For other meanings, see Rambler.

The original Rambler was an automobile produced of the Thomas B. Jeffery Company of Kenosha, Wisconsin (United States) based automobile company. Rambler is also a brand of car that produced by the Nash Kelvinator Corporation and its successor, American Motors Corporation between 1950 and 1969.

Contents

1 Thomas B. Jeffery Company's Rambler 2 Nash Rambler and AMC Rambler, 1950-1969 3 See also 4 Resources 5 External links

Thomas B. Jeffery Company's Rambler

Rambler was a name employed by Thomas B. Jeffery, a wagon maker in Kenosha, Wisconsin, originally as the name of a line of bicycles. In 1900 Jeffery decided to go into the new business of automobile manufacturing. He started building experimental autos that year. He started commercially mass-producing automobiles in 1902, and by the end of the year had produced 1,500 motorcars, one-sixth of all existing in the USA at the time.

Rambler introduced such early technical innovations as interchangeable wheels and spare tires. Ramblers were briefly marketed under the brand name Jeffery.

In 1916 Jeffery's firm was purchased by Charles W. Nash, and became part of Nash Motors. The Rambler brand name was dropped at the time of the merger and Jeffery assets were directed towards the manufacture of Nash brand automobiles.

Nash Rambler and AMC Rambler, 1950-1969

Under the direction of Charlie Nash's successor George W. Mason, Nash Kelvinator Corporation began devlopment of a small car that could be produced inexpensivly. The product was to be name the Rambler, an homage to the earlier product produced by Nash's predessor. However steel shortages resulting from the Korean War conflict limited the availbility of steel for Nash, and so the product was reconfigured to be a small up-market sedan convertible, which was introduced in March 1950.

In 1954 American Motors was formed from the merger of Nash-Kelvinator and the Hudson Motor Car Company. Ramblers were then badged as Nash and Hudson brands, with no visible difference between the two. The Nash and Hudson makes were continued through 1957, after which all of AMC's firm's offerings were marketed as Ramblers, with the exception of the 1958 and 1959 Ambassador model.

In 1963, the entire Rambler line received the Motor Trend Car of the Year award. The Rambler name had acquired a stodgy image, however, and AMC began to phase it out in favour of an "AMC" marque beginning in 1966. AMC continued to sell cars under the Rambler nameplate through 1969, after which it was dropped entirely in favour of the AMC marque in the U.S. and Canadian markets. The Rambler name continued well into the 1970s in international markets, including Mexico and Australia.

In Argentina, the Rambler American became the Renault Torino in 1967 and was offered until 1980.

See also

• List of automobile manufacturers

Resources

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

External links

• Ramblers History on amcrc.com
• Ramblers from 1900 - 1904
• Ramblers History on emory.edu
• AMCyclopedia AMC/Rambler History/Documentation Site