Saturday, July 31, 2010

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Rambler American Deluxe sedan







This car is a quite a rarity for several reasons. First of all, aside from not being the usual "Big Three" classic car, this car comes from one of the many long-gone American automakers. Secondly, unlike most cars from long-dead makes, this vehicle isn't sitting in a field in northern Minnesota; it lives right here in my neighborhood.
Sadly, despite the name's suggestion, this MAACOrange example is no longer Deluxe by any means. At first glance, the body seems somewhat decent. Up close, though, this thing is a mess. None of the body panels line up, the paint finish is atrocious, and none of the tires match. Amazingly enough, though, the lone badges on the front fenders seem to be the only intact and complete piece on this poor car.
Inside, it's the same story. The bench seat is ripped beyond belief, the steering wheel is nearly tattered into oblivion, but hey, at least someone cares enough about it to drive it. Right?
If this Rambler were mine, I'd first deal with the interior, and get it as close as I could to factory specs. The chassis and suspension would come next, with upgraded shocks, struts, and some wider meats. For engine duties, I'd throw in something over 300 cubes with a 4 spd stick. Maybe a 327? For the body, I'd go flat black with fresh chrome. As it is, though, this example may be better off in UPullIt. Sad to say, but in the current stage, that might be the best option for it.

No comments: