1957 Nash Rambler

The Nash Motors division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corproation produced the Rambler from 1950 to 1954, and following the merger of Nash-Kelvinator on May 1st of 1954 resulting in the American Motors Corproation (AMC), the Rambler was then built by AMC in Kenosha, Wisconsin. A four-door sedan and a four-door station wagon joined the lineup of avaialble body styles on the 1954 Rambler, along with a Deluxe and Super two-door sedan. A new cellular grille were among the few updates applied to the 1955 model, along with full wheel cutouts in the front fenders.

A major redesign occured in 1956, resulting in the removal of the short-wheelbase (100-inches) platform, leaving just the four-door 108-inch wheelbase. Exterior styling updates included a new oval-shaped grille housing the headlights located within the grille, and running lights placed high in each front fender. Avaiablel options included three-tone color combinations, color treatments, and chrome trim.

The 1957 Rambler cam standard with an overhead valve, inline six-cylinder engine with solid valve lifters, four main bearings, a one-barrel carburetor, and delivering 125 horsepower at 4,200 RPM. The overhead valve V8 had a 250.1 cubic-inch displacement, five main bearings, non-adjustable hydraulic valve lifters, a two-barrel carburetor, and delivered 190 horsepwoer at 4,900 RPM. The Rambler Rebel was powered by the 326.7 CID, OHV V8 with solid valve lifters, five main bearings, and delivering 255 horsepower at 4,700 RPM.

The Nash Rambler continued to rest on a 108-inch wheelbase and styling changes were minimal. Trim levels on the base Rambler included the Deluxe, Super, and Custom Line with body styles that included a sedan and station wagon. The Super Line also had a four-door hardtop with seating for six.

The Deluxe trim level was the base and least costly option and was popular with fleet customers. The Super series had full body-side molding with the word Super, in script, on the rear fenders. The Custom series models were identified by the Rambler Custom script on the front fenders and dual side moldings, with a round medallion at the front end.

The Rebel was an exclusive, high-performance version of the Rambler, priced at $2,790 with 1,500 examples built. They had black nylon and silver-gray vinyl upholstery and a light silver-gray metallic exterior finish. Many of these cars were later repainted by dealers due to the fading of the silver-gray paint. The only body style available was the hardtop sedan with seating for six.

The combined six-cylinder production of the Rambler was 68,757 units, and 14,442 of the V-8 (plus the additional 1,500 of the Rebel).

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2021