It is kind of funny how our perception of things changes over time. Take this 1966 Rambler American for example. In 1966 this was about the most plain, boring, and uncool car that a young guy with hot rodding aspirations could be saddled with yet today when I look at it, the thing is kind of poetic in its simplicity. The lines are crisp and the whole car has the feel that not one extra stroke of the pen was wasted when the design team was coming up with the final appearance of this car. Think about some of the other stuff for sale in 1966, from the Mustang to the GTO. Those cars have curves, lines, and styling risks that have made them iconic. The biggest risk that the American design team took was probably the font to use on the American badge. Anyway, because of the simple looks, these cars lend themselves to hot rodding in all the right ways. This car is very mild in the grand scheme of things but it was done by someone who really knew what he wanted and the car is 100% BangShift approved.
While the seller does not make specific reference to lowering the car, the stance does look more aggressive and coo. Clearly there’s more rubber under the corners than was there from the factory and the steel wheels have that plain Jane factory look but are done in a larger diameter for today’s high performance tires. The engine is a warmed up AMC 304ci V8 that is backed up by a Torqueflite transmission that sends power to an AMC rear axle. The engine is not over the top but it has some cool parts on it and the engine bay is as surgically organized and clean as any that we have ever seen. The coolest part of the car for us may be the interior. It retains all the stock pieces with some hot rod upgrades like a shifter and a shift light.
This is a car clearly designed and built to be driven like all hot rods should be. Nothing about it is over the top, nothing about it audacious, but everything about it is really cool. Would you rock this thing?
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It’s perfect. The interior colors are especially gorgeous. I’ve had a similar idea in my head for quite a while, actually.
That’s pretty much perfection, especially since it has a proper AMC powerplant under its hood.
The great thing about Marblers is that they’re like the Willys cars of thirty years earlier: there’s nothing really remarkable about them, but they can be had cheaply and made fast fairly easily. Without cheap commuter cars, hotrodding would be nowhere.
clean, simple perfection.
I dig it. This is a cool Rambler too, packin a 390.
http://www.barrett-jackson.com/Archive/Event/Item/1964-RAMBLER-AMERICAN-2-DOOR-COUPE-113227
I had a 1966 American with the 390 in it. I really don’t know why I sold it but I’d like to have it back. I’d have to think a bit about this one though. I’m not real sure it’s worth $24,000 with the 304. Maybe if it had the 390.
Very nice, but I don’t see $24,000 with a 304 and a stock rearend.
If it still has the splined axles and drums worse yet!
Neat car, just over the top on price.
Yeah thats a lot considering the one with the 390 sold for half that and that was at barrett jackson to boot.
Neat clean. I like it. Even if it was for dorks. Haha!
Very well done! I mean that is a bitchin Rambler
Nice, clean, understated, with a couple of items to change. Although they are very nicely, done the shifter and shift light are completely out of place. A more discrete or factory appearing shifter and hide the shift light among the stock “idiot lights” and you’re golden.
with a 24k price tag
there should be a turbo charged 5.3L LS engine and 4L60 trans in it along with a 9 inch ford rear
Looked at a Scramber many, many years ago in Bow Hill Washington, seats were gone, had a Javelin 390, and I thought it was too much work at the time and passed on it. I love these cars, but I’m with you guys on this one, this is a solid 12K car with a 304/chicken leg rear end. I’d still like to have it though……….
In 1966 you wouldn’t even notice this car yet in 2015, you could have all the attention you ever wanted.
The price is way too high. Over at Hemmings there is a really nice 1966 289 Mustang convertible – red with white top – asking price is $23,900.
It took me three tries to make through the pictures without falling asleep. The style bucket was empty when AMC designed these.