1964 Rambler 770 Classic
The Rambler Classic is an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from the 1961 to 1966 model years. The Classic took the place of the Rambler Six and Rambler Rebel V-8 names, which were retired at the end of the 1960 model year. Introduced a six-passenger four-door sedan and station wagon versions, additional body styles were added. Two-door models became available as a "post" sedan in 1963 as well as a sporty pillarless hardtop. The 1964 model year Classics were refined with stainless steel rocker moldings, a flush single-plane aluminum grille replacing the previous year's deep concave design, and oval tail lamps replacing the flush-mounted lenses of the 1963's. Classics with bucket seats and a V8 engine could be ordered with a new "Shift-Command" three-speed automatic transmission mounted on the center console that could be shifted manually. A new two-door model joined the line only available in the top 770 trim. The pillarless hardtop offered a large glass area, and "its sales were brisk".
Styling courtesy the infamous Richard Teague, we have in our midst a breath of Classic 770 air in a straight steel bathed in black paint, has mirror-like trimmings, and a good interior. We see very good overall condition, one of a suspected 2,900 built, quite possibly the only one in the good old US of A and runs just perfectly. Breathe it in...deep breaths!
Exterior
This Classic has been restored and now sports rust free steel, well minded gaps, and all bathed in a respray of glossy black 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 and divided grille, flanked by a round headlight on either side and a pristine bumper below, it has an air of sophisticated utilitarianism. A ribbed trim spear starts on each front quarter, covering the doors and finishing at the tail with a Classic emblem in your grandmother's script just below. The new for 64 stainless rocker trim connects the wheel houses and on the back the simplicity continues with a pair of elongated oval tail lights and reverse lights in the shiny bumper below. 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 as does the windshield. Nice reverse dish wheel covers with finned centers and a badged italic R in the center are on and wrapped by thin whites on all 4 corners. A few inclusions are noted in the paint, especially on the C pillars and some small hazing spots are seen on the hood.
Interior
As we swing the doors fully open, we see horizontal and vertical textures that dance together with chrome spears, all produced in vinyl and covering the door panels. Oversized bucket seats with red horizontal tuck and roll stitched vinyl make up the seat inserts which are bordered by piping in red and smooth red vinyl bolsters all clean and pristine. This pattern holds true for the rear bench, and these are floating in a sea of deep red 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 rectangle has a fanned-out speedometer in the middle flanked on the sides by the heater and wiper controls, all hiding under a red steel eyebrow. The factory radio resides front and center in more ribbed aluminum and just below is a Rambler Canada badge to denote this car's assembly lineage. A note to the trunk which is lined with like new vinyl and contains the spare and original jack and stand.
Drivetrain
A 287ci V8 is within the simple wide-open engine bay. This engine is bathed in red along with the air cleaner and valve coverings. It is topped with a 2-barrel carburetor and has a Borg Warner T-86E 3-speed manual transmission bolted to the back which is shifted by a stalk on the steering column. The rear axle is a 3.54 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 a swing arm with coil spring designation on the rear. Dual exhaust is on with Turbo style mufflers 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 Borg Warner, 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.
A well restored and nicely presenting model from the 1964 model year. Clean paint and simplistic lines flow together to create a car looking akin to the Chrysler products of the same era at a much lower cost. Few were built and hardly any made it stateside. Step out of the ordinary with a piece of automotive history from Rambler and our friends to the North...the 1964 Rambler Classic. Ahhhhh! Fresh classic cool air...
