These two Rambler Americans, a 1959 and 1960, aren’t trailer queens, they just haven’t been started in 20 years, according to the seller. They have these two Americans posted here on Craigslist with an asking price of $3,500 for both and they say that the price is negotiable. They’re located in Lovington, New Mexico. Thanks to Ikey H. for finding and sending in the listing for these two good-looking Americans!
This is it, folks, there are just three photos and they all show images of the exteriors of these two cars, but from those three photos, these Ramblers look like pretty solid examples. The seller doesn’t mention rust at all but I would expect some, I could be wrong. They say “Glass is all good. Bodies are all straight. No dents.” They really do look good from the three photos
I’m a wicked huge fan of the second-generation Rambler American, the one that came out in 1961, but these are really interesting cars, too. There are no interior or engine photos, unfortunately, but it sounds like there are two different engines in these cars? They say “Good project. Ready for delivery. Have more pics. Haven’t run in 20 years. 6 cyl. OHV has been rebuilt. 4 cyl. flathead is rough. New tires.” There shouldn’t be a 4-cylinder in either of these cars unless one was changed to a 4-cylinder for some reason. Both of these cars should have AMC’s 195.6 cubic-inch inline-six, with the 1959 car having the flathead version and 90 hp and in 1960 an overhead-valve 195.6 was available in the Custom and that had 125 hp. These cars are “95% complete” which is nice and they don’t look bad at all from the photos. Would you save these Rambler Americans?
They must be kept and restored together! Ideally by some designer with art deco sensibilities.
These do look really solid, though some more photos would certainly be nice. I believe it is correct that 1960 was the first year for the optional OHV engine in the American. (An OHV adaptation of the flathead, it had previously been used only in the larger Ramblers.)
The “4-cylinder flathead” is probably a typo in the ad unless maybe that’s how many cylinders are actually working. (Hey, it says the flathead is “rough”.)
Prospective owners should be aware that Americans of this vintage drive like cars designed in the 1940s – because they were. On the plus side that means they are as simple and reliable as anvils.
The Rambler American was designed before George Romney’s ascension to the chairmanship of American Motors, but his plan was to keep it essentially the same in perpetuity.
Something like the Volkswagen Beetle.
That didn’t happen, of course, but the basic design was an honest one and extremely durable. My mother got a new one in 1951, a gray 2-door that my dad took over as a commuter car in 1957. He replaced it in 1961 with the new Ford Falcon.
That Rambler lasted a good 10 years at a time when people would keep a car for 2-3 years at the most, then buy into the planned obsolescence that Detroit manipulated so well in the ’50’s & ’60’s.
These look like they’re in pretty good shape and probably should be kept as a matched set. Nice find.
You don’t normally see them mating in the wild.
And the female of the species is more deadly than the male.
Wow nice couple! His and Hers car,yes they need to be together and restored,maybe a museum with Gremlins,Hornets,and AMX’s ! My parents owned a 1962 when I was just a kid.God Bless America!
look solid, with new tires too.
One of my favorite episodes of the Andy Griffith show involves one of these. Goober is minding the courthouse for Ange, but the owner of an American is hounding him to work on it. So Goober disassembles it to get it through the courthouse doors, reassembles inside, gets hollered at by Andy, takes it out, brings it in again, and just as Andy is about to go Defcon 5 on him, a state inspector pops in, and ends up congratulating Andy for the clever display to publicize driving safety week. One thing though, is that the Rambler looked like it would have fit through the double doors as is.
I remember that episode well! Here’s a photo of the American in the courthouse.
…and here it is after Goober gets done with it! (The studio obviously did some creative torch work here!)
IIRC, Otis the drunk drove a real ’32 ford roadster….I salivate everytime that episode comes on!!!
Cheers
GPC
100 points to beatlepat and That AMC Guy for an Andy Griffith reference!
I wid ya Scotty. Hada 2nd gen vert. Big square box, white, blk top. That six was so quiet & well balanced. Folks would laugh when I pulled up to the only stop in town. Thought I’d stalled out it wuz so quiet & true. Plenty room (altho dwn szed frm the others). 3rd gen looks kinda sporty, liked them better…
My mom had a 1960. It was basic transportation and we went everywhere in it. It was the opposite of my dads 1960 desoto adventurer with full power…
Note the hood against the wall in the Andy Griffith photos. That’s a Nash Rambler hood with the hood scoop from an earlier car. Must have been too different cars used in the episode.
good eye.
Yes, and the door against the wall does not seem to be the same as the door from the completed car.
The wheels look to be different colors too
take one of these and put a straight axle under it, and something cool under the hood like an olds J2 or a Buick Nailhead. Keep the other stock or sorta stock. Nice pair!!
Cheers
GPC
I don’t know, Gaspumpchas. I think a flat head is pretty cool as is.
In one later episode, Gomer (not Goober) has all of his pals bringing cars to Andy’s house to be repaired. In that one episode there were at least two early V8 Fords (a 37 roadster if I recall) along with some contemporary FOMOCO products. Each of them lined up in front of Andy’s house while Gomer hollers at his “customers” from the upstairs window.