Vehicle Description
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...
VIN DECODE
GT255344
G-Rambler Classic 770
T-Brampton, Canada Assy Plant
255344-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle
barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia
on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is
www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914.
Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the
vehicle in person.
