Rambler name spanned 68 years

Q: When did the very first Rambler appear? I know it was way before the company was formed with Hudson and Nash. Also, when was the last Rambler made? — Charles H., Pennsylvania

A: Charles, the very first commercially produced Rambler appeared in 1902, and was an evolution of the company’s bicycle of the same name. The cars were built in Kenosha, Wisc., where most all Ramblers would be built.

That first Rambler was a very small, tiller-steered (meaning no steering wheel) “Runabout” with a one-cylinder engine mounted mid-ship. It was a popular car, with some 1,500 sold that first year — second only to the Oldsmobile. The company continued to sell cars until 1913, when the make disappeared.

It reappeared in 1950 under the Nash brand, and was Nash’s official compact car, available as a convertible. In 1954, Nash and Hudson merged to form American Motors Corp., and the Rambler would soon emerge as its main seller. It was available in many different designs, from Rebel to Ambassador.

Rambler’s final “fame” came with the 1969 Rambler Hurst S/C built on the smaller American frame. It could outrun many a Corvette, and is worth some decent money today in the muscle-car market. On June 30, 1969, the last U.S.-produced Rambler (an American) rolled off the assembly line in Kenosha, bringing the final total of cars produced to 4,204,925. In 1970, the Rambler name permanently disappeared from the AMC lineup.