1964 Rambler Classic (Second generation 1963-64)
This is Jonathan’s Rambler. You could listen to me ramble on about it (no pun intended) or you could read this awesome story he sent me:
In 1993 my father and I purchased the Rambler in Salem, Or from the nephew of Uncle Harold the recently-deceased original owner. We paid $2600.00.
The purchase was a little impulsive - we saw it sitting on the edge of a Wal-Mart parking lot with a for sale sign on it.
I “kind-of” needed a car for getting to school in Eugene, and we convinced ourselves it should probably be the Rambler.
It functioned as my college car until 1997 when it dramatically died on I-5, between Salem and Eugene, heading back to school from thanksgiving at my parent’s house.
I walked seven miles to the closest filling station to call someone to pick me up.
The car was towed to the garage of the family mechanic. It’s harmonic balancer had failed, and we could not find a replacement.
It sat for months in the shop, and finally out of frustation, my father sold it to the mechanic behind my back for $800.
The mechanic promised to use it in a shop class he was teaching at a Salem area high school.
Shortly after, his business failed, and the car and the mechanic disappeared.
Nearly a decade later, one of my friends spotted the car in the open door of an old filling station garage a mile from my childhood home in Turner, Or.
It turned out the mechanic purchased the decommissioned filling station, and had stored the car there ever since in its broken condition.
(Ironically a decade old Mercury magazine was still sitting in the back window when the car was discovered)
My friend helped my parents repurchase the car, put a new engine in it, and repaint it the original color - Sentry Blue.
To my great surprise, I received it for Christmas gift in 2006.
It was a particularly meaningful gift, since my father had recently been diagnosed with a severe form of cancer.
He passed away in 2008 and the car is now a cherished belonging that elicits fond memories of my relationship with him.
A couple of my favorite things:
Listening to its original AM radio.
Stretching my arm over the top of the bench seat as I drive.
Lap Belts
Thank you Jonathan, for sharing such a great story and keeping a beautiful piece of history on the road. This is why I love cars.
Seen in NE Portland
