Roadside Sighting: 1959 Rambler Cross Country Wagon
From Wayne N – I saw this the other day at a local garage and I had to go back this morning to take pictures. I thought you guys would appreciate them. My dad always had Ford wagons or Pontiac wagons with the rear facing backseats. This Rambler brought back memories of going camping back in the ’60s with the metal Coleman cooler and wicker picnic baskets and tartan red plastic table cloths and an old canvas tent. I tried to get the scoop on this wagon and all I know is, they were told to put four tires on it that would hold air. I’ll go back later and see if I can’t figure out what the plans are for this beast. Actually, it was much larger than I remember Rambler’s being as a child. Pretty neat, huh?
Thanks for the flashback Wayne! We always enjoy a good sighting, so if you spot something cool along the side of the road, we would love to hear about it. You can send all of your sightings to [email protected]!
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Comments
A friend of my dads had this one in red at Clark AirBae PI.
It was about eight years old then and had rust issues but interior was great 👍
My family owned one just like this one. My lttle sister had motion sickness all over the dash! I was out on a date in it and the reverse push button on the dash pushed through, a real “OH – – – -” moment. Ah the memories!
As always, when I’ve written about similar cars, especially Ramblers and AMC cars, I like posting examples that are original or restored.
Here’s a story I wrote originally for Cars and Parts that was repurposed for the Amos digital magazine, Auto Enthusiast. It shows the potential of these Romney Ramblers that saved AMC in 1958.
http://photos.imageevent.com/mmm_mag/richtruesdellpdfs/Auto_Enthusiast_Pretty_in_Pink_1958_Rambler_station_wagon.pdf
When cars are posted that I’ve written about, especially Ramblers and AMCs, I like sharing links to the stories of highly original and restored examples to show their potential.
Here’s a feature I produced for Cars and Parts that was repurposed for the Amos digital magazine, Auto Enthusiast. This car was once owned by a bootlegger and at the time I photographed it about a decade ago, had less than 10,000 miles on its odometer.
http://photos.imageevent.com/mmm_mag/richtruesdellpdfs/Auto_Enthusiast_Pretty_in_Pink_1958_Rambler_station_wagon.pdf
Excellent story, Richard! Thanks for sharing the link.
Here’s hoping the one in Josh’s post will be restored and loved.
Funny how a half century ago, I’d have never given one of these a second look (and I was tooling around L.A. in a total piece of crap ’62 American Deluxe wagon, then), but would consider owning one now, assuming I didn’t already have the Low Sierra.
Great feature, although Ramblers certainly aren’t synonymous with bootlegging, LOL.
The BF car is pretty cool as well and a worthwhile project from the looks.
I actually traveled cross country in fall 58 in New 59,; myself 4 siblings, stepdad, mother and an F’n tom cat named Dinky.
As if my youngest brother was not pissing and crapping diapers was not bad enough mothers cat loved riding on dash and pissing into defrost vents.
Not a good memory, broke down in December just past Continental divide, six banger carb not jetted high elevation.
In below freezing snow blowing weather I walked a good 7 miles to gas station.
Turned around because mechanics quitting time and walked half way back. Reason halfway was because an old fart and wife in New Caddy offered ride.
Owner of station showed up later to save our ads from freezing.
Said he had fired whole crew, right dowaa to cashier for them denying help.
Bad trip memory, but would like to own this car.
I’d tow it out to back 40, fill it with 40-50 pounds of Tanerite and couple jugs of gas and use it for target practice
@ Hide behind ;
You forgot the cat pee lol
My grandfather had one like this when I was quite young. I just remember it was red w/ white roof & trim. That was some real cool styling w/ the bent roofline, and those fins are outrageous. I like.
Where’s the rest of the grill letters? The “RMBL” letters are probably on a rat rod somewhere. Man, IDK, this car pretty cashed. While nice Rambler wagons are all the rage today, be a lot of work here. I’m sure someone has trim parts, that American Pickers episode, where they find that overgrown AMC dealer in NC, had a ton of parts. While we all love to see Ramblers, it’s still a limited market actually owning one. They have to be nice from the start. Parts car here?
Be still my beating heart!! Even in this needy condition, I’m STILL in love with this wagon. Or any Rambler, or their kin .. be it Nash, Hudson, Rambler, or AMC. She deserves to be brought back to be at least a solid driver. Great color, too
Here’s my mom, with her boss, Beth and a co-worker, Madge, standing by Beth’s 1959 Rambler wagon in about 1960. Beth loved to call the color titty pink, just to embarrass my mother.
I was about 12 then and Beth always had kind of cool cars. At the same time as the Rambler, she had a Karmann Ghia convertible. Mom remained friends with her and by the time I was in high school, Beth was driving a 4spd OLDS 442, red with a black vinyl roof and I was happy to take it to my high school prom about 1966.
Lucky you with the 442!
Which one is Beth? Is she still around, I wonder? Sounds like a cool lady and I especially like ’em when they drive a Karmann Ghia.. I’m no Olds expert, someone will correct me I’m sure…But if you used her 442 to go to your prom in 66, I didn’t think they came out until a later model year like the 67’s.
I would tackle it. I am a station wagon guy. I have been even before they were cool. Here are a few I have owned. Bruce.
Heres another 1 I had.Bruce.
I am working this 87 Buick wagon now{its a 9 seater} that came out of a barn in N.C.Bruce.
My dad bought a new 59 Cross Country, red with white spear, six, overdrive, PS, Ac. Went on a month long 3,000 mi camping trip I was 14 at the time. For the entire trip it averaged just over 30 mpg, good for it’s day. For a little extra Dad let it coast down all the hills
I’d say 30 mpg was fantastic for the time.
In 1981, as an 19 year old, I bought a mint low miles 59 Rambler American Cross Country from an old woman in Monmouth Beach New Jersey. It was black with a red stripe and black, red and white interior with the plastic covers over them. Looked like something the Munsters would drive. Awesome fun cruiser. Push button tranny. at the local drive-in movie theater.
Sold it when I needed cash to go back to college to a millionaire in Rumson, NJ. He told me he was going to give it away as a door prise to a lucky guest of a party he was throwing. I miss that old wagon. I f I can find a photo I’ll post it.
Found an interior shot of my 59 Rambler.
looks nice…would like to see what it goes for..i have a 58 pink and black one.i have been trying to sell for parts or restore
Russell, how much for the pink and black ’58 and what is the location? I need the reverse push button for my ’58 Amb. wagon and some other parts. Could be tempted to restore that one, too. [email protected]
Photo of mine attached before I got it repainted.
This is the car Joe Dirt’s family drove when they abandoned him when he was a kid https://www.imcdb.org/v005866.html
I bought a 59 Cross Country wagon at a Vanderbrink auction in North Dakota about 5 years ago for $450 and shipped it home to Florida . Did a lot of work to get it running and looking good . I only tried to get it to look like a nice old used car not a show car. People remember these old Rambler wagons . Not very common but some are still around , I always let people climb in and have a picture taken. The one here is a lot nicer than what I started with . Parts can be found but expensive .Hope someone saves it.
I have a ’59 like this. 3 on the tree. Mostly original. Always wanted to fix it up but money got tight and dont drive it much anymore. I dont want to sell but maybe someday I will. Really beautiful.
If you do decide to sell, let me know. I’d like to own one…again.
4-5 yrs ago, I found a ’70 AMC Rebel SST station wagon in CO that lived its life in AZ and NV, meaning only surface-rust thruout the unibody. Bolts unscrew with ease, no gopher holes. Bad news: 1) the UV-radiated interior was shot, and 2) baseball-size hailstorm pounded all the upper surfaces. One donor wagon later, I had 80% of a car. Still missing some stainless side trim, but the rest is finally presentable. Single stage enamel was found on Amazon, cheap – close, tho not a dead color match. Upholstery and trim stretch my abilities.
Having lived thru that era of AMCs, owned a bunch, and being a member of a family of AMC engineers, I now drive a direct-connection vintage nash wagon that incorporates parts designed by my dad, grandfather, and uncle … which makes those thumbs-up when I drive it a little more personal. Wish I could find a link allowing me to add a current photo.