Projects Well, looks like I'm a Rambler man now!

Picked up this little gem the Sunday before xmas.
It's a 65 Rambler American.
The odo shows just over 91k miles.
I've been looking for a falcon for awhile now just to cruise around in while I worked on my Galaxie.
Anyway here's some pics.
She's a little dirty right now, won't really be able to do much to it till the weather warms up.
Told the wife I wouldn't put her daily out in the cold.

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Also got the original owner's manual with all of the original buyer's info, and the guy also gave me a repair manual too!
Also, does anyone have any info about this sticker I found on the sun visor?

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Fun little car! What are your plans for the future? Hard to believe that they were still using a flathead in '65...

 

Is that anything like a ramblin' man?

 

I believe that the Rambler American was the last American car with a flathead engine.
Also 1965 was the last year for that engine.
Great little car!
KK

 

Back in early 80s I enjoyed 2 Rambled Americans of that vintage. A station wagon for wife n a convertible for me. Wagon was more deluxe, vert Plaines Jane. One morning I came out n my 2 young children were on roof of convertible with my German Shepard!
Fun little cars.

1 more car I promise, Rex Winter
Dry n windy Lubbock

 

Funny that a Dr. would buy a heater & keys Rambler!
Nice shape for an Illinois car though.

 

The body's pretty solid.
I'm pretty sure it's been repainted at some point and the guy told me the previous owner had gone through the motor right before he got it.
But the floors do have some rust problems that I'll need to fix once it warms up a bit.
This is going to be a very low budget project. Just take care of the rust, some new tires and shocks. Maybe some pinstripes and lace on the roof.
I'm open to any info or ideas you guys might have!

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My '64 has the same 195.6 cu in L head and that is odd for your '65. My '58 is a flathead and ohv was available then. Mine sits in garage covered with dust!
Do you have the turn signal lever?
If you remove back seat the build sheet may still be behind seat back.
Visor sticker someone just stuck there. Like my '64 it looks like both are 220 base models, 3 on tree. The '64 like yours has dual master cylinder I believe Rambler was first with that. They're good cars/motors.

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Oh, and of course I need to lower it a bit!
Would really like to get ahold of some astro supremes or vintage cragars!

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No turn signal lever, but the guy did wire them up with toggle switches. Works like a charm!
Oh yeah, I also need to figure out how to move the seat back a couple of inches. It's a little cramped for me! Lol!

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Cool car. Love the looks of the ‘64 to ‘69 American. It’s cool with the Flathead 6 and 3 on the tree.

What a great little car. You gonna cruise it as is with some wheels and tires or new drivetrain?

Cliff Ramsdell

 

No new drivetrain as of now.
Mostly just cruise it as it is.
Promised the little lady that this one wouldn't get out of hand! Lol!
But wouldn't it look cool as a late 60s early 70s street freak?!
All jacked up with a dual quad tunnel ram small block poking through the hood!
Just dreaming! Lol!

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A three on the tree ? WTH is that a real theft deterrent for today’s world !

 

Yeah no kidding!
The old guy I got it from had to give me a crash course when I took it for a test drive! Lol!
I think may have scared him a bit!
Oh by the way, I've got a pretty bad dead spot when I accelerate.
It's a brand new carb, guy said it needs adjusted. Any ideas on what I need to do?

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When I was 13 or 14 in the 80s my best friends sister got a hand me down wagon just like your 2 door . She hated being seen in it so she did her best to beat the living hell out of the poor thing - thinking she would get a new car.

I remember her hitting speed bumps at full throttle and thinking the wheels were gonna fall off.
Well that tough little Rambler would not give in and die - those things are built like a brick shithouse.
That’s a nice little find!

 

Those flathead sixes were woefully under powered. My Aunt had a 64 station wagon she used to deliver items for her catering business. I went with my cousin one day to Albany from Syracuse to pick up some supplies for her business. On the Thruway on the way home against a 20 to 25 mph head wind we could barely go 50 mph. Had to draft trucks and busses to keep up any head way.

It was as reliable as a brick though as long as you didn't have to be any where in a hurry.

 

I was rather surprised too see a stock flathead in a '65. Learned something as usual on the mighty HAMB!

 

Cool car!
I’ve always thought the mid 60’s Ramblers were kinda cool looking and overlooked.
I too did a second look at the motor picture. Can’t believe they were still using a Flathead when ponycars were being sold in showrooms.
Good luck.

 

I love those old Ramblers. I really like the simplicity of a basic daily driver the exude.
r


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Yep that little motor purrs like a kitten! She's no speed demon at all! I did get it up to 70mph the other day! Felt like 110!
But I'm more of a low and slow kind of guy anyway, so it fits me just fine.

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Check the accelerator pump to be certain it works. The carb may be new to the car, but it could have sat for years before that, decades even.

 

Bought from family of original owner.
Featured twice in Power Tour photos
Flat 6 with FLASHOMATIC - - -

 

Tuned up they run fine. The "dead spot when I accelerate" sounds like accelerator pump, not enough squirt.
I would start with a basic tune up, you have shop manual telling settings. One thing I bet is that's the original fuel tank. It would be full of crud. If it's like mine, I assume it is, it has a dual fuel pump/wiper vacuum pump. Mine has a glass filter on bottom. Check that first. Then although carb is new check bowl for trash.
Modern camel wizz "gas" really fouls these old cars, they weren't made to run on it.

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Two things if you have an American with the hood emblem intact and an unbroken parking brake handle...that's a rarity.

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KandN, the Rambler went on to live for many more years in Argentina as the IKA Torino with the Jeep ohc 230

 

I always liked the looks of those things. One of my high school buddies had the same car - same color and everything.

Winneconne, Wisconsin has a Sovereign State Days celebration each year, it's your typical small town weekend with a parade, softball games, etc. https://sovereignstateofwinneconne.com

 

Needs a Hemi or Coyote Ford...fill up the engine bay....

 

Surprised me too.

And maybe Autoweek
https://autoweek.com/article/car-life/what-was-final-year-new-flathead-powered-american-car

 

Now you're talking