A humble compact restored to the nines! For everyone who has restored an MG Midget, Chevy Vega, or Ford Pinto – here’s a car to keep you company. Rambler launched the American in 1958, aiming for customers tired of gargantuan gas-thirsty models from the Big Three. The timing was perfect since a recession had cooled consumers’ jets that year. In fact the economical American sold so well that it eased considerably the financial distress at AMC that developed in the wake of the company’s formation. Built as AMC entered its peak sales years, here is a 1958 Rambler American Super for sale on craigslist, priced at $12,900. The car is located in Clarksville, Tennessee. Thanks to Zappenduster for sending this honey of a Rambler our way.
This example has been owned by a single family since 2017, and since then it has been so thoroughly restored that even the panel lid channels are pristine, with new packing where metal meets metal. The engine is a rebuilt AMC 195.6 cu. in. flathead six, good for 90 hp. The clutch and brakes were also rebuilt, with a disc brake conversion installed on the fronts. The three-speed column-shift manual is equipped with overdrive and works well. The seller notes that the mileage reading of 87,500 is original. Maybe an hour spent on the engine bay could clean up the flathead’s surface a bit and I really wish the battery didn’t advertise itself – awfully picky, I admit.
The American was sold in two trim levels: the Super offered upgraded interior upholstery, four armrests, dual sun visors, a dome light that operated when the doors opened, and roll-down rear windows. The cheaper Deluxe was profoundly austere. The seller reports that his car has new seats, headliner, door panels, and carpeting. NOS clear floor mats were sourced. The weather stripping was replaced all the way ’round. The dash was refinished, showing off the steering wheel and gauges nicely.
The American was styled by Ed Anderson under a tight budget. Its lines were derived from Nash’s “Airflyte” design with ponton fenders and an envelop body. To modernize the car, Anderson opened up the fender wells, though that has the effect of making the track look narrow and the car seem top-heavy. The grille resembles the Nash-Healey’s, with its thick outer surround. This Rambler American is a jewel – the new owner could enjoy instant success at shows and loads of fun on tours for a very reasonable price.
What’s an overdive[sic] grandpa? I guarantee the Snowflakes( born late 90s) will get right back in their EVs when they see the 3rd pedal. Retro is extremely hot these days, and this car is dripping with it. These younguns have money from somewhere, but just no exposure to a stick shift. Neighbor friend, who was a bit older, the guy with the Honda 65/Honda 305 Scrambler/BSA Thunderbolt/Kawasaki 500 bought cheap beaters during the winter, usually $100 bucks tops, one was a yellow American like this, only an automatic. That car has the distinction of being the slowest car, putting it to the floor, only made more noise with no increase in road speed. As a testament, he beat the heck out of it, just to get it moving, and it took the abuse. I believe this car was the gas mileage champ in the Mobil economy runs in ’59, averaging a whopping 25.28 mpg, for #1. Oh, but gas mileage was on very few minds then, as the HP race was just heating up, and the poor Rambler was relegated to parts runs and church socials, but they were wonderful cars. Too bad so many will miss out because it’s a stick.
I think you’re being a little hard on young kids re: stick shifts. Where I live, about 35 miles se of Denver, most kids can drive a stick….my 19 yo granddaughter has no problem with our 5 speed F250 and several of her friends have stick shift cars. Yeah, lots of trucks may be a reason but it just seems to be a rite of passage to learn 3 pedals….and I suspect this is true in many parts of the country.
I agree as it gets more suburban and inner city fewer kids can do it but those are kids who may not get a driver’s license at all!
Not all the youngsters are snowflakes.
My wife and I were very firm believers in all our kids learning to drive a stick. Just in case they were in a situation where they needed to know how. Our oldest is an OTR truck driver, the youngest a chef. The oldest uses those skills every day, the youngest son at least knows how if he’s ever in a pinch. Our daughter has decided to wait a bit before learning how to drive, shes nervous and quite frankly probably better off waiting for her nerves, and her parents nerves as well.
Hi Mike, I don’t use “Snowflakes” in a derogatory sense, more of time table, as in GenX/Y, and we’ve discussed this before. Once again, I stand firm in my beliefs about manual shift. Your kids have the luxury of you as an example. Most kids today that can shift a manual, most likely had someone in the family that insisted on them learning, HOWEVER,,,and I can’t make this more clear, kids that DON’T have that exposure, are highly unlikely to learn on their own. In my Colorado town, we have 1 (one) new car dealer. Most all the other private used car dealers have gone, and while lollygagging through the lot, of maybe 50 new vehicles, not ONE was a stick. I think Toyota Tacoma is the only one offering a stick today. Don’t get me too wrong, sports cars always offer a manual, but I just don’t think younger folks are going to want a car that’s a stick.
One thing about the O/D. While a huge advocate of the feature, thing is, this motor might not have the power to keep this car in O/D. Ask me how I know, ( hint, 238 Detroit motors)
If kids ever grow up ignorant and travel to Europe they’ll encounter an unpleasant surprise. In order to rent an automatic equipped car they’ll have to pay a premium and rent a big luxury car. Good luck driving that on Europe’s narrow roads.
I own a 1959 Rambler American Super with an auto transmission. Not that slow, it can easily do highway speeds – I drove it from Northern Vermont to Cape Cod and back. It is in pristine condition, with a continental kit. Garners attention everywhere I go. I have over 30 classic cars, and this one is a favorite. A buyer would certainly enjoy driving it, but be prepared to have long conversations with people attracted to the car!
Good grief Howard. Grow old graciously and leave the kids alone. I’m 64 this year and I can milk a cow. But I still buy my butter at Walmart
Wow!!! This is one beautifully restored Rambler. What an attention to detail!!! The overdrive will help keep up with traffic, and the front disc brake conversion will certainly help when the Texting individual in the next lane accidentally veers into yours. The chrome looks beautiful too, which is not cheap to have done these days. Very nice interior, overall very well done. You couldn’t restore one of these for the price they’re asking, which is very reasonable, at least I think. The only thing I’d change is that tiny little air cleaner, I’d try to source the correct one.
Believe it or not that is the correct air cleaner.
Wow. @ Ramblergarage I’M sorry. I stand corrected. I kind of wondered after I hit the submit button if I could be wrong, Thank you for pointing that out. I really thought it was aftermarket.
Very nice, and probably THE best Rambler American `58-`60 anyone can find. Always had a soft spot for them, but little exposure since most were off the road when I started to drive. I’d love to have a 2dr. wagon American restored to the same degree! GLWTA!
I am a firm believer in driving and enjoying vintage cars trucks motorcycles etc. But this one is done so well, it could be in a museum. The photo of the panel lid chanels that Michelle put on here and pointed out really shows the attention to detail on the restoration.
Everything on this car looks so pristine, except the engine. Something about the rust around those headbolts makes me question how long ago the motor was actually rebuilt. Even if it didn’t need rebuilding, I wonder why they skipped detailing such a major component with so much nice work surrounding it.
My kid can drive a manual trans. Learned on a Montero.
The current crop is not as hopeless as some old fuzzballs would have you believe.
I have qualms about taking a flathead and overdrive into one of the contemporary shops that “don’t work on anything over 30 years old.”
This would be fun for a coast-to-coast trip on US6, US30 or anyone of several forgotten routes.
Take the Last Train to Clarksville; drive home. What a beauty…
“How do you like your Rambler?” “Mister, I’m all smiles!”
Remember that commercial? This car is so nice just looking at the pictures makes me smile.
“…windows roll down…”
even in back, an upgrade over euro-econo-boxs @ the time.
I follow these a lill (it’s wagon model more) as I hada nxt gen (w/AMC – where they pudona ‘big square’ box over this same chassy, drive line, etc). I believe this isa pininfarina design. Love the way the selector lever comes ouda dash. The curved svelte lines… Really fine looking to me.
Big temptation to put ina slant6 or ford ThriftPower. My big box ’62?, ’64? was a vert and the i6 (OHV I think) ran SO0o smooth curb side folks in my lill town thought it stalled out when at the single stop sign we had.
Cant tell if the ‘channels’ are gasket-like or simple seam sealer. Yup, some detail to that restore. Agreed, on over the edge of DD (price & condition). I’m ‘with’ those who say “I’d be concerned to drive it.” Y the beautiful wagon appeals – get some extra work out of it…
Thanks for the add/write-up Ms Rand~
Huh?
To chrisful: still can’t decipher half of what you say. To Michelle Rand: is this a ’58 or a ’59? You headline it as a 1958, but your text refers to it as a 1959. When I see one of these, I think of the Playmates’ 1958 hit, “Beep-Beep”, which has a Rambler overtaking a Cadillac, with amusing results.
Thanks for pointing out the year discrepancy. The seller indicates it is a ’58; I corrected the article.
I remember that song it not only was beating the caddy it was still in second gear good memories
At today’s insane prices for vintage cars, this gem is an absolute bargain.
not wanting to be picky but the rambler didn’t come out in 1958 first one was in 1950 just then it was a nash rambler that was before the nash merger
me again infact in early 50s Superman’s friend Louis lane drove a nash rambler covertable
I think it was yellow.
Can any of you Nash Rambler experts answer my questions. My grandfather and I always had Cadillacs but he had a few other makes as well. One was a 1950 something Nash Rambler wagon.
2 questions;
1. Under the dash there were 2 pull knobs.
Maybe overdrive and a choke???
2. The round clutch pedal had a tab sticking out of the top that seemed to hit a button in the flood when fully depressed, starter?
My Malamute had dug under it and came up inside and sat on the seat many times.
When he finally had it pulled out of the yard, it got half a block and separated in 2!
Separating in two sounds like a bit of a PROBLEM…
Separating in two sounds like a bit of a PROBLEM…
In answer to question #2, on all standard shift Nash product of that era the starter was engaged by depressing the clutch.
So why doesn’t the starter engage everytime you shift?
The clutch pedal had to be completely floored to engage the starter.
There was probably a switch that disabled it once the car was running. Buicks used to have an accelerator activated starter and it didn’t interfere with the operation of the car after it was started.
Separating in two sounds like a bit of a PROBLEM…
Nice little Rambler. I have a 1960 Rambler America Deluxe. Mine is the same color. It has a air conditioner in it and a continential kit on the back. I bought it in Red Bud ,Illnoise and drove it back to W.Va. in 1972-73. I had about $20 in my pocket and what a journey it was and cold.. Every time I,d come to a gas station. I,d stop and get gas. Sometimes it would just take a quater. It was mostly 2 lane roads then. I still have the car.
Hey Johnny! — neat story! I bought my 1946 Ford Super Deluxe V-8 in Texas in 1967, with 96,000 miles, and I drove it back here to the southern Adirondacks (its Columbia overdrive served for the Interstates! — and that “long distance” A.M. radio kept me company all the way), but I got lots of laughs and snickers when I got up here, as to what I thought I was going to do with “that old hunk-of-junk”. It was almost “showroom” in condition; however, a 1946 car in 1967 was OBSOLETE, and virtually “extinct”. So then, what WAS I going to do with it? — DRIVE it, of course; what ELSE?? And DRIVE it, I DID… YEAR after YEAR after YEAR after YEAR. After about 20 years and 200,000 more miles, young folks would give me a thumbs-up and shout, “Hey, POP! — Neat CAR!!!” AT 411,000 very original miles, in 1994, I was hit, head-on, by a 1979 Ford L.T.D. Crown Victoria, after the 14-year-old driver, high on Angel dust and doing 94 m.p.h. (according to the police-officers behind him pursuing him) crossed-over into my lane in a vain attempt to pass a much slower moving car in front of him, around a blind curve. Or I might have my beloved old Ford to this day. It protected me from injury that late November day, but it sacrificed itself in so doing. Right after the wreck, the radio was still playing and the clock was still ticking. But the battery was split and leaking acid all over, so those two functions would not last long. And my poor steering-wheel was bent backwards, with its hub up near my face. Very sad day for me. And now my 1988 Mercury Grand Marquis, with 390,000+ miles, is nearing “retirement”. And I am “ancient”. But Johhny, I admire your keeping this old Rambler for so many years! May you have it to bring you smiles and fond memories for many more!
That story is funny, and I’ve never known a flathead Ford to last that long.
Boy, AMC went all out on that design. “Suddenly iit’s 1952!” Considering the better than factory restoration the battery does stick out. Does anyone make period correct batteries?
to Loving: “Huh?”
to Kim
“Yes” summit has them. Pretty pricy anywhere (esp compaired to other batteries) . Another:
https://www.classic-batteries.com/batteries-for-classic-vehicles/batteries-for-classic-cars
I simply strip off the labels B4 customer collects the vehicle. Never hada question, complaint on the restores~
From the pictures it looks like the left door is sagging.
If I would buy it, just because I could, I would! Does that even make sense? I love it and my present car is 3 speed column shift. No problem.
Joe–Even though it makes sense, I can’t make sense out of it, sensibly speaking.
Elbert, I’m not surprised if the driver’s door is sagging. I had the identical car in the late 60s and loved it except that the “A” pillar on the drivers side sagged so bad I couldn’t lock the door. It was rusting from the inside due to exposure to Wisconsin salted roads. The Rambler service manager said it would be a huge job to fix it so I traded it in.
To al: “Hey! Buddy, how can I get this car… OUT OF SECOND GEAR?!?”
I’m sure in that song, the Cadillac and the rambler were racing downhill, the caddy was out of gas! LOL
Beep Beep
The Caddy didn’t run out of gas. See the newer video on u tube ” Beep Beep” by the Playmates. A funny video!
lol you are rt great song
I owned a 1950 Nash Rambler convertible. Kinda cute but their unit bodies could rust alarm ably under the wrong conditions. I had a lift at a service station come up through the floor and impale the car. I gave it to the station, and they cut it off with a torch. Apparently after Rambler realized more rustproofing was needed, they went all out in 1957 by dipping the entire body in, as I remember, an electrically charged process that ensured the primer reached every crevice of the body. It would follow this car received the process, which would put it head over shoulders the ’58 Ford, and Chrysler products that year.
Yeah, I remember the TV commercials when I was a little kid.
My mother had two cars in her entire life, her first was a baby blue with a dark blue roof 58 American . i know it was an automatic, and had a radio , but that was about it. I remember my sister and I would fight as to who would get to lie down on the package tray when my mother went grocery shopping – Id imagine she’d get arrested today for that ! in 1968 it started overheating , and I’m guessing the head gasket went so they sold the car to our teenage neighbor for $25 , and my parents replaced it with a 67 American. She had that until 2001 when she could no longer drive and sold it
As for flathead Fords: they run a very long time, IF you follow exactly what is in the owner’s manual. I did have the engine re-built at 270,000 miles: it had run out of power, the compression in all eight cylinders was bad, and it was using more than a little oil.