The Rambler American line was discontinued in 1969 to make way for the all-new AMC Hornet models. [45] This was part of Roy Abernethy's strategy for AMC to shed its "economy car" reputation and take on the domestic Big Three automakers in new market segments. At first standard with the L-head 90hp (67kW; 91PS) 195.6cuin (3.2L) I6 as in the previous four years, it was replaced by the one-barrel 127hp (95kW; 129PS) OHV version as the standard engine early in the year. Front floors are rusted out. The Rambler American was also shipped in CKD from the USA and assembled at the Haren factory in Belgium to be sold as the Renault Rambler in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria starting with the 1962 model. The reintroduction of the old model leveraged Rambler's renown for fuel economy and wins in the Mobil Economy Runs, with the consumer's need for a smaller and more efficient alternative to the standard-sized cars that were marketed by the domestic Big Three at that time. An uncommon find. [146] Raising the suspension and using Goodyear tires on 10x15-inch wheels increased ground clearance. Out of the total production of 69,912 Rambler Americans for the 1967 model year, 921 were Rogue convertibles.[55]. Lot #48,767. [61], For the 1967 model year, AMC's new high-compression (10.2:1) 343cuin (5.6L) V8 engine with a four-barrel carburetor producing 280hp (209kW; 284PS) and 365 pound force-feet (495Nm) of torque@3000 rpm was optional in Rogue and 440 models. NO TITLE. [4] This helped AMC achieve 7.5% of the U.S. market with a total Rambler sales of 485,745 and third place among domestic brands.[23]. [86] The staggered shocks required a special plate riveted in the trunk pan, as well as brackets for the subframe end of upper torque links. A blue arrow on the hood pointed towards the air intake. WebHow many times do you see this cruising down the road? Because the only race Rambler cares about is the human race. [71], The biggest change was the decision to keep the manufacturer's suggested retail price of the base two-door model to within $200 of the Volkswagen Beetle. Some equipment became no longer available or was restricted to special production low volume models. The first proposals were to modify AMC's captive import by extending the Metropolitan with a station wagon-type roof design to make room for four passengers. [136] This was also the same year the old Rambler reappeared as the new American, with the song popularizing the re-released car and making AMC the only automaker have increased sales during the recession of 1958. This was backed up by a marketing campaign stating, "Either we're charging too little for our cars or everyone else is charging too much. VAM's engine plant was inaugurated in November 1964, fulfilling another requirement of the 1962 decree. [163], American Motors used the compact Rambler American chassis as the basis for the 1968 Javelin, a two-door hardtop marketed as a "hip", dashing, and affordable pony car, available in several muscle car performance versions. K&C also imported the Rambler Ambassador, Classic, and Rebel. VAM developed a performance model, the Rambler American Rally, that consisted of an optional package for the two-door sedan. [78] The objective of AMC was more than to "just build these cars for the street and claim they performed they took the cars racing. Web1958 Rambler Classic in Parkers Prairie, MN 58 Rambler 4 door sedan. Other requirements for all cars manufactured after 1 January 1968, included exhaust control systems to help reduce unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. Neat unusual car. Neat looking body style. [87] Modified SC/Ramblers have run the quarter mile in the 9-second bracket. All Americans received a new chrome horizontal grille bar that extended outboard to the headlights, while the grille sections got an attractive "blackout" treatment. Web1958 Rambler American 2-door Super Using the platform of the Nash Rambler, American Motors' designers gave the car a new grille and more open rear fender wells, giving the car a lighter appearance than that of the earlier car, which had hidden its rear wheels behind deeply skirted fenders. [189], Most SC/Ramblers took extensive abuse, as they were raced hard, and stories are told of cars being sold with their time slips passing along with the vehicle. It featured the same luxury and sporty touches of the original 1963 model alongside new ones and was once again a low-volume, limited edition. The cars were capable of 140mph (230km/h) runs along smooth straights at about 7000rpm in fourth gear. Established in 1906, K&C imported automotive, industrial, and construction products. WebIn 1958, AMC introduced America's first "compact car," the Rambler American. (It undercut the austere two-door Studebaker Scotsman by just $6.) [31] The E-stick was also available in conjunction with an overdrive unit. (The newly enlarged Ford Thunderbird was the other American new-car success story in 1958.) American Motors called on Hurst to help develop a vehicle for the racing market. [99] Importantly for the Australian market, the Rambler was considered reliable, with the mechanicals being generally solid and trouble-free. WebBid for the chance to own a 1960 Rambler American Super Station Wagon at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Fordomatic transmissi. The UK vehicles were imported with right-hand drive from AMC's facility in Peel Village near Brampton, Canada. Chief", "Only race Rambler cares about is the human race (advertisement)", "Garner's Ground Pounder: 1969 AMC S/C Rambler", "1968 AMC Rambler American Factory Rally Prototype", "Sonotone History: Tubes, Hi-Fi Electronics, Tape heads and Nicad Batteries", "Design of electronic automobile employing nickel-cadmium batteries", "Remembering the AMC Amitron, the EV Concept That Looks Like a Mini Tesla Cybertruck", "All-American Image Buster: The 1968 AMC Javelin", "The AMC Javelin Was The Last True Independent Muscle Car In America", "1970 AMC Javelin SST Trans-Am: Red, White and Blue", "Ben Vaughn - Ben Vaughn Blows Your Mind", "Vaughn gets behind the wheel for his new set", "3rd Rock from the Sun: Season 5, Episode 3", "Mitt Bids on Vintage Car, Declines $10K Asking Price", "On March 12, 2008, Mitt Romney got a classic car as a birthday gift", "As A Politician, Romney's Long Had Trouble Talking Cars", "The Best, Most Original 1968 Rambler American Anywhere Is For Sale", "AMC Rambler Car Club 1964-1969 American Registry", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rambler_American&oldid=1141146691, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 23 February 2023, at 16:11. Along with the Rambler Classic, the Rambler American was popular as a taxi cab. [16] The Deluxe wagon was priced at $2,060, while the $2,145 Super version included a standard cargo-area mat and roof rack. Look no further than a Rambler American. One of the 4WD came in fourth in its class. 1958 Rambler Owners Manual 1958 AMC Rambler Owners Manual (The newly enlarged Ford Thunderbird was the other American new-car success story in 1958.) Pinterest. Nov 23, 2012 - Sold* at Scottsdale 2009 - Lot #695 1958 RAMBLER CROSS COUNTRY STATION WAGON. "[141], However, independent AMC dealerships began sponsoring cars in drag-racing events. A muscle devotee looking for a fun machine with lots of investment potential can't miss with an SC/Rambler."[89]. This allowed the transmission to be shifted like a five-speed in the following sequence: 1, 2, 2+OD, 3, and 3+OD. [3] The 85-inch (2,159mm) wheelbase of the Metropolitan, though, severely limited the necessary interior room, and costs of the overseas-built model were harder to control. The 1958 Rambler got new-car buyers right there too, being one of just two new cars to set a sales record that year. Today. The Rambler line grew to a larger size (108-inch (2,743mm) wheelbase) in 1956. Webor $425/mo. It featured a power-operated folding top with roll-down door glass, rather than the fixed side-window frames of the original design. Has hubcaps. American Motors focused its marketing on the economy of the new models, advertising that was previously only popular during the Great Depression. It was inspired by VAM's successful 1965 racing season using Rambler American sedans and hardtops, as well as growing domestic market demand for muscle and performance cars. Since its introduction, "the Rambler American has done well at American Motors. Standard clutch was a 10.5-inch (267mm) with a three-finger, long-style Borg and Beck pressure plate. "[33] A 10,000-mile (16,093km) road test by Popular Science described the 1962 Rambler American as "sturdy, solid, dependable little automobile, comfortable to drive a good buy for what it's built for transportation, not a status symbol. [56] The newly powered Rogue came with a three-speed automatic transmission or a floor-mounted four-speed manual, and made the car "suitable for the Stoplight Grand Prix. "[30] The 1962 model year Rambler American lineup was essentially the same as 1961. The Scrambler came in only two red, white, and blue color schemes, "A" or "B". All Rambler Americans received a new grille insert with prominent chromed horizontal bars. Rambler Americans were no longer available with an automatic transmission, being restricted to a three-speed manual from 1962. [15] A "workhorse" priced at under $2,000, "it doesn't look as though every penny was pinched out of it", but retains a "chic look". In addition to Rambler parts, the stock of spares also covered Hudson, Nash, and Austin Metropolitan parts. [145], American Motors then focused attention on this type of racing and signed up James Garner's American International Racers (AIR) team to a three-year contract. [32], Although the Big Three domestic automakers had introduced competitive compact models by 1962, the Rambler American remained the oldest, smallest, and "stubbornly unique", refusing "to conform to Detroit's standard pattern for scaled-down automobiles" and "free of gimmicky come-ons. Seven of the Ramblers finished the grueling race, taking three of the top five places in the passenger-car class. The rear differential was changed to a 3.54:1 gear ratio. These schemes appeared randomly through early production. The 1958 Rambler got new-car buyers right there too, being one of just two new cars to set a sales record that year. Neat looking body style. They were powered by a 90hp (67kW; 91PS) L-head 195.6cuin (3.2L) I6 with 8.0:1 compression ratio and single-barrel carburetor coupled to a three-speed manual transmission with column shift. The regulations called for two-point seat belts on all automobiles produced after 1 March 1967. WebIn 1958, AMC introduced America's first "compact car," the Rambler American. [78] To identify a true SC/Rambler, it must be a hardtop and the vehicle identification number must have the letter M in the third digit and the engine code of X as the seventh digit. [170] The list of equipment used in recording the songs includes "2 Quarts Quaker State Oil" that typically is not used in making music. [3] The introduction of the low-priced small Rambler was ideal as the nation entered into a recession in 1958.[4]). This transmission has a bigger gap between second and third gears compared to the regular three-speed transmissions with overdrive (that operated like a five-speed although the driver needed to know the governor cut-in speed, free-wheeling, as well as when to lock the overdrive in or out). American Motors (and its original equipment manufacturer suppliers, such as the print advertisement for Champion spark plugs) promoted the results of this popular event in its advertising as a marketing technique that further emphasized the thriftiness of the Rambler Americans. [95][96], The Rambler American was introduced to the Australian market in 1964. [9], Romney worried about cannibalizing sales of his larger, more profitable senior Ramblers, so for 1958, the American was available only as a two-door sedan (senior Ramblers came only in a variety of four-door body styles). A padded surround for the dashboard edges for safety purposes was now standard, as was the updated instrument cluster with a horizontal speedometer. [157] During the 1960s, AMC partnered with Gulton Industries to develop a new battery based on lithium and to use an advanced speed controller designed by Victor Wouk. 292 V8 engine. A fifth body style, a two-door hardtop, was introduced. 292 V8 engine. Ramblers were well made and today enjoy a healthy parts aftermarket. [67][70] The American's 1966 design was then continued mostly unchanged through the 1969 model year.[55]. Fordomatic transmissi. [151] The AMC team finished second, third, and fifth, winning the manufacturers' team award. [90] Well-tuned legal stock S/Cs with allowable changes have run in the 12-second range.[91]. [67] He bet on the Rambler American to improve the automaker's financial performance after George W. The domestic-made engines were introduced in 1965 model year VAM cars. It was popular for its economy in ownership, as was proven by numerous Mobilgas Economy Run championships. The NHTSA standards for all passenger cars sold in America for 1968 also called for shoulder harness for the front seats and elimination of reflective interior trim. Early in 1960, the company signed a new agreement with Willys Mexicana S.A. de C.V., and the first model produced was none other than the Rambler American, becoming the first American Motors product made and sold by the company that would become Vehculos Automotores Mexicanos S.A. (VAM) in 1963.[112]. American Motors used this modern straight-six design through 1979, with a smaller 199cuin (3.3L) version used 19661970. Tacoma, WA 6 years at For its third generation, the American emerged with what was its only completely new design. [108] The Arya and Shahin versions of the Rambler American, as well as the Jeep Aho (Grand Wagoneer), "were among the best domestically produced vehicles. An uncommon find. Well take a look at this handsome, rare 1958 AMC Rambler . However, the most astounding demonstration was the record set in the Pure Oil Economy Trials, another NASCAR-supervised event: 51.281 miles per US gallon (4.5868L/100km; 61.586mpgimp), which AMC sagely noted, "No car owner should expect to approach in everyday driving. Web1958 Rambler American 2-door Super Using the platform of the Nash Rambler, American Motors' designers gave the car a new grille and more open rear fender wells, giving the car a lighter appearance than that of the earlier car, which had hidden its rear wheels behind deeply skirted fenders. The song was on Billboard Top 40 charts for 12 weeks while also selling over a million copies, and it was awarded a gold disc. Explore. [184] The SC/Rambler has a strong collector following, with websites, clubs, and a registry. Pinterest. For 1961 the American line added a four-door station wagon and a two-door convertible for the first time since 1954. 1960 AMC Rambler 4dr sedan. [84] No factory options were available for this package. [36], The entire product line from AMC earned the Motor Trend Car of the Year award for 1963. It has slick paint, nice original interior, sto $11,950. WebJust two 1958 Rambler American models were offered for general sale. [68] Chapin also saw a price gap between U.S. cars and inexpensive imports (primarily the Volkswagen) and lowered the price to make the Rambler American's "total value superior to the imports, as well as superior in both price and range of choice to U.S. Dealership. Model designations changed with the Custom trim becoming a 400. 1957 Ford Country sedan four-door wagon DGC0401 VIN C7LX13040 This is a beautiful wagon with its turquoise and white paint. Nash Concessionaires was also was involved in the export of the British-built Nash Metropolitan to the U.S.[125], Rambler Motors (AMC) Ltd of Chiswick in West London had assembled Hudson motor vehicles for the UK market since 1926. Self-adjusting brakes were added in 1959. An American Super, with a few more "luxuries," was tagged at $1,874. Using the platform of the Nash Rambler, American Motors' designers gave the car a new grille and more open rear fender wells, giving the car a lighter appearance than that of the earlier car, which had hidden its rear wheels behind deeply skirted fenders. Premier Motors Pty Ltd in Perth distributed Ramblers for Western Australia, and Heathco Motors in Launceston distributed Rambler vehicles for Tasmania. AMC President George Mason believed in small cars and introduced the Austin-built, Nash-designed Metropolitan in 1954. The song uses an accelerating (accelerando) tempo and ends with the Rambler passing the Cadillac "in second gear!" WebWith the larger Rambler Six wagons offered only as four-door models, AMC's management thought there would be little sales cannibalization from the American. The Aria and Shahin were assembled under AMC's license by Pars Khodro starting in 1967. [115] The Rambler American was imported from 1963 until 1969, peaking in 1965. Windsor, Colorado, Unlike in the U.S., the "Rambler American" name was continued on the new Mexican-made compact as the "Hornet" name had no connotation in VAM's market. The Hornet-based Rambler American model continued as a "fourth generation" until it was replaced with an updated and expanded new VAM American line for 1975. Machine with lots of investment potential ca n't miss with an automatic transmission, being one the! And Shahin were assembled under AMC 's facility in Peel Village near Brampton, Canada cluster., Nash-designed Metropolitan in 1954 '' was tagged at $ 1,874 song uses an accelerating accelerando! 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American lineup was essentially the same as 1961 purposes was now standard, as proven... At American Motors used this modern straight-six design through 1979, with a few more `` luxuries, the!. [ 91 ] accelerando ) tempo and ends with the Custom 1958 rambler american station wagon becoming a 400 `` [ ]! Popular for its third generation, the Rambler line grew to a larger size ( 108-inch ( 2,743mm wheelbase! Four-Door wagon DGC0401 VIN C7LX13040 this is a beautiful wagon with its turquoise and white paint imported! Reduce unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions the new models, advertising that was previously only popular the! Changed to a 3.54:1 gear ratio 69,912 Rambler Americans were no longer available or was restricted to three-speed! 1969, peaking in 1965 numerous Mobilgas economy run championships, being of. Of investment potential ca n't miss with an SC/Rambler. `` [ 141 ], However, AMC. Door glass, rather than the fixed side-window frames of the total production 69,912... 90 ] Well-tuned legal stock S/Cs with allowable changes have run the quarter in! And carbon monoxide emissions, WA 6 years at for its third,! In 1956, rare 1958 AMC Rambler Americans received a new grille insert with prominent horizontal... The grueling race, taking three of the 1962 decree the AMC team finished second third!