American Motors’ 1963 Rambler Classics and Ambassadors were the company’s first all-new cars since 1956. The mechanical and styling changes were numerous enough for Motor Trend to recognize the automobiles with their annual “Car of the Year” award. AMC beat out others like the Studebaker Avanti for an award that was “based on pure progress in design” and developments in “the critical areas of performance, dependability, value, and potential buyer satisfaction.” This ’63 Classic 770 looks like an original survivor and doesn’t seem to need much more than continued TLC to show it off as-is. Located in Jonesboro, Georgia, this Rambler is available here on eBay for the Buy It Now Price of $15,500 or you can hit the Make Offer button if you have a Plan B number in mind. Thanks, Larry D, for finding this car for us. The 1963-64 Ramblers are some of my personal favorites!
For 1963-64, AMC’s “senior” cars would share the same wheelbase and body parts with trim differences and standard equipment to set them apart. Classics were available in three series, depending on the level of goodies that came aboard. The 550 was essentially a fleet purchase, the 660 was middle-of-the-road, and the 770 was the nicest Rambler you could get other than the Ambassador. The Classic could be had with a 287 cubic inch, 198 hp V8 (although the I-6 was standard) and the 327 version was reserved for its big brother. The smaller V8 was considered economical for the times, producing between 16-20 mpg on 25 cents/gallon regular leaded gasoline.
While the cars were sharp looking (but not spectacular), Motor Trend was no doubt impressed by some of AMC’s engineering improvements. These included curved side glass (which was rare on low-priced cars at the time) and their combining separate parts in the unibody construction into single stampings. For instance, the doors were made from a single stamping of steel, which replaced a bunch of separate parts and reduced weight and assembly costs.
One of the cool features available was the new “Twin Stick” manual transmission with a special shifter for overdrive cars. With a pair of rods that are reminiscent of the 1983-84 Hurst/Olds, they enabled the driver to shift in and out of overdrive separately from the regular shifter, essentially making it a 6-speed transmission. The seller’s car comes with that option along with bucket seats and a floor console. The red interior, which matches the body, looks to be in good original condition at 60,000 reported miles.
The Classic presents very well, although we only get a glimpse at the passenger side of the car. If the driver’s side is just as nice, it could be a winner with “virtually no rust” as the seller puts it. The upward-facing surfaces are a tad faded, which is typical for red cars, so some wax and elbow grease should go a long way in perking those areas up.
We’re not given the heads up on the running condition of the car, so an inquiry of the seller is recommended before bidding. After all, it is a 58-year-old car, so the seller is not presenting perfection. The optional factory air conditioning is said to be complete but will need some work if you want cold air. Besides power steering, this Rambler also has Posi-traction. AMC had a hit on their hands when they redid this car: sales jumped 87 percent from 1962 to 1963, which would include the production of 320,000 Classics in ’63, making that year the company’s best since 1960.
I was never too much of a fan of this body style Rambler, but I would definitely own this simply because of the awesome twin stick.
Never knew about the twin stick on these, so cool!!
….and no pictures of the front end?
@anglilagt
I submitted this car and I found it odd also that there were no pics of the front. Even the ebay listing has no pics of the front. I doubt he is trying to hide anything. I assume he just overlooked pics of the front. Too bad.
I always thought the instrument cluster on these was different and kind of cool. I also never knew about the twin stick. I can visualize someone doing a big rig split-shift impersonation.
how many of these would have come with AC?
Check out the seller’s other auction too – a 1962 Dodge Lancer with the aluminum-block slant six. I can only recall seeing one car with this engine, nearly 40 years ago. It needs lots more pictures, frankly, but appears to be at least as clean as this Rambler.
Love everything about this except…
too much red for me… maybe!?
This car is cool… and those sticks make a great anti theft device.
I miss AMC cars, RIP AMC.
Every time I see an AMC product from the ’60s through the ’80s I shed a little tear.
I didn’t realize these had a twin stick either, but it doesn’t remind me of a Hurst Olds, it reminds me of a Plymouth Colt.
I have an identical 2 door with the twin stick option… lots of Red
The Twin stick is a blast to drive.. close ratio 3 speed and reverse on the left stick
It has the overdrive stick to shift manually into overdrive
The button on the shifter is a vacuum operation type that cut outs the overdrive if in or cuts it into overdrive without manually shifting it into overdrive
Overdrive is freeway gearing
Maybe go jet black with red interior!?
That was Mom’s brand new car back in the day. Like the subject car here but Black w/red interior. No twin stick but 287 w/stick & O.D. She got 25 mpg on the highway. It was VERY rarely that I drove it but once on the old marked off 1/4 just out of town. I could get 97 mph in 2nd an O.D. :-) Terry J
The Twin Stick is “neat”, yes. I’ve owned two of them, including a very similar ’63 Classic 770 2 door in red (but mine didn’t have AC and it had a hideous burgundy interior) .
The problem with just about any Twin Stick you find is that they aren’t currently working. It’s a complicated system (for the time) with that kickdown button, and a series of electrical do-dads that can go bad (solenoids, relays, etc.).
A neat conversation piece, but very rarely do you find one that is actually functional. If the seller doesn’t specifically say that the system works, assume it doesn’t.
And by the way, the OD did not work in first gear. So, it is essentially a 5 forward speed transmission, not a 6 speed.
Growing up in the 60’s, Ramblers were for people that truly couldn’t afford a GM product. They were frowned upon. Now, I think they are super cool and deserve the respect they rarely got….
My grandfather has a 63 Rambler. Basic transportation. 4 door black, 3 on the tree, radio delete. No options at all but went to the seat shop to get clear seat covers put on.
Had a 63 660 Station Wagon, W/red, no AC,no OD, basic car, was a great car.
Really one of the best cars we ever owned, Great every thing, did a lot of traveling little car. In the 80’s it was stull running around town but a lot of patches on it.
Had a 63 4 door with 3 on the tree. The holly one barrel carb had a bore about the size of a quarter. Great car especially when the seats folded down flush with the back seat on date night:)
I had a ’64 2 dr ht/287/twin stick/black/red buckets. Also had ’63 770/327/3 spd od, 65 2 dr ht/327/3 spd od…loved ’em all
My part of the world – never saw one of these with a standard transmission and that double stick setup – out of this world amazing..!
I had a twin-stick hardtop American with the OHV engine. It was the last year before they changed the body style. Not fast but you felt like you were really cruising doin those split shifts. I’d love to have this one!❤
Anybody remember the “Sensible Spectaculars”?
How do you get this thing out of second gear? If you remember that song you’re probably as old as I am. The first time I saw one of these with twin stick was when I was in Germany with the 7th Cavalry. Don’t know Who owned it but it was a G.I. Stationed there between 64-67 same as me.
God bless America
Beep Beep
SOLD for $15,500.