Nash Rambler
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The Nash Rambler was a North American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation from 1950 thru 1956. Nash-Kelvinator's President George W. Mason saw that the company needed to compete more effectively and insisted the new car had to be different. The Rambler was designed to be smaller than contemporary cars, yet still accommodate five passengers comfortably. The Nash Rambler established a new segment in the automobile market and is widely acknowledged to be the first modern American compact car.
In developing this new car, Nash had originally planned to call it the Nash Diplomat. This would have rounded out the Nash family of cars, as for 1950 the 600 line was re-named the Statesman, and the Ambassador remained the flagship line. When it was learned that Dodge had already reserved the Diplomat name for a planned two-door hardtop body style, Nash delved into its own past, and resurrected the Rambler name. The Rambler had been one of the most popular of early American autos, and was highly respected throughout its 1902-1913 lifespan.
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[edit] 1950-1952
The Nash Rambler was introduced during the 1950 model year. The new model was the company's entry in the so-called low-price segment dominated by models from Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth. The Rambler was designed to be lighter in weight and have smaller dimensions than the other popular cars. Because of this strategy, Nash could save on materials in its production while owners would have better fuel economy. The car rode on a 100" wheelbase, and power came from Nash's proven 173 in³ L-head 6-cylinder engine that produced 82 hp.
The new Rambler was also introduced only as an up-market two-door convertible - designated the "Landau". The decision to bring the car out in a higher market segment with more standard features was a calculated strategy by Mason. Foremost in this strategy was the need to give the new Rambler a positive public image. Mason knew the car would fail if it was seen by the public as a "cheap little car." He knew what Crosley was just finding out, and what the Henry J would teach Edgar Kaiser: namely, that Americans would rather buy a nice used car than a sub-standard new car. Other factors were the limited steel supplies during the Korean War, as well as the desire to maximize profits from the new Rambler. The need to earn a decent profit meant that the Rambler, with its expected low initial production volume, had to be priced higher than the base models from its intended competition. To further increase the value to buyers, the car was well equipped compared to the competition and included items such as whitewall tires, wheel covers, electric clock, and pushbutton radio.
Following the design of the larger "senior" Nash models, the compact Rambler's styling was rounded in form and also had an envelope body that enclosed the front wheels. This design feature did not impair the car's cornering ability too significantly. Unlike almost all traditional convertibles of the era that used frame-free windows, the Rambler retained the fixed roof structure above the car's doors and rear side window frames. This metal structure served as the side guides or rails for the retractable canvas top. This design allowed Nash to utilize its monocoque (unibody) construction on its new compact. It made the Rambler body very rigid for an open top car, without the additional bracing required in other convertible models.
In 1951, the Rambler line was enlarged to include a two-door station wagon and a two-door hardtop - designated the Country Club.
[edit] 1953-1955
The Rambler received its first restyling in 1953, and came to strongly resemble the "senior" Nash models which had received all-new "Airflyte" styling the prior year. A two-door sedan was added in 1953. For 1954 a four-door sedan and a four-door station wagon - designated the "Cross Country" - were added. These four-door body styles used a 108" wheelbase. For 1955 the traditional enclosed front wheel wells were opened.
On January 14, 1954, Nash and Hudson Motor Car Company merged, and the successor corporation was named American Motors Corporation (AMC). Following the merger, Hudson dealers began receiving Ramblers which were badged as Hudson brand cars. The Hudson Ramblers and Nash Ramblers were identical, save for the brand name and minor brand badging.
[edit] 1956-1957
For 1956, American Motors created an all-new Rambler, using the 108" (2743mm) wheelbase and increasing the overall length of the cars. Again, the Rambler was sold under the Nash and Hudson brand names. The new Ramblers came only as four-door models. Along with the usual four-door sedan and station wagon was a new four-door hardtop sedan. Also, Rambler introduced an industry first, a four-door hardtop station wagon. For 1957, the Rambler became a make in its own right, no longer branded as a Nash or Hudson. Also, for 1957, a V8 engine became available in Ramblers for the first time. This was AMC's own 250-cid V8 engine introduced the year before in the Nash Ambassador Special and Hudson Hornet Special. In addition, offered in 1957 (only) was a special high-performance four-door hardtop sedan model called the Rambler Rebel. The Rebel came equipped with AMC's new 327-cid V-8. The engine was also used in the larger Nash Ambassador and Hudson Hornet for that year. Plans had called for a fuel injection option for the Rebel, but that had to be scuttled at the last minute. The limited-production Rebel (1,500 produced) is considered to be a precursor of the muscle cars that became so popular in the 1960s.
[edit] After 1957
In 1958 the Rambler became a the sole brand of automobile produced by American Motors Corporation, with the discontinuance of the Nash and Hudson brands. For information on Rambler brand cars, see: Rambler (automobile).
[edit] Popular Culture
In 1958 the music group The Playmates wrote a novelty song entitled "Beep Beep", in which the driver of a Nash Rambler inadvertantly humiliates the "narrator" of the song, the driver of a Cadillac. The song was briefly a hit, and in recent decades has been a popular selection on the Dr. Demento radio show.
[edit] References
- Gunnell, John, Editor (1987). The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975. Kraus Publications. ISBN 0-87341-096-3.
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| Nash Motors | ||
| 1916 - 1957 Historic: | ||
| Nash: | | 600 | Airflyte | Advanced Six | Ambassador | Nash-Healey | La Fayette | Metropolitan | Rambler | Rebel | Statesman | |
| Affiliated: | | Ajax | American Motors | Hudson | Nash-Kelvinator | Rambler (AMC) | |
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American Motors Corporation
Historic: |
| Rambler: | Ambassador by Rambler | American | Classic | Marlin | Rambler | Rebel |
| AMC: | Ambassador | AMX | Concord | Eagle | Gremlin | Hornet | Javelin | Marlin | Matador | Metropolitan | Pacer | Rebel | Spirit |
| Renault: | LeCar | Alliance | Encore | Fuego | Medallion | Premier |
| AMC & Rambler Concept Cars: | Rambler Tarpon | AMC Cavalier | AMC AMX-GT |
| Affiliated with: | American Motors Corporation | Chrysler | Hudson | Jeep | Kelvinator | Nash Motors | Nash-Kelvinator | Rambler | Renault | Australian Motor Industries | Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos |
| People | Roy Abernethy | A.E. Barit | Roy D. Chapin Jr. | George W. Romney | Richard A. Teague | George W. Mason | Gerald C. Meyers | Edmund E. Anderson | François Castaing |
| [ edit ] Category |
