Reader Bill D has quite the amazing little Rambler! I’ve always thought the late ’50s Rambler American was a great looking car, but it is even more attractive in two door wagon form! Just look at this beauty. According to Bill, the light blue paint is all original and it really does look to be in good shape. Clearly the time being stored in a warehouse was good to it! You can take a closer look at Bill’s Rambler here on craigslist in Frederick, Colorado with an asking price of $7,800.
While it looks to be in solid shape, it does have a few issues. Bill has cleaned it up nicely, but hasn’t attempted to start it yet. The engine turns freely at this point, so hopefully it won’t take much to get this flathead 6 running again! There is also some rust in the passenger’s side floor, but it doesn’t look too bad.
The seats have been recovered with a NOS upholstery set and it looks fantastic. The rest of the interior looks to be completely original. I love the big single gauge that was fitted to these cars, this one has a cool patina too it, but would benefit from a good cleaning.
I for one would love to have this wagon! These two door wagons have become rather rare these days and this one looks to be in solid enough shape to be made a driver without much work. The options for what to do with it are endless though. You could leave it as is and make it into your parts hauler. You could upgrade it with a V8, new brakes and an upgraded suspension for a wicked street machine. Or you could fully restore it and have a lovely show car and weekend cruiser. The choice is up to you! So which would it be?
Do you have a barn, garage, shed or warehouse find that needs a new home? If so, we would be honored if you gave us the chance help you find a good home for it! Click here to learn more about listing your car here on the site.
Retrofit a 4.0 and 5 speed stick from a Wrangler. Disc brakes. Leave it otherwise stock.
we just restored a 59 for a customer fun little car
I had a 2 door back in 71. Actually it was my sisters and she kept blowing the head gasket. Fixed that by having the head planed.
What an easy engine to work on..
I thought I’d seen some bare-bones dashes before but this one wins. Neat little car though.
These are a unitized body. May not look like it on the outer body panels but the inner structure on all Ramblers especially the front frame rails are very prone to rust. If it has been sitting out in the pasture for 30 years be sure to do the Taco truck frame test with a screwdriver.
These were built for a small motor. If thoughts of a V8 plan to do a lot of chopping and fab work. The firewall is pushed forward. A better way would be to build and install a custom chassis. You would want a rack under the front anyway. But please refrain from the new standard. It was LT1 then Stroker. Now everyone says Gonna git me an LS Moter! Please…
Maybe it’s just me but it is an AMC and should have AMC power. You wouldn’t be building a strip car for the street. It just has to run good and sound good. If needed it is very easy to get 500+ HP with bolt on parts. Doesn’t have to be a 390 or 401. A 360 will do just fine. A guy from Canada with a 360 Gremlin makes crazy power at the strip using junk yard purchased engines. No problem pulling the wheels. If that is your thing and like to show off.
Or you could just leave it alone and enjoy it like it is all stock. One thing is for sure they can out power a Cadillac while stuck in second gear-Beep Beep!
Ha! A reference to the novelty song “Beep Beep” by the Playmates (1958). Well played, sir!
Really ,
On the 59 Rambler wagon Americana,
I’ve got her sitting in my garage, light mint green, I had replaced her rocker panels,
I was considering taking her body off chassy to put her on small pick up frame under her for more modern parts under her. These are things I think about at night when my body won’t let me sleep, after couple back surgeries, well like my dad said the day we stop dreaming is the day we die, sorry, any ways, any thoughts on under carriage thing ? I’m 60 this year , maybe I should sell her, ,and start somebody else’s dream, if so any ideas about how much I should be asking, ?
Thanks for listening
Toni
I see a car like this and I think Les Viland…..AMC engineer and Driver Extraordinaire.
I believe he started at Ford perhaps before moving to AMC. He’s believed to have won perhaps as many as 10 or so of the Mobil Economy Runs I have read.
Many of those in a Rambler American. In fact I think Rambler Americans and some Studebakers were given their own class at some point because they were so dominant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobil_Economy_Run
I confess to liking AMC. I have a ’69 Javelin 343/automatic car. To me it’s a lot more than ‘just something besides a big 3 car’. AMC has an interesting history.
I think Les Viland died in 2006 at the age of 94. I have heard some neat stories about him over the years. Supposedly he had a Nash Healey he put a 327 from an Ambassador in and used to drive it around Kenosha…stuff like that.
Here’s a film AMC produced featuring him:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZ8YZ2dGX9Y
1967 AMC Rambler Rebel “Skill takes the Wheel”
I was always enamored of “sleeper” cars, and when I was a kid I bought a car or hot rod magazine and there was a story of someone putting a Corvette drivetrain in one of these, an ultimate sleeper. Would be cool.
Keep the original amc 6 it has plenty of power and gets great mileage. the newer amc 258/4.0 wont come close to fitting unless you cut into the firewall/bulkhead. I have a 59 Rambler American 2 dr wagon also that I got with no drivetrain nor suspention. went with a 2.5 jeep motor, same as a 4.0 but 2 less cylinders just fit 700r4 overdrive 8.8 out of explorer narrowed 3 inches. it’s on you tube ( MY 59 Rambler American build). did slap on a 53 nash hood (it’s a bolt on and has the hood scoop. funnist car I ever worked on. someday I will actually drive it.