(first posted 1/25/2014) Certain makes and models take a lot of flak from armchair enthusiasts when they are perceived to be plain or boring. Corolla, Camry, Accord, Malibu–it goes on and on. But let’s face it, many folks don’t give a flip about their marque’s heritage, prowess in racing or “cool” appearance. I’ll take it even further: some people just want a comfy seat to haul them and their family to work, to school, on vacations and to the grocery store. For folks who answer “white” when asked what kind of car they drive, may I present this 1968 Rambler American?
It is basic–and I do mean basic–especially in its entry-level 220 trim. When I was approaching driving age in the mid-’90s, though I was pretty sure I’d be getting a Volvo, it ideally had to have power windows, power brakes, power steering, air conditioning and an automatic transmission. Here and now, in 2014, just try to find a new automobile that doesn’t have all that stuff. A few are there for those who seek them out, but they are very rare. We are so spoiled today with modern cars.
The 220 was available only as a two or four-door sedan, listed at $1946 and $2024, respectively. For comparison’s sake, the top-of-the-line Rogue two-door hardtop (comparable to the 440, but not marketed as such) had a base price of $2244. The American 440 series was the top trim level for four-doors and offered the sole wagon. The rather nice-looking blue interior pictured above is from a 440.
An American 440 four-door was much more livable for about $140 above the 220 sedan, with its additional exterior chrome, full wheel covers, carpeting and plusher upholstery and door panels. While it dated to 1964, the 440/Rogue was quite an attractive compact. But for those fine folks looking for basic transportation and nothing more…
…there was this! The American 220 four-door sedan included as standard equipment four wheels and tires, two bench seats, a steering wheel and an engine: such decadence!
Seriously, the sparse equipment list featured a Weather-Eye heater, front armrests, front seat foam cushions (presumably the rear seat used springs and/or horsehair) and a dome light. That’s it! Of course, many options could be added on, but that would defeat the whole point of purchasing a 220 vis-à-vis a 440 or Rogue.
Sorry, no MyFordNissanTouchPod here! You have a seat and steering wheel, and pedals. Oh, and doors to keep rain, snow and slush off of you. But at least the interior isn’t black or gray. In fact, I rather like the patterned cloth with the black and white trim. Although this car’s original owner sprung for the automatic transmission, no radio was installed.
The 1968 Americans were introduced along with all the other AMC cars on September 27, 1967. While the original 1964 version had tunneled front fenders and headlights–later reused on the 1974-78 Matador coupe–a refresh in 1966 squared up the front clip and hood.
1968 Americans received a new grille, relocated “American” nameplates and other minor trim changes. And like all other domestics, they received the newly-mandated side marker lights on the front and rear fenders.
The 220 most appealed to folks wanting simple transportation and no frills. The American may have been a bit dated compared to, say, a Valiant (redesigned for ’67) or Nova (brand-new in ’68), but it was reliable with its big Six and had no complicated engineering or accessories. 16,595 220 four-doors and 53,824 220 two-doors were sold, making this sedan the less commonly seen variant, then and now.
Most of you know me as a huge Volvo, Lincoln and Brougham fan, but the honest truth is I like pretty much anything. Even if it is a vehicle I would never own, I will pore all over an interesting vehicle in a parking lot or at a show, so when I saw the tell-tale boxy shape of a ’60s Rambler from John Deere Road, I had to check it out!
I love this car’s honesty. No pretentiousness here: simple lines, ample glass area, good room and space inside, and a true-blue straight six! And I really like those dog-dish hubcaps.
Salt eats cars where I live, so seeing any car pre-1975 outside of a car show–is relatively rare. But a genuine Rambler is a true find. I was thrilled to check out this survivor and would happily ride in this back seat, just to experience riding in a Rambler. I wouldn’t even care that there was no armrest!
Here you can see that radio blanking plate I mentioned earlier. I also like the gauges on this car–rather uncommon to see round gauges on such a basic car. Strip speedometers were usually seen on everything but muscle and pony cars in the ’60s.
This was the last year the American was branded as such; the 1969 model was little changed but was now simply called “Rambler” rather than Rambler American. Such a nice, honest little car. I hope its owner keeps it just as it is–a car from a time when basic really meant basic!
For me, this is the quintessential Rambler. During my very young years, my aunt and uncle had a green American, although it was a two door. A very durable car, it saw them through some turbulence and almost served as the delivery room for my cousin.
The Rambler had been in a fender bender shortly before I came along, although they drove it a while longer. One day a turd brown Toyota Corona coupe showed up, back when those Tie-oh-tees where a curious novelty. They Toyota quickly crusted over, to be replaced by an ’81 Mustang. They never went Japanese again.
My Missouri relatives (Audrain County) called Toyotas “Toy-yer-ters” . . . . my Uncle swore he’d never have a Japanese car. . . . . . Truth be told, Japanese sheet metal never really licked the rust problem until sometime in the late 80’s/early 90’s. . . . . case in point; living in Hawaii and Guam back then. If you were not religious about washing and waxing your car AND didn’t have some kind of rustproofing (Quaker State, Ziebart, . . ) rust bubbles soon would turn to flakes and holes at the A, C, pillars, trunk lids, and lower front fenders . . . hood edges too!!
Unlike the rust belt states/provinces, the aforementioned with the tropic, salt air (worse in Guam and Saipan), cars would rust from the top down first, then the bottom up.
“16,595 220 four-doors and 53,824 220 two-doors were sold, making this sedan the less commonly seen variant”
Tom – both body styles are sedans; they have “B” pillars – as opposed to four or two door hardtops which do not.
That car looks great. Is that a church parking lot? Looks like the white van parked nearby is the church outing bus and the AMC could be used by the pastor to drive to various church functions in town. No radio in a four door sedan with an automatic is perfect for the minister.
Yes–“this sedan” meaning the four-door sedan, not the two-door version. The only hardtop was the Rogue.
It was indeed parked at a church. It was still there when I drove by earlier this week; I took these photos about a month ago.
1967 was the last year for the American convertible, here’s a picture from the brochure:
Reminds me of the “Church Lady” sketch from 80’s Saturday Night Live, Jon Lovitz was playing Satan, and he gave her a little Satan statue “for the dashboard of your Rambler” he said. This was the car I pictured when he said that.
I was sure this would be the sort of car that would be used by the nuns at the local convent. ” Fire up the Rambler, Sister Mary-Immaculata!”
Hahaha! Well said, although the nuns in my Catholic grade school tooled around in a ’59 Bel Air 4 dr sedan, black of course. 6 cyl, no options except Powerglide and power steering.
LOL! Yes, I remember that Church Lady skit! I nearly busted a gut when he said that.
Growing up in the ‘burbs of St. Louis, Mo., a friend around the corners dad loved AMCs There were Ramblers and AMC cars in the driveway all the time. Ambassadors and the odd Marli, mostly When my friend came of age his dad bought him a new 68. he wanted a Javelin. Howeverm his dad had other ideas. Yep, one o’ these basic 2 door Americans. Was a little more excessive than this. Had an AM radio. A most dependable car, it was a coppery brown color with a tan interior. Friend did what every teen in the late 60s did with his car. Got a set of ‘Mags” and upgraded the sound system with AM-FM * track and 4 speakers. When we both graduated HS in ’69, we went to different colleges, I was local ,he went to Chicago, taking the little copper American with him. We have not seen one another since.
Ramblers version of a Holden Belmont no trim no accessories just a car 4 doors seats windows and lights and wipers if it rains rubber mats on the floor just basic transportation I had a Belmont but no Ramblers….. yet.
I like the lines of the Rogue 2-door hardtop, or even the American 2 door sedan. Pretty much the AMC version of the Valiant/Dart. Id like to see Jason W’s buddys car after those mags installed. Probably looked sharp.
Its so base it even has a plug where the lighter would have gone…its ok I guess, nuns normally don’t smoke.
I didn’t notice the lighter delete!
But where would they have plugged in their cell phone charger? Oh, wait…
Multiply this car by about 200, add some bad 60s colors and a lot of iron oxide, and you would have my high school parking lot.
Or, just a few years later, where would they plug in their radar detector?
Wait, could you even speed in one of these? 😉
This is as plain and simple as a car can be. Radio Delete. Lighter delete. This and that and everything else delete. Even the automatic transmission is essentially a Clutch Delete; three-on-the-tree would make it more interesting to drive! It’s a sort of rolling Sensory Deprivation Chamber.
Which is actually kind of cool.
“It’s a sort of rolling Sensory Deprivation Chamber.”
Except for some probable serious road and engine noise due to a complete absence of sound insulation.
I had an early ’70s Hornet (the updated! American) for about a week from the “Rent-A-Wreck” emporium while my brougham was being repainted. An ex parks department car based on the fade marks on the doors where the decals had been removed. A base model with rubber mat floors – but sumptuously equipped with AC and AM radio. With the AC on, an incredible tin can effect was evident, and the noisy blower, engine, and road noise completely overwhelmed what the powerful 7 watt one speaker surround sound system could put out. I had to give my sister a lift and her 1st comment was: “What the hell is wrong with this car?”
A seriously rude, crude, lewd dude of a car. I had to swap that car for some reason and ended up with a Volare coupe – a huge step up by any measure.
The return of my freshly painted ’76 Cutlass Supreme Brougham 350 was heaven on wheels after that experience! The bigger car also easily out handled the two compacts.
Good point! I’d forgotten about the lack of sound insulation. The auditory equivalent of rose-colored glasses; not sure what that would be. My mom had a 1964 American station wagon. She nicknamed it “The Lawn Mower,” due to the overpowering Briggs & Stratton engine sound.
Yes, this is my strongest recollection about the 69 Rambler owned by a buddy’s brother. Every bit of mechanical or road noise and vibration reverberated through the cabin. I spent a lot of time in Mopar A bodies of this era and while they were not that well isolated either, they felt like Lincolns in comparison with that Rambler.
At least it has a heater (Weather Eye to boot).
Wonder when heater went from being an option to mandatory equipment?
Did they previously put in a heater core and just not hook up the hoses?
I could see someone moving up north with a southern car that originally came with no heater…did they have to put the heater core in the dash, or was it already there but not hooked up? Dash doesn’t look too hard to put in the heater core after the fact.
Similarly wonder about newer (80’s) cars that originally had no air conditioning…if you wanted it, did you have to open up the dash to put in the evaporator and hook the connections up to it? I’m sure you had to add compressor and condenser plus dryer in the engine compartment, but I wonder what needed to be done in the dash itself…was the evaporator already there or did they need to open up the dash to put it in?
In the old days (pre 1972 or so) there were these ugly aftermarket A/C units (Frigi-king?) that hung under the dash. Had a neighbor with one in a Chevy wagon. Worked well enough, but he rarely used it because it caused the car to overheat. Interestingly, this was basically the same type of A/C featured in a Mercedes of that era. Always figured that all that German engineering could come up with something better.
Anyway, had a friend with a mid 1980’s Olds Ciera with no factory air. It had nothing an A/C system would need, not even the proper dash vents. There were these block off plates where the A/C vents would normally be.
This car does have a pleasant-looking dash to be so spartan. Heck, the whole car is pretty nice looking despite being so plebian.
I see this car has “dangling shoulder belt syndrome,” as the shoulder belts are just hanging from their roof-rail mounted anchors, maybe used just once in the car’s lifetime. (There were little clips in the roof rails meant for storage when not in use, but I saw a lot of cars back in the day with the dangling belts.)
This was the first year shoulder belts were mandated for the outboard front seats, and the Detroit automakers complied with separate belts with their own dedicated buckles. This meant if you were a safety stickler, you had to buckle up twice. These shoulder belts were manually adjusted (no retractors), so you couldn’t necessarily reach all of the controls when belted in, such as the parking brake release.
Our 72 Skylark was worse, they were never taken out, until I did one day out of curiosity, the seatbelt hung in zig-zag shape from being held in there for 25 years.
I toured the Brampton AMC plant with my scout troop in 1962. I was 12 years old. This plant is now churning out 300’s and Chargers. But then it made Americans. It was considered a state-of-the-art plant at the time. The bodies were dipped into a tank of primer for rustproofing, and this was an AMC selling point. I recall the door window frames made of aluminum extrusions welded at the corners. I also remember that all body styles were made on the same line, including convertibles. A solid, attractive, and honest car. A good candidate for the “All-Canadian Car”(TM) – four doors, four/six cylinder, auto, low $, cheap to run, cheap to fix. There are still folks running Tempos/Topazes for this purpose.
I have just come through a nice drive through a snowstorm with lots of wind. The term “blizzard” may come to mind. I am thinking of asking for support to my campaign to ban white cars. Anybody…..
Friend of mine got fired from Campbell motors assembly line in Thames NZ he dropped a Rambler Rebel into the dip tank and damaged it yeah they didnt rust real bad either.
Although still in Brampton, the current Chrysler plant isn’t the original Brampton AMC plant that you would have toured in 1962.
Love this car! It reminds me of the generic products I used to see in lower tier stores growing up…..You know, the white can that said “COFFEE” in black letters, or the white package that only said “CIGARETTES”…Whoever owns this should take off the “Rambler” logos and scripts and apply some that say “CAR”….Just needs a black, vinyl interior to complete the look.
..Don’t get me wrong, I’m one of those folks that appreciate something as basic as this, and I think that the Rambler is a handsome design, even stripped down to this price point.
Reviewing the pic’s, I keep coming back to that suspicious dark spot on the front seat…What do you suppose happened there?
Reviewing the pic’s, I keep coming back to that suspicious dark spot on the front seat…What do you suppose happened there?
Wear. Cars in the 50s/early 60s used a spun nylon that didn’t last like upholstry does now. That front corner of the driver’s seat was always the first spot to go.
You know, the white can that said “COFFEE” in black letters,
Eons ago, the back page gag picture in Road & Track was, iirc, a Valiant, white with about a 12″ square bar code on the driver’s door and “CAR”
I could say the same thing about my old white, 4 door, ex fleet, Escort, whose interior was purged of even the slightest bit of non-black/grey that the civilian Escorts had.
My Father had one of those just before I was born, a plain blue sedan, probably a 220. He traded it in on a basic blue Valiant a couple of years later. A great Dad he was but a car guy he was not.
It made me think ‘Volga’, especially the right side picture. I’m sure the snow has something to do with it.
A good looking basic car – that rubber-trimmed rear window is the ultimate badge of authenticity.
What a great week!
I’ve always had a thing for minimalist, boxy cars too–whether Volvos, Valiants, K-cars or even this Rambler. Simple, honest lines enclosing the maximum amount of interior space given the exterior footprint/bulk. Although I barely remember when Ramblers like this roamed the streets, it’s but one of a proud tradition of such cars that are notably scarce in today’s “upscale” and “aero” automotive marketplace.
The final generation Rambler American sure was an honest car. A simple, three-box design that was priced only $200 more than a VW Beetle, yet $278 less than the next cheapest domestic compact (Valiant), designed to do nothing more than get its occupants from point A to point B in (relative) comfort and reliability.
Maybe the only thing keeping it from cult status is the relatively low number produced in relation to the competition.
Nice,what Dad would call honest American cars.He also thought Ramblers were for spinster librarians,there were quite a few RHD Ramblers sold in the UK in the 60s.Rambler lived on a little later as the 1st Javelin was advertised a Rambler Javelin.I hardly ever see these cars today compared to the big 3’s compact sedans
Beautiful! Mercedes in Germany started out in exactly the same spec until mid-80s, (though power disc brakes and a 4th gear were standard for a long time by then).
Also my ’73 BMW 2500 came with sunroof and power brakes as the only commodities – we’re talking about the grandfather of all 7-series-Beemers!
And thats what I love about em – it’s serious state-of-the-art engineering made affordable by omiting all frills an furbelows. Still on par with a fully loaded El Cheapo motorized hay cart, price-wise, but you’re aware of the reasons all the time.
Very similar to my ’67 American Wagon. I love driving a 3-on -the -tree.
I had a Vauxhall Cresta with 3 on a tree and loved it.Everyone should drive a 3 on a tree once
This was my first car as a sixteen year old. A ’68 American 220 2dr sedan, 199 cu. in. 6, three on the tree, completely basic. Not one option on it I’m sure. Scary, scary four wheel drum brakes and scary vacuum operated wipers. Absolutely bullet proof though.
Took me everywhere, Alaska, Death Valley – started every time in crazy cold Canadian winters. Lots of good times with that car. Would love to take one for a spin, or have in my garage for the nostalgia, but waaaaaay crude driving dynamics.
I’d rather buy this car, rehabilitate (drivetrain, brakes, cooling system, etc.) it to be a reliable daily driver and repaint than do the new car thing again. Never again.
I wonder how much it would cost me to get aftermarket A/C put on it?
Great find and post, Tom.
AMC seems to have had 2 acts, and this was the car that closed the first act. Strippos like this have always resonated with me, and I could totally commute in this.
I had a ’68 American Rogue 2 door hardtop with the 290 V8 and 3 on the tree. It was a durable and dependable car. In 100K of driving, it never failed to start and never had a flat tire or ran out of gas..The steering was stiff, so I finally put a power steering box from a wrecked Javelin on it. Another addition was a hang-on air. I should have kept it until it was worn out. Today, I see many street rodded Americans in car magazines,
I had a ’63 Classic 550 which was the big brother to the 220, in very early 60s metallic blue with an aqua nylon interior. Basic indeed, but unlike the American, the Classic had a much more stylized dashboard with the weather eye heater flanking the speedo pod. It was quite reliable, even at forty years old and had a heater that could warm the interior from -5 degrees to toasty ‘by the second traffic light of the commute.’ Only my Lada Riva had a better heater, but it lacked the Rambler’s rust resistance and build quality. The engine in these is indeed a beast, and I bet swapping a late 4.0 Jeep engine wouldn’t be too much hassle for those who like the idea of a ‘hot straight six.’
I too have always liked and purchased strippers- a Corvair 500, the Rambler, base Duster, ’96 Dakota Work Special, Paul’s favorite ’71 Ford Custom (not 500), Ladas, and since I moved to the UK, base model Mercedes that had only the air inside the cabin as the only optional extra. Now, the only downside to the Rambler- and it is a big one that lasted well into the Hornet/Gremlin era is two words that should never be used in the same sentence- Vacuum and wiper. You can see or accelerate, but never at the same time.
Great find. In my hometown, the proverbial little old lady was driving this car’s twin up through the early 1990s.
High school buddy had a ’64 220 American. Basic 2-door coupe. Three on the tree. No radio; no nothing. I drove it once. Although smaller, it drove pretty much the same as my bare bones ’61 Pontiac Catalina (no power steering or power brakes). The only option THAT car (the Rambler) had was the 199 OHV six (based models in ’64 had the ancient Nash “Flying Scot” flathead). Drove sluggishly around curves and like my old Pontiac, you “telegraphed” your stop. Riding with Doug one rainy day in 1976 (the few in Northern California back then during a severe drought) introduced me to vacuum wipers at speed. He thought his Rambler was a Camaro!!
Brings back memories. My grandmother drove one just like this. I think I still have spare parts for it and the studded snow tires for it in the shed.
A co-worker of mine drove a gray 2 door one of these for the better part of a decade! We aged. The car never seemed to.
Has anyone checked out “Rambler 65” by Ben Vaughn? Great CD recorded and mixed in his Rambler with bonus AMC advertising music.
Yep, it’s a cool CD. Supposedly the entire thing was recorded in a Rambler American! There was also a “Rambler ’65” music video released around 1997 on the Rhino Records label. It was only ever on VHS though and is long out of print now.
“Got a ‘65 Rambler, baby aren’t you impressed. Climb in the passenger side and really slam that door-watch the road go by the hole in the floor”
Just for info…most of the image links appear to be broken, both on Firefox and on IE.
This can be deleted after the administrator sees it!
They seem broken on the back end too – any other editors (who may be more comuter savvy than this one) have any ideas on how to address this?
It appears that the photos have been deleted from the server. Wasn’t CC moved to a new server recently? Maybe they were lost in the migration.
To me this is a perfect car. I would love to have one.
I’ll take mine in SC trim: