Nash Motors introduced the Country Club in 1952. At a time when compact cars were just starting out, the Country Club was an upscale model and was only offered as a 2-door hardtop, which was also just coming of age. It was based on the unibody Rambler Airflyte platform and was distinguished by its smallish rear wheel-well openings and unique C-pillars. And it came with a ton of glass – some 17 feet of it. The seller has one of these in his/her carport, and it looks like a beautiful survivor or a nice restoration. Kudos to Barn Finder T.J. for this tip!
The choice of the Country Club moniker added an aura of wealth to a car that was otherwise reasonably priced for the day (the MRSP was under $2,000). The Country Club would take a solid position in Nash sales (which were on the decline overall), sometimes as much as half of production. The Country Club survived through the 1955 model year, after which the merger of Nash and Hudson to form American Motors would fully take effect.
This Rambler is powered by a 172 cubic inch L-head six that produces a lackluster 82 hp. At 32,000 miles, it’s not likely the motor has been rebuilt (the title is said to back up the mileage claim). This machine presents quite well and sports new tires and upholstery. There is no mention of a repaint, but whether it’s original or newer, the body and finish look quite good.
We’re told this Rambler turns heads wherever it goes in Apache Junction, Arizona, and is available here on Facebook Marketplace. For $6,500 you can take possession of this quirky automobile that the seller describes as a “one-of-a-kind gem”. When you think of it, when was the last time you saw one of these nifty cars – in any condition?
Wow this is a nice looking classic for 6500.
I know, we all want to jump on the Superman bandwagon, but the newest Nash I could find in that series, was a ’54 Ambassador the Metropolis police had, even though the series ran to 1958. A ’52 Country Club like this was featured in a car chase. I read, it was George Mason that promoted the Nash on TV, but after his death, not sure Romney carried that out.
I can attest to the power, or lack of it. Neighbor had an American with this motor. it was a gutless thing, but I believe won awards for gas mileage runs. Hardly what Americans were concerned with, but it sold some cars to people that wanted that. It’s a wonderful find, but I still say, updated to some extent and an automatic, would make it much more attractive to a wider group that would love to be seen in it. Struggling along and sweating at the front of a long line of impatient drivers,, not so much fun.
I believe in the “buzzard on a pole” approach to old car buying. I sit and sit and wait and wait. Finally the right deal develops. A 1983 Lincoln Signature that had been in a garage for 33 years is available for $200.00. I got it. 100K miles but interior mint and body with only a parking light frame missing. Just got that part from Pick N Pull for $15.00. E bay wants $299.00. I could never justify buying at that price when I only paid $200.00 for the car. I did just purchase another Lincoln for $750.00 but this is a mint one owner and 64K miles. Not sure how many more Lincolns I need to have.
You sound like my kind of shopper. I’ll wait if I think the price will go down, it usually does, but a Lincoln for a couple hundred? That’s world class bargaining.
Almost worth its weight in scrap.
I believe in the “buzzard on a pole” approach to old car buying. I sit and sit and wait and wait. Finally the right deal develops. A 1983 Lincoln Signature that had been in a garage for 33 years is available for $200.00. I got it. 100K miles but interior mint and body with only a parking light frame missing. Just got that part from Pick N Pull for $15.00. E bay wants $299.00. I could never justify buying at that price when I only paid $200.00 for the car. I did just purchase another Lincoln for $750.00 but this is a mint one owner and 64K miles. Not sure how many more Lincolns I need to have.
I bought a 76’ Lincoln for $400 from a wholesaler I met through work. It had a lot of miles but nice no rust velour interior real nice and carpeting real nice. That was 32 years ago I sold it for $1500 after a detail.
Thomas, when my wife asks “How many cars do you need?”, I tell her “I checked, and there’s no limit”.
I like Nash, Ramblers, AMC vehicles. They are quirky and fun. I’d love to drive this around just like it is.
George Mason was a remarkably astute auto executive. He brought the Rambler to market as a cute, premium vehicle. This made it an aspirational vehicle, one people wanted to own, and a profitable vehicle, with its premium trim and pricing. This ’55 clearly projects that upmarket image. It’s a pity Mason died before his vision of a unified Nash, Hudson, Studebaker, and Packard could come to fruition. Automotive history would have unfolded very differently with American Motors being the #2 out of a “Big Four.”
I don’t know about that, CC. While no question who Mason was, I think it was Romneys vision of more modern cars was what kept Rambler in the running. We never had a prayer to be #2, and #4 was good enough for us. His “Classic” models changed the image of Rambler, from its round stodgy bathtub, to a well respected sedan. Not sure Mason had that vision, I guess we’ll never know.
AMC was number 3 for a few years in sales in the early 1960’s. Not bad for a small company.
H – A combined Nash, Hudson, Studebaker, and Packard would have created the 2nd-largest automaker in the US. That’s the #2 I was referencing. It could have given AMC the volume it needed to truly compete with the other automakers. However, you raise a good point in that George Romney’s plan to make only small cars and make them better than anybody else could have worked, as well. (The ’63 “Uniside” concept is still in use today.) We’ll never know, because Roy Abernethy ultimately set the company on a path to destruction by attempting to use AMC’s limited resources to compete model-for-model with Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth. In the five years of Abernethy’s leadership, the company went from profit to loss and never fully recovered. As early as 1967, industry observers were calling AMC a dying car company.
It’s already sold.
The Rambler outsold Plymouth in 1961 & 1962 but Rambler/AMC never outsold Chrysler Corp.
His horn went Beep Beep Beep made the car popular
Another car nobody is interested in flies off the shelf!