1964 AMC Rambler Classic from North America - Comments

Ball joints.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Not a fast car, but runs very well.

One might think you would have more to say about your Rambler, having owned it 34 years and over 150K miles...

But why? A simple plain spoken car and a simple plain spoken answer...

Harry S. Truman would be proud!

The 1964 Rambler classic is a great car. I enjoy my ever day. A 1964 Rambler Classic Typhoon 770.

My father had a 1964 Rambler 770. He cursed that car. He always had transmission problems with it. The carb went on it a couple of times too. I remember this car cause it crapped out when he gave me a lift to grammar school, twice, when I missed the bus.

He brought it used in 1966 and I remember he traded in on a new 1970 Chevy Kingswood. Probably the best car my family owned.

Everyone makes a lemon now and then! The biggest problem with Ramblers is they were relatively inexpensive as used cars (on the low side new compared to like equipped models) and driven into the ground because they are pretty rugged. They do break, eventually! Then whoever bought a trapped out one berates the fact that the 150K, trashed car had the nerve to break on them! Never fails. I've bought many that were neglected near to death, but managed to bring them back to life with relatively simple work.

I've owned two, 2 door Rambler Classic 770 hardtops! The first had the 287ci V8, 3 speed Borg Warner automatic transmission, and column shift. It had power windows, brakes, and steering, AM/FM, and air conditioning, so I thought I was driving a Lincoln, compared to the '57 VW I'd been driving. The split bench reclining seats were very comfortable!

The second 770 had the 327ci engine, which was not built by Chevy, as many people thought! This American Motors engine was the same bore and stroke as the Chevy, but was a big block engine similar in physical size to Fords 429ci engine. This car had the bucket seats, with a console mounted shifter, and that same bullet proof Borg Warner transmission. I loved that car!

These cars had 2 problems. One lower ball joint failed on the first car, and the single constant velocity joint on the forward end of the enclosed drive shaft broke on the second car. Otherwise, these cars were trouble free!

I must admit I was very rough on the second car. With a Holley 650 "double pumper" 4bbl carb, that engine came to life, and would 'smoke' a set of 60 series tires for 100 feet or more (you had to rev the engine to 5 grand while in neutral and then drop it in 'Low'). I couldn't destroy that transmission. This car was a "sleeper", and put many a good small block V8 Ford and Chevy to shame. Who'd ever suspect it could run so good? And oh, yeah! I'm much older (and wiser) now!

AMC's 327 was, I've heard, heavy, not high performance, but you wouldn't have any trouble pulling a boat. I've read on the web years ago that in 1957 Rambler had the fastest production 4 door with a fuel-injected version of this engine. What I read more recently was eye-opening-that the only thing that was faster was the corvette-by only.2 of a second. 0-60 the bulky Rambler clocked in at 7.2, and the also fuel-injected 'vette crossed the line at 7.0 seconds. Days ago I received two books for AMC gear heads, and some of the reasons it wasn't high performance then make it high performance now. Since the engine was "overbuilt", thick walls and a forged crank for example, you can do things to boost performance that would break many other engines. A stock 327 could handle a 20+ pounds of boost from twin turbos with only minor mods. In the late sixties, a racer took AMC's 199, a six cylinder built strong like the 327, and was modified to produce 640 HP with turbo charging!

Hi there.

I'm a New Zealand owner of a 1964 rambler classic.

And our right ball joint has just failed, very sad indeed. and we are having real trouble locating parts.

Can anyone who see this who can put me in touch with anyone anywhere who can help. please email me at wazfrombw@yahoo.com anytime. I have posted this notice on 25/09/06

thanks :)

For ball joint go to : http://www.ramblerparts.com/

Looking for some tech info. I have a 1964 4 door Rambler straight six, classic 770, (with vacuum wipers) with fuel pump problems. I would appreciate someone that knows more than I do to contact me at my E-mail address (eacaj7142@aol.com). I understand the vacuum wipers are a key piece of info re: fuel pump. Thank you!