New addition to the family. 1963 Rambler American. Was actually at a local car dealer. Sold a couple of projects to make the deal. This is my 21st American Motors product I have owned and my 5th current American Motors product (Including a Nash). Just a fun driver for the wife and I (Dogs can go in it) Gonna replace the front valance (once I find one) flake the roof, redo the interior, add some white walls and lower it about 2 inches.
nice! you have what's one of my favorite chassis. be prepared to hand-make or adapt every damn thing. what are your plans for it? stock/stock-ish? here's mine: http://sr-ix.com/Roadster/index.html the OHV version of the engine (there's actually three "195.6" rambler engines: flathead, cast iron OHV, and an aluminum OHV. the alum. jobs dont fit in the Americans, only the larger AMC chassis. there's also Nash 195.6's, those don't fit in this Rambler. lol. here's my page on what i've done to re-engineer some fun into the old motor. http://195.6ohv.com also be prepared to be very unpopular on the H.A.M.B.!
I'd drive that! I like that a lot, especially that dashboard/ gauge cluster, and I like the sounds of it with a flaked roof, congratulations!
I love these frumpy butt little cars. How do they drive? I've never had the chance, and when I've found one, they are in horrible condition. That one looks great. Have fun.
Been working on a 62 American convertible for my wife. Basically the same as yours but with a 196 ohv. They are simple cars but still a bit of a PIA to work on because everything is stuffed in so tight. Best of luck with yours, I think you'll find it a fun car to cruise around in. Sent from my SM-G950U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
My 1st car was a new 63 220 2 door, flathead, 3-on-the-tree, only option was a heater. Love to have another, but with an automatic.
My aunt had two of that style a two door and. A station wagon. She ran a small catering operation from her home and used the wagon to haul stuff to parties and other events. I did a lot of drivers test practice int the wagon. I remember driving on a trip to a nearby city with three other folks in the wagon with a bunch of soda ice and sandwich makings in the back. I pulled out to pass a slow moving truck at about 45 mph with a clear passing area of about 3/4 mile to use. I barely completed the pass on level road before meeting an on coming car. Moral of story, that flathead 6 is bog slow in top gear, nearly VW 36 horsepower slow. Drive accordingly. Have fun!! Did you see the wagon that one of the velocity channel shows did? Think it was on the Iron Resurrection show. Tht body style always struck me as European origin.
Nice find, its cool. I hadnt seen one of those before, thats just an odd roofline, its like a wagon/sedan. Lets see the overhaul.
Wow. Awesome response on here! Odometer says 72k and I think it is original miles. Its pretty clean. Im gonna keep it "stock-ish" for now. Gotta finish a Metropolitan build right now and then start on a 32 Nash build after that. Then who knows? Just gonna drive it for now. Yes F&J, still have the 32. Its still waiting in line. I finished the o/t Gremlin build and started my wifes Metro build (which I have gone over board like always on) Then the 32 is next!
Memories...my first car. Was 13, drove it all over my Grandmothers farm. Only thing my father ever gave me I really liked. Started to put a 283 in it. Never finished it. Got towed off. From time to time I look for another.
That's the way to do it, find one that's already a nice driver and just keep it that way. I'd unbolt that front valance and work with it on a workbench, I bet it could be straightened with minimal paint loss. It's a deep dent but only a "hard" dent right in the front of the crease. The rest will probably push out fairly easily.
One of the first articles on Troy Trapanier (sp ?) in Hot Rod Magazine was his build of one of these with a 427 Chevy engine.
The Jalopy Journal
