Rambler American
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The Rambler American was an automobile manufactured by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) between 1958 and 1969. The American was the second incarnation of AMC's forerunner Nash Motors second generation Rambler compact which was sold under the Nash and Hudson Motors marques from 1954 and 1955.
The American can be classified in three distinct generations: 1958 to 1960, 1961 to 1963 and 1964 to 1969. During the entire length of its production, the car was sold under the Rambler brand name, and was the last Rambler automobile manufactured for the Canadian and United States markets.
These Rambler models were produced in other markets under license including Mexico (by Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos "VAM") and Argentina (by Industrias Kaiser Argentina "IKA") with local development up to 1981. The Rambler American was also sold in other export markets such as South Africa.
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[edit] 1958-1960
The genesis of the Rambler American began when AMC President George W. Romney saw that AMC was in need of a small compact during the Eisenhower Recession of 1958. The company had retained the tooling from its 1955 model Rambler, which was only slightly modified and then used for the basis of the "new" American. It was available only as a two-door sedan in its first season, but found 30,640 buyers during the abbreviated 1958 model year. In 1959, AMC sold 91,491 units, having added a 2-door station wagon. In 1960, the line added a four-door sedan and sales increased to 120,603 units.
[edit] 1961-1963
The second generation Rambler American was achieved through a heavy restyling of the previous year's model under AMC's styling Vice President Edmund E. Anderson. While mechanically identical to the 1960 model, Anderson's restyle resulted in a car that was shorter in its exterior dimensions, but increased in its cargo capacity. The line added a two-door convertible and a four-door wagon. For 1963, a pillarless hardtop coupe debuted, the roof of which was designed to mimic the appearance of a closed convertible top. A special model, the resulting "440-H" was equipped with sporty touches like bucket seats, and a more powerful (138bhp) version of Rambler's stalwart 195.6 (3.2L) Inline-6 engine.
[edit] 1964-1969
For its third generation, the American emerged with what would be its only completely new design. The entire line was treated to neat and trim lines with pleasing simplicity (compared to the more boxy predecessors) with characteristic tunneled headlights with a simple horizontal grille between them. The new styling was the work of famous designer Richard A. Teague, who would go on to design the 1968 Javelin and AMX. The Rambler American's wheelbase grew by six inches (to 106 in or 2692 mm) in 1964. The new models also incorporated various parts and components that were interchangeable with AMC's larger cars.
In 1966, the models were facelifted and they featured more squared-off front and rear styling, making the car seem more modern. That year saw the introduction of the new 199 in³ overhead valve straight-6 engine, which AMC would use well into the 1970s. The top line hardtop only model changed name from 440-H to Rogue. Furthermore, a completely new 290 in³ V8 engine was developed by AMC and it saw its introduction in a special mid-1966 Rogue model.
The last convertible in the American series was in 1967, and it was available only in the Rogue version. For 1967 only, AMC's new 343 in³ V8 engine was available in the American Rogue. Only 43 installations were made, however, with a paltry 7 of them being in convertible models. Rogues also received grille trim which wrapped around the fender sides. All Americans received a new grille insert with prominent chromed horizontal bars.
The compact Rambler American continued to receive minor annual updates until the model was discontinued at the end of the 1969 model year. By that time, the car was simply known as the "Rambler". Other than this change, the car was virtually identical to the 1968 American.
For 1970, the American was replaced by the AMC Hornet.
[edit] SC/Rambler
A very special model was produced during 1969. This was the Hurst SC/Rambler. With 1,512 built, it was probably the only production model made and promoted for a specific drag racing class, the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) F/Stock class.
Each Hurst SC/Rambler came equipped with AMC's powerful 390 in³ V8 from the AMX that was mated to a four-speed manual transmission (with Hurst shifter), as well as strengthened drive train and body components. American Motors called on Hurst Performance Research Inc. to develop a "Stock Car" (SC or original factory) model - often nicknamed "Scrambler" - to make a strong impact in the compact muscle market segment. Available only as a two-door hardtop, the interior came in standard gray vinyl reclining bucket seats, but with red, white, and blue headrests, as well as a Sun (brand) tachometer strapped to the steering column. Outside, however, the SC/Ramblers came with the wildest factory paint jobs ever put on a muscle car. It also featured a box-type hood scoop with "390 CU. IN." and "AIR" in large letters on both sides of it. If someone missed seeing it, a blue arrow on the hood also pointed towards the air intake. The Scrambler came only in two types of red, white, and blue color schemes ("A" or "B" trims) with no other options available, with the exception of an AM radio. Some of the other unique standard items included racing mirrors, anti-hop rear axle links, and two-tone styled wheels with red stripe Goodyear Polyglas tires. A stock SC/Rambler was a serious dragstrip contender because in its as-sold condition it could do the quarter mile in the low 14s at about 100 mph.
[edit] Torino
From 1966 to 1981, Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) produced in Argentina a hybrid of the Rambler American, that was introduced in 1964, and the Rambler Classic, that was introduced in 1963. The car was called Torino and was assembled by IKA from complete knock down (CKD) kits sent from Kenosha, Wisconsin. IKA used the front and rear sheetmetal of the American combined with the center section of the Classic to create the Argentinian car -- basically a stretched American (the American had a 106" wheelbase, the Classic's was 112" -- like the Torino). It was available in two-door hardtop and four-door sedan models.
[edit] Records
[edit] Economy
The Rambler American was a perennial winner of the best fuel economy in the Mobil Economy Run, even at times when fuel efficiency was not a major factor in the purchase of automobiles. For example, in 1964, a 6-cylinder Rambler American 440 sedan averaged 27.8336 m.p.g.; the best of all the cars that year. [1]
American Motors promoted the results of this popular event in its advertising as a marketing technique that further emphasized the thriftiness of these compact cars.
[edit] Music
Ben Vaughn is a musician and a longtime Rambler automobile fan. His song called "El Rambler Dorado" appeared in 1988 on the "Blows Your Mind" album. He later recorded an entire album in his 1965 Rambler American. Titled appropriately Rambler '65, he turned his car into a makeshift studio. Putting the recording equipment inside the Rambler was a gimmick or an act of showmanship. Nevertheless, according to most reviews, the music he created inside his car is pleasant '50s and '60s rock roll and country. The album was released in 1997 by Rhino Records. Even more intriguing for old car enhusiasts is Ben Vaughn's Rambler '65 album recreated in a 24-minute video. Some of the music videos include vintage TV ad clips with AMC cars.
[edit] Off-road
Mexico hosted a grueling mostly off-road race, the Baja 500. In July 1967, a Rambler American in the passenger-car category was driven by Spencer Murray and Ralph Poole and finished the run in a record 31 hours [2].
American Motors then got serious in this type of racing and signed up James Garner's "American International Racers" (AIR) team to a three-year contract. Garner's shops prepared ten 1969 SC/Ramblers provided by AMC. The cars were modified for the punishing Baja 500 race [3]. Raising the suspension and using Goodyear 10x15-inch tires increased ground clearance. All window glass was removed and roll cages were installed. The cars had 44-gallon fuel tanks. Two cars were further modified with four-wheel drive. The AIR team built the 390 V8 engines to blueprint tolerances, thus increasing horsepower to 410 at the flywheel. The cars were capable of 140 mph runs along smooth straights at about 7,000 rpm in fourth gear.
On June 11, 1969, eight of the Ramblers were entered into the passenger-car category and the two 4WD versions were in the Experimental class. Garner did not drive in the race because of a film commitment in Spain. Seven of the Ramblers finished the grueling race, taking three of the top five places in the passenger-car class. One of the four-wheel-drive cars came in fourth in its class. The AIR team included a car with Bob Bondurant and Tony Murphy that took first place. For one of the winning Rambler drivers, this was his first ever race and the experience launched the career of Walker Evans.
[edit] Rally racing
Rambler Americans raced with good results in the Shell 4000 Rally that was held in Canada. In 1968, for example, the grueling 4000-mile rally over the often tortuous muddy road from Calgary to Halifax, the AMC team finished 2nd, 3rd, and 5th winning the Manufacturers Team Award. [4]
[edit] References
- Gunnell, John, Editor (1987). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Kraus Publications. ISBN 0-87341-096-3.
[edit] External links
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| People | Roy Abernethy | A.E. Barit | Roy D. Chapin Jr. | George W. Romney | Richard A. Teague | George W. Mason | Gerald C. Meyers | Edmund E. Anderson | François Castaing | Robert B. Evans | Richard E. Cross |
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