As the last year of the second-generation cars, this 1963 Rambler American is a drivable project car. It’s listed on eBay in Chula Vista, California with a bid of $1,000 and a buy it now price of $2,500.
This profile view always gets to me. It’s so awkward, so interesting, soo.. awkward.. At least they made room for the spare tire in the trunk. There’s a bit of rust as you can imagine by the different color on the bottom of the door and rockers. The seller says that there’s a “small amount of rust on the corner of passenger door and fender.”
This side doesn’t look much better but it doesn’t look much worse, either. How’s that for an endorsement! I really like these second-gen Rambler Americans, especially the two-door hardtop models with the faux convertible top. This body style was new for 1963 and it ended in 1963 as in 1964 the car was totally redesigned.
These were unibody, or “Single-Unit” body cars. Other than the convertible this is probably the most collectible and most liked body style for this generation of the American. There are no engine photos but the seller says that the 196 cubic-inch inline-six “runs great”. There has been a bit of work done recently including “New brakes and clutch, radiator has been flushed, new front tires.” Did I mention that this car has a 3-speed Twin-Stick manual?
Right next to Robert Goulet’s smoking jacket-like driver’s seat cover is that Twin-Stick! That’s a big selling point which in addition to the one-year only hardtop body style makes this a pretty desirable car, at least for me. 1963 was also the first year that it was available. A note about the Twin-Stick from the Marlin Auto Club, the “transmission has a bigger gap between 2nd and 3rd than a normal three speed with overdrive. This was so the trans could be shifted as a five speed — 1, 2, 2+OD, 3, 3+OD. The normal 3 speed with OD was shifted like a four speed. The Twin-Stick shifter had the kick-down button on the three speed lever to facilitate shifting five speeds as well.” The seller does say that the interior needs new upholstery but as far as being an unusual car with some great features I think this could be a very good buy.
I love AMC cars, but that off-centered back wheel spacing is to their eternal shame.
All about budget. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_E._Anderson
I bet I could make that disappear. But then again, it would take away from the originality. What a dilemma.
I don’t see how any designer could OK that and still sleep at night.
Agreed .. the rest of the car looks great. That rear wheel opening takes away some of that simple beauty.
Looks like the rear end may have been lifted a bit? And the exhaust poking out ahead of the rear wheel is a custom touch. (The off-center rear wheels are a factory touch!)
These are actually 1950 Nash Ramblers under the skin and were thoroughly obsolete even by 1963 standards. The hardtops and convertibles were the best-looking, sedans and wagons were pretty dorky. However they were cheap to buy and economical to run, so AMC sold a ton of them. I remember when these cars were a common sight on the road. (I owned a ’61 4-door for a while many years ago.)
No engine photos, but I think these hardtops would have come with the OHV version of the Rambler six, possibly with 2-barrel carb for a little extra pizazz, even better with the Twin-Stick. (Most of the 2nd-gen Americans came with the 1941-vintage flathead and three-on-the-tree or Flash-O-Matic. Also available was an “E-Stick” manual trans with automatic clutch.)
My wife, long before we were married, drove her Mother’s white 1962 American convertible. Flat head, automatic. Red interor. We took it on a winter road trip. Vacuum wipers would slow or stop when we tried to pass another vehicle such as a farm tractor. Passing anything took advance planning.
Good heat with control knobs that looked like Kelvinator refrigrator controls. (Owned by AMC)
Really cool car! Not sure how valuable these are, but unless super rare, a cool resto-mod would be a late Jeep (AMC) 4- liter six with the twin stick and some Magnum 500 wheels from a later Javelin.
Problem with engine swaps on these is that there is so little room in the engine bay. It is short and narrow. Installing almost anything but the 196 requires major surgery.
I haven’t tried it myself, but I’m told a Ford Falcon six-cylinder (144/170/200) fits well in place of the flathead, but nothing else works well in a pre-1966 Rambler American.
I had a ’64 Rambler American 330 (the next generation) with the flathead, though, and it wasn’t a bad car at all. It would have been even better with an overdrive.
Nice car, nice $. I could definitely work with this. Perfect starter project. So many ways you can use this. Would be fun!
Perfect example of fun car project. (if solid). If we are priced out of traditional muscle/restored cars, this is the type to have fun with. I love all cars, but hey, my dad wrenched on assembly line till becoming mechanic. Those Detroit “icons”, built by union/maybe today I will try guys/gals are a very expensive illusion.
Cool car. While not highly collectible it would be a great platform to personalize.
Rework the rear wheel openings or suspension/longer drive shaft work. Find some period brocade or “metallic thread” upholstery…etc.
GM’s execution of the faux convertible is more tasteful.
Having owned a ’61 in college, I have an admitted soft-spot for these. $2,500 sounds more than reasonable for a “runner”, as long as the unibody is solid. (Mine’s was questionable…) My ’61 was a three-on-the-tree; I admit the operation of a twin-stick kind-of baffles. I would love to learn to row this little tub! Nice find!
Never heard of the ‘twin stick’ option before. Neat.
From a historical perspective, it’s amazing what cash-strapped AMC was able to produce with so little in the kitty.
The Twin-Stick was a gimmick for the company to offer a unique, sporty shifter in a world of four-speeds.
AMC Guy is 100% correct with his comments about the ’61-3 Americans. They were just a reskinned 1950 Nash Rambler, most were equipped with an engine that dates back to before WWII.
While these cars don’t appeal to me – having owned the previously-mentioned ’62 Wagon when I was in high school – the coupe would be a fun project/toy for someone.
If the rear axle placement bugs you, turn it into a sixties inspired altered wheelbase, front tube axle, boulevard cruiser. Oh yeah, with an LS,(haven’t heard that recommendation in a while).
If you’re going to go that far, Kevin, make it really ‘period correct’ and drop a 671-blown AMC 327 into the engine compartment. (Pause to allow an old Arab from SoCal to remove his tongue from his cheek…)
Cue the music! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1g8gv7h_S4
Maybe instead of the blower, just the AMC factory fuel injection that was introduced in 1957 on the AMC 327 in the Rambler Rebel….. Almost as much fun as a Studebaker Lark with the R3 ( factory supercharged ) 289…
great for embarrassing the guy with the “Hi-Po” Mustang and “high riser bubble” on his hood at the stoplight !
I could never understand fake convertibles, or why anyone ever wanted one. But at least this has the twin stick going for it.
Actually, if this wasn’t 2,000+ miles away from, i think id grab it up. Add about 3-4″ to the driveshaft. Yeah, i could see that. LOL
hada white 1 w/a black convertible as hi school commuter. When rolled up to the only traffic light in town folks would laugh – the engine was so quiet (the 196) they thought I’d stalled. I think it was an automatic.
Rambler
Wonder how much the dual outside mirrors option would set you back in those years.
If it was like other Nash models the front end design was prone to failure the more miles driven.