Welcome to the HAMB. Fine first car, buff it out and enjoy it. Spend the money you would save on paint on getting the mechanical things back to as new condition. Bob
Clean it up and give the old paint a buff for now. Get the old girl starting, stopping and driving, and go have fun. Learn how to do basic bodywork and painting, and when you are ready you can give her a spruce up yourself. A clean, basic paintjob is all you need. High end paint jobs are over-rated. All they do is make you too nervous to drive your own car.
I have a thing for original paint cars. no way I'd paint that. that paint looks like it will polish up real good.
I say get that baby running and cruising and enjoy it. At 16 years old that is a big enough project for you.
I'm a paint guy, like shiny, started painting my junk in my parents driveway at 15, my parents were depression era and DIY was the deal, I was and still am a DIY but at 77 not much gets done anymore, still chipping away at it. It's nice to see a young man come into the hobby, it will serve you well, it will keep you busy and broke, no time or money for drugs and booze, a huge positive IMO. I understand the younger car guys dilemma today, crazy $$$ for paint, upholstery and chrome, but you can DIY the mechanical's, paint and upholstery. This site will be very helpful for you and you can learn as you go like we all did. Enjoy the Hobby, be proud of what you do and have, you will amaze yourself at what you can accomplish. I agree with many here, that car will clean up nice, drive it. Good Luck and ENJOY the journey.
My advice would be no paint or wheels till it runs and drives. Do you have the ownership in your name already. This isn’t the “ fun “ stuff of the hobby, but it is important.
The first thing I would suggest is washing and putting a coat of wax on it, a bucket of soap and water and hand waxing it will go a long way. Does anyone beside me wash and wax their car anymore? Everyone’s answer is buff, paint, or to do a cheap paint job. I have seen many cars end up in body shop purgatory or have to be repainted because someone attacked a car with a buffer and burned thought the paint or laid down a bad paint job because they thought being frugal and not doing it correctly were the same thing. I would much rather see a patina car over a car with ruined paint or poorly done paint.
@Robert J. Palmer I agree, wash 'n wax, but I'd go with a clay bar before waxing. It really makes a difference cleaning up older unprotected paint. @Roadside247 welcome! Cleaning it up (mild stuff, no straight Simple Green) and lubing things is a good start. It makes you look at every inch and helps keep what you've got from getting worse.
wise decision.. painted cars with shinny chrome and new interiors cost 10 times more to do and take 10 times longer...
Make it run first. A non-running one with a cheap repaint isn’t worth much. I would suggest a cleaning by hand as a buffer or grinder can make waste in minutes. Don’t turn it into a forever project by tearing it apart for the ultimate paint, interior, etc.
When I was 18 I bought my original paint 62 Bel Air. 21 years later I still have it and it's still wearing its original paint. Your Rambler will probably clean up great, and last for ages. Polish up what you have. The patina products aren't the best for what you have, you can do a good buff and polish with what you have.
Own a 55 Ford 2 dr post, no accident damage,original chrome and stainless,factory tinted glass,ORIGINAL PAINT,ORIGINAL STYLE INTERIOR, gr8 daily driver,recently relocated 75 year residence in Texas to NEW permanent location in Lewes,Delaware.
Hey @Roadside247 As you can see, there are a lot of us geezers here on the H.A.M.B. that are fired up about your cool A.M.C. wagon. A lot of good advise so far. Sometimes its the little things, such as the cool wheel covers ( hubcaps) that your wagon has. Send me your mailing address, and I will send you back a tube of "FLITZ" metal polish. You will be really surprised at how those wheel covers will shine up with this stuff. Just clean them very well with soap and water and dry them thoroughly, and with the "FLITZ", and a soft cloth and some elbow grease, you can really make them shine, and it doesn't take long to do that. Plus it protects the metal surface and the shine will last a long time! When you see them shine, it will give you a smile and further encouragement to do what others have suggested here ! You can send me your mailing address to my email fyrtruc@aol.com Of if you choose to do so, you can get it at most hardware stores in your area as well. Now you know what to look for. Thanks from Dennis.
I bought the car from the original family just across town. They drove the car until 86' and then put it into storage til about 2020.
[QUOTE Everyone’s answer is buff, paint, or to do a cheap paint job. [/QUOTE] Once again, I've been reassured, I am not "everyone" Ron
Nothing I own has ever been in a car wash. Even my 2020 DD gets washed in the drive and machine polished once a year (black truck). My wife, on the other hand, is a car wash fanatic. Surprisingly the finish isn't that bad but it aint black.
Like everybody is saying; get it running & driving and enjoy the car ; you can always put it in "paint jail" later.
Nothing has been said about the powertrain. Is it original? Is it serviceable? I see it’s missing from the engine bay. What are your plans for that? If it needs gone through, that could eat up a bit of money, unless you have some connections for parts and labor. Same scenario for a powertrain transplant. Lots to think about, unless you already have that worked out.
The car didn't come with a motor. From the factory it would have had a 195.6 i6. I plan to buy the correct motor but they're hard to find. I may have to buy a parts car to my hands on a motor.
I just did one of those motors for a guy I know. He has a 66 American sedan. It is the same motor as most older postal jeeps. I doubt you are going to find a crate motor from the catalog places but they are out there. Of course, you could always install a small block Chevy and auto trans for not a lot of money. I bet there are dozens of guys reading this and getting pissed You probably already have this but just in case https://www.amcrambler.com/ And they don’t look too bad either
The original motor is ok....if you can find one complete. You might be better off finding a different drivetrain, but beware the rear axle is a torque tube type, the suspension at both ends of the car is "weird", etc. So if you can find a parts car that has a complete and useable engine/transmission, that would be the way to go. Not easy..but your best bet is to get in contact with rambler people. The 59 I had was pretty rusty, the engine was ok after I put rings in it. It would cruise ok on the highway, did slow down a bit on the hills. There's a guy not far from me who has a wagon, I'm not sure of the year but it's close. I don't remember if it has the original engine in it or not.
Mine either, I wash my cars the traditional way. I take that back they have never been in an automated car wash.
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