This is one nicely styled, mostly overlooked car, a 1965 Rambler American convertible. It’s far from a perfect specimen, but it is quite representative of AMC’s wares and how it fought competition from Detroit’s Big Three back in the day. This is a 440 trim level car, and it appears to have been refinished at some point in the not-too-distant past, but there are other things to consider, so let’s get into it. Hans H. gets the nod for this discovery; Millville, New Jersey, is its home, and here on eBay is where it can be found for an opening bid of $9,000. There is a BIN option of $14,500 available as well.
AMC’s sales brochure called the Rambler American 440 convertible its “Sauciest,” a typical ’60s adjective for sporty. The 440 trim graced two-door hardtops and four-door sedans too, but it’s the convertible that’s the rare one with only 3,882 seeing the light of day that year. Other Rambler American trim levels included the entry-level 220 and budget-minded 330, both of which included station wagons and two-door sedans. As previously mentioned, this car appears to have been refinished, and the body is nice and straight with no evidence of rust or crash damage. The seller does mention that while the convertible top frame operated properly, the white fabric portion is uninstalled, but it is included in the sale. The aftermarket wheels are a matter of preference, I guess, but the seller does mention that three of the original four wheels go with the car.
Inside, the white fabric and vinyl upholstery look OK at first blush, but upon closer inspection, we’ll note, as the seller states, “The interior seats show some wear and some stains; they are the original from 1965.” Stained the upholstery is, and whether or not it can be deep cleaned will be a matter for further investigation. Other observations are an aftermarket steering tiller and a DIN replacement radio.
Originally responsible for generating 155 gross HP, the “freshly rebuilt” 232 CI in-line six-banger engine has undergone some upgrades, including “upgraded camshaft, HEI ignition, Weber 2-barrel carburetor, and new painless wiring harness.” Unfortunately, nothing is stated regarding operating characteristics. This Rambler utilizes a rebuilt automatic transmission, and the listing additionally states the inclusion of rebuilt trunions and replaced floor pans.
Rarity aside, this Rambler American has a lot of neat features going for it. It’s refreshing to see a six-cylinder engine that has been juiced up instead of being chucked in favor of a, wait for it…” put an LS in it!” Still, this car needs finishing and likely upholstery work. One thing not going for this little AMC is its BIN price, and that probably extends to its opening bid too, owing to the fact that no one’s anted up anything yet. Everything sells at some point – it’s just a matter of the numbers, right?
Seeing as I already have an M-Spec, I’d gladly take this 440 over the white one any day!
Really sharp looking car, even if it needs new vinyl – but at least someone won’t get scorched thighs coming back from the beach!
They seem to have done everything they can to make this car undesirable. Those wheels. That steering wheel. The crappy aftermarket radio. That horrible paint color. And what happened in the back seat? Incontinence?
But it does have that mean 6 cylinder engine in it!
$14,500? That’s hilarious!
Those rims are really dated. People, please don’t follow expensive custom trends that fade out in popularity after 5 years.
The ’80’s called, and they want their rims back, LOL!
That 6 cylinder looks like a rattle can rebuild to me. Those were good engines though. Hopefully this one’s healthy anyway.
I will relay one observation that I initially missed, and that’s the bypassed heater core (note the circular hose connection that wraps around the upper rad. hose). Probably no big deal, but I’d assume there’s no heat. Heater cores may or may not be a bear to replace; depends on the make/model, etc.
JO
I think it’s fine the way it is. Oh sure, you’re gonna have some work to do to make a driver quality ride, but not much. Why over restore a car and then be afraid to drive it? Just give it what it really needs, then drive and enjoy it for what it is– a really
fun summer cruiser the only real
nit to pick here is that God awful
torque tube setup these cars have. You have to pull the rear end just to get to the U joints! So, the only major thing I’d do is to
conert the car to an open drive shaft and ditch the torque tube
entirely. Then I’d have my SIL or
neice take me to work at my store 🏪 whenever I work while
getting more smiles per mile.
The American doesn’t have a torque tube, it has an open driveline with leaf springs in the back. It is the larger Ramblers (Classic and Ambassador through 1966) that have torque tube drive.
I owned a ’66 Ambassador and I can relate. The memory of replacing the U-joint, lying on my back on the garage floor, all the way back in 1983 is still fresh in my mind. It wasn’t that difficult of a job, but I wouldn’t want to do it ever again. ;)
Well, if this were bone stock, nobody would care at all. All the naysayers about this customization work wouldn’t bid on it and neither would anyone else.
As it is, is has appeal to a certain audience that grew up customizing cars with whatever they could get their hands on. This will certainly get looks at any show.
The criticism of the wheels should stand, they are horribly dated and an easy fix, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and swapmeets are full of reasonably priced sets of aftermarket wheels that are appropriate for the era of this car.
Steve R
Yep. I’d put slotted mags on it.
I think it’s a great looking little car and I love the color.
Agree
I agree. I love the color. And the wheels too. To each their own I guess. If it were mine I’d drive it like it is. If the seats wouldn’t clean up I would reupholster them as time and money allows. Meanwhile drive it. Cool car
Nice neatly styled little convertible, but those wheels..really?? Could have been worse I guess, like 21-inchers with a thousand wires. The stock rims and ‘caps would have looked nicer. The price too, what’s with that?
And now for something a little different! A ’65 Rambler droptop! Very similar in style to a ’65 Dodge Dart, this one looks well restored, but only an in-person inspection will tell you for sure. I like that a dual circuit master cylinder has been fitted too replace the stock single-circuit master cylinder these were born with. I’d lose the ’80’s wheels and aftermarket stereo, clean the upholstery, replace the heater core and drive it! GLWTS!
That front end is ’64 Dart-ish
@ that AMC guy: My former late
FIL owned a ’66 American 220 sedan with a 199 straight 6 and a
3-on-the tree. I recall that he was
having trouble with the U joints.
The mechanic he took the car to
charged him $250 (1976 money)
to change them. He told my FIL
that he had to pull the rear end
just to get them out of the torque tube to replace them! I knew that
some AMCs had a torque tube.
My ’62 Classic custom had it as
did my Mom’s ’53 Nash Statesman sedan. And now I find out that the ’65 Americans didn’t
have them? Now I wish that I would’ve been home when he took his car in to have it repaired.
If I was there, maybe I could’ve
kept him from being ripped off.
I would’ve repaired it myself. Who knew!
Sorry to hear about a shady wrench ripoff. The American, IIRC correctly, didn’t use a torque tube, from at least 1964 and on up through 1969.