Rambler’s characteristic dumpling-esque design is on full display here, with the wheels tucked as far under the body as possible while still allowing a normal guy to change a tire. The American was launched in 1958 into a fast-developing compact-car niche. AMC had upsized many of its models, supplied a few with a V8, and introduced wagons: collectively, these were its “senior” vehicles – and consequently, more expensive. Meanwhile, the Metropolitan, its imported compact, was difficult to alter to accommodate other body styles, creating a vacuum that AMC was compelled to address. The American was derived from the Nash-built, Airflyte Rambler, with an awkwardly carved rear wheel arch as a nod to modernity. But buyers approved, and the car sold well enough to bring AMC solidly into the black. Here on craigslist is a 1959 Rambler American Super with a 2024 paint job – still in spiffy condition – priced at $12,000. Find it in Shoreline, Washington, near Seattle. Thanks to Curvette for the great tip!
The 195.6 cu. in. flathead six-cylinder known as the “Flying Scot” generates 90 hp. Zero to sixty comes up in about 17 seconds, and top speed registers at 88 mph. The factory offered three transmissions – with the optional automatic touted as the only one available in a small car. The American competed directly with Studebaker’s Lark, slightly bettering its performance thanks to a higher torque rating. This example could use a few weekends’ worth of underhood polishing.
The front bench can accommodate three, but the rear seats are situated between the wheelwells and can only cater to two. This interior is decked in plush, custom velour, with a headliner installed as of 2023. No complaints about the condition, but the colors might not be to everyone’s taste. The trunk still contains the original jack, but the carpet could use cleansing. The spare belongs either here, or buyers could opt for a “Continental kit” to mount the tire on the rear bumper.
AMC’s management limited the American to a two-door configuration to protect its senior offerings until 1960 when a four-door sedan was offered. Its reputation for fuel economy and “big car” options secured enough customer interest to give AMC two great sales years, but by the early 1960s, the styling looked dated. AMC – financially constrained as usual – eased the American along until 1970 when the Hornet took the mantle – and became a best-seller. What do you think of this early Rambler American? Could it find a berth in your garage?
Very nice looking Rambler, not my cup of tea, but I appreciate it, and would definitely check it out @ Coffee & Chrome, rather than the usuals! Someone did an EXCELLENT job of installing the steering wheel wrap!
GLWTS!! :-)
Sorry, here goes! 🎵 While driving in my Cadillac, 🎶what to my surprise a little Nash Rambler was following me 🎵 about one third my size🎶 BEEP! BEEP! As Moparman succinctly commented, it’s not my cup of tea. But it’s a surprisingly great surviver, but the *Price ISN’T Right * Stay safe and warm and remember, There’s No Business like SNOW Business 😉. Anyone have a SNOW PLOW in the Barn?
BEEP BEEP, the horn went BEEP BEEP BEEP! I drove one of these back from CA to PA in 1975, pulling the rear for a Ford pickup, as said before. Then I had a 62 and 63 square version American, four door and wagon. Upholstery is way to plush for the American.
I don’t mean like LITERALLY literally, but that styling is about the closest thing in decades to the styling of the Alfa Romeo Berlinas of the 50s, without the sexier, swanky grill and other appointments.
Tom Hanks took the wheel of one in Joe vs the Volcano.
I had one of these in the mid-1960s. Had overdrive which made for economy and good performance. The rust worm finally got it – but that was in Wisconsin. This one looks pretty solid.
I personally prefer this style over the 1961 to 63 generation. Must be a slug with the automatic, though.
OK, where’s the OEM air cleaner? Why do they always get lost somewhere along the way?
‘N why spiff up the rest of the car and leave the engine room looking like a tramp steamer’s? A quick two buck trip to the DIY car wash would have done wonders!
Nobody mentioned the “Adam-12” look alike( with incorrect overheads) in the background. Neighbor buddy across the alley, had a car like this for his winter beater. It remains one of the slowest cars I had ever been in, the gas pedal was bent in a “U” shape, but speed wasn’t it’s thing, gas mileage was. These consistently ranked as the best, almost 30 mpg( under ideal conditions), and while that may not seem like a particular big deal, these led the way for more economical wheels, like Falcon, Corvair, and Valiant and Stumblebaker, all touting high mileage claims. Automatic, naturally a big plus for today, I remember, you pulled the gearshift towards you to start the engine. I read, this car, in true Rambler/AMC tradition ( think Gremlin) was $1795 new, and was the least expensive US car made. Only the VW was less at $1595. Low cost, great gas mileage, a REAL heater, surely a hit,,,nah, I read only about 91,000 Americans were sold in ’59, but far as I’m concerned, those 90,000 people got a great car at a great price.
“True vintage feel”, boy, does that need clarification, and this was the car Goober took apart and reassembled in Andy Griffiths court house. And,,,,I don’t think “Beep, beep” was an American. The song came out in 1958, when the American came out, but some say it was just a Nash Rambler.
Howard, you care correct. The little Nash Rambler in the Playmates song was not an American, but a popular internet video of the song shows a first gen American as the Rambler, so a very large contingent of people believe it to be so. Let’s remember that “music videos” were still decades away from being a thing when that song came out.
The Playmates were singing about the ’57 Nash Rambler Rebel, which was an incredibly fast car at the time (2nd fastest American production car at the time behind the Corvette). Featuring the “new” AMC 327 V8 (not a Chevy engine), with 255 hp and an excellent power/weight ratio.
Howard, you are correct it was “Little Nash Rambler” that preceded the Rambler American, but close enough.
My father was a Merchant Seaman, working for the Moore-McCormack Steamship Lines as the Chief Engineer on the SS Argentina (which along with her sister, the SS Brazil) were the ‘last two American Built and flagged Passenger Ships ever made’. From 1959 until 1963, my father made numerous trips between New York to South America on both ships. But then in 1963, after my mother became ill, my father had to leave his job at sea and he wound having to take a job in a commercial laundry where his BLUE SEAL license qualified him to operate the high temperature boilers the laundry employed to clean the heavily soiled workers uniforms the laundry cleaned. But the drawbacks were that he was making less than half of what he had been making at sea, plus he had to work a terrible midnight to 8:00 AM shift. Well my father was never into cars in any way. By that I mean, cars were just transportation to him and as such, he always opted for the cheapest vehicle he could find. Well one of those cars, was a blue, 1958 Rambler American sedan similar to the vehicle featured here, right down to the 195.6 C.I. Flathead Six and three speed manual transmission. It was a car he bought ‘used’ in 1961 after an oil delivery truck slid down the street we lived on in Jersey City, New Jersey during a severe snow storm, wiping out the side of his 1953 Nash Rambler Country Club hardtop, which was car he bought brand new in 1953 because is was equipped with the GM supplied Hydromatic because my mother was going to learn how to drive (which she never did). Well bottom line, that 58 American became the first car I ever drove when my friend Donald Harris and I used to ‘STEAL IT’ in the middle of the night. What we would do was let the air out of one of the tires. Then my father would go out to use the Rambler to go to his midnight to 8:00 AM job, find the car flat and then either walk six blocks to take a bus to work OR if it was too cold, call a cab.Then Donald and I would sneak out of the house, jack the car up and replace the flat tire we with a wheel we had stolen from a junkyard. Then we’d drive around for an hour or so, bring the car back, jack it up again and put the flat back on the car. We probably did that a dozen times before we got pulled over by a cop car in North Bergen one night after Donald passed a trunk pulling a house trailer on the right instead of the left. As I think about all of that now, some 61 years later, I still find it amazing that Donald and I were able to steal the car a dozen times, taking it from the parking spot where my father had last parked it, ride around for an hour or two and then return to find the parking space still empty, something that would never happen in Jersey City (or many other cities today). I also think about the times my father had to walk those six blocks to catch a bus to go to work, some of them bitterly cold nights because of what ny friend and I would dom, and I think of an old Lenny Bruce Joke that said “I may not go to hell for the crimes I’ve committed because they weren’t that serious, BUT I WILL HAVE TO DO SOME DEAD TIME IN PURGATORY because of them. And finally, aside from being the first car I reve drove, that 58 Rambler America was also the first car I ever worked on when I helped my father replace the connecting rod bearing in the 195.6 C.I. flathead Six. Oh yea, the following year my father traded the 58 American in for a brand new 1965 Rambler American 220 4 door sedan that was equipped with the same 195.6 Flathead Six
As I said, a good strong little engine, both flathead and overhead versions.