Whoa! This is a lowly 1960 Rambler American DeLuxe? Talk about a fabulous restoration, this is one sharp-looking car and hardly what I expected when I first saw this tip, courtesy of Curvette, on our tip line. I’d wager this Rambler looks better than it did when new, so let’s check it out and see what’s here. Poulsbo, Washington, is where you’ll find this “Most imitated Car in America” (according to Rambler’s publicity material of the day), and it’s available here on craigslist for $9,500.
Think about that imitation business for a minute. Chrome-laden leviathans with all the handling attributes of a barge still ruled the ’60 sales charts. But many American auto manufacturers knew compact was becoming cool and dipped their toe into that market with new introductions such as the Corvair, Falcon, Valiant, Comet, etc. Of course, Rambler already knew that, having first offered their American for the ’58 model year. For ’60, the trim levels were three with the Super at the top, the Custom in the middle, and the Deluxe, such as our subject car, bringing up the markers. Total American output was 120K units in ’60, with 24K being Deluxe two-door sedans. There were other body styles too, including a four-door sedan, a station wagon, and in later years, even a convertible – it was the right car for the right time.
I’m not sure how one arrives at the seller’s claim of a 96% restoration count, but I’ll take it. This American is resplendent in its two-tone Merlot and black finish. The body panels, stainless trim, and chrome-plated bits are factory-fresh. This car’s visual strength, in my estimation, is due to its minimalist bearing – what a stark departure from what was running most of America’s highways and byways in ’60. You’ve probably heard the idiom, “Clothes make the man.” Well, in this case, I’d suggest that “The finish makes the car.” Normally, the word “frumpy” comes to mind when considering a Rambler American of this generation, but that’s hardly the case with this example!
Upfront is an overhauled 90 gross HP, 195.6 CI, in-line six cylinder flathead engine, driving the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission. The seller adds, “motor overhaul including hardened valves and guides, new timing chain, rings, and all engine bearings, electronic ignition and carburetor updated.” The engine compartment is quite tidy and mostly original looking, though I’m not certain about the carburetor, and the air cleaner is obviously not the born-with piece.
The interior is as nice as the exterior, though I can’t tell with certainty if the upholstery fabric and pattern are true to the original. It doesn’t matter anyway; the simplicity and cleanliness of the entire environment, physically and by design, are just perfect. I suppose I sound like a Luddite, but why can’t we enjoy such purity in today’s rides? A video screen to control things like opening a glovebox? No thanks!
Yeah, I’m a fan now, even if I wasn’t one in the past. For $9,500, wave bye-bye; someone’s gonna snatch this little Rambler right up, wouldn’t you agree?
I still remember a few of these as a kid in the 70’s still doing duty as a daily driver. Great cars. I always thought the rear axle needed to be moved back just a smidgen to look right. But other than that I’ve always liked these. This one looks like an absolute top notch restoration. The colors are gorgeous together too. I totally agree with you Jim about the Finish making the car like the old saying that the Clothes make the man. This finish is absolutely beautiful. The body panels and everything just look terrific. You may be right, this may be nicer than factory. If I were looking to buy one, I think this would be it. Great write up Jim, thank you, I enjoyed it!!!
-Dave
I suppose to some it could be called “lowly”, meaning it was low on the totem pole compared to what we were used to in cars. Certainly not lowly in any other aspect. I’m not really sure what signaled change in America to smaller cars. I have a feeling with women uncomfortable in big cars, US automakers were missing out on a huge market, especially with things like,,,automatic transmissions and of course, power steering. Again, not sure why, gas was still plenty cheap in 1960, still about .30/gal. but there was a shift to economy, and the Rambler American( and Valiant, I think) were top of the charts. Many exceeding 35mpg on actual tests,( your results usually varied, and mid 20s for these was normal) almost unheard of except with them pesky foreign puddle jumpers, that should have no effect on our economy whatsoever( cough) These were actually common in the midwest, they made a poor road car, not that some didn’t try. Just a “city” car. My neighborhood buddy had one like this, only an automatic. It remains the slowest car I ever rode in. How slow? Glad you asked. 0-60 in 17.1 sec and the 1/4 mile in just over 21 seconds @,,aw, who cares, point is, it was a good car, with a decent heater, that got most through many a tough Midwest winter, over and over until the body fell apart, still running going into the junkyard. The rear wheel well opening is always the joke, but I think it was designed to LOOK like it was going fast, like vintage Barney Oldfield photos. For most, employee parking lots in Wisconsin were filled with these cars. At $1795, it was the lowest priced car in America, almost $200 less than the Corvair or Valiant. Only the Bug was cheaper at $1665. For the extra $100 bucks, it was clear what was the best deal. As anemic as the automatic was, it would widen the appeal of this car considerably. Unfortunately for the future, I don’t think this car has a prayer with a stick.
Wow, your buddy’s Rambler would turn 0 to 60 a full two seconds faster than my ’52 Chevy stick equipped with a gofaster glasspack !
I haven’t seen one of these in 50 years and I’ve never seen one in this condition in my entire life. Someone loved this car to restore it to this level.
I’m quite impressed that someone would do a serious, thorough restoration on this humble Rambler. It looks great. Might be fun to own, in its own kind of way.
With tongue in cheek, someone could ask the seller how the 96% number was determined. If it is a meticulous person (e.g. an engineer), he or she might just show you the data.
@ Bob_in_TN, Jim ODonnell inadvertently told us where the missing 4% is when he said “the air cleaner is obviously not the born-with piece.”
I may be in the minority here, but I don’t like to see ultra-glossy, show-quality paint on a car like this. These were about as unpretentious as a new car got in 1960, and I guess I prefer them to be restored that way. This car is like a plump, matronly, spinster church organist in a black minidress.
Now THATs a mental image. Yikes!
I agree. The paint was not that glossy when the car left the new car lot. I had the same car but a 59, that was painted twice as I had it, first by Earl Sheib (I’ll paint ANY car for $—.), then in the garage where I lived at the time. The garage paint job was better than Earl’s.
I believe the model line-up was: Custom, Super, Deluxe.
The odd rear wheel location was from the re-use of an early 50s Rambler design with a shorter wheelbase. The look is similar to Canadian “Cheviacs”, which used Pontiac sheet metal on a shorter Chevrolet body.
We called them ” Pontilays “
Probably one of the cleanest of this generation Rambler American I’ve seen in quite some time. Personally I think the maroon/black scheme is a bit too dark, but it presents well. I always liked these, even if one received alot of ribbing if they drove one of these home in 1960. You don’t get much more basic in overall function. I always wished the greenhouse was shorter; it’s out of proportion with the body. But when dealing with a basic shell that dated back to 1950, it is what it is. This is a car where absolute factory correctness isn’t necessarily needed, so the interior with modern fabrics works. And the price? Finding ANY 1960 collector car this nice for under $10K is a serious bonus! GLWTA!
I used to own a 1961 American, essentially the same car with squared-off body lines. These drive like cars designed in the 1940s because that’s what they are. (Ball joints? What are those? Just grease my trunnions every 1000 miles if you please.)
I can’t remember every seeing an early Rambler American that looked as nice as this one!
Huge improvement with the 1964 and up generation. My grandfather had a 68 two door sedan with stationary rear windows. Plain Jane with rubber grommet windshield washer you pumped with your foot. Good childhood memories.
Looks like my Granmuzzie’s 1960 with her two tone green. Or my spinster great aunt Gina’s with her 1960 two tone yellow version).
In 1960 my father and my uncle teamed up and bought two at once to replace the previous cars for the “girls”. I drove the green one in high school occasionally- I think it had a push button automatic.
My Brother drove one from California to Alabama in 1968, it was a Black two door. A good automobile.
a tip top fav, right there. Love the history, model line B4/after, Pininifarina penned lines, state produced in the corporate usa automotive time line, etc, etc.
AND
whata great car! as well.
Smaller (all ways my preference) for the era – large/comfortable by today’s standards (100 inch WB) oh, so smooth i6, good interior…
In the wagon would be perfect (as for the bigger W123/300TDI; checker marathon on my list, this a better bet due to it’s size).
Thnx 4 listing a great vehicle~
Took my driving test in a ‘59 wagon just like this. Only 55 years ago. No power steering which was tough for parallel parking!
Still love these cars.
I honestly don’t think I ever saw one of these growing up. There’s something Soviet bloc looking about it. Maybe it filled a niche for some, not for me.
I had a ’58 American. These little Ramblers really need the help of an overdrive to keep the rpms reasonable at highway speeds. Most Ramblers of this era seemed to have the overdrive option.
I think someone went a little overboard with this car and probably isn’t getting the money back they put into it. But the utilitarian factor and value is so high with this thing I can understand why someone would go to this length. Heck, If I still had a 1958 Frigidaire refrigerator that still worked I’d restore that thing too!
In 1969 or ’70. My sister bought one of these. The outer body was rust free. I tuned it up and took it for a test drive. The car was all over the road and after a bump it was worse. Brought it back home and looked underneath to find rust so bad that the front end was ready to fall off. I told her to jump in Mom’s Impala and follow me to the junk yard very slowly. That was the last time she bought a car without me being present. (She even flew me out to Florida a couple of years ago to inspect a motorhome she wanted to buy.)
Simple car simpler times A car you could work on yourself without a code reader. What happened
What happened? It’s called the government. Protecting you from yourself, since the formation of NHTSA and the EPA.
Correct trim level was Deluxe, Super, and Custom as the top trim. It’s missing the front bumper guards and has an aftermarket gas cap. The air cleaner did look something like that but I don’t think it is correct.