Rambler! That’s a name that conjures up different takes on American Motor’s famous budget-minded automobiles. Some of those takes may be outright derision while others can be comical but many are views of admiration. Today’s find, a 1964 Rambler American 440, courtesy of Bruce M., is cooling its heels in Orlando, Florida and is said to be original though the current owner has only been in possession of this Kenosha special for seven months. It’s reasonably priced so let’s see what’s here.
The Rambler name actually dates to the early part of the twentieth century having been used by a Nash predecessor. It came back into use in 1950, and then by 1957, it was a separate marque under the recently formed American Motors Corporation. By 1964, various Rambler models included the Ambassador, Custom and the American in 220, 330 and 440 trim levels. Rambler managed to do pretty well in ’64, coming in eighth place in the production race with 393K units finding new owners – an output that bested both industry stalwarts Chrysler and Mercury. The last domestic Rambler built occurred in 1969 though AMC continued to use the name on certain models manufactured in other countries.
Said to have experienced 25K miles, probably just an odometer reading, this Rambler ain’t ramblin’ anymore. The seller states, “Does run but needs a tune-up and a carburetor rebuild. Hard to start…I’ve owned it about seven months and have never touched it. I do not have the time to work on it. Cannot be driven home.” What sorta powers this sedan is not photographed, or said, other than it’s a six-cylinder engine so I imagine that it’s a 195 CI inline version attached to an automatic transmission.
The two-tone finish is rather faded but the body is straight and claimed to be free of “No rot through (holes).” The included images of the underside reveal the slightest bit of surface rust but it’s very clean and sound beyond that. The listing makes mention of a North Carolina title but there’s no word as to where this car grew up. Wherever it was, it doesn’t appears to have been exposed to the rigors of winter (salt) weather. Styling is always subjective but I would suggest that this American’s lines are synonymous with competing models of this era.
Gotta appreciate interiors from the sixties and this Rambler is no exception. It’s two-tone vinyl and cloth upholstery is suitably natty for the era though the front seat will need some help. The instrument panel is a rather plain-Jane affair but is typical for a 60 year old car of this stature.
The seller states that with his schedule, he doesn’t have time to work on Rambler so he’s making it available for $2,900, OBO. If you want to know more about this popular model from an American fallen-flag manufacturer, you’ll find the listing, here on Facebook Marketplace. Oh, and what’s your thought, two doors too many or it doesn’t really matter in this case?
Even though the sellers schedule makes it difficult to see the car, it’s inexpensive but it’s also a good entry level car. If someone really wanted it, they’d work around his schedule, 5 weeks on the market suggests there isn’t much if any interest.
Steve R
Base engine for the American through 1965 was the venerable 195.6 flathead six generating 90 (gross) horsepower. Amazingly slow with automatic transmission, so hopefully this one has the OHV version!
You’re the AMC guy and should know more than me as I’m usually a Ford guy, but many years ago in 1975 I drove a 1959 Rambler American from N California to Philadelphia TOWING the rear half of a pickup trailer. It took me over a week! That was the bathtub style, then ending in 1963 I think they ended the American square style, along with the flat 6 I thought. I think 1964 started this style as more typical of other 60’s cars. Overhead valve 6 then? This car would be fine if the mechanics are not too expensive to remedy.
1965 was the last year of the flathead six in the lower models. This one, being a 440, should have the OHV six.
Exceptionally clean maybe he will take 2 grand, fix her and drive her , bring to shows, not fancy, but was never made to be.
Who would take this to a car show,you would see people laughting as they keep on walking away!
It sounds like you go to the wrong car shows. When I show up with the museum’s Metro people are always curious. It gets more attention than the museum’s ‘67 Camaro RS convertible. I find people Are curious about all kinds of cars, especially the unusual.
You are correct if you drove in with this to a car show there would be all kinds looking at it. My first car was a 65 American flat head six three speed on column great little cars.
Not sure Al was pondering the engineering or mechanicals. I appreciate those things. Neglect on four tires does not impress me.
You are totally wrong, we take our Ramblers to shows all the time and usually have a crowd asking questions about them. Everyone has seen a 1957 Chevy.
Rather see this than a mustang, Chevelle or a Camaro or vette!
You can tell your not a car guy with that response!
Or perhaps he is simply not your idea of what a car guy should be?
JO basically luring Howard with that intro lol. Good write up as usual Jimmy 🤝
Thanks, Stan, we put up with the “Al camino’s” of the world for years. It was an image Rambler never shook, well into the AMC years, until the Javelin blew their Mustangs doors off.
Shifting gears some from the ’59, and contrary to what “Al” thinks, I do believe you would be a hit at any car show with this car, or any Rambler, for that matter. Remember my Marlin story? The restyled American went on as popular seller, with almost 120,000 sold in 1964 alone. Riding high on the ’63 COTY award, the “new” American ventured far from the Midwest. Florida was a very poular destination then, and a Rambler American apparently got someone there, and never left. As mentioned, I believe Rambler was the last to use a flathead 6, ironically the same ci as the OHV, but the OHV was better for the road, and it was the 60s. Once again, being the cheapest US car, many hit the highway. Also, the American was the last to use vacuum wipers and the front and rear bumpers are the same. Probably saved Rambler $20 bucks on every car, but it adds up. A great find, has everything going for it. Gas economy, check, automatic, a BIG check, 4 doors for family, check, obscure as heck, well, you get the point. I’d love to have it.
Howard, the early Gremlins and Hornets had vacuum wipers. I think those were the last to use them. I had a 1971 Gremlin and converted it to electric from a later junkyard Gremlin. Got tired of the wipers shutting off when you accelerated in the rain!
I worked with a guy who had bought a ’71 Gremlin brand new and it had vacuum wipers.
And, there’s no forgetting the ’66 Ambassador I owned which had vacuum wipers. I actually didn’t mind them, and it was nice to be able to set the control so the blades would barely creep across the glass in very light rain. It was like having the intermittent option years before it became common.
Agree fully Howard, an “oddball”- as people call them, would be a hit at any show nowadays….
The Javelins “blew the Mustangs doors off.” Thanks for the laugh. They won one Trans Am championship. After the GM and Ford teams quit the corporate sponsoring of their cars.
You are right. Not to mention, the AMC team was run by Roger Penske with Mark Donahue as the driver. No one remembers, because after 1969 the Trans Am series was largely irrelevant.
Steve R
I think that Rambler Americans of this era are amazingly well styled. I owned three ‘64 AMCs. An Ambassador with a 327, a Classic wagon with an OHV 6, and an American with the OHV 6 and 3 on the tree. People understandably, but wrongly assumed that I liked them. Not so much. They were cheap. The worst “feature” was the antiquated front suspension, which was infamous for failing early on. I lived on the West side of Washington State then. (AKA The Wet Side). Trying to drive a gutless car with vacuum wipers is a very frustrating experience. You can’t see where you’re going, unless you let off of the gas-and then you’re not going. Uphill; can’t see. Downhill; frantically trying to adjust the wiper speed because they’re going WHAP! WHAP! WHAP! I am a sucker for the underdog, so I have a soft spot for AMC; but I’ve had plenty enough of cars like this one. The fact that I don’t like the color is not of any consequence. Buy this car? Thank you; n-o-o-o.
Just looked at facebook ad this car is very solid
Not my favourite car, but I hope it is restored and cared for. It serves as a reminder of a simpler time when thrift was understood and respected, not something to be ashamed of.
clean and priced right. if were closer to me i would buy it and cruse it
Fun? Maybe. Labor of love…