If that striking gold paint doesn’t grab your attention, perhaps that 100-inch wheelbase will. This 1963 Rambler American 440 convertible was sent in by a Barn Finds reader who found it here on eBay in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. With just 8 bids on this no reserve auction, the current bid price is $5,450.
The 2nd generation of the Rambler American was built from 1961 to 1963. While available in a variety of configurations, the convertibles seemed to do the best at softening the rigid lines on that stubby wheelbase. More than 30,000 convertibles were sold throughout the 3 model years of the 2nd generation, but just 4,750 were 1963 examples.
This originally gold Rambler was repainted a few years ago in what the seller describes as “a nicer gold metallic.” It appears to shine, but the there are some bubbles on the bottom of the passenger door and trunk lid noted. The black convertible top has recently been replaced and all chrome looks to be bright. I can’t speak to what’s proper, but I usually see these with whitewalls of varying widths, so these blackwall tires look a little out of place to me.
This Rambler is equipped with beige bucket seats and a full console. While the seating surfaces and carpet appear to be in pretty good shape, the hard surfaces show some wear and the steering wheel looks cracked. However, the show-stealer here is that twin-stick shifter. For a better explanation than I can offer on its function, I recommend reading this.
It’s not specified in the listing, but based on how it’s equipped, I suspect this is the 440-H model. That would mean this is the higher horsepower – 138 to be exact – version of AMC’s 3.2L inline 6. That twin-stick shifter sends power to the rear wheels. There’s no power options as far as I can tell, but how much steering and braking assistance could you need on a 100-inch wheelbase car that tips the scales in the low-to-mid 2,000 lb. range?
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of the American independent auto manufacturers and oddball cars. While the metallic gold paint may be polarizing, this American independent oddball is one I could see sitting in my garage. Would this be a good summer cruiser for your family?
Resembles a Cortina.
Love it. This is a really nice looking car .. I wish it was mine.
Looks really clean but hailing from the rust belt some underside photos would be nice.
Full wheel covers look dandy with 1″+ whitewalls.
Blackwalls are best with dogdishes, then the vehicle has that full-size old-Matchbox-car look, which is pleasing and suits old Ramblers to a T.
I think it would pull off the blackwall/full cover look just fine if the blackwalls weren’t so SHINY.
Twin Stick explained: left stick shifts gears. Right stick enables overdrive. To engaged OD, lift right foot. To disengage Od, push button on top of right stick. Repeat last two steps as necessrry.
For six decades I’ve been trying to figure out what these cars remind me of and I’ve finally got it! It’s an American Hillman Minx! (I love Hillmans) GLWS
These were boxy and a bit odd looking, but I love it, especially being a convertible.IMO the black walls are a plus.
I agree , Rambler Americans were the entry level car and most would have had blackwalls anyway. The color not being original to the car looks odd to me , but it looks like a solid car for the money
My future Mother in law had a 1962 convertible in white over red. It looked like a cake of Ivory soap. Flat head six, 2 speed automatic and an am radio. I grew up with 1951 Dodges. one of which had Gyromatic. The Ramble redefined slow.
AMC never had a 2-speed automatic in its cars except for the big 1955-1956 Nashes and Hudsons equipped with Packard V8 and Ultramatic transmission.
Early Ramblers used GM Hydramatic 4-speed transmissions. Starting in 1957, through 1971, Borg-Warner 3-speed automatics were used. Some models did have “D1” and “D2” shifter positions, the latter for 2nd gear starts on slippery surfaces.
The flathead only made 90 horsepower (gross) so yes, it was incredibly slow with the automatic trans.
Kind of like those Ford “green dot” transmissions, only AMC marketed them as Shift Command.
My wife’s first car when we started dating was a 62 black convertible with white top and red interior. Cool looking little car back then but it was like driving an old truck.
Where is Howard? This is his kind of car.
I had a 1963 Rambler Classic, metallic gold and the same 196 straight six OHV. Many Rambler Americans through 1963 had the lower powered flat head six. I then in 1978 bought a 3rd generation all new modern designed 1964 Rambler American convertible with that same 196 OHV engine and kept the car with classic plates until 2005. Amazing transformation from the original Nash “round bathtub” skinned American through 1960, this reskinned boxy 1961-63 American and the all new 3rd generation American that remained as the last car named Rambler through 1969.
It looks like a really clean car and one you don’t see very often!! It probably gets pretty good fuel economy too!! What’s not to like and how many are left that still look this good!! I like the color!!
My uncle Frankie had one of those, 61 convertible automatic transmission on the column, faded red, looked cooked back in the late 60s, he used it to go to the beach in Long Island, manual top, truly how do I put this gently, not very luxurious it fun, exhaust noise from that 6 cylinder, used to sing the Flintstones song in it,
Remarkable condition.
2nd choice for Columbo’s car.
I don’t think Don Johnson, Tom Selleck, Mike Connors or even Don Adams would look very cool driving this car on tv. lol
“440” might fool some into thinking it’s got a big motor.
When I drove for Universal Studios, back in the 70s, I was a driver captain on most of the cop shows, in charge of picture cars.
I drove Columbos peugeot 403 convertible. A similar Magnum PI red Dino, on “Switch”. Another was Jim Garner’s Formula. used in “The Rockford Files”.They painted the cars to resemble the Esprit.
We used three cars.One Jim drove. Another driven in action(chase) scenes. And one we used for crashes.(spent a lot of time in the body shop).The car Jim drove, is for sale at Barrett-Jackson, in Scottsdale, Az.
I drove the red/white Ford Torino in Starsky & Hutch.
Drove many of the cars used in American Graffiti.
Also drove stunts in many of the cop shows, too.
Here is the Barn Find on the Rockford car.
https://barnfinds.com/rockford-files-1978-pontiac-firebird/
Too bad the 440 is not in the engine compartment!
I’ve always thought these little convertibles really looked great. I absolutely love the look of this car! :)
Looks more European with the black walls. And those old Rambler sixes were one of the toughest engines around, except for the VC leaks. McCord finally came out with a gasket that helped.
SOLD for $6.217.
My Baby! What’s it doin on here. Were U my 2nd car? I had a white one same motor’n top (for 4, 6 mo?). Boy it was a sweet running rig. Smooth, quiet, big (esp after a fiat or 3).
Y did that lady hafta slam on her breaks in the on ramp in frnt of my 18 y/o body (& car). She took off so I stepped on it too looked over my left shoulder to blend in safely & she stopped as I whipped my head back around, too late.
Bummer ! Back to fiats…may B an alfa this time (1968)?