To introduce its all-new “Torque Command” inline-6 engine, American Motors introduced a limited production Classic in mid-1964. It was called the Typhoon, a Classic 770 2-door hardtop that came in only one-color combination (black over Solar Yellow) and with a bucket seat interior. Only 2,520 of them were made and this 40-year barn find only leaves 2,519 unaccounted for. Located west of Cincinnati, Ohio, this rough project is available here on craigslist for $500 (cheap wheels?). Attaboy, Henry Reining, for this cool tip!
AMC’s six-cylinder engines were getting tired in the design arena, dating back to the 1940s. So, the cash-strapped company managed to invest $45 million in a whole new engine (and plant to build it in) with a displacement of 232 cubic inches (later 258). AMC wasn’t yet in the performance car game, so making automobiles and motors that were rooted in common sense was logical.
The Torque Command Six had a horsepower rating of 145, which was ample enough to power cars like the Classic and American. Some variants of the I-6 were still in play in Jeeps even after AMC was acquired by Chrysler. Besides the well-publicized powerplant, the Typhoon had its own badging and trim. The exterior of the car was complimented by a black vinyl interior which a few buyers may have ordered a front bench seat instead of buckets and a console.
This Typhoon came with an automatic transmission (Borg Warner?) and has been living in the seller’s barn for more than four decades. He/she is selling the property, so the car has to go. We’re told the frame and chrome are good, but some of the sheet metal is damaged (for example, the right-side front fender has a big hole in it at the top). The Rambler had 60,000 miles on it when it went into exile. These Typhoons are rare cars, but they are mid-1960s AMC products, so will an expensive restoration be viable?
Would pull the trigger if I had room and was closer. These are rare but not very valuable. This could make an easy winter project. Design is nice and most parts are available. I hope someone grabs this and its doesn’t go to the crusher.
My Dad bought a new 64 Rambler Classic and it had the same chrome tissue box holder, never seen one since.
I owned a ’67 Ambassador DPL convertible and it had that tissue dispenser, too.
Either I didn’t have enough coffee this morning or I really did miss what city and state this cool car is located. Any suggestions?
Moores Hill
West of Cincinnati.? Lot of country west of Cincinnati
West of Cincinnati? Lot of country west of Cincinnati
Well definitely inspect in person and make sure the engine turns unless you want to over pay for scrap metal
I learned to drive and passed my driver’s test in a 1964 Rambler Classic just like this one, only in Sentry Blue Metallic…Memories!
Fold down flat front seats was the beginning of my family, if you know what I mean. My parents gave me the Rambler as a wedding present, as I’m sure they figured it out.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen rust-thru in the top of a fender like this – around and thru eyebrows yes….but mid-fender?
You must not be from New England. I’ve seen plenty rusted through. A good friend, who is on BF, had a AMC Hornet and I remember repairing a hole in the fender with him.
nope Brian – Colorado – where up until about 10 years ago they put enough salt on the roads to make ice-cream. So I’ve seen a lot of rust in older cars that got a lot of winter use. Tri-5 Chevy’s, 57-59 Fords, all had rust-thru around and behind the headlights regularly. But this one is a new one for me
Crush it.
That rot through on the front fender is just the tip of the iceburg. But, in todays “robust” economy? $500 is the new $50.
The “step down” Hudsons, 1948 – 1954 rusted out at the top of the fender just above the headlight. My guess is that the stamping of the fender there resulted in a very thin area of the sheet metal, plus up spray of road salt/water.
I, had a 1964 Ambassador, black with lots of chrome, bucket seats, 3 speed overdrive, and 327 V8. Unfortunately, it had been run hard, and didn’t last long. My Dad had been a Rambler/ Nash mechanic, but was in failing health unable to do much with it. I then sold it to a neighbor, and don’t know what happened to it. It sure was a pretty car. I often wish I had kept it to restore.
I want to get in on this, but Spectrum has other ideas. Nothing was said about the “Tri-Poised” power, which was nothing more than 3 motor mounts, but the motor was allegedly moved forward, for some reason. Never saw a Typhoon, or a Tarpon, for that matter, or if we did it didn’t garner much more attention than a regular Classic. In ’64, Rambler and MilwauKenosha was still riding high on the previous years COTY award. I’ve said many times, as a smaller city car builder, we had a bit more pride than the big guys workers. Mid 60s Ramblers were simply the best we had. It can’t be overstated what that new 6 cylinders was. Quite possibly the most famous of all inline 6s.
This car? I bet a Rambler collector( if any) would love to have it strictly because it’s so rare, but I highly doubt anyone would attempt to restore it. Shame, they were great cars.