In all the years that Barn Finds has been around, since the early 1950s (well, 2000s), we’ve only seen a handful of 1963 Rambler Classic four-door sedans. For such an important and popular car, that’s hard to believe. The seller has this 1963 Rambler Classic 660 posted here on craigslist in Denver, Colorado, and they’re asking $6,000. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Mike F. for the tip!
D’oh! Ok, the driver’s side isn’t quite as photogenic as the passenger side is. The white door is a major bummer, it would be harder than somehow creating political harmony to try to match the color and “patina” so it matched up. Maybe an art student at a community college could come up with something. Then again, maybe painting the passenger front door to match that white would be a better route.
The ’63 Rambler Classic Six series had the “Best of Both: Big-car room and comfort . . . small-car economy and handling ease.” Says a 1963 Rambler brochure. The Rambler Classic was made from 1961 through 1966, and this is a second-generation car, made for 1963 and 1964. Can you imagine a car company today making a generation of a vehicle for only two years? I miss the ol’ days…
GAAAAAA! My eyes! Sorry, I should have warned you about the interior. It’s not factory, as you can see, but hey, it’s a free country and the person who did this liked it, so there ya go. I’m sure they don’t like 90% of the things I say or do. I wish there were more than two interior photos, but then again, at least there are two, and some sellers don’t even bother with that, so thumbs up, seller! You know I’m mostly kidding about the interior colors, I hope. It looks dirty but “clean”, as far as not being all cracked and full of broken things and garbage as some sellers show without hesitation. The back seat area looks clean, and the wood armrests are an interesting custom touch.
The engine is AMC’s 196-cu.in. OHV inline-six with 127 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a three-speed manual and column shifter and the seller says it has a new windshield along with “… springs, shocks, tires and rebuilt carb.” Any thoughts on this $6,000 Classic?
📞 Howard
Looks pretty solid despite the replacement driver’s door, though underside photos would have been nice. Also these cars are prone to hidden rust under the cowl due to a design defect that permits water to pool around the heater core area.
Aside from the “interesting” interior, a couple of things stand out on this car. First is the grille looks to be in really good shape. A lightweight piece of stamped aluminum, most quickly became dinged and bent up. The second is electric windshield wipers! A pretty rare option on these cars.
Additionally, it appears that a “clickety-clack” electric fuel pump has been installed along with what looks like a pressure control or stabilizer. (Mechanical pump is still on the engine though.) The blower for the Weather Eye looks new and there seems to be a fair amount of custom wiring.
Hard to see this bringing $6,000. There are a lot of other similar cars from the 1960’s through 1980’s in better condition with more creature comforts with asking prices thousands less.
Steve R
Car of the year, CAR OF THE YEAR,,,,oh yeah, it meant a lot to the folks in MilwauKenosha. Rambler sold a whopping( to us) almost half million cars in ’63, mostly due to the CotY award. Of all the neat cars in ’63,( ’63 GP or Riv) old Mason must have paid MT dearly. Regardless, almost 100K were the American, but 2nd were these. A long ways from the 1.2 million Fords and Chevies, but still ahead of the nearest, Studebaker for a solid #4. While the handy oil filter location is nice, I don’t think it was a “full pressure” filter, adapted later, but better than nothing. Always made a mess. I wouldn’t be so quick to blame the owner for the interior, Rambler had some wacky offerings then, and I could easily see this being an original color(s). Okay, wood armrests, not so much, may not had any at all new. These cost about $2245 new, almost $300 bucks cheaper than a Lark, and VW aside, the cheapest family car sold in America. Things were great in Milwaukee then, job wise. Anyone could find a job, and folks from all over came in. Speaking English was not a priority, and as mundane as the actual jobs may have been, it gave so many a chance at the dream, they probably wouldn’t have had back home.
So, a big schpiel about Rambler? You bet. Neighbors, friends, family ( not mine) all worked at AMC. It sucked a lot of life out of the state when they went under. It’s a history anyone from Wisc.( okay, N.Ill too) can be proud of.
Rambler?AMC wasn’t nearly as large of a corporation as the big three. I’d say their sales for that year was pretty darn good. I’ve had a 63 and a 64 and both were darn good cars.
The 64 must have been an improvement with the all new Typhoon six (232).That 196 was getting pretty long in the tooth, dating back to the Nash days.
My memory as a 10 year old was those cool curved glass windows and the Car of the Year Motor Trend displays. Our “showroom” held two cars, if one was an American.
Nice comments overall, Howard A. One small detail: Mason wouldn’t have paid off Motor Trend because Mason died in 1954!
Interior wise, to each their own, but I’m reminded of my mother’s Mustang. She didn’t like the maroon paint it came with, so it was painted a silver blue. The interior was beige originally, and that was changed to blue,too. And my father made replacements, for the sagging armrests, out of solid oak. I always thought they were out of place. Just like those.
Too much Pepto-Bismal!
Way more than I would give. I had one in the 70s and it was an okay car. Much nicer than this one and I paid $200.
Lovely looking car. I don’t mind patina as long as it’s simply surface, and no holes. If only more pictures were posted. IMHO, there’s no such thing as too many pictures. What matters to me is how carefully maintained it is and how carefully it’s driven.
He’s nuts if he thinks he’s getting 6K
Needs full paint job and definitely a new interior.
Would take about 12-15K to get it right.
Not 6K for this beater.