Rambler Classic

The Rambler Classic is an intermediate-sized automobile built and marketed by American Motors Corporation from the 1961 through 1966 model years in three generations.
The 1961 Classic line replaced the Rambler Six and Rambler Rebel V8 names, which were retired at the end of the 1960 model year.
Initially available as a six-passenger four-door sedan and six- or eight-passenger station wagon versions, AMC added body styles to the model line. Two-door variants became available as a "post" sedan for the 1963 model year, and starting the 1964 versions, a pillar-less hardtop. A convertible was also available for the 1965 and 1966 model years.
Motor Trend magazine selected AMC's Classic line for the 1963 Car of the Year award.
The Rebel name replaced Classic on AMC's entirely redesigned intermediate-sized cars for the 1967 model year. For 1968, the Rambler Rebel line was renamed the AMC Rebel as AMC began phasing out the Rambler marque.
Throughout its production, the Classic was a high-volume seller for the independent automaker. Built in AMC's factories in the U.S. and Canada, the Classic was assembled under license or joint ventures and exported to over 100 nations.

First generation

The Rambler line of cars was the focus of AMC's management strategy under the leadership of George W. Romney. Their compact cars helped AMC to achieve sales and corporate profit successes. In 1961, the Rambler marque ranked in third place among domestic automobile sales behind Chevrolet and Ford.
Ramblers were available in two sizes and built on different automobile platforms. The larger-sized Rambler series was based on a 1956 design and was renamed the Classic for the 1961 model year to help create a stronger individual identity and contrast from the smaller Rambler American line. American Motors' Edmund E. Anderson designed the new wheelbase Ramblers "that looked new and fresh but were in fact inexpensive reskinned models." American Motors kept the basic body shell longer than the big three domestic automakers to recoup tooling costs and make a profit. Because this cycle time of five to six years was longer than the industry norm of three years at that time, AMC designers facelift to provide the appearance of updated styling changes.

1961

The new 1961 Classic 6 and V8 models went on display in Rambler showrooms on 12 October 1960. They filled the mid-range in AMC's line of compacts and offered as a six-passenger four-door sedan and as a station wagon with two rows of seats and drop-down tailgate or an optional rear-facing third-row seat and side opening fifth door. They continued the body of the previous Rambler Six and V8, but featured a new front end with a one-piece, rectangular extruded aluminum grille, and new fenders, hood, sculptured door panels, and side trim, as well as redesigned one-piece bumpers.
Trim and equipment levels started from the basic, called the Deluxe, to the mid-level Super, and the top-of-the-line Custom, which featured bucket seats in a four-door sedan. The suggested retail price for the basic Deluxe four-door sedan was US$2,098 and was only $339 more for a station wagon.
In 1961, the Classic was available in either an I6 - - or with a V8 - - engine. A lighter by aluminum block version of the OHV I6 engine, sometimes referred to as the 196, was offered as an option in the Deluxe and Super models. The die cast block features iron "sleeves" or cylinder liners with a cast iron alloy cylinder head and produces the same as the cast iron version. The engine was described as one "wave of the future" in automotive engineering as it points the way to higher production rates and lower costs.
The 1961 Classics were promoted as "The All-Purpose Compact Car" even though it was roomier and larger than the Rambler American models. Romney signed advertisements and sales literature as "The New World Standard Of Basic Excellence." The 1961 Rambler Classic models "became popular with many older drivers who enjoyed their performance, fuel economy, and great automatic transmission." American Motors "defied the detractors" with its emphasis on economical and compact-sized cars achieving a sales total of 370,600 vehicles in 1961, "lifting the Rambler to an unprecedented third place in the charts behind Chevrolet and Ford".

1962

For the 1962 model year, the Super models were dropped and replaced by a 400 model. Also, for 1962, AMC's flagship Ambassador models were shortened to the same wheelbase as the Classic's at the same time as the V8 engine was no longer available in the Classic models. This meant the Ambassador models were the only models with V8s in the AMC lineup. The two-door sedan body style Rambler Classic was a unique one-year offering for 1962.
The front grille was modified for 1962, but the free-standing Rambler lettering in the lower center remained. The revised rear end received new round tail lamps and the previous year's tailfins were "shaved off". Rambler was one of the last cars to incorporate the tail fin design. It also became one of the first to "do away with them, and to build clean, simple, uncluttered cars." The back door upper window points were also rounded off for 1962.
Starting in 1962, AMC took a leadership role with safer brake systems in all Ramblers featuring twin-circuit brakes, a design offered by only a few cars at that time. Classics with an automatic transmission continued to use push buttons mounted on the left side of the dashboard with a separate sliding pull tab for the "park" position. The cast-iron block six-cylinder engine was standard on Deluxe and Custom models, with the aluminum version optional. The 400 received the aluminum block, but the cast iron was a no-cost option. Other improvements for 1962 included a price cut of $176 on the popular Custom Classic sedan.
1962 added a 5 door wagon with rear facing third seat. All other wagons of the time had a horizontal hinged tailgate instead of a vertical hinged door in the back.
The popularity of the compact-sized Classic continued in the face of a dozen new competitors. Sales of the 1962 model year Classics increased by over 56,000 in the first six months compared to the same period in 1961. A Popular Mechanics nationwide survey of owners that had driven a total of revealed that the Rambler is likable, easy handling, providing stability and comfortable, roomy ride with low-cost operation. Flaws included inadequate power and poor workmanship. The magazine editors also highlighted that the Classic has approximately the same length as most of the other "compact" cars on the market, but its interior room is equal to the new and larger "family-sized" Ford Fairlane and Mercury Meteor.

Centaur

American Motors highlighted the Rambler Centaur at the 1962 Chicago Auto Show on a raised platform in the center of the automaker's exhibit area. The car was based on a two-door sedan that did "not look remarkably different from regular production models."

Second generation

For the 1963 model year, the Rambler Classic line was completely redesigned with subtle body sculpturing. Outgoing design director, Edmund E. Anderson, shaped the Classic that was named Motor Trend magazine's 1963 "Car of the Year." These were also the first AMC models that were influenced by Dick Teague, the company's new principal designer. He "turned these economical cars into smooth, streamlined beauties with tons of options and V-8 pep."
Being of a suitable size for international markets, this Rambler was assembled in several countries. In Europe, Renault built this car in their Haren, Belgium plant and marketed it as a luxury car, filling the gap above the tiny Renault Dauphine.
The 1963 Classics were also the first all-new cars developed by AMC since 1956. Keeping the philosophy of the company, they were more compact – shorter and narrower by one inch, as well as over two inches lower – than the preceding models, but lost none of their "family-sized" passenger room or luggage capacity featuring a longer wheelbase.

1963

American Motors' "senior" cars shared the same wheelbase and body parts, with only trim differences and standard equipment levels to distinguish the models. Classics came in pillared two- and four-door sedans, as well as four-door wagons. The model designations now became "a Mercedes-like three-number model designation" of that time, going from the lowest 550
As in 1962, the 1963 Classics were initially available only as six-cylinder powered models. In addition to higher trim and features, the Ambassador's standard V8 power, featuring AMC's engine, was a distinguishing feature from the Classic model line. A new "E-Stick" semi-automatic transmission option became available for Classics with the cast-iron I6 engine. Introduced in the smaller American models in 1962, the clutch pedal was eliminated for the standard three-speed manual transmission. Vacuum and electric switches controlled the operation with engine oil pressure as the hydraulic source to actuate the clutch.
In mid-1963, a new V8 option was announced for the Classic models. The V8 equipped Rambler Classics combined good performance with good mileage; even with the optional "Flash-O-Matic" automatic transmission from Borg-Warner, they reached 0 to 60 mph in about 10 seconds and returned fuel economy from to.
The new AMC cars incorporated numerous engineering solutions. Among these was curved side glass, one of the earliest popular-priced cars with this feature. Another engineering breakthrough was combining separate parts in the monocoque body into single stampings. One example was the "uniside" door surround made from a single steel stamping Not only did it replace 52 parts and reduce weight and assembly costs, but it also increased structural rigidity and provided for better fitting of the doors.
American Motors' imaginative engineering prompted Motor Trend magazine to give the Classic – and the similar Ambassador models – their Car of the Year award for 1963. Motor Trend's "award is based on pure progress in design, we like to make sure the car is also worthy of the title in the critical areas of performance, dependability, value, and potential buyer satisfaction."