the fin man
Ramblers rolled with the "soccer moms"
My parents never owned a wagon when I was a kid, probably because I was an ‘only child’. All my Khoury League gear could be put in the back seat or trunk. But when it came to packin’ groceries or Spanky and the gang, nothing beat the station wagon.
Until minivans came in vogue, the station wagon was about the only thing, short of a pickup or Suburban, that was up to the task of hauling the freight-- and, unlike minivans, the station wagons were very similar to their sedan counterparts in terms of ride, handling, parking and the like. Unless you turned your head around to look in the back, you wouldn’t realize you were driving a storage container on wheels. The trim size of Rambler wagons also made them much easier to manoeuvre in and out of angled parking spots which were prevalent in the new ‘shopping centers’ that were cropping up across the country.
Rambler wagons were a favorite of ‘soccer moms’ nationwide because they were built on a mid sized chassis, much roomier than the minis from Henry J and Crosley, yet easier to handle and park than the full sized wagons offered by the ‘Big 3’. The Ambassador was Rambler’s flagship series, powered by a V-8 engine and offering a wealth of convenience options tailored to meet the needs of commuters and travelers alike, yet priced below others in the field. And, speaking of the field, doesn’t the one shown above at the hunt look great dressed out in ‘Classic Black’ and ‘Frost White’? The other thirteen colors on the Rambler palette for ‘61 included, Alamo Beige; Chatsworth Green; Aqua Mist; Valley Green; Sonata Blue; Berkeley Blue; Whirlwind Tan; Briarcliff Red; Inca Silver; Waikiki Gold; Jasmine Rose and Fireglow Red. Wouldn’t you love to be the one who got to come up with those names?!?
The ’61 Ambassador featured an all new front end with a stylish slant-back grill and projectile shaped fenders giving it a slick, wind-cheating, wedge-shaped prow. Piercing the wind was no problem for the Ambassador as it was powered by a 327 cubic inch V-8 engine (that’s 5.4 liters for the Gen Xers and later in my audience). Although a handful of AMC products in later years would be powered by GM engines, this ‘327’ had no connection with the GM engine of the same displacement, found in a good number of Chevrolets from the mid sixties– a pervasive misconception held by many to this day. The standard Ambassador V-8, with its AMC-designed and built 327, produced 250 horsepower. An optional ‘Power-Pak’ version of the same displacement block cranked out an additional 20 ponies and cost $47.50 extra.
A host of performance, convenience, comfort, safety and appearance options were offered for Rambler Ambassadors in 1961. Performance options included ‘Flash-O-Matic’ automatic transmission with push button controls ($229.50); overdrive for manual transmission equipped cars ($114.50); power saver fan ($19.50); twin-grip differential ($42.50); heavy-duty front and rear shocks ($3.80); heavy-duty cooling system ($19.85) and self-adjusting brakes ($7.45). Convenience options included power brakes ($41.95); power steering ($89.50); power windows ($99.50); back up lights ($9.95) and parking brake warning light ($3.95) . The list of comfort options featured, reclining seats ($25.50); headrests ($12.00 per side); Solex tinted glass ($33.00); front seat foam rubber seat cushions ($14.35); individually adjustable front seats ($20.00) and reclining seats ($25.50). Driver and passenger safety could be enhanced by the addition of a padded dash and sun visors ($21.50); inside tilt rear view mirror ($4.95); ‘Lock-O-Matic’ door locks ($29.85) and left or right outside rear view mirrors ($5.25 ea.). Buyers could dress up their new Ambassadors with a number of trim accessories including full wheel covers ($16.95); white sidewall tires ($14.95); bright license plate frames ($2.05 ea. front and rear) and other fancy stuff– many items dealer installed.
For your listening pleasure an AM radio was offered for $69.95 which included the antenna and a front speaker only. (Rear speakers were only offered in sedans.)
Ambassador wagons, like the one shown in the illustration above, were available in 4-door, six passenger format and in ‘5-door’, eight passenger configuration, in which case rear access was provided by a side-hinged tailgate which opened like a door. This tailgate was offered as an option on six passenger models for an additional forty bucks. Coupe buyers had to look elsewhere because, except for the compact American, Rambler didn’t offer an two door automobiles for 1961. Ambassador sedans were available in four trim levels, ‘Deluxe Line’; ‘Super Line’; ‘Custom Line’ and ‘Custom 400 Line’. Wagons, on the other hand, were only offered in Super and Custom dress. Starting factory base prices for Ambassadors ranged from $2,395.00 for a Deluxe, four-door sedan on the low end, to $3,111.00 for the eight-passenger, Ambassador Custom wagon like our feature car of the week illustrated above.
A quick perusal of the current Auto Trader Classic Cars & Parts magazine found just one 1961 Rambler... a Classic 4-door sedan which includes a spare parts car for just $975.00! It is a 6-cylinder model with a three speed manual tranny. About the only positive thing the seller could list was the fact that the car has a clear title. Oh yes... there are also "plenty of spare parts, some new"! Buyer beware. But then what can one expect for $975.00, right? Checking a recent issue of the Old Cars Price Guide, the ‘bible’ of collector car values, I found that a show quality Ambassador wagon could be yours for around $10,000.00, IF you can find one and IF the owner would be willing to part with it. The seemingly low value is attributed to two factors, first and foremost, the fact that Ramblers had relatively low acceptance when new. The marque was often thought of as a stodgy brand which appealed mostly to older drivers... a carry over from Rambler’s Nash ancestry. Second, the line consisted of just two body styles, a 4-door sedan (post) and station wagon... the two generally least desirable body styles in any car line. That said, if you want a bargain in a historic vehicle and you want something that is uncommon, then start looking for a Rambler Ambassador wagon. It may not draw the same crowd that the ‘57 Chevy Bel Air does at the next Chuck-A-Burger cruise, but it will still turn plenty of heads and you’re likely to have a spectator of two come up to you and say that their dad or grandpa had a Rambler wagon "just like yours".
Good luck in your search, however, as these cars are few and far between. Although the late fifties and early sixties was a profitable period for AMC, the numbers were still lower than the Big 3 turned out. Rambler production for model year 1961 totalled 377,900 units for Americans, Classics and Ambassadors combined. Five thousand, one hundred and seventy Ambassador wagons were built of which three fifths were Ambassador Custom, six-passenger models. Only 784 top-of-the-line eight-passenger Custom wagons were built. With a base price of just over three thousand dollars, a full compliment of options could put the bottom line sticker price at somewhere around $4,500.00 or just over $34,000.00 in ‘09 dollars. Many St. Louis Rambler buyers found the car of their dreams at Di Salvo Motors, located at 5926 S. Lindbergh Boulevard in Affton, Missouri. Yes, DiSalvos is still there, still with the same phone number (314) 894-1440... and still selling vehicles with AMC heritage (Jeep) although the Jeep brand has been part of the Chrysler family since March of 1987. As DiSalvo likes to proclaim, they are "Almost a Landmark Since 1956".
If this story has made you hungry for more information on the AMC Rambler, you can learn much more about them, and maybe find one for sale, at the AMC Rambler Club... web site www.AMCRC.com. National clubs like the AMCRC provide a wealth of detailed information and background on the marques plus a ton of helpful restoration information and resources. The AMCRC, as with most clubs of this type, does not require ownership of a AMC vehicle to become a member. All that’s required is a love for the brand.
See you at the next Chuck-A-Burger cruise at the original location in St. John or the new Chuck-A-Burger in St. Charles.
1. What was the first vehicle to bear the Rambler name?
2. Who was the person that succeeded George Romney as leader of AMC and is generally considered responsible for the ultimate demise of AMC Rambler?
3. On January 3, 1961, president Eisenhower announced that the United States had severed relations with what country?
4. What U.S. President succeeded Eisenhower on January 20, 1961?
5. ‘Let’s Twist Again’ was a top pop hit which landed at the number three spot on the Billboard Top 100 in 1961. What artist performed this hit song? Was it, A. Elvis Presley; B. Ben E. King; C. Chubby Checker or D. Del Shannon?
6. Name the NBC TV western series which ran from 1957 through 1962 (and on ABC from 1962-1965), which was the number one television show in the Nielsen Ratings for the 1961-1962 season. Was it, A. Bonanza; B. Wagon Train; C. Maverick or D. Gunsmoke?
7. On January 16, 1961, this famous athlete became the highest paid player in Major League Baseball when he signed a contract with the New York Yankees earning him $75,000.00 per season. What was his name?
8. Born January 26, 1961, this retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, nicknamed "The Great One", is part owner, head of hockey operations and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. Who is he?
Trivia Answers
1. What was the first vehicle to bear the Rambler name?
The first vehicle to bear the ‘Rambler’ name was a bicycle manufactured in Chicago, Illinois from 1878 to 1900 by the Gormully & Jeffery Manufacturing Company. The brand name was created by Thomas B. Jeffery who would later turn in his handlebars and begin production of the early Rambler automobiles.
2. Who was the person that succeeded George Romney as leader of AMC and is generally considered responsible for the ultimate demise of AMC Rambler? Roy Abernethy was appointed CEO of AMC when Romney left to run for governor of Michigan in 1962. Prior to his tenure with AMC, Abernethy had been with Packard and Willys-Overland. Hm-m-m... I think I see a problem here! Abernethy’s marketing strategies were diametrically opposed to Romney’s and marked the beginning of the end for AMC.
3. On January 3, 1961, president Eisenhower announced that the United States had severed relations with what country?
Cuba
4. What U.S. President succeeded Eisenhower on January 20, 1961?
John F. Kennedy.
5. ‘Let’s Twist Again’ was a top pop hit which landed at the number three spot on the Billboard Top 100 in 1961. What artist performed this hit song? Was it, A. Elvis Presley; B. Ben E. King; C. Chubby Checker or D. Del Shannon?
The answer is ‘C’, Chubby Checker.
6. Name the NBC TV western series which ran from 1957 through 1962 (and on ABC from 1962-1965), which was the number one television show in the Nielsen Ratings for the 1961-1962 season. Was it, A. Bonanza; B. Wagon Train; C. Maverick or D. Gunsmoke?
Wagon Train (B) was the most watched television show during the 1961-62 season. It starred Ward Bond, Robert Horton as wagon master and John McIntire as scout, plus a host of other characters. Can you name Horton and McIntires character names on the show? (Answer at end of trivia answers.)
7. On January 16, 1961, this famous athlete became the highest paid player in Major League Baseball when he signed a contract with the New York Yankees earning him $75,000.00 per season. What was his name?
The major league baseball player who walked away with the record breaking deal was first baseman and outfielder Mickey Mantle. (His record-breaking, annual salary of $75,000.00 equals approximately $530,000.00 in ‘09 dollars.) Can you guess within plus or minus five years, the first and final years Mantle played for the New York team? (Answer at end of trivia answers.)
8. Born January 26, 1961, this retired Canadian professional ice hockey player, nicknamed "The Great One", is part owner, head of hockey operations and head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. Who is he?
"The Great One" is Wayne Gretzky.
Bonus trivia answers: Ward Bond played wagon master Major Seth Adams and Robert Horton played scout Flint McCullough. Mickey Mantle played for the New York Yankees from 1951-1968.
