Nash Rambler

The Nash Rambler was an American automobile that was manufactured by Nash Motors, the automotive division of the Nash - Kelvinator Corporation, 1950-1956.

Development

The CEO of the Nash - Kelvinator Corporation, George Walter Mason, realized that the company had to bring more competitive models on the market, and insisted that a new car had to be different from the existing models on the market. The Rambler was constructed smaller than most contemporary cars, but also offered five people enough space. The Nash Rambler created a new segment in the automobile market and is generally regarded as the first modern American compact cars.

During development we had intended for the vehicle when Nash originally named diplomat. This name would fit well with the previous models, as the " 600 " from 1950 Statesman was called and the Ambassador was the flagship of the brand. But Dodge had let this name already book for a planned two -door coupe, and so Nash recalled his past and revived the name Rambler from 1902 again. The Rambler was at that time one of the most popular American cars. Likewise, the new Nash Rambler throughout its production time was 1950 - 1956 highly regarded.

1950-1952

The Nash Rambler was introduced for model year 1950. He was the contribution of the brand so-called low-price segment, which was dominated by the models from the houses Chevrolet, Ford and Plymouth. The Rambler was lighter and smaller than other popular cars. So Nash was able to save material in the production, and the customer had an advantage due to the lower fuel consumption. The car had 2540 mm wheelbase and was from a proven six-cylinder engine with 2.83 ltr. Displacement and L -head (side valve) driven, which developed 82 hp SAE (61 kW).

The new Rambler was as noble 2-door convertible - called " Landau " - introduced. The decision to offer this car model in a higher market segment with better equipment, Mason had deliberately. First of all, he wanted the new Rambler give a positive image. Mason knew that the car would fall through at the customer if they simply " cheap small car " would see in him. He already knew what Crosley only just found out in his series of mini-cars and the Kaiser- Frazer Corporation had to learn at his model Henry J still, the Americans prefer to buy a nice used car than a new car, which a lower standard is said.

Other factors that played a role in the marketing strategy for the Rambler, were the reduced supply of steel by the Korean War and Nash's strategy of maximizing profits. The desire to achieve the highest possible profit on the sale meant that the Rambler was significantly higher at the beginning of the expected low production numbers in the price than the base models of the competition. In order to increase the value for the buyer, the cars were very well equipped, eg with white wall tires, full wheel covers, electric clock and an AM radio with snaps.

Just as the larger Nash models had the compact Rambler rounded shapes and a pontoon body with full wheel covers, which included also the front wheels. However, these features affected the turning circle of the car is not too much. Contrary to the then customary practice of frameless side windows for convertibles had the Rambler a fixed roof structure above the doors and side window frames. These metal structures served as guide rails for the open, waterproof roof. This construction allowed Nash to use his monocoque body for the new compact cars. She made the Rambler for a open car very rigid, and without the need for other convertibles additional body reinforcements.

1951 Rambler series has been expanded to include a three - door station wagon and a 2- door hardtop coupe. This was called Country Club.

1953-1955

1953, the Rambler was revised for the first time and thus saw the larger Nash models that had received the new " Airflyte " styling in the previous year, very similar. A two -door sedan was also available from 1953. 1954 came a 4-door sedan and a 5- door station wagon - called " Cross Country" - to do so. The 4 - and 5 -door models had a wheelbase of 1743 mm. As of 1955, the front wheel wells were no longer covered.

On January 14, 1954 Nash merged with Hudson Motor Car Co. to form the American Motors Corporation ( AMC). As a result, the Rambler was also offered as Hudson Rambler at dealerships this brand. Both models were identical.

1956-1957

For 1956, American Motors designed a whole new Rambler. They chose a wheelbase of 2743 mm, and the vehicle was longer. Again, the Rambler was sold as Nash and Hudson as. It gave him only with 4 and 5 doors. In addition to the sedan and station wagon, a new, 4 - door hardtop sedan was offered. In addition, the Rambler was the first car that there was a hardtop station wagon. 1957 Rambler was an independent brand; the Nash and Hudson names were omitted. Also starting in 1957 were V8 engines available in the Rambler. These were developed by the AMC to even 4.1 - liter - engine, which was introduced at the Nash Ambassador Special and Hudson Hornet Special in the year before. Only in 1957 was offered a special high-performance hardtop sedan called the Rambler Rebel. This car had the new 5.4 - liter - V8 - Engine of AMC. In the larger cars of the Group, the Nash Ambassador and Hudson Hornet which this year, this machine was also used. It was planned to equip the Rebel with a fuel injection, but cold start problems prevented this application at the last minute. The Rebel, which was produced only in small numbers ( 1500 ), was a precursor to the muscle cars that were popular in the 1960s.

After 1957

From 1958 Rambler was the only brand of American Motors Corporation after the Nash and Hudson brands were abandoned. The smaller model has now offered as a Rambler American, the larger 1956 model adopted was first called Rambler Six (or Rambler V8), then from 1961 Rambler Classic.

Nash Rambler in popular culture

1958 wrote the music group The Playmates a song titled " Beep-Beep " in which the driver of a Nash Rambler the " narrator " of the song, a Cadillac driver dressing down. The song was briefly a hit and is played more frequently in the Dr. Demento radio show in recent decades.

The Nash Rambler plays a central role in Kaizo Hayashi's Hama trilogy, The Most Terrible Time of My Life, Stairway to the Distant Past and The Trap. These films show Masatoshi Nagase as a police inspector Maiku Hama. The die-hard - but nonetheless overly hip - detective drives a two-tone Nash Rambler convertible through the streets of Yokohama. The Nash plays almost taken a role in these films: eg he takes in Stairways to the Distant Past yourself a case and takes out his " small car " from loan sharks back.

Also runs in Saturday Night Live sketches of the " Church Lady " ( Dana Carvey ) just this one Rambler, even if Satan (Jon Lovitz ) does not say which one.

Swell

Gunnel, John ( Editor): The Standard Catalogue of American Cars 1946-1975, Kraus Publications ( 1987), ISBN 0-87341-096-3.

Rambler Model: Ambassador | American | Classic | Marlin | Rebel

Car model
Nash
Size car
Limousine
Van
Coupe
Cabriolet

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