![]() 1963 Rambler American convertible |
The reskin did a good job of disguising 10-year-old bodies, but produced unfashionably stubby cars that looked small even for compacts, but they did get away from the old "bathtub" look. Mainstream offerings remained two- and four-door sedans and wagons, but a convertible was offered for the first time since 1954, newly reconfigured with roll-down door glass instead of fixed side-window frames.
A hardtop coupe joined the convertible in the top-trim series for 1963. The ragtop was initially a Custom, then a "400," and finally a "440." The hardtop came for 1963 as a bench-seat 440 and bucket seat 440-H. All but the last carried AMC's smallest six in 125-horsepower form; the 440-H had the 138-bhp version from the intermediate Rambler Classic.
Sporty body types notwithstanding, these cars have slim chance of becoming prized collectibles, certainly much less than their better-looking successors, but they merit consideration by budget-minded hobbyists as interesting and fairly uncommon, cheap -- and fun -- wheels.
Pluses of the 1961-1963 Rambler American Convertible & Hardtop:
- Ample support from two major clubs
- Convertible's top-down allure
- Do-it-yourself simple
- Easy on gas
- Fun on a budget
- Hardtop's likely rarity
Minuses of the 1961-1963 Rambler American Convertible & Hardtop:
- Boxy (if tidy) styling
- Many body/trim parts hard to find
- Modest appreciation potential
- Pedestrian performance
- Rust-prone
Production of the 1961 Rambler American Convertible & Hardtop:
- Custom convertible: 10,855
- Convertible (bucket seats): 2,063
Production of the 1962 Rambler American Convertible & Hardtop:
- 400 Convertible: 13,497
Production of the 1963 Rambler American Convertible & Hardtop:
- 440 convertible: 4,750
- 2-door hardtop: 5,101
- 400-H 2-door hardtop: 9,749
Specifications of the 1961-1963
Rambler American Convertible & Hardtop:
Wheelbase, inches: 100.0
Length, inches: 173.1
Weight, pounds: 2,550-2,743
Price, new: $2,136-$2,369 (U.S.)
Engines for the 1961-1963 Rambler American Convertible & Hardtop:
Type | Size | Horsepower | Years |
ohv I-6 | 195.6 cid | 125/138 | 1961-1963 |
Want more information about classic cars? See:
- Classic Cars
- Muscle Cars
- Sports Cars
- Consumer Guide Auto
- Consumer Guide Auto Used Car Search