Rambler American

Rambler American
Production period:	1958-1969
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Previous model:	Nash Rambler
Successor:	AMC Hornet

The Rambler American was a passenger car manufactured by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1958 to 1969. The American was the second edition of its predecessor Nash Rambler , which was sold under the brand names Nash and Hudson in 1954 and 1955.

The American can be divided into three generations: from 1958 to 1960 1961 to 1963 and 1964 to 1969. During his entire life he has been under the brand name Rambler markets and was also the last Rambler model, which for the markets Canada and USA was made .

In other countries, e.g. B. Mexico (from Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos SA (VAM)) and Argentina (from Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA)), these models were further developed and produced under license until 1981. The Rambler American was also sold in other export markets, e.g. B. South Africa , sold.

1958-1960

1st generation
Rambler American sedan (1959)
Production period:	1958-1960
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.2 liters (67–95 kW)
Length:	4528 mm
Width:	1854 mm
Height:	1456 mm
Wheelbase :	2540 mm
Empty weight :

The Rambler American story began when AMC President George W. Romney saw during the 1958 Depression (under President Eisenhower ) that AMC needed a smaller car on offer. The company still had the tools from the 1955 Nash Rambler , which was only slightly modified and then served as the basis for the new American. The AMC designers gave the car a new grille and larger rear wheel arches, which made the car look a little lighter than its predecessor, which hid the rear wheels behind heavy wheel covers.

In 1958 the American was only available as a 2-door sedan, but 30,640 were sold. In 1959, AMC sold 91,491 units, including a 3-door station wagon. In 1960 a 4-door sedan was also produced and sales rose to 120,603 units.

1961-1963

2nd generation
Rambler American Convertible (1962)
Production period:	1961-1963
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.2 liters (67-103 kW)
Length:	4397 mm
Width:	1778 mm
Height:	1427 mm
Wheelbase :	2540 mm
Empty weight :

The second generation of the Rambler American was created through a major overhaul of the previous year's model under the styling vice president of AMC, Edmund E. Anderson. Mechanically, the new car was the same as its predecessor, but Anderson's redesign resulted in a shorter car with a higher load capacity. In addition to the previous models, a two-door convertible and a 5-door station wagon were offered. In 1963, a hardtop coupé made its debut without B-pillars, the roofline being kept in such a way that it simulated a convertible with a closed roof. A special model, the 440-H, was equipped with sporty details, such as bucket seats and a more powerful version (138 PS, 103 kW) of the normal Rambler in-line six-cylinder engine with 3.2 liters displacement.

1964-1969

3rd generation
Rambler American Convertible (1967)
Production period:	1964-1969
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.0–6.4 liters (67–235 kW)
Length:	4502-4597 mm
Width:	1798 mm
Height:	1384 mm
Wheelbase :	2692 mm
Empty weight :	1136 kg

Rambler American station wagon (1968)

The third generation only completed what was started with the second generation design. The entire series received simpler and clearer lines (compared to the high-sided predecessors) with the characteristic headlights disappearing deep into their rings and a simple grille with horizontal bars in between.

The new styling was the work of well-known designer Richard A. Teague , who also designed the 1968 Javelin and the AMX . The Rambler American's wheelbase grew by 152 mm to 2692 mm in 1964. The new models also had many parts in common with larger AMC models, e.g. B. the doors. This year, the new was top-driven 3.8-liter six-cylinder engine introduced the AMC to 1979 began (a smaller 3.3-liter version was from 1966 to 1970 in use). The same machine was later available with a displacement of 4.2 liters from 1971 to 1989, and a 4.0-liter variant was introduced in 1987 for the Jeep 4.0, which Chrysler produced until 2006.

In 1966 all models got a facelift and had more angular front and rear views, which made the vehicles look even more modern. The top model, which was only available as a 2-door hardtop, was renamed from 440-H to Rogue . In addition, a new V8 engine with a displacement of 4.8 liters called " Typhoon " was developed by AMC and first used in a special Rogue model in mid-1966 .

The last convertible in the American series was built in 1967 and also renamed from 440 to Rogue . Only in 1967 there was the new AMC V8 engine with 5.6 liters displacement in the American Rogue . Only 43 copies were delivered, of which only seven were convertibles. The Rogue also had a grille that gripped around the vehicle corners. All American models received a new radiator grille with clearly visible, horizontal chrome-plated bars. The middle 330 equipment was no longer available in 1967.

In 1968 the series was further simplified; The basic 220 equipment consisted of 2- and 4-door sedans, the 440 consisted of a 4-door sedan and 5-door station wagon and only the hardtop coupé in the rogue version. Again, all American models got a new radiator grille, the horizontal, chrome-plated bars of which reached outwards to the main headlights. The 440 and the Rogue had stainless steel trim that ran straight through on both sides from front to back halfway between the wheel cutouts and the belt line. The biggest change, however, was the decision to lower the recommended retail price for the 2-door basic model to just $ 200 above that of the VW Beetle . The "Big Three" ( Chrysler , GM , Ford ) did not follow this strategy, which gave AMC a great price advantage over its American competitors. Sales of the Rambler American rose and increased customer interest raised the morale of the independent AMC dealership.

In the last season, 1969, the name " American " was dropped because the car was now sold as the American Motors Rambler . The chrome grille was also removed. In order to maintain the traditional name Rambler , AMC added the Rogue-based SC / Rambler to the model range.

In 1970 the American was replaced by the AMC Hornet .

SC / Rambler

SC / Rambler

SC / Rambler

The SC / Rambler was a special model that was launched in 1969 together with "Hurst Performance". With 1,512 units, it was probably the only production model that was built and advertised for the special drag racing class, the “ National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) F / Stock Class ” .

All Hurst SC / Ramblers had an AMC V8 engine with 6.4 liters displacement and an output of 315 hp (235 kW), which was also used in the AMC AMX , in connection with a Hurst four-speed transmission, a differential with limited slip ("Twin Grip") and a gear ratio of 3.54: 1, heavy-duty brakes with front discs and a stabilizer as well as reinforced drive shafts and body parts. American Motors turned to Hurst to develop a “stock car” (SC) model - often called a “ scrambler ” - to make a good impression in the small muscle car segment . The vehicle was only available as a 2-door hardtop coupé. The interior consisted of folding bucket seats in standard gray vinyl with blue, white and red headrests and a " Sun " tachometer , which was strapped onto the steering column. On the outside, however, the SC / Rambler were provided with the wildest color combinations that the muscle car scene has ever seen. They also had the rectangular air scoop with the inscriptions " 390 cu.in." and " Air" mounted on either side of the hood. If someone overlooked this, a blue arrow pointed to the air inlet. The Scrambler was only available in two red-white-blue color combinations ("A" or "B" version) and without any special equipment with the exception of a medium wave radio.

American Motors built a series of 500 SC / Ramblers in the "A" version before switching to the "B" version. 500 "B" models were then built before AMC reverted to a final batch of 512 "A" models.

Some other unique equipment details were the racing mirrors, the movement limiters for the rear axle and two-tone striped rims with red Goodyear polyglass tires. American Motors set the suggested retail price at $ 2,298. A SC / Rambler was a serious competitor on the dragstrip because, even in the factory version, it made the quarter mile (400 meters with a standing start) in 14 seconds at 100 mph (161 km / h) top speed.

Torino

IKA Torino

From 1966 to 1981, Industrias Kaiser Argentina (IKA) in Argentina manufactured a vehicle derived from the 1964 Rambler American and the Rambler Classic , which was introduced in 1963. This car was called Torino and was assembled by IKA as a CKD kit that was delivered from Kenosha. IKA used the American car front and rear and combined these with the middle section of the Classic for the Argentine car, which was basically an elongated American . (The American had a wheelbase of 2692 mm, the Classic one of 2845 mm - like the Torino). The front and rear of the car and the interior had been redesigned by Pininfarina in the Italian / European style and the Tornado engine was redesigned. The Torino 380w version had 3 Weber horizontal double carburettors . A ZF four-speed transmission was also installed. It was available as a 2-door hardtop coupé (3.8-liter in-line six-cylinder, 134-208 SAE hp / 99-153 kW) and as a four-door sedan (three- or 3.8-liter six-cylinder, 119 -181 SAE PS (87.5-133 kW)). A total of 99,792 Torino models were assembled in Argentina.

Aria and Shahin

"Aria" and "Shahin"

From 1967 to 1974 the version of the AMC Rambler American of 1966 was built under license from AMC by the Iranian Jeep Company ( Sherkate Sahami Jeep ). The American was offered in two versions as "Aria" and "Shahin". The Aria was more luxurious and had a three-speed Borg-Warner 35 automatic transmission . The 195.6 cu (3.2 l) inline six with 128 hp (95 kW) from AMC was used as the engine.

The Iran Jeep Company ( Sherkate Sahami ) founded in June 1972 after an agreement with General Motors to General Motors Iran Ltd . The license production of the Rambler was discontinued in 1974 and replaced by license production from Opel and Chevrolet .

Trivia

Ben Vaughn is a musician and has long been a fan of the Rambler automobiles. His song El Rambler Dorado was released in 1988 on the album Blows Your Mind . He later recorded an entire album in his Rambler American . It was called the Rambler 65 and he turned his car into a makeshift studio. The installation of the recording technology turned the Rambler into a gimmick and exhibit. Still, the music he created in this car is, according to most critics, the best rock 'n' roll and country of the 1950s and 1960s. The album was released in 1997 by Rhino Records . The 24-minute video for the album Rambler 65 is even more interesting for classic car enthusiasts . Some of the sequences contain old TV commercials with AMC cars.

Sports

Profitability records

The Rambler American was the winner with the lowest gasoline consumption in the Mobil Economy Run every year , even at a time when fuel economy was not an argument when buying a car. So z. B. 1964 a " Rambler American 440" sedan with a six cylinder engine 27.8 miles / gallon (8.45 l / 100 km); that was the best value this year.

American Motors used the results of this popular event in its advertising as a marketing technique that further emphasized the fuel economy of these compact cars.

Terrain competitions

There was a tough off-road race in Mexico , the Baja 500 . In July 1967, a Rambler American driven by Spencer Murray and Ralph Poole finished this race in the passenger car category in a record-breaking 31 hours.

Then AMC got seriously involved in this racing discipline and signed the American International Racers team (AIR, co-owner, inter alia, James Garner ) for three years. Garner's workshop built ten 1969 SC / Ramblers that AMC provided. The cars were upgraded for the extremely demanding “Baja 500” race. The ground clearance was increased by using different suspensions and Goodyear tires measuring 10 ″ × 15 ″. All window panes were removed and a roll cage was installed. The cars were equipped with 167 liter tanks. Two of the cars were converted to four-wheel drive . The AIR team built 6.4-liter AMC engines with racing tolerances, giving them 410 SAE-PS (306 kW) (measured on the flywheel). The cars managed up to 225 km / h at 7,000 rpm in 4th gear on flat, straight stretches.

On June 11, 1969, eight Ramblers were registered in the passenger car category and the two all-wheel-drive specimens in the experimental class. Garner himself did not go on this occasion, as he was obliged to make a film in Spain. Seven Ramblers finished the race, taking three of the top five places in the passenger car category. An all-wheel drive car came second in its class. The AIR team also had a car with Bob Bondurant and Tony Murphy that came in first. It was the first ever race for one of the winners, Walker Evans , and that's how he started his career.

Rallies

Rambler Americans competed in the Shell 4000 Rally in Canada with good success . 1968 z. For example, the AMC team took 2nd, 3rd and 5th place on the 4,000-mile (6,437 km) extreme route from Calgary to Halifax with its often very muddy roads and won the designer's award.

Web links

Commons : Rambler American  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• AMC Rambler Club (English)
• American Motors Owners
• Crittenden Automotive Library: American (English)

swell

• John Gunnell (Ed.): The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 . Krause Publications, 1987, ISBN 0-87341-096-3 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://www.cocheargentino.com.ar/t/torino.htm
2. ↑ Ghodratollah Talaei, Mehran Nejati: [4 Corporate Social Responsibility in Auto Industry: an Iranian Perspective .] In: Lex ET Scientia International Journal . 1, No. XV, 2008. Retrieved October 26, 2010.