This 1960 Rambler American Deluxe station wagon, sometime refered to as the little Nomad, was purchased by the seller in 2019 and subsequently modified with a Chevrolet 350ci V8 and 4L60 four-speed automatic transmission as well as a TCI control kit and a Ford 8.8″ rear end with a Traction-Lok 3.73 differential. The car was refinished finished in Mopar Plum Crazy. Additional equipment includes MSD ignition, a transmission oil cooler, a central dual-exit exhaust, rack-and-pinion steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, staggered-width 15″ Coys wheels, LED fog lights, sliding side windows, a clamshell tailgate, a Lokar floor shifter, and a Pioneer CD stereo. This modified Rambler American is now offered with a clear Washington State classic vehicle title in the seller’s name.
The first-generation Rambler American entered its final model year in 1960, and a total of 12,290 two-door Deluxe station wagons were produced for the year. This example was repainted in Mopar Plum Crazy in 2019, and it features chrome bumpers and trim, LED fog lights, dual side-view mirrors, sliding side windows, a clamshell tailgate, and a a central dual-exit exhaust with chrome tips. During paining, no evidence of any body work or rust (other than light surface) was found. The chrome bumpers are original and have not been rechromed further supporting that the car has never been wrecked or damaged.
The 15″ Coys wheels measure 7″ wide up front and 8″ out back, and they are mounted with 205/60 and 225/60 BFGoodrich Radial TA tires, respectively. The car is equipped with rack-and-pinion steering. The brake system incorporates a dual-circuit master cylinder, a power booster, ventilated front discs, and rear drums. The front suspension has been rebuilt.
The cabin features bench seats that were reupholstered in gray vinyl with patterned cloth inserts. The cloth inserts are NOS material matching the car's original fabric. Matching door panels are fitted, while black carpets line the floors. Amenities include a floor-mounted Lokar shifter, a glovebox housing a Pioneer CD stereo with a remote control, three-point seat belts up front, and lap belts out back.
The leather-wrapped three-spoke steering wheel features a Rambler-logo center cap, and it fronts a 100-mph speedometer with inset temperature and fuel gauges. An 8k-rpm tachometer is mounted to the left of the steering column, and AutoGauge readouts for water temperature, vacuum, voltage, and oil pressure are housed in a finned panel on the center of the dash. A gage for transmission oil temperatre is to the left. The five-digit odometer shows 76k miles, approximately 3k of which were added under the seller’s ownership. Total mileage is unknown.
The 350ci V8 was sourced from a 1992 Chevrolet truck. It features MSD ignition as well as a black-finished air cleaner and Rambler V8-branded valve covers. A service was last performed approximately 1k miles ago, The engine smokes some on start-up. It clears up when warmed up. It runs great and doesn't use much oil. I suspect it needs valve guide seals replaced.
The 4L60 four-speed automatic overdrive transmission was sourced from the same truck as the engine. It is equipped with an oil cooler and a a TCI 376600 transmission control kit. The Ford 8.8″ rear axle has a 3.73 Traction-Lok differential and was sourced from a 1992 Ford Ranger.
Decoding the body number tag reveals the following information:
The clear Washington title carries a “Classic” designation.
