Beginning in 1956, the Cross Country name would be applied to all American Motors station wagons (after the 1954 Nash/Hudson merger). Riding on a 108-inch wheelbase, the Rambler Six and Rambler V8 models ran through 1960 (using either a 195 cubic inch inline-6 or 250 V8, depending on the series). The seller has a 1959 Rambler Six Cross Country that the seller was working to convert to a 4-wheel-drive using a Nissan Frontier frame. Perhaps you can continue down that path or do something different. The wagon is in Anacortes, Washington, and is available here on craigslist for $2,250 OBO (within reason). Thumbs up to “Curvette” for the tip.
At a time when most U.S. automobile manufacturers operated under the impression that bigger was better, AMC believed in simpler transportation solutions. That’s why they resurrected one of the industry’s first compact cars in 1959 and dubbed it the American. Station wagons were part of the mix, but they were no bigger than AMC’s cars, and the last time the Cross Country name was used was on the 1968 Rebels and Ambassadors.
The seller’s ’59 Rambler Six Cross Country looks ordinary, but it’s not. At 59,000 miles, it still sports its original drivetrain that functions but could use tuning. It also has a manual transmission. The seller has been working to turn it into a 4X4, so the body is only temporarily welded onto a 2000 Nissan truck frame. But the interior has already been hard-welded. The Nissan’s drivetrain may be part of the bargain (IDK). We’re sorry the photos are few, but most of the ones provided by the seller are beyond fuzzy or usable.
Wild combo conversion. 💁♂️
Yikes, that’s quite a Frankenstein setup!
Minor nit, the Rambler American debuted in 1958 not 1959. (It was essentially the original 100″ wheelbase 1950 Nash Rambler which had been last sold in 1955.)