During its time in the American Motors line-up (1961 to 1966), the Rambler Classic was considered the manufacturer’s mid-size car. It was positioned above the compact American and below the Ambassador (at least in terms of trim). The 1966 model year would be the Classic’s last before becoming the Rebel in 1967 with a redesign. The seller’s 770 model was the top-of-the-line Classic and has been treated to new upholstery and a rebuilt engine. Located in Mechanic Falls, Maine, this AMC was offered here on Facebook Marketplace for $3,500 (or $4,500), but that was some time ago and may have changed hands.
The 1965-66 Classics got fresh sheet metal, but the underpinnings were the same as the 1963-64s (of which the former won Motor Trend’s Car of the Year Award). A little larger than before (same wheelbase), the Classic was closer to size to the main competition, the Chevy Chevelle and Ford Fairlane. In 1965, the Classic had three levels of trim, 550, 660, and 770, with the 660 dropped in ’66. A 232 cubic inch inline-6 was standard (145 hp), and we assume that’s what was rebuilt in the seller’s car. 46,000 of the 770 4-door sedans came out of Kenosha, Wisconsin that year.
We’re told this Rambler has been well-maintained and has a few new goodies at 77,000 miles. It comes with an automatic transmission which we assume works as it should. The gold paint looks okay in places but is tired overall and could be redone. We’re told all the car needs is a new set of tires to be a daily driver. Whether or not it would be “one hell of a conversation piece” is up to the buyer to decide.
The seller mentions that this car has been in several films (nine, to be specific) but doesn’t indicate which ones in case you want to do some YouTube surfing. And its roles were probably not prominent like the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am in the original Smokey and the Bandit flick. If you’re into that sort of thing, then you could include it in the poster you’d have made up to stand in front of the car at Cars & Coffee, with the hood open, of course!
Uncommon and cool, even if only because they’re statistically not around anymore. Last one i saw around here “in the wild” was about 20 years ago.
thought all major domestic manufacturers had gone to electric windshield wipers, this AMC shows a vacuum wiper unit on the firewall. That’s an indicator of how $ squeezed American Motors was to minimize upgrade designs and moving forward. Ever drive with vacuum wipers? Throw in bald tires and mechanical brakes, will be all set for disaster in today’s typical rainy day driving.
I was just a youngster when I had a 66 rambler classic. True story I was around 1980 my father found the car parked beside a barn at a farm in central PA. It had been there for 5 yrs. Anyhow he sold the car to us for 100 bucks had a relative with a towing business get it to the house. Pumped up tires which looked rather new. Change oil. Filled up anti freeze. New plugs and wires and battery. It freaking started right up. Ran it 4 yrs ago
This Rambler has manual brakes and manual steering. Alot safer then your power brakes and power brakes–if your motor suddenly quits. . The metal bumper is safer– then your rubber bumper. This car is alot better built them most new cars. More comfortable seats then most new ones. This is a REAL CAR.
Front drum brakes ain’t very safe going down long steep mountains or thru deep water. lol
Lack of seat belts, a non collapsible steering column, & a steering wheel too close to your chest aint very safe either.
My first car was a 1961 Mercury Comet with vacuum wipers. I agree that vacuum wipers are absolutely useless. Mine also had a manual choke and three on the tree.
I had a 66 and I loved it. Wished I still had it
I took a look at this car almost two years ago. I own several Rambler Classics. What the pictures don’t show is the rotted rocker panels, bad sheet metal, the bad paint, and the not so good interior. It was in a low budget horror movie, and I would run, not walk, away!
Just in case you were wondering about the vehicle’s pedigree, note the pack of Marlboros on the seat.
If that engine was rebuilt it must have been in the last century.
Always liked amc. My first new car was a 68. I currently own a very rusty 66 770 convertible. One of around 1900 produced.
Driven by Melissa. McCarthy in the movie “The Heat” with Sandra Bullock.
I see than an electric fuel pump has been added. It should be located just outside of the tank. Also like the bungee battery holder.
It probably still has the floor mounted foot pump for the washer.
The top trim level for 66 was the Rebel in 2 door only, production was 7,512. Base price on a new at the time 770 was 2337$. The 232 is a solid engine. Still a old car. Could be a good entry level classic car, price seems fair. Don’t see any rust.
Good point from Terry M about the vacuum windshield wipers. I was kind of surprised to see this technology on a 1966 vintage car. Going uphill or under load you got nothing. I still remember backing off on the accelerator to get a few swipes in. My how times have changed.
You know I’d get around to babbling about this car. It warms an old “Milwaukenosha” kids heart. I’m glad the naysayers are few here, past prejudice aside, ( their daddy hated Ramblers, so do they) AMC/Ramblers were really good cars. In ’66, we were still riding high on the ’63 CotY award, many features still in these cars, including,,(cue dramatic music) da’, da’,da’, those pesky trunnions. What say gramps? Is that some kind of hernia brace? Don’t laugh, trunnions were a funky way of connecting the front suspension to the unibody via bushings instead of ball joints. They did okay, but rust and lack of grease, well, more than one Rambler had the front wheel collapsed. Repair was difficult, and many decent cars were scrapped. My grandfather had a ’61 Classic, with about 40K, in perfect shape, except, yep, the trunnions rusted and nobody would fix it.
This looks okay, so far, and the vacuum wipers always come up in discussion. Sure, compared to electric or air, they were inferior, but they did the job for 50 years. Our Packard had vacuum wipers, but had a dual fuel pump( not seen here) and the even under full throttle, the wipers slowed, but never stopped. As traffic increased and faster speeds, it was apparently, vacuum had to go. I think ’69 or ’70 was the last year.
This car is a wonderful find, priced right, totally usable, good mileage, do 60 okay, yet, listed for 47 WEEKS??? Man, and some have the noive to say the hobby is fine? Wow,,
Fellow Wisconsinite and AMC owner here (I’ve owned a couple dozen AMCs/Ramblers over the years). I agree with almost everything you said there Howard, except for AMC riding high in 1966.
Yes, the MTCOTY award for the entire ’63 lineup was a boost to American Motors, and the introduction of the modern six cylinder (first released in 232 cid form) in 1964 was an immensely important moment in their history. The new V8’s (typhoon 290/343) introduction during ’66 was also big.
But the company itself was far from riding high. By ’66, finances were looking poor, and sales were slumping, way down from the early 60’s success. The intermediates (Rebel/Ambassador & Marlin) were about to be completely re-designed for ’67 and unfortunately, those new designs did not spark a large increase in sales, and CEO Abernethy was subsequently booted out the door.
Roy Chapin was brought in as CEO, and he helped usher in a resurgence of AMC that lasted several years (until the mid-70’s). Getting involved in racing and changing the Rambler image helped a lot. But Chapin’s best move (fiscally) was the deal to purchase Jeep. That acquisition allowed AMC to remain solvent for as long as it did before it needed to search for a “partner” in the late 70’s.
Hi Jim, well, I agree Rambler was not on fire like the Big 3, but as a kid in Milwaukee in the 60s, I had neighbors and parents of friends that worked at AMC, and it was a solid job. There was a waiting list to get in, and only family members had a shot at the best paying job in town.
In a classic( pun intended) move, AMC was in denial as to what Americans really wanted, and with cars like Hornet, Gremlin and Javelin, the 70s were really the heyday of AMC.