Oh, for the days of simple, cleanly designed cars such as this 1966 Rambler Classic 770 four-door sedan. It is the truth, you don’t know what ya got until it’s gone! This 68 K-mile sedan is in fabulous condition, and the seller tells us it was featured in the National AMC Rambler Club 2025 Calendar. With that bit of knowledge, let’s take a look, in detail, at this Miss Rambler 2025. It’s located in Portland, Oregon, and is available here on craigslist for $10,595 (recently reduced from $12,595).
It seems that every domestic auto manufacturer got 1966 right in the styling department. Crease, boxy, light, and airy were the watchwords, and the fourth leg of the Detroit juggernaut, AMC, was no exception. This 770 series four-door sedan is one of 46K copies assembled 59 long years ago and it was accompanied by a two-door hardtop, a convertible, and a Cross Country station wagon. Going downstream meant the 550 series, which was offered in two and four-door sedan body styles. Sizewise, this Rambler is considered an intermediate, stretching out 195 inches over a 112-inch wheelbase, and tipping the scales at a bit over 3,000 lbs.
Moving this ton-and-a-half specimen is a 145 gross HP, 232 CI, in-line six-cylinder engine, driving the rear wheels via a three-speed “Flash-O-Matic” automatic transmission. The seller makes no mention of this 770’s operating capabilities, but the listing details a long list of replacements and improvements such as, “GasTankRenew – sealed and coated inside and out, TransAction Transmission- rebuilt transmission and service rear differential, rebuilt carburetor, rebuilt fuel pump, sealed and waterproofed air intake pan and drain. new fuel tank sending unit, new instrument voltage regulator, complete brake system update including flex lines, new cork/rubber OEM correct VCG, new aluminum radiator and new hoses, comprehensive tune up-wires-plugs-distributor etc, suspension system reviewed and safety checked replacing worn rubber parts, new drive belts, new ignition coil, rebuilt alternator and so much more.” He also mentions that the muffler needs to be replaced.
The exterior’s finish is surprisingly deep, with strong chrome and stainless trim. There’s no sign of crash damage, and as far as rust goes, the seller tells us, “Surface rust under hood and trunk lid that’s been treated to prevent corrosion.” The seller recommends that the windshield should be removed so that the weatherstripping can be replaced (leaks, maybe?). As for the blue steel wheels, no, that’s not original, but I like the look.
Inside, we find black vinyl and cloth upholstery covering a split bench seat and a contrasting white headliner. The environment is definitely more than AMC utilitarian, and I’d suggest typical for a mid-level car of this era. The seller states that the instrument panel circuit board and the carpet both need to be replaced.
OK, so this Rambler is not perfect, but how often do you simply find one of these, much less one in this condition? And based on the list of repairs, the seller has already made quite an investment to keep this Rambler ramblin’. It’s neat to be different, and this Classic 770 will allow the next owner to do just that. Dare to be different, right?
A former girlfriend of mine had one of these in ’75. It was a great little car and I can’t begin to tell you how many times we used the folding seats when the need arose. What can I say, it was
great fun being with her and sewing all those wild oats! But she went her way, and I went mine. Might wanna check for rust on this one as this era
Rambler was prone to start rusting out after about a year or so. Otherwise, a great car to set yourself apart from the Ford, GM, and Chrysler
crowds. Just wait til Howard sees this one!
Ah, take 2. Pretty hard to follow up from a Pete cabover, but I’ll try. This car was recently written up by Scotty, and bolsters my madness, people just aren’t willing to pay these kinds of prices, especially for these types of cars. People want Chevelles and Mustangs, Ramblers? Nah, pass( literally), those people don’t want Ramblers and the price drops. When people set unrealistic prices, it either shows they are out of touch with todays costs and wants, or just plain greedy. $5grand, heck, it would be in MY parking space, but this is another sad indication of the hobby today. Outlandish( to me) prices for vehicles with limited appeal. Shame, they were wonderful cars.
Oh Lordy, you’re right, he did.
JO
Jim…. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a Barnfinds “Rerun”. I find many times you get a different perspective, and learn different things. I enjoyed your “rerun”.
Dave
Thx Driveinstile, much appreciated.
JO
Rare is a slip up by J.O.
Keep up the good work Jim
👏 👍 ✍️
Thx Stan!
JO
This has a slightly refreshed ’65 body style, as in ’65 they completely redesigned the Rambler Classic , making it an intermediate car as opposed to compact, as they’d been for many years. Increasing its size didn’t help sales, as it had to compete with such cars as the Chevelle and Fairlane, and even the larger Big 3 models. The most handsome of the ’66 Ramblers were the two door hardtops, with buckets, twin-stick transmission and revised and better-looking front and rear quarters.
I learn something new on this site everyday. What is an air intake pan? And the Rambler had a twin stick transmission? Is that anything like the his and her shifters in the Olds 442? Coupe or convertible this would be nice but a sedan. Nope. What would a modern version of these be like? Blame the greed of automakers. It would have to be an EV or hybrid though.
Although the exterior of the car appears larger than the ’63-’64 models the interior has the same dimensions. (In fact the export version for wrong side of the road countries continued to use the previous right-hand-drive dashboard unchanged.) Under the skin it’s the same car with the same 1940s engineering touches despite its advanced unit construction.
At least the ancient 195.6 engine was gone in favor of AMC’s modern 7-main-bearing six which, with engineering updates, would soldier on in Jeeps until 2006. Unfortunately once the GM A-Bodies were introduced it was pretty much all over for these. Selling a Rambler Classic against a Chevelle must have been a really tough proposition.
This one looks pretty nice but the price is still very optimistic.
Didn’t they get ball joint suspension and do away with the torque tube driveshaft that year? A friend owned a same year American that still had it and it was a real pain in the ass to change the u-joints or service the tranny. Had a ’62 Classic Custom 2-dooe sedan I liked but when I had to have my reverse band repaired, it cost me about $300
in 1980s money to have it repaired. Had to sell it when I had my first heart attack in
1984. I think the tranny was a Borg Warner unit that was used in Studebaker larks at that time. Any way you slice it, I like this
car. Just wish the girls (my heice and SIL)
did. Would be much better than the tech laiden garbage they build these days. You can’t even change a tire without using a computerized lug wrench! At least that’s what a young salesman told me at the local KIA dealer anyway. Kenosha Cadillacs, gotta love ’em!
Torque tubes went away with the 1967 models.
The last year for trunnions was 1969.
The Ambassadors were known as Kenosha Cadillacs. I’ve never heard that term applied to the smaller AMCs.
Torque tube was gone in 1967 and Rambler American never had one.
I was thinking of the larger AMCs (Classic, Ambassador, Marlin) which had torque tubes through 1966.
I owned a ’66 Ambassador and it had a torque tube. There’s no forgetting how much fun it was to change the U-joint.
The two ’67 Ambassadors I owned had open driveshafts and of course the U-joints never went bad. It figures!
Correction! Torque tubes went away with the 1966 models. The 1967s had an open driveshaft and easily accessed U-joints.
My mother bought a used ’66 Ambassador 4 door in 1970. Had the 232 c.i. six with a 2 bbl. carb. & auto. That thing ran forever and took the abuse of 3 high school boys learning how to drive & cruising around on the weekends. Yes, the front seat folded down and was a great drive in movie car!
Viewing this on my stupid phone, the wheels could be Agean Aqua. I have a full PPG 5 gallon pail that came from Kenosha via an auction. I didn’t bid on it. It came with a 1949 HiWay (Schlitz beer) trailer.
AMC Rambler people!
Are the wheels Agean Aqua?
I have an unopened 5 gallon pail of lacquer from Kenosha.
Is that color like the wheels on this car?
Had a 64 220 coupe. Loved it. Weather-eye, bed seat. Ended up with a 383 stroker with a bunch of good ol backyard engineering and some help from JC Whitney. I almost regret butchering it but it was so much fun. The 80’s and early 90’s were an blast.
Anyhow, the folks owned quite a few. Dad bought them for mom as daily drivers because they were relatively cheap and she got enough tickets in her 66 Impala SS. 😆
My best friend had this car given to him in 1980 by his grandmother. Finally lost reverse and was gonna swap the Trans because our buddies dad had a junkyard and a Trans till we saw the tourqe tube and we told him to send it through his dad’s crusher.