My 1959 Rambler American

[MARTINSR]

I don't know why I never posted photos here of my Rambler so here goes! I have had it for about a year and a half and just got it on the road last Friday.

Brian

[MARTINSR]

Another couple of photos.

[Len]

I don't know why I never posted photos here of my Rambler so here goes! I have had it for about a year and a half and just got it on the road last Friday.

Brian

That car brings back memories of when life was a lot simpler. Nice job!

[another2centsworth]

Nice Brian...my aunt rode me around in one of those... I could stand up in the back seat to see everything..Times change..LOL!

[Phil V]

Brian, that thing looks like new, good job ! Its good to see some survivors from a close to rust free part of the country. No many survivors left here in Michigan with all that road salt used every winter.

[Mooch]

Car came out real nice Brian . I don't like the bumper stickers though and too bad the other air cleaner didn't work out .

Did you paint the car ?

Mooch

[MARTINSR]

Thanks guys, no Mooch I didn't paint it, just ran a clay bar over it, buffed it and brush touched about a hundred chips and scratches.


Brian

[Len]

Thanks guys, no Mooch I didn't paint it, just ran a clay bar over it, buffed it and brush touched about a hundred chips and scratches.


Brian

I think Mooch was asking if YOU painted it or did you have it painted by someone else.

[MARTINSR]

Ahh, no neither, I bought it with a good old cheapie SS paint job on it. It just cleaned up pretty well. I painted the engine compartment as well as the underside of the hood and hinges.
The paint job is in pretty good shape other than the MANY chips and scratches and the rust coming thru at the front lower edge of the drivers door.
When I bought the car it had been painted and upholstered and the new tires put on and then sat for I don't know how long but a number of years in a garage. Apparently while sitting in the garage it got a lot of whacks by garden tools, bikes , you name it. It had scratches and chips ALL OVER IT, roof, trunk, hood, and both sides. But being a SS solid color it brush touched up real well.

Considering we use waterborne bc at work I had forgotten how well something can brush touch. That waterborne, forgetaboutit it is simply worthless for brush touching. It is a COMPLETELY different color when sprayed. Working with this old SS was a pleasure.

Brian

[Henry]

Ahh, no neither, I bought it with a good old cheapie SS paint job on it. It just cleaned up pretty well. I painted the engine compartment as well as the underside of the hood and hinges.
The paint job is in pretty good shape other than the MANY chips and scratches and the rust coming thru at the front lower edge of the drivers door.
When I bought the car it had been painted and upholstered and the new tires put on and then sat for I don't know how long but a number of years in a garage. Apparently while sitting in the garage it got a lot of whacks by garden tools, bikes , you name it. It had scratches and chips ALL OVER IT, roof, trunk, hood, and both sides. But being a SS solid color it brush touched up real well.

Considering we use waterborne bc at work I had forgotten how well something can brush touch. That waterborne, forgetaboutit it is simply worthless for brush touching. It is a COMPLETELY different color when sprayed. Working with this old SS was a pleasure.

Brian

Hey, didn't Lois Lane on Superman drive one of those?

Brian, glad you answered because I was a little confused also. The difference a garage and the west coast can do. That car, to me, is one that would have a personal feel to it when driving it. Hard to explain but you may know what I mean. It looks really good. Not sure what it would bring at Barrett-Jackson but it does look good.

And, what the hell, when it outlives its usefullness as a driver, you can turn it on its roof, weld on 4 legs and take a bath. Have a good weekend. Henry

[MARTINSR]

Henry, I love driving something like this because of it's history. Honestly, I just don't get the fiberglass body nothing older than two years old on the car things you see at the shows. I just don't get it, sorry. I want history, I like the connection with the past while driving it. Yesterday I gave a neighbors mom a ride in it. She learned to drive in a Nash (her moms) and really got a kick out her ride in my Rambler, she had an ear to ear smile the entire time! You just can't buy that, it comes with the connection to her memories. I have in the glove box an original owners manual, not a reprint that I could have gotten, I bought an original with some stains and water marks. That goes for the repair manual, I got an original one complete with greasy finger marks and an old Carter carb envelope that probably held a little seal or something as the book mark, just as I got it. I love that stuff, I think about it as I use it.

When my son and I were taking the headlamps and park lamps off the parts car we talked about how those parts were bolted on at the factory 50 years ago by a man making a living for his family. I compared what I do to it and that it could very well have been a father just like me with a couple of children and a little house like mine (it's 64 years old) going to work just like I do. It was a moving experience for the both of us to remove these screws that he had screwed in holding those lights. I put them on my car being they were so nice and original.

Brian

[Mooch]

I thought for sure you had repainted it . It looks really good .

Mooch

[Jayson M]

So Brian when are you going to finish your Grand sport convertible that was painted a couple of years ago??Cool Rambler by the way

[MARTINSR]

Yeah Jay, I'll be on the Gran Sport in a short while as soon as I finish up the Rambler. Yeah Mooch, believe me I was a little surprised when I clay barred it, I couldn't believe how nice it cleaned up. There was rust spots all over it from one time when I cut and welded some stuff, the metal shavings went all over the car and it was ruff as hell. The clay bar took it all off and a quick polish it was smooth as a cut and polished fresh job!

Brian