Rambler American Excellent Paint/Original Look/196ci I6/Auto Trans/Low Miles

1964 Rambler American

By the time the redesigned 1964 Rambler American went on sale, the model had become an important product for American Motors. The original American bowed in January 1958 as a smaller, lower-priced addition to Rambler's product line. Lacking the funds to develop an all-new car, American Motors took the unusual step of resurrecting the 100-inch-wheelbase Nash Rambler that had gone out of production in 1955. At first, only a modestly updated two-door sedan was available. Still, the American sold well, body styles and trim levels were added, and it was reskinned for 1961. The first truly new American was the 1964 model. It was a larger, roomier car built on a 106-inch wheelbase. To save on tooling and manufacturing costs, the new body shared many stampings and other components with American Motors' new-for-1963 Classic and Ambassador.

Styling courtesy the infamous Richard Teague, we have in our midst a breath of classic air in a straight steel bathed in Dusty Rose Champagne paint, has mirror-like trimmings, and a good interior. An award winner at multiple shows, we see very good overall condition, and runs just perfectly. Breathe it in...deep breaths!

Exterior
sigh Purchased from an estate sale, this classic is rust free steel, well minded gaps, and all bathed in a respray of Dusty Rose Champagne from the deep end of the paint pool. A very simple line with few embellishments, gives this car an almost futuristic aero look. With its horizontal ribbed grille, flanked by a round headlight on either side and a pristine bumper below, it has an air of sophisticated utilitarianism. Just a touch of trim spear on each front quarter just barely invading the door panels, then a rocker trim below, and the American badge on the rear quarter, very fresh. On back the simplicity continues with a pair of elongated oval blue dot taillights, rocket style backup lights and horizontal ribs. A nicely curved rear window is trimmed by shiny edging and wraps around the C pillar for a real greenhouse effect. Passenger windows have nice trimmings and some small sunshades on top of each window. Nice dish wheels with a black center and a badged italic R in the center, are on and wrapped by thin whites on all 4 corners. Very slight areas of rust bubbling are seen near or around the fenders.

Interior
As we swing the doors fully open, we see shades of gray mixing with black graphics, all produced in vinyl and covering the door panels. A split back bench is up front and has small checkered dark and medium gray tuck and roll broadcloth, which is bordered by piping in black and edging courtesy white vinyl all clean and pristine. This pattern holds true for the rear bench, and these are floating in a sea of black carpeting very clean too! The dash brings back great memories as the 1963 version of this car was this writer's college car courtesy my grandmother who had put only 21,000 miles on my car prior to me taking it over in 1978. That car was a real hit, and this one is even nicer, so catch the wind to get over here. I digress, though, and for the dash an elongated aluminum oval has round gauges within on either side and a fanned-out speedometer in the middle. The radio does the same with its trim and looks like its original to this car. 75,365 miles show on the odometer, and from the looks of things inside and out, these are definitely original. A note to the trunk which is lined with like new vinyl and contains the spare and original jack and stand.

Drivetrain
A 196ci Inline 6-cylinder is within the simple wide-open engine bay. This engine has turquoise valve cover and air cleaner cover. All else is original on this engine, and it is topped with a 1-barrel carburetor and has a Borg Warner Flash-O-Matic 3-speed automatic (get a load of that naming Buck Rogers). The rear axle is a 2.73 ratio.

Undercarriage
Up in the Classic Auto Mall air atop the lift, we can peruse the undercarriage, which has some patina, strong steel and is an early version of unibody construction. Structurally sound, no rust, with drum brakes all around, and the typical independent coil spring suspension upfront, and leaf springs on the back. Stock exhaust is on and looking good.

Drive-Ability
This car was a modern convenience drive far cry from my basic 63 flathead with vacuum wipers (a nightmare!). It started right up and drove like it was on a cloud. Strong acceleration, and smooth shifting from the Flash-O-Matic, as well as bias free panic stopping from the drums all around. All functions were working, and the radio turned on but received no stations. Do they still broadcast in AM??! Anyway, driving this car was a breeze, and that's no hot air.

As the consigner states right on the paper, "this car runs good and drives good." It really does and might I take the liberty to add it looks good too and is a great example of the 1964 Rambler American. Ahhhhh! Fresh classic cool air...

VIN DECODE
B707482
B-American 6
707482-Sequential Unit Number

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.