1962 Rambler Classic - George Romney's Compact Car Revolution 

A 62 Rambler Classic is much more fun than a Prius could ever be!

Although far from being religious, I agree with George Romney's vision and how he lived. He didn't drink, he didn't smoke, and (unlike some Mormons we've heard about), he never womanised or married several women. That's good. If only today's CEOs and businessmen were this honest.

I'm Costa Rican and here the Ramblers was sale from 1959 to 1973 I'm not a old man I never drive one of those cars l only seen two in my entire life but I would like drive one or have one. I like AMC because it competed nobly against the big manufacturers.

The following year, 1963, the Rambler Classic had a full redesign and was a great looking car that I believe won design awards. Rambler's were very well made in the early to mid 1960's. And even into the 1970's, I recall, their six cylinder models that I was familiar with had few problems and lasted a long time.

We had a white '62 Classic station wagon that my mother learned to drive on. Cast iron 6, pushbutton Flash-o-Matic with AM radio. It was our first car with a radio. The front seats reclined all the way down; that car was equipped for camping even though we never did so. It also had a luggage rack on the roof.

You obviously have a natural talent to combine two different stories and marry them so beautifully together like this. The music, the information, the look, feel, texture, and all the different layers involved in producing stuff like this makes this an absolute masterpiece., and OH!! May I mention to you...the love and passion you show in your videos. I"m blown away.

I owned a 1962 Rambler Classic. What a ride. What a car.

AMC was a very good company. 👍

My dad loved Romney as an ethical businessman. He loved Ramblers and my love for small, practical cars came from him.

I owned a 62 Classic 400 for about 15 years. It was a sweet car- all aluminum six, automatic, (would have preferred a 3 speed OD), PS, PB, Air conditioning, tinted glass all around, rear opening vent windows. It was frost white with an aqua interior and with those green tinted windows it looked great. It had low miles and I drove it all over the US. Great car.

My mom bought a 1962 Rambler Ambassador and took me for a ride! At a stop light a muscle car pulled up on the right and looked to accelerate to get in front of us, the second the light turned green we where gone and the muscle car was way behind. Mom was a fast driver and quick reactions at a light! That Rambler had a V8 engine, but I believe around 327 cubic inches, in a light unibody car! It was faster than my 1968 327 Chevelle 4 speed! My niece said years later where did grandma get the lead foot? She always did and enjoyed polishing off the unsuspecting with this sleeper car, RAMBLER!!!!!!!!!!

1962 was the year I was born. I do remember these cars from my childhood. I always thought they were cool little cars. Like the narrator said anyone under 50 would not know how to drive a manual trans, with a column shift. I am 57 years old, and yes I do know to drive a 3 on the tree car. I don't I would enjoy this car driving in town, but it would be a blast to drive in the country.

I owned and drove a 1959 Rambler Cross Country wagon from 1970 to '77, putting about 55,000 miles on it. It was set up much the same as the car in the video, except that my wagon added a separate 2-speed Borg-Warner overdrive. When on, the overdrive was normally in its position to lower engine revs when in 3rd gear, but dropped to its more powerful ratio if you stepped harder on the gas pedal - in effect making it a 4-speed transmission with an automatic 3rd/4th gear shift. It could cruise all day at 70 mph if needed.It took five people skiing each winter. My seats also went flat from the dashboard to the tailgate. On a camping trip into the back end of the Olympia National Park, we got caught in a never-ending rainstorm and had to live in it for most of three days. As a useful car, it was the best one I have owned. I bought it for $125 and sold it for $75, making it also the cheapest.

Wonderful video!. This was our first car in 1962 made in Argentina by Industrias Kaiser Argentina. We loved our Rambler. Thank you.

I can confirm, you were king of the drive ins and feared by ever dad with a daughter. My uncle owned one with the reclining seats in high school, and said he was chased off a couple of porches because of it.

What a great, very informative video, and what a beautiful little Rambler! I love my little Rambler wagon and it's always amazing how many people come over and talk to me about it when I'm out and about. True, it doesn't have a big collector car value in terms of money, but it makes me happy just to drive it, and to hear the stories from other people who had a Rambler in their family.

My second car was a '63 Rambler 660 Classic. Bought it for about $350 from a dealer in 81, and loved that thing without question until the 94 Northridge earthquake took my baby away :-(. I still look for another to replace her at every car show, and in every classified ads. Your video brought back some wonderful motor-memory associations for me; Thanks!

The first AMC related video I've seen, with no glaring inaccuracies. Good job! My cousin had a '62 Classic 2dr, I have owned a ' 60 Rambler 6 Super, 8 passenger wagon, with the side opening rear door, all the rest of mine were from the post Romney era, and too numerous to mention (wait for my book, 😂).

George Romney is a fascinating individual to study. His tenure with AMC; his achievements as governor of Michigan; his run for president and his work after officially leaving the political world. Whether you agree or disagree with his decisions, you can't help but admire him for his integrity, concern and individualism. Thanks for making this video, and glad that you got Gerald Meyers for his insight.

I'm 63, and learned to drive in a 1953 Chevy truck with 3 on the tree. The last 3 on the tree I drove was a brand new 1972 Nova with a 305 v8 with a 3 on the tree. Man was that thing a blast compared to all the straight 6 engined trucks I had driven before. Haven't seen or driven one since.

One of the more historically interesting things to happen after Romney left AMC was the cooperation with Renault. While most people in their 40s and older may remember the ill-fated attempts to leverage Renault platforms for AMC in the early 80s (AMC Reliance, etc.), Renault actually was a European distribution and service infrastructure partner for AMC vehicles as early as 1962/63. North American sales of AMC started to go flat around the time of Romney's departure, leading to various acts of desperation by the management to counteract dwindling marketshare. One such act was trying to "export" more cars to Europe. That attempt ended in utter failure, of course, but it did lay the groundwork for the later involvement of Renault in AMC. I have in my library of vintage car magazines a German road test from 1962 conducted by "Auto, Motor & Sport", the German equivalent to "Automobile Magazine" in the US. They tested the '62 AMC Ambassador V8 with automatic drive. They liked many of its features and qualities, but also found that the car shook and vibrated at speeds of 80 mph and above and the engine had a tendency to overheat. Performance was particularly sluggish in light of the huge engine with a 250 bhp rating (0-62 in 16.5 sec), lagging behind a Mercedes 220s with automatic, which at the time was not a car known for its snappy performance.

That 62 was just like my grandmother’s,back then I didn’t care for it,but I’d love to have one now

I remember our school janitor had one.

Maybe that is Mitt Romney with his dad @ 0:59. Thank you for this awesome video. It’s nice to see cars remembered like this that time has forgotten unlike the Ford Mustangs and the Chevy Bel Airs...

great clip !!! As a proud owner of a 1969 AMC AMX and an avid fan of AMC, its good to know that there are others trying to keep AMC alive.....For a company that left us in 88 its up to its owners to carry on and keep showing the world what this car maker means to so many people ----"IT'S IN OUR HANDS NOW"

My neighbour when I was a kid bought a new redesigned '63 Classic. When it was about a year old the head warped (aluminum I believe, ...I was 6 so gimme a break if I don't have that technical detail right lol). He decided to put a Chevy 283 in it, he was a welder and fixed farm machinery. That thing was under the tripod for about a month, and there always seemed to be a "panel of experts" hanging around and giving advice. When it was finally on the road, it really did go! Not for long tho, the next car was a '66 Impala (with a 283).There were enough Ramblers around that you would notice them, Studebaker's too. Your video's are really well done, puts this car into context.

A high school buddy parents had the same model with a v8 ,I had a ride in it and was impressed with the comfort and smooth ride .Studebaker Kary NH USA

Hi you all! I am from Luxembourg in Europe. I spent a year as exchange student with a German-American family. The Mom drove an Export Beetle and the father a Rambler Classic. I still remember, now that it has been mentioned in the video, that one of the girls of this family was sort of "ashamed" driving around in this car. It was in Bethesda, Maryland, 1962!

In the mid 80's my brother got a 69' green metallic Rambler American, we named the green hornet. I installed on it a Lafayette CB radio with a 10 feet antenna and a sparkomatic am fm cassette radio. Oh! we hanging a lot with that car for a pennies on gas and maintenance. You bring me such good memories with that video.

Nice story ! I have a 1963 Rambler American . Flat head 6 with the Borg Warner automatic .

Great video. Well produced. And whoever owns that Rambler should be very proud of such a well preserved example. It's just as important to restore and cherish the plain family runabouts as much as the exotic stuff. 👍👌

Liked my 1962 rambler classic a lot as it was a good car. Especially at drive-in theaters!

I've heard of the Rambler Classic, but I've never seen one in person. I've seen pics of them, and I've never cared for how it looked, particularly from the side. But today, I find them more attractive than what's being offered today.

I remember when our family bought our 1962 Rambler American Station Wagon, dark blue with a white roof & chrome luggage rack, from Lakeview Motors, Woodcliff Lake, NJ. The car had a flat head 6 and an auto transmission. No power anything, no radio, no nuthin'. I remember going with my Dad to a place in Hackensack (Anderson St @ River St) and he had the AM radio, 4-way flasher and seatbelts installed. It always seemed to breakdown on the way to visit my Grandparents in The Country (Sullivan County NY). It crapped out around 1970, never to run again.

My father's sister traded in her 1946 Cadillac sedan for a '62 Rambler 4 door which she loved. We had a '61 220S Mercedes which I loved. My aunt used to tease me that SHE had a "Weather eye " and we had none. Her seats flopped down into an ALMOST flat bed. Ours were buckets up front and cranked into a more comfortable position by use of a big Knurled Bakelite knob beside each front seat. Classy. NO sleeping overnite in our car. She kept her Rambler for the rest of her life while Dad went for a '65 Continental. My dear and much beloved aunt always used to say she couldn't believe that Lincoln couldn't even get the doors hung like they should be. Fun memories. I loved your video.

I had this model made in Argentina in 1962. Thank you.

The Hornet nameplate was resurrected by AMC and sold very well. This scrappy company managed to do so much with so little. Great video, produced with a great affinity for AMC!

If I had the room in my garage I would buy one right now!!

My Grandfather drove Rambler's, This man had very little schooling "( had to work at a young age )" but he had a real talent on engines, and anything mechanical and he swore Rambler's were the best !

This was my first car when I was in high school. Bought in 1983 for 100$ and drove it for 2 years. Had a lot fun I that car!

My great uncle had a Rambler Ambassador, IIRC. It was the last car he bought. He passed away in the early 90s, aged 95. He had a knack for keeping machines humming. His career as an locomotive engineer with Weyerhauser taught him to take the slack out of any running gear. One day he walked into the yard office, and the foreman bellowed, "Wolverton! What are you doing here? Where's yer engine?" "In the shed," he replied. "Well, I didn't hear it come in. Whatcha do? Put rubber tires on that thing?" "No, sir, just the standard steel ones." He missed the steam engines when they dieselized.

my Dad owned a 1962 Rambler Classic six, red with a white top. It had the push-button auto transmission. It also had red rims with the small centre hubcaps.

They were good cars. My family owned a 62 Rambler.

Had a 1962 Rambler Classic when I was 18. Kept it for 4 years. I didn't baby it one bit, and it was one tough car. Don't remember how many miles I put on it, but was simple to work on. Mine had a 3 speed, and and over drive. If it was engaged, you just let off the gas a little after shifting to 3rd. It would then go to 4th gear. Never had a problem, but it was free wheeling in overdrive and you better use the brake. It would roll freely in overdirve!

Great video! It is obvious a lot of effort went into this video

I just discovered this delightful channel. These are well researched & produced videos. I first learned to drive in my grandmother's 1962 Rambler Classic 2 door sedan with the three speed manual on the column. It was the top trim level with a heater & defroster as it's only options...not even a radio. My dad was determined I would be able to drive any car on the road once I had my license and this was the perfect vehicle to introduce a 15 year old to motoring on the country roads of northern Oklahoma. This rekindled some wonderful 50 year old memories.

Back in 1988 in between my 2 stints in the Navy I had a 74 Hornet Sportabout with 3 on the tree! Dang that was a fun car! I never thought about it as being hard to drive, though. Maybe that's why I had such a hard time teaching my little brother how to drive a stick! We finally gave up and he never did learn lol

While I take issues with the Romney's there's no doubt both George and his boy are darn good business people and are examples of a decent family. Not that the media treated them that way, but that's to be expected. No doubt George saw a problem and used his company to invent a product to combat it. George was ahead of his time, both George and AMC are unappreciated by many for being boldly ahead of their times but for a few will be remembered and given the proper respect. Awesome video. Long live AMC!

Have become a big fan of yours and subbed today. Thanks for your excellant reviews and for their warm nostalgia. I am looking forward to watching more of your repertoire.

So enjoyable video.No pathos , no drama queen , no camera high on steroids , great work.Congratulations!

in high school I drove my dad's 1960 F100 with 3 on the tree, manual steering, drum brakes and hydraulic clutch, the steering required hand over hand, it was very stiff, the trick was making a hard turn onto a narrow street while moving and downshifting at the same time, if you didn't get it correct you were in the next lane, I remember a few times being within inches of sideswiping the car stopped at that intersection

I had a 1961 wagon. Sat in many a gas line in that thing. Only downside to it was vacuum windshield wipers. In the rain you could go up hill or see, not both.

This is definitely a hidden gem

Thank you for creating such a nice video. George Romney was an automotive genius

My friend and also my partner at work had a Rambler. Both of these cars had a front wheel fall off ! I was in the first car, we walked a mile to his house.

Keep up the great content! You are so talented and I'm so proud of you!

I'm the proud owner of a rambler classic! Its a 66 model however but does have the column shift three speed and electronic overdrive.

thanks for posting ... I remember these cars

Excellent as usual, thanks.

I'm 72 years old, in 1969 as a Senior High School I had one but the camshaft broke and I never got to use those fold down front seat with only a few miles to a close Drive-in Theater. I could have made enough money renting it out, those were the days.

GREAT video.. LOVE my 62 Rambler..

Gerald C. Meyers became the youngest CEO of American Motors in 1977, and came up with the concept of the buyers protection plan in the early 1970's. I did work for him for several years.

Hi, I've already seen your video before. My father and I used to have an American Rambler Classic V8 manual transmition but with overdrive. It had A/C in tha weather eye system. Also had tinted glasses and the same shade blue color. It proved to be a strong car. Now I wish I had it. I would be proud of such a fine and well made car. Congrats for yours.

Excellent doco. You have a great voice that keeps the audience interested.

This is an amazing video. Thank you for keeping your viewers informed. I think you deserve millions of subscribers. Keep up the good work.

Love your videos. Wish you still made them

Ramblers were popular with schoolteachers. When I was a kid it always seemed as though half the cars in the teachers' parking lot were Ramblers.

I always look forward to a video from you. I have been in love with older car from a very young age and I now I own an antique. While it needs some work I am proud to own it. I look forward to the next video Joe !

Learned to drive on a 1965 Rambler Classic wagon---3-speed manual, 287 V-8, power steering but no power brakes. It was a very reliable car.

Honestly one of the most informative and interesting automotive channels on RU-vid, should have many more views that it gets.

Rambler probably suffered from the weaker dealer network. Most small towns would have one or more new car dealers, typically Big 3, and the dealer didn't sell outside the same corporate brands or have imports. Buyers would need to drive to the nearest metropolis for Rambler dealer service. Frequently, the farm implement dealer was also the new car dealer and had an existing relationship with the community. TV ads didn't play where the broadcast signal lagged and you can't see the chrome on radio. Farmers and Ranchers turned in early, and might see a Rambler in the church park on Sunday or the traveling salesman at the county seat on market day. Rambler had fewer assembly plants, and dealers thinned outside those regions where worker loyalty helped sales. Rambler probably also didn't have the resale value the other makes held. Chevrolet dealers gave a premium for repeat buyer trades, so they had a vehicle churn cycle. GMs traded better than Fords, Chrysler was less than Ford, and Chrysler was known for poor build quality so used vehicles sales took a hit.

This channel is the Rambler of auto review channels. Good honest information. subbed

Thanks for this great video. I learned to drive in a 1961 Rambler Classic.

Great video Joe

This exact model was my very first car. I wish I still had it.

Well written with good analysis and insights. Well done. You help to put the ever changing landscape of American automotive in perspective.

I inherited my Grandfathers in 1964 It was one tough car.

Best channel, and maybe one of your best vids! Excellent work AutoMoments! And a great story of a great underdog too!

I used to see Ramblers all the time growing up. My Grandparents had a 66 station wagon. They had it for many years and always garaged it.

Learned to drive stick on our 62 American, great old car.

You deserve 10 times the subs you have now

Thank you so much for bringing the innovations so intrinsic to the development of the automobile we now enjoy. Fans need to know how American Automobile Industry has changed the way drivers experience their machines. Grea job guys, I subscribed! Thank you so much for the revelatory videos in understanding the importance of these amazing cars in defining the automobile industry around the world as well as the joy it brings their owners...Well Done!

Love this video. Glad to see you put some pedal camera angle video in also !! Just found the channel - have really enjoyed your work !!!

I fondly remember my (Australian Version, RHD) Rambler Ambassador in the same blue, V8, push button auto, bullet proof engineering, way ahead of the junk that Ford & Chev. (Holden) were serving up at the time.

Three on the tree with overdrive, the best of all worlds. No mention that the '62 Rambler was one of the first American cars with a dual-circuit brakes ('62 Cadillac was the other, then the '63 Studebaker). Government regulations finally required this life-saving technology in 1967.

Thanks for this and many other of your excellent reviews of old cars that no one else seems to want to cover. Having grown up in a family whose cars included a 1950 Nash Ambassador and a 1960 Rambler American wagon; and having myself owned a 1972 AMC Matador and a 1974 AMC Hornet wagon, I hold a fondness for these simple, sometimes quirky cars. I’m looking forward to seeing your upcoming AMC documentary film!

nice to see your back again nice vids

very nice video thank you

I love the under dog that's why I pick the car all in fun

Pretty cool video, i love it! Keep it up!

Very good video. And it brings me back. The 62 was supposed to be my first car. I test drove it, well sort of. Yes it was a 3 on the tree, and I kept stalling it. But I loved it and bought, so I thought. The next day, the dealer called me and said there was a mistake. It was sold even before I drove it. An information mixup. I was bullshit. Fast forward to 15 years ago, I had a 61 Classic Super. It was almost like brand new. Fun to drive, mostly because it turned heads. You had to have your wits about you to drive that car. The thing that stood out for me was the fact that it did not want to make a left turn. I had slow down to a crawl. This was mostly due to the bias ply tires. Did I mention no power steering or power brakes? But it had vent windows, the best invention since sliced bread. I wish I still had it. It was a beautiful car....ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-DG5ia7ohTOU.html

more new video's please! these are great.

Beautiful Car, thanks for the video!!!

My grandma had a 62 rambler classic... I hope to get one someday!! Do more AMC videos!!

It has that ICONIC early 60s style. Similar to Ford's Fairlane 500 of the same year. Very beautiful...

I watched this again, and I have to say, I'm so glad you pointed out that Romney left when the leaving was good, as you said, there was no guarantee that Romney could have done any better than the Executives that took over.

☆☆☆☆☆ Professional quality production. It looks like a high end budget documentary. I am local actor and I have been on sets with low and high quality production.

I love your videos dude!!

solid. thumbs up.

I got a '63 and I love it