After the merger between Nash and Hudson in 1954, the resulting American Motors revived the compact Rambler in 1958 as the American. The automobile remained an AMC fixture through 1969 as the last car in their portfolio to carry the Rambler moniker. Located in West Chester, Ohio, this 1964 American 330 station wagon is said to be mostly original and presents quite well. It’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $17,995 (no action in three weeks). Thanks for the tip, “Pnuts”.
Americans were built across three generations, with the third being from 1964 to 1969. That incarnation led to the Rambler Tarpon, which inspired the Marlin, then later the Javelin pony car. The American was replaced by the Hornet in 1970, which still drew from the American as AMC’s pockets were never very deep. Three trim levels were offered in 196,4 starting with the 220, 330, and finally the 440. A 195 cubic inch inline-6 was standard (as in the seller’s wagon).
This 330 4-door wagon has 81,000 miles on the clock, but its condition doesn’t show it. Its ownership history includes at least three parties, but they all took care of it. We’re told it’s never been restored, with the only noticeable replacement being the front bench seat cov,er which does not match the back seat or door panels. But it blends well enough color-wise. We’re told it runs and drives and could be trusted to go anywhere.
Better photos could be used to present the exterior of the little wagon, which has a “3-on-the-tree” manual transmission. Options may have included a roof rack, AM radio, and full wheel covers. The seller says the car originated in dry Las Vegas, which could help explain its rust-free roots. It won a People’s Car Award at an AMC car show. This seems like a great little wagon – what would be your top dollar for it?
Wow! Well preserved piece of American automotive history. I wish I had a heated garage!
Very nice! In the engine bay is the last production flathead engine found in an American car. The engine dates back to the 1941 Nash “600” and the last year for it was 1965. (Note the external partial-flow oil filter. Early on the oil filter was optional on these engines.) Good for 90 gross horsepower you won’t be going anywhere in a hurry but it’s not too bad with the manual transmission.
How does partial flow work please?
It looks like it must spill when you loosen it. Was that the case?
Actually, good question. These were not a full flow filter off the oil pump, like today, the oil came up through a passage like a T off the oil pressure sending unit, and when shut off, drained back into the oil pan. It did a so-so job of filtering the oil, but was better than nothing.
As Howard A says, the partial flow filter tapped into the engine’s oil passages and only filtered part of the oil. This was done via external oil lines between the engine and the bolt-on filter mount.
Strangely, for the last year of both the flathead and OHV 195.6 engines AMC switched to a full-flow oil filter. I have no idea why the Company spent money on this modification for ancient engines that were clearly on their way out and in their final year of production.
It circulated oil through the filter after the fact with the theory being sooner or later most of the oil got filtered. Literally just a tee somewhere in the pressurized oil, usually off the oil sending unit, looped some oil around and through the filter and back into the oil pan. But the pick up in the pan picked the oil up and pumped it straight through the engine, didn’t go through a filter first like modern engines do. Go back a few years and some of these were add on. In other words the engine left the factory with no filter at all.
Sort of a parallel circuit, to get the option to market.
Thanks, Howard A and That AMC Guy and Pnuts.
Hard to believe we still had flatheads in 64. The engine bay looks a lot older than the sheet metal, like from two different eras, which was common with that Auto maker.
When AMC brought out the 1963 Rambler Classic/Ambassador those cars had, for the time, an advanced unit structure which included making the door openings with just two very large stampings (inner and outer) rather than welding up multiple pieces. However there was no money left over to update the suspension, engine, etc. to then-current standards so all that was carryover.
Starting for 1964 the American was based on a narrowed and shortened Classic/Ambassador platform. Torque tube drive was dropped in favor of an open driveline with leaf springs carrying the rear axle.
The front six cylinder crossmember from a 1964 American will bolt right into a 1983 Concord or Spirit! (Not an Eagle due to changes made for the 4WD system.)
That “Flying Scot ” six looks so basic compared to other flathead sixes back then. Simply nothing to it. Especially with the carburetor/ exhaust manifold as one unit.
What a beauty!
Better plan on living in it for that price.
It’s nice looking but, I think if there hasn’t been any takers thus far, it’s time to realize you’re asking to much and lower the price. Because even if it’s rare to find one, doesn’t mean that someone will pay that much.
agree with you about rare, John. Several things many are not realizing–
1) old doesn’t = classic;
2) rare doesn’t = desirable.
Will say it is in nice condition for being an old Rambler but have to remember that it wasn’t a top contender with the buying public in 64 and just possibly a little more desirable as a daily driver when compared to what is available from auto manufacturers today (at least in the opinions of us old dudes).
My sentiments exactly Terry.
Way way too high on price for what amounts to just an old lady old car. Nothing desirable about it. I would think something about half that price is more reasonable. There’s really nothing that special you could do to it either to make it more desirable or valuable.
Depends upon the ‘old lady’. Both my mother and my sister-in-laws had/have lead foots. Me Mum had 4 excellent convertibles.
One SiL got to drive a Tesla sports car and regularly drove an MB500 at speed. The other SiL was raised in NYC and drives like a cabby. It’s a hoot to ride with her at the wheel. Both are in their 70s,
Neither would want this cute car.
The asking price is definitely way out there! (Maybe a “Honey, I tried to sell it!” situation?)
I can remember when one of these as a used car in decent shape would go for $100, maybe $200 if extra nice.
Got a humorous story about a car like this. The old man had a wagon like this, when we were still in HS. My brother had his license, one day, the old man decides, he wants a toilet/fallout shelter in the basement. He knocks out the block wall, and starts to dig. We had bushel baskets lined up to fill, maybe half a dozen. Me and my brother carried the baskets up the stairs, and into the wagon. The half dozen baskets made the back sag, and we would go about 2 miles out of town, and dump the baskets. Well, as expected, the old man miscalculated how much dirt there was, and we lost track of how many trips we made. I remember it was an OHV 6, and automatic, and a slow ride “loaded”, coming back empty was okay.
Once again, amazing find what is still out there, however, anyone that might possibly want this, isn’t going to want a stick, especially 5 figure ones.
Rambler had such fun ads. I’m posting it separately, and staff, it’s a YouTube from 1969 Rambler ads. The very 1st scene, where the woman can’t find the gears,,,,that’s what’s out there today folks. The rest, enjoy. His name was Herb Edelman and known for TV and movies and of course, the Javelin ads.
Howard… if you mean the instructor, he doesn’t look like Herb Edelman to me. Herb was tall, played (policeman) Murray in The Odd Couple. I think he had his own show as a cab driver… Of course, my memory is suspect… ugh
But I love all things AMC!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZER63EzKd2c
I remember that commercial! Funny thing is at the end when the wipers are turned on you can tell the car has vacuum windshield wipers – a unique feature for a 1969 automobile!
I think someone just called me an old lady. I love this car. Agreed that the price is crazy, but it’s beautiful. Nothing needs to be done to it.
Even sixty years ago few things said top-of-the-line like a flat six and 3-speed transmission. Our parents were raised differently than the rest of us. Nice old Ramble wagon.
I have owned 3 ‘64 Ramblers as desperation transportation. Not great cars. $18k? Doubtful.
The OHV 6 had a 195.6 displacement. Obviously, this car has the flathead, which measured 196.6.
clean as a pin for sure but not seeing the 18k. i would say under 10k. not a big market for these wagons even as nice as it is.
Very cool wagon and at half that price will make someone happy!
Great scoot around town car—if it had a OHV 6 and automatic as well as 1/2 the price more people would pay attention. 3 weeks without a “nibble” is kind of a message from the potential buyers.
I’m a teen of the 70’s! My dad loved Ramblers,and also any 4 cyl. cars of the time. I learned to drive on a 59 rambler 3 spd. He had a 64 wagon and a 64 sedan,both 6 cyl,3 spd overdrive!. Me and my buddies had hot rods or pick ups. But on Saturday nite after none of us had money for gas…we wud go get one pops ramblers and continue to ride around town! My Nova got @ 8 miles to the gal. And the trucks not much better,and the ramblers got crazy great mileage, so when we ran outta money,so we went to ole pop. He loved it,he also wud come and pull me or any of my buddies vehicles when they broke down,he called his ramblers the ” Chevrolet” retriever!! He loved getting the call to pull one of us,and wud always pull us thru town so everyone saw it!!!! I miss the good ole days! If I cud afford it, I wud buy this one in a minute! But like my old Nova ,I’m disable!!!!!! AMERICAN CLASSIC!!!!!!
My mom bought hers in 65. The old 56 Pontiac was traded in for the radio option. She sold it in 76 for 150.00. Zero rust. Zero dints or dings. Ran well but she wouldn’t trade it in on the brand new 76 Malibu 2dr coupe,as they were going to give her 50.00 for it.
Somebody is a bit too late to the Sell It For A Ridiculous Price party. I really like it, it’s in great shape – and my grandfather had one – but sentimentality isn’t going to make me pay that kind of money for that car.
I’ll give him $5500.00 for it, put his name on a plaque for the local Thanksgiving parade and Moonlight Memories.
I found a fully restored 330 Wagon, rebuilt engine (6) and transmission, factory air, for $13,000.00, but nobody’s buying that one either.
“When you wish upon a star…”
My dad was a funny guy – buying new cars and trucks only to sell them a year or two later. Seems we were taking them on trips maybe – like the 1964 Rambler wagon we took to Carlsbad Caverens. It was a three on the tree I remember and something mom could not drive but she would get an automatic Rambler wagon or two in the future, Later I just guessed his milatary service got him a better desl so he was able to make money ? This is a nice one…..my Aunt-T-Bee bought a 1964 4 door new as well.
Nice wagon but waaay overpriced
for what you get. And what people today don’t understand is
this– low demand for AMC products have kept prices low. What started all that was the reliability of the early cars after the ’54 merger between nash and
Hudson and the fact that you had to take your VIN number with you
to the auto parts store just to get
tune up parts to keep your car running. Back then, AMC stood for all make cars because you had maybe a Jeep engine mated to a Studebaker transmission and
what looked like a ’48 Ford rear end. And then there was the rust
out issues that caused these cars
to be scrapped after 2-5 years. My folks had a ’59 Super wagon
when I was very young when the whole front floor fell out onto the
street while we were driving it! It
was the only time we could put our feet on the seats without getting yelled at. It was stuff like
that that has kept prices low ever
since. And service? If you lived
in the South or a small town, you
were pretty much out of luck. Your car sat for weeks in a repair
shop while they waited for parts
to come in from Kenosha. And even then, some mechanics in the South wouldn’t even touch a
Rambler. If it didn’t say Ford GM,
or Chrysler on it, they wouldn’t
service it. My Uncle Arnam lived
in Kentucky was the only mechanic in 3 counties who’d even work on a Rambler. Oh sure,
he had to go to Louisville to get
parts, but he said that they were easy to work on and he didn’t understand why other mechanics
wouldn’t touch them. “It’s just an
engine.” he’d say, “and they all work the same.”. And $17K, not
worth it. More like $7K to me.
I learned to drive on a 1963 Rambler station wagon that my parents had. Almost the same color green. 6 cylinder, 3 speed. But it wasn’t a flathead???