Parking Lot Pimpin: Cadillac Coupe deVille

 

Kansas City Street Sighting: Rambler Classic 770

When out carspotting, vehicles from the big three usually are the most common cars found; but in the land of very little rust (compared to Minnesota), surviving vehicles from other makes are alive and well--and I'm not talking imported makes either. Every so often, an AMC slips through the cracks here and there, and slowly but surely, vehicles from the brands' previous incarnation are becoming more and more common; its not every day I see a Rambler, much less one in the ghettos of Kansas City.

For those who don't know, the Ramber Classic is the midsize of the group, and 770 denoted that this one is the nicest vehicle in the lineup. I have no idea what engine powers this one, as there are a few engine choices, ranging from a six cylinder to a fire-breathing 290 cube V8. If it were up to me, I'd chuck a 390 in it, and go from there. But hey, not everyone wants a performance four-door; oddly enough, these Ramblers are more common, than say, a Fairlane four-door or a Biscayne four-door of the same year.

Odd, really, since the other two cars mentioned were probably more common when they were new. As with most cars, the more common they were, the less valuable they are, so most got pre-warranted death sentences by way of demolition derbies and simply driven into the ground.  Quite a bit of the remaining Ramblers I see (and I don't even see that many) are is fairly good condition, especially considering their age.

 I spotted this one from a cross-street, and I assumed it was going to be a total beater--and I was wrong. Yes, it does have rust, and yes, the paint is fairly faded, but overall, this Rambler is a very nice survivor that would make for a relatively easy restoration.

The trim and hubcaps are still in place, and surprisingly blemish-free; as expected, forty-plus years of winter have taken their toll, as there is a minimal amount of body rot; overall, this is one of the nicer 1960s vehicles I have seen, especially considering that this example comes from a non-mainstream manufacturer.

I had immense fun shooting this, as its one of very few Ramblers I've even seen; I have to admit I was a tad scared, seeing as this one was in the ghetto, but I think I did okay here.

Minneapolis Street Sighting: Rambler Classic 770 Cross Country

To continue "offbeat cars" week, I present a second AMC-era product. I like wagons, alot, and I'm just getting into AMC/Ramblers alot more than I've ever been. To me, discovering a new world in an already crowded segment makes me feel like I'm new at being a car enthusiast; I'm not, but my ever-growing knowledge base is only helped with the discovery of vehicles I otherwise would've only given a quick once-over.
While wagons of any sort are far from common, especially in crossover hell, I treated this Rambler initially with surprise; from a distance I thought it was a usual Chevy or perhaps a Mopar, but the rear end didn't look right. So, I pulled my bike up, and.. wow. I stood there for maybe a good ten to fifteen seconds just taking it in. I almost want to say this was the first Rambler product I'd seen in person, and also the first one I was able to shoot in depth.
In the 1960s, with station wagons being a big part of the automotive scene, it seemed as if every major car manufacturer offered multiple varieties to choose from. AMC/Rambler was no different. Rather than naming all of its offerings with traditional names like "Vista Cruiser", "Kingswood", or "Estate Wagon", Rambler opted to number its series of cars. 550 was the base model, 660 was the midgrade, and this 770 shown here was the top of the line model; it feature such niceties such as full on AM/FM radio, eight passenger seating, a standard roof, and standard 232 I6 power. While 145 horses isn't much, especially compared to even four cylinders today, remember this was over forty years ago. I think 145 does the car just fine, as I doubt the owner uses it as a race car of any sort.
This example of a rare breed certainly does the car justice; no hard-life lived here; paint, chrome and side trim are in immaculate condition, as are the factory correct hubcaps. Inside, too, was damn clean. No blatant rips in the upholstery, and all the interior trim seemed to be intact, including the rearmost seats. I don't know if I'm correct, but this looked like a genuine one-owner car. And I'll be surprised if it wasn't.
As an enthusiast, I think cars like this one should be preserved more; not only do they give the next generation of car enthusiasts something to look forward to, cars like this can also be conversation pieces at car shows, and allow the older generation to mingle with the younger generation. In short, cars like this need to be saved in order for the car enthusiast to be saved.