine with Twin-Stick manual transmission along with manual steering and brakes. While not a true muscle car of course he did surprise a lot of people at the stop-light drag strip who didn’t expect much out of his “old man’s car” (which was Rambler’s image at the time).
This example has automatic transmission and (probably) the 287 V8 which blunts things a bit but it should still certainly have no problem keeping up with traffic.
Oh man, that is such great info, AMC guy – I should have known that!
Super nice simple car! And at a good price to get you into the classic car community. Would not be embarrassed at all to show up at cars and coffee with this Rambler. Would get some attention I’m sure.
Didn’t see too many of these “sporty” 2 doors. 2 doors attracted a different group, one they certainly weren’t looking for with a Rambler. No, the Rambler had its niche as a reliable, inexpensive family car. With Studebaker practically out of the picture, Rambler was all alone, and enjoyed a mild success with these cars, but AMC was on the cusp of “sporty” cars, it’s too bad they had these as their image. Don’t get me wrong, great cars, but anything but sporty. California compliant vacuum wipers, and should be no trunnion worries, how it got from cloudy Wisconsin to sunny California is anyone’s guess. Probably by train. A wonderful find.
Drivers door looks like door that was replaced after car was t-boned in driver door.Had a 70 Coronet that got t- boned in passenger door and after one year it looked like that almost dirty looking, found out supplier for weather stripping was using material that bled black dye and it would leak out around edge of door . I’m not saying that’s what the problem is, but was my experience with that kind of discoloration around door, going down to sill.
Looks like AMC again trying to look like one of the Big 3. Chevy, in this case.
Scotty, someone should buy this and apply your tail light treatment to it. It would look great!