American Motors seldom had reason to celebrate, but 1959 was one of those years when they could. Not only did they build more cars than at any other time in their history (386,400 units), but it was also the highest annual total ever achieved by any independent automaker. The Rambler American compact was on a roll and buyers were also impressed by the mid-size Rebel. Including the Cross Country station wagon, like the seller’s ’59. It’s a running car with lots of patina, but not quite roadworthy as yet. The ‘50s Family Truckster is available in Custer, South Dakota and here on eBay where the bidding has reached $5,100, but the reserve is still lurking.
One their first new cars after the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson Motor Car formed American Motors, the Rebel was introduced for 1957. It was a stand-alone model in a single body style in the beginning and is considered the first factory-produced mid-size high-performance car because of its 327 V8 engine and 4-barrel carburetor. The nameplate would go more mainstream in 1958 and would stay around through 1960, only to make a come in 1966-67.
With additional body styles available, the Rebel used a 250 cubic inch V8 for 1958-59, reserving the 327 for the Ambassador series. The Rebel still came with a 4-barrel carb and dual exhaust with the smaller motor rated at 215 hp. The ’59 models got a little tweaking in the styling department, which included a thinner roof panel look with narrower C-pillars, slanted windshields and rear windows, and smaller tailfins (after all, it was the ‘50s!). Car Life magazine said the 1959 Rambler was “one of the most attractive cars on the road”. Who are we to argue!
The Cross Country station wagon turned out to be second biggest seller in the series at nearly 67,000 units. The seller has put this ’59 up for sale as he’s selling off some cars from his collection to allow more time to finish other projects. While it’s going to need a total cosmetic restoration, it looks really good if patina is your sort of thing. The pink and white two-tone paint job must have been really sharp back in days where styling is what sold cars. It’s not rust-free, but far from being a troublemaker in that area unless some is hiding underneath and within.
We’re told that all the doors including the tailgate open and close as they should and the rear window rolls down properly, so these are all good signs. The interior is going to need an extreme makeover, with a temporary seat cover over the bench seat at the moment. The door panels and headliner are toast, and the floorboards look somewhat crusty, so a good look-see there is really needed. This wagon has likely sat up unused from time to time, yet still has accumulated 109,000 miles on the odometer.
As a result of some recent work done by the seller, the car runs now. That work included pulling and cleaning the gas tank and fuel pump, the carburetor was rebuilt, a partial tune-up was undertaken, and the coolant system flushed out. The seller has driven the car around his property and the general area, and says it runs well there, and the manual transmission shifts nicely. The brakes still need attention, and the tires are hard as rocks, so both those areas will need attention after getting the wagon to its new home. Also, the windshield is cracked, and a replacement needs to be sourced.
These wagons appear to hold their value more than other Ramblers of the era, with NADA giving a range of $14,500 to $42,600 depending on condition. There’s no reason you couldn’t just take care of the remaining mechanical gremlins and take it to Cars & Coffee just the way it is for a while!
I’m not a big fan of pink cars, but this Rambler wears it very well, patina and all.
Wonder if the seller bought this car in the Southwest? It seems to have that signature surface ‘patina” without the internal rot.
I agree one of the coolest looking cars of the era. I would call it busy styling with all the lines to follow. Coral color also works well with this one. Reminds me of the 50’s bathroom decor with the coral sinks and the black and white tiles.
Not all bathrooms were pink, white, and black. The kitchen in my previous house had a pink sink, linoleum that had flecks of pink, white on a black background. It even had a pink G.E. electric range from 1959 that still worked and we had the manual for it! One of the bathrooms was all pink too! Outside was pink aluminum siding with white trim! The house was built in 1940 but reminded me of the50’s.
Sidney Poitier drove one of these Cross Country wagons in Lillies of the Field.
Nice wagon IMHO, but all will have problems compared to a Chev of the same era.
Bob
Robert I think it was a 1959 Plymouth Sport Suburban if I am not mistaken…………..
Definitely a Plymouth. The nuns would have been a much tighter fit in the Cross Country.
1959 to be exact.
Rambler had the best cars for ‘parking’! Front and rear seat back BOTH reclined to flat position.
The clearcoat over rust “patina ” thing is a fad I’m so ready to be over. A full resto would be a labor of love but you definitely wouldn’t see a line of them at most shows unless your at the AMCRambler nationals. Maybe not even there. I hope someone does it.
The “patina” look is a trend that has long overstayed it’s welcome in the classic car world. I’m not sure, but I believe it was the fools at Gas Monkey Garage that started that horrid trend. To each their own, I suppose.
Love the Pink/Black color combo on the 50s cars. They wear it well.
You said it well about Gas Monkey’s! I got so angry, when I was in a nursing home last year at them monkeys! I saw them butcher some fine cars! I vowed never to watch them again! They messed a 50 something vintage M-B GullWing, stripped out a pristine Buick Roadmaster for demolition derby. Made me sick and angry.
Call me simple, but my favorite part of Ramblers is the 1 to 10 speedometers!
I could be wrong, (Rambler experts help me out here) But I believe I see an overdrive knob under the dash. Right? wrong?
These are just different enough to be cool!
Yep!
Absolutely hideous.
I hate to say it swap a LS motor and a five speed and clear coat it and get some good tread on it.
Nah. Flat black all over and slam it. Maybe a little chop, but that’s a lot of work.
You should hate to.
Rambler Rebels, Classics, Ambassadors and Marlins all through 1966 had a Nash designed torque tube drive. A lot of work to switch to a non-AMC engine, must fabricate an entirely new rear suspension system. I heard that Chevy had torque tubes through 1954 and that is a big reason why 55-57 were so popular.
All time favorite ! Please restore not patina !
If I were in a better position right now,financially that is,believe a road trip would be happening and possible that thing coming home with me.Was always intrigued by AMC every since my 69 ambassador as a field car before I was even legal to drive.The ac had a dessert only setting,which I thought was kool as hell! It wore mopar rally rims well also.
There’s only one way a car like this would survive, coming from the dry southwest, and the faded paint on top bolsters that. They simply rotted away anywhere else. Fact is, I’d check the front end anyway. Cool find, I believe Wayne is right, that is an O/D pull cable. I read, most, if not all manual shifted Rebels had O/D. Pulled out, O/D was disengaged, pushed in for O/D. The seller makes no mention of it, since this car is most assuredly being flipped by someone that may not even know what that is. We take 4 way flashers for granted today, but back then, it was a classy option. Nobody offered it, and I think a ’66 Ford was the 1st time I saw one. Nice car, provided the trunnions are intact. It’s a great find.
Taking the patina attraction a little too far.
In 1998 I bought a 1958 Rebel Cross Country equipped like this [Overdrive], but with factory AC. In need of a restoration from 40 years of sun damage in Amarillo, Texas, but no rust. I located replacement plastic AC hinged vents, plastic tail lights, manuals, etc from across the country. Those V-8 emblems were impossible to locate or replicate in ’98. I took the windshield header and polished it up to reveal and match the original Cinnamon Metallic paint. A trend among Rambler owners was to rearrange or add letters on the grill; I figured out “M-A-R-Y-K-A-Y” Could replace RAMBLER, since the car was a pinkish color. Unfortunately someone stole all the accumulated parts I had purchased. I sold the car on to someone who was into patina. Fully restored in ’98 the wagon would only be worth $12K. My, how the market has changed.
I owned this exact year, make and model Rambler back in 1981 as a 19 year old when drive in movies were still around on the Jersey shore. Used to back it into the spot, put the tailgate down and put down the back seats. Mine was black and white exterior with black, red and white interior. Looked like a Munster-mobile.
Only had it for a year or so but it was great fun. A millionaire from Rumson, NJ bought it to be given as a door prize at a party he was hosting but ended up liking it enough to keep it. Years later his widow contacted me to ask if I’d like to but it back for what he paid for it….$1,500. Like an idiot I said no thanks.
I’ve NOT read into the comments however…..THIS is NOT a rebel-this is a cross country wagon(dad and a friend of mine owned one)
Rebel did NOT show up until the late 60s
Its a Rebel, and the emblems are on the front fenders. The first Rebels were out in 1957. The fact that its a wagon makes it a Rebel Cross Country.
Rebel name existed from Rambler in the the late 50’s along with the mid 60’s. 57 Rambler Rebel with the 327 V-8 had the hottest 0-60 time that year.
Mid sized Ramblers were called Rambler Rebel in mid to late 1950’s then became “Rambler Classics” until 1966. All new slightly larger car in 1967 was the Rambler Rebel, 1968-1970 the AMC Rebel and then the AMC Matador. I think through all years the higher station wagon models were all called cross-country.
Its a Rebel, and the emblems are on the front fenders. The first Rebels were out in 1957. The fact that its a wagon makes it a Rebel Cross Country.
My father had one the exact same color. It was a push button automatic transmission. It was a four door I think it might have been an ambassador. We called it the Pink Elephant. It was in perfect condition and still had relativity low mileage when he sold it. We owned it at least 10 tens, thru the 70’s, For the time period it was loaded, including reclining pink and black seats. Seeing this car really brought back the memories.
The 1958-60 V8 models were on the 108″ wheelbase labelled Rebel V8. For 1961 both 6 and V8 models on the 108″ wheelbase became the Classic series.
The 1957 Rambler Rebel was a single model – Custom 4 door hardtop – with the 327 V8.
For 1958 the Rambler Rebel V8 was available in the same body styles as the Rambler Six and used the 250-cid V8. The 327 was available only in the Rambler Ambassador series.
This may have been a special order car , it seems to be a top of the line Custom Rebel with the V8 , bumper guards , roof rack ,full hubcaps ,carpeting , radio, clock. and probably more than that, but it has a three on the tree instead of an automatic. Then I look and see the added on trailer hitch, trailer mirrors and you see why it has a manual in it
Straight axle gasser…front bumper removed, moon tank in front of the grille. Nailhead, Pontiac , Mercury mill, something different. 4 or 5 speed. Stay safe and good luck.
Cheers
GPC
From 58 to 60, Rebel simply meant it was a V8. The sixes were the Rambler six, the V8 were a Rebel. Very simple. In 61, the name Classic was added, so they became the Rambler Classic six or V8. The Rebel name was later used as the name for the mid-sized Rambler models. They came in three trim levels, this is a Custom, so it was the top tier model.
Thanks so much for sharing this in Barn Finds! I had been looking for a ’59 Rambler wagon and your article took me to the eBay listing. I won the auction an hour or so ago and am eager to get it home and get to work on it. Running great and new tires first, interior and paint.
A little over 3 years later I just got done doing the bodywork and repainting this car. The owner has put a lot of time into this car to make sure it’s done right and let me tell you for a pink and white car I thought it wasn’t the best looking at first but it is absolutely gorgeous now. I was trying to figure out how some chrome trim pieces get put on and I stumbled upon the picture that looked just like the car I was working on but lone behold it is.
The car is finally finished and home! I would post a picture if I could figure out how to do it… :-)