I have to wonder how much that one-year-only hardtop roof cost AMC and whether they sold enough to amortize the tooling, even if the outer roof skin is the only thing not shared with either the convertibles or the ’51-55 hardtop?
Mother (Rambler): Eyeing daughter’s exposed roof rack and overall appearance,”You aren’t going out dressed like that, are you? And just what are your date’s intentions? I don’t like the looks of him”.
Daughter: “Mommmm”!
Mother: “I may have been an Independent when I was your age, but I knew well enough to keep my rear window mostly vertical, and to not parade around with hood scoops on. You are wearing way too much blush”.
Daughter: “This is how all the girls dress now. And the cool guys drive van conversions, and appreciate my long hood and big hips”.
Mother: “You younger ones have no judgement. In our day, we wouldn’t be caught dead with mismatched wheel covers”.
Daughter: “Criticize me all you want, but at least I am not dating a smelly French car, like my Aunt Concorde”.
The left front wheel on the Mustang is of the same type that was on my dad’s (now my brother’s) 1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport. I’ve seen some Rangers & XJ Cherokees with them too. They undoubtedly all share the same bolt pattern: 5″ x 4.5″; very common as a lot of trailers use this pattern as well.
by Don Kincl
I have to wonder how much that one-year-only hardtop roof cost AMC and whether they sold enough to amortize the tooling, even if the outer roof skin is the only thing not shared with either the convertibles or the ’51-55 hardtop?
Thanx ! .
I learned another thing to – day…..
I don’t remember liking those Rambler Americans much in their day but now they look nice .
I seem to recall them being *very* slow when new .
-Nate
With flathead six and automatic trans they were real dogs. Not too bad with the OHV engine and manual transmission.
I remember the flatheads (1958 ?), a friend of mine who’s a total AMC freak taught me about how AMC “converted” the flathead into an OHV engine….
Whew .
I don’t really mind, I find driv9ing slow cars fast is more fun .
The No Frills Iron Bottom Motoring Tour is set to go next month, I hope to make it this time out .
-Nate
I wonder if the flathead was even offered on the hardtop, it was likely reserved for post sedans only to advertise “cheapest new American car” status.
Am I looking at a roof rack mounted on the Mustang?!?
They could have used a longer one
A roof rack on a Mustang only looks stupid until you open the trunk.
Daughter (Mustang): “My date (blue van) is here”.
Mother (Rambler): Eyeing daughter’s exposed roof rack and overall appearance,”You aren’t going out dressed like that, are you? And just what are your date’s intentions? I don’t like the looks of him”.
Daughter: “Mommmm”!
Mother: “I may have been an Independent when I was your age, but I knew well enough to keep my rear window mostly vertical, and to not parade around with hood scoops on. You are wearing way too much blush”.
Daughter: “This is how all the girls dress now. And the cool guys drive van conversions, and appreciate my long hood and big hips”.
Mother: “You younger ones have no judgement. In our day, we wouldn’t be caught dead with mismatched wheel covers”.
Daughter: “Criticize me all you want, but at least I am not dating a smelly French car, like my Aunt Concorde”.
A+
Before clicking in, I momentarily thought the orange coupe was a Javelin. That would have been the ultimate contrasting photo.
The rare American hardtop, with its hind end obscured by the tree, had me initially thinking I was looking at a ’63 Cutlass or Skylark.
Dare I say the Rambler looks better than the Bloatstang?
Yes, but that’s a rather low bar. . .
I prefer the Rambler. Neat little set of wheels.
The left front wheel on the Mustang is of the same type that was on my dad’s (now my brother’s) 1997 Jeep Wrangler Sport. I’ve seen some Rangers & XJ Cherokees with them too. They undoubtedly all share the same bolt pattern: 5″ x 4.5″; very common as a lot of trailers use this pattern as well.
That poor little Rambler is crying out for soap and water. It looks like it’s in great shape.