Photos from the CC Cohort by Mike Hayes.
There, that’s a slightly sinister-looking Rambler by the road. I mean, what’s the deal with those heavy-tinted windows? Is someone trying to hipster-ize this not quite hip piece of 1960s Americana?
I guess there’s no way to really know, but at least this Rambler is going somewhere new. Although apparently not by its own power.
It may not be that visible on this photo, but there in the trunk lid is the car’s Super badge, ID’ing this old Rambler. The middle child of the Rambler line in 1960, above the Deluxe and below the Custom. A good year for the whole line, with the maker finding its way to 4th overall in sales. No wonder we’ve covered a few of these Ramblers before (links below).
I would think this Rambler Super may be on its way to a new home. Glad we got a glimpse of you on your way. However, I hope those darkened windows don’t hint at some dark intentions on your part.
Then again, maybe it just doesn’t have a working A/C, when tinted windows become almost a necessity. But if so, some may consider that a more sinister reality by itself.
Related CC reading:
Curbside Classic: 1960 Rambler Deluxe – When It’s Time For Leaving
That’s a recent license plate. I assume it was plated after being laid up for a long time.
The rear windows are so dark it reminds me of my high school days, we would spray paint the inside of our rear glass black as cheap window tint. Looked cool on the outside but of course you couldn’t see out them.
Interesting ~ when new these looked dowdy .
Now I look at the finlets and side spear and like it .
-Nate
For sure! Next to the competitors “60’s”, these looked like “56-7’s”.
When they were new those fins were in style Hillman for 1960 had them Fords had them I fell in love with them as a toddler and still have a car with them
Bryce, how many cars have you? I too am partial to the fins – though it looks like a bigger and better proportioned Minx now that I look at it longer.
Super was the mid-level trim. Deluxe had no chrome and weird single headlights, so very few ordinary customers bought it. It was mostly sold to governments and fleets.
Ramblin Rose
I often see old cars offered for sale that are in fairly good condition, but they aren’t currently running. They are often non mainstream or really old cars that would require quite a bit of money and expertise to restore to running condition. I have often joked that it would be best to just clean up the car and make it a safe “roller.” Then the owner could just tow it to Cars and Coffee events with a tow bar, like this Rambler. They could display it, have conversations about it, then tow it home in comfort with their late model truck. A lot of those really old cars wouldn’t be driven very much anyway, even if they ran, so why bother to make them run at all? You could think of the car like a vintage travel trailer. Save the restoration money for gas or diesel for your truck!
If I wake up screaming tonight, expect a call!
Paint it baby blue and that’s my first car sans tinted windows.
A great OJT car if you want to become a mechanic; trunnion front end, head gasket, brakes, exhaust, transmission synchronizers, clutch, you get the point.
Why the tinted windows? I wouldn’t want to be seen in that car either!
In the early 90s one of my customers had a car similar to my ’60 Rambler Super. We were going to swap cars for the day and I surprise my wife by driving his Rambler home and take her out that night for our anniversary dinner (June 29th). The whole week was hotter than blazes so it never came to pass. Just as well. That might have been our last anniversary. He sold the car shortly thereafter.
Sinister indeed, the blacked out headlight surrounds make it look like it’s been up all night doing who knows what. Don’t mess with that one, it used to be a nice Rambler but these days it’s unpredictable.
That said I like it, but I’m glad I don’t have to deal with it. I hope it gets to the point where it doesn’t need a tow.
Those tail lights look a lot like Dick Teague’s ’55/56 Packard ones. Ah, what might have been with Ambassador’s longer hood. “I could’a had class. I could’a been a contend’a. I could’a been a Clipp’a.”
Such Rootes vibes…….almost too many to be true
Or maybe the other way round