This rare 1962 Rambler Classic Custom two-door sedan was only offered in 1962 and they’re rare. If a person were looking for a decent one to restore this may be it. It’s on Craigslist with an asking price of $1,200 or best offer, a heck of a price. This one is located about 20 miles south of Huntsville, Alabama. Thanks to Howard A. for sending in this rare find!
For 1962, Rambler changed up the model designations a bit, dropping the “Super” and replacing it with the 400. The Deluxe and Custom models were still the same. This is the top-of-the-line Custom and it’s an uber-rare two-door sedan. Here’s a short YouTube video of an old promo film showing a two-door in action; beautiful. In 1962, Ramblers offered a dual master cylinder as standard equipment for the braking system. That was a major safety innovation, which at that time was only offered on Cadillac and Rolls-Royce as standard equipment.
You can see that you’ll have your work cut out for you on the restoration of this car. The “patina” (i.e., rust) on the roof, hood, and trunk lid look like it’s on the verge of being thin metal instead of tv-reality-show-like light patina. There are no interior photos or engine photos (ugh), but you can see a sweet aqua/teal-colored interior in these photos. The seats may recline as well, but I’m assuming that the interior will need as much restoration as the rest of the car will. Ramblers like this Classic had unibody construction which gave them a solid, mostly-rattle-and-squeak-free ride.
This car also has the 195.6 cubic-inch inline-six with around 127 hp. It also has an automatic transmission, which would have been a Borg Warner “Flash-O-Matic” three-speed automatic with a push-button selector on the dash, just to the left side of the steering wheel. I recently looked at a 1960 Rambler Super sedan with a three-speed manual and it was an absolutely horrible driving experience, but something wasn’t right with the clutch and the column shift linkage. A push-button automatic would have made for a much easier and better cruising experience, even though I usually prefer to shift for myself. This two-door Classic would make a heck of a project for someone. These two-door sedans are very rare and if it can be purchased for a good price and the next owner does a lot of the work him/herself, this would be a great car. Have any of you owned a two-door Rambler Would you bring this one back to original specs or step it up a bit, power-wise?
I will always have a soft spot for this era Rambler. I once had a close friend who was in his 80’s who owned a beautiful factory bright red and black 61 Rambler. I used to drive him around in his car to lunch, the supermarket, errands, sometimes a car show, ect as he was older and did not like to drive much. When he passed on, he left me his Rambler in his will. That was in 2003 and I still have the little red Rambler to this day to remember him by. He was such a good person. I am blessed to have known him.
Great story and he left it to the right person :)
Very nice story. Car looks great. Going to the homecoming in Kenosha this year? The old friend would be proud.
Interesting. Would make a very unique project car.
Me want ,me have no money, so me no get. Oh well.😆
Make a nice convertible out of it. Shave all the trim and door handles. Chrome wire wheels. I might offer him $500 and get started on it this weekend!
Me I’m holding out for a 61 Ambassador preferably a wagon although this is very cool.
Being from Milwaukee, Ramblers always catch my eye, but I’d have to say, I’ve NEVER seen a 2 door like this. It looks odd just looking at it. Not sure why that was. As we’ve discussed before, a 2 door in 1962 ( especially, a Rambler) coolness was not always a factor, it was for safety. Most of these were 4 doors or wagons. Make sure you check the front suspension. My grandfather had a ’61, just like nessy’s, only off white and the front trunnions( part that holds the front suspension to the body) rusted clear of the unibody, making it unsafe to drive. I remember, it had about 40K miles on it, the body ( otherwise) was perfect, but he couldn’t find anyone to repair it, so he junked it.
One quick sidenote about these cars. Scotty told me of the test drive of the 1960, and he was surprised how loud it was and the funky steering.( didn’t mention the lackluster brakes) We’re spoiled today with our cushy cars, but honestly, driving these cars, especially long distances, was not a lot of fun. I think people like the nostalgia of an old car, but are quite surprised when they actually drive them.
I could not agree more Howard. Thumbs up to you sir, if we still had them…. I like my old cars, I enjoy looking at them and driving around town to a local car show, ect. However, when I have to drive more than a few miles, I’ll take my modern car with AC, an automatic and a Stereo anytime. I love old cars, touching them, smelling them, working on them and talking about them. I do not enjoy driving them.
Our 1962 Rambler wagon was a great highway cruiser. It came with front seat belts and hard points in the back where rear seat belts could be installed.
Some of us really love driving our old cars, actually. One of my favorites is the museum’s 1937 Plymouth. There’s even a younger group of folks who are thrilled to be able to drive old cars. I’m about to get my ’65 MB out to drive on this rainy day. It’s like really driving. My newer cars are comfy and nice but they are more like appliances, smooth, quiet and numb.
A CJ I had 3 62 Ramblers one was a classic country wagon automatic push button, 4dr. Sedan same the wagon, a 2dr sedan 3 on the tree loved driving them later on I got a 1966 Rambler with a 327 Rambler engine with a 4speed Manuel she was fun to race at the drag strip I also had 67 Rambler Rebal 4dr sedan also I had a 75 matador coupe
Thumbs up are back!
Looks like we do have our thumbs again (even if they are only “thumbs up”, which may be a good thing).
Anyhow, I love driving my vintage cars! When I restored them, I restored everything about them. They drive, brake, shift, run, smell and ride as they did when they were new. I wouldn’t want to drive one in a cross-country marathon, but I love going on cruises with the car club. Great experience!
I couldn’t agree more. I want my antique cars to run, drive and handle as they did when they were new. I want to know what driving was like in 19XX. I don’t drive them long distances, and almost never on the freeways–they don’t stop as well as modern cars. And I rarely drive them at night. Those tiny taillights are dangerous in an age of distracted drivers. But, when you drop in a modern drivetrain, you have neither an antique nor a new car. The worst of both worlds. Kinda like rose’ wine.
I have a 1964 classic 660. I just purchased last year. It’s a 2 door and I love it. I also have a 1970 Javelin which I can’t find parts for. But classic is in good shape for the year. This is my first comment but I check this site every day. I appreciate all the cars and the comments.
Welcome to the site Jamey! We hope to hear from you more often.
Cool. Never even knew these came as a two door. Neat.
I like to look at and drive my old cars. Many of the most enjoyable to drive cars from yesteryear, were unfortunately driven into the ground and tossed out.
I drove my 1968 ford Mustang from Grand Rapids,MI to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 50th. anniversary. 10 days, 1,221 miles mostly 2 lane roads through this great land of ours. AM radio, air con not working and by myself! And I loved it! So enjoyable, got to see many cool things and talk to alot of people. I love to see,find, work on, talk about and anything else that has to do with old vehicles (trucks & motorcycles too) But to get behind the wheel and drive is the ultimate in owning any old car. Put 100`s of miles on our 63 falcon convertible too. True Grit! Also be aware of the cars capabilities, no there is nothing the same as a new (newer cars) but the old ones had class, style, a soul. You have to Actually DRIVE them, not have them drive themselves. But that`s just me and my friends, and Jay Leno!
My father was an advocate for the more simple, less flashy cars. Hence I grew up on a series of fairly crappy, mostly second hand cars, not exactly an ego builder in a testosterone infused teenager. I remember that we had at least 5 Ramblers at one time or another, each vying for ‘worst car in the world’ title. My first crash was in a 1960 American; it had drum breaks sized for a riding lawn mower. We had the push button cars, the early ones with Hydro-matic that snapped one’s neck on shifts; that would have been great if there was power there to use. No power, just jerky shifts. We had the ’55 Rambler that dropped a driveshaft and ripped up the underside of the car, broke the bell housing, and got my brother a tounge lashing..