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Ask the man who owned one (or more)... Posted by JerseySaab [Email] (#666) [Profile/Gallery] (more from JerseySaab) on Thu, 24 May 2012 19:46:05 In Reply to: Re: Rambler American got near 40 mpg..., Justin VanAbrahams [Profile/Gallery] , Thu, 24 May 2012 17:06:21 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
Actually in 1960 the American came with a flathead six that made 90 gross horsepower. (At some point the optional overhead-valve mill that made 125 hp became available but the flathead was standard through the 1965 model year.) I've owned and driven a number of Rambler American models over the years and in normal driving they typically get mileage in the low-to-mid 20s which was pretty good for the day. At that time George Romney was waging a very public war against the "gas-guzzling dinosaurs" of the Big 3 with his relatively economical Ramblers.
As an interesting aside, the Rambler American started out as a revamp of the original Nash Rambler which had been discontinued in 1955. It was brought back in 1958 with relatively minor changes and a name change. In 1961 the outer body panels were restyled to give the appearance of an all-new model, but it was still a 1950 Nash Rambler underneath. (A truly new design did not debut until the 1964 model year.) Those early Americans sold quite well, I remember when they were common as dirt.
Nash/AMC did sell the Metropolitan captive import which could easily get over 30 mpg with its Austin drivetrain but that was a tiny 2-seater.
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