1958-1960 American

1959 American Super Two Door Sedan

General Information Body Styles And Trim Levels Engines Transmissions Production Numbers Serial Number Decoder Unit Body Identification Plate Bibliography

General Information

In an unprecedented move, AMC reintroduced the 1955 100" wheelbase Nash Rambler in 1958 as the "new" Rambler American. This is the only time in automotive history that an old model has been successfully reintroduced to the general public. The U.S. was in a recession in 1958, and the American proved to be the right car at the right time. Not only was the body design reintroduced (AMC simply dusted off the old stamping dies), but the old L-head (flat head) six cylinder engine as well! This was to be a price leading economy car, what better way to get one out quickly? 

The new car wasn't quite an exact knock-off of the 1955 model. While the major components were identical to the 50-55 Nash Rambler, there were subtle styling differences:

• Rear wheel wells cut out (1950-55 models had permanently "skirted" wheel openings, fronts were enlarged in 1955)
• New wire mesh grille design
• Fake hood scoop removed
• Rear window enlarged
• Trunk lid smoothed and flattened
• Five lug hubs and wheels (1950-55 models used four lugs)
  

All major mechanical and body components were the same as the earlier model with the exception of the engine. The L-head had received some improvements when it was converted to an OHV configuration for the 1956 Ramblers. The main upgrade was moving the water pump from the left side of the engine (driven from an extension shaft off the back of the generator) to the front of the engine behind the fan (the older model had a fan shaft carrier bolted to the front of the engine block).  Cooling was actually more even with the center of the block mounted water pump, but the long hoses required were troublesome.

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Body Styles And Trim Levels

There were three trim levels and three body styles available. The body styles and trim levels can be determined from the model number on the door tag. The body styles and trim levels are:

• 2 door sedan in "Business", Deluxe, Super, and Custom trim (Custom in 59-60 only -- business sedan was stripped model with back seat, for fleet sales only)
• 2 door station wagon in Deluxe, Super, and Custom trim (1959-60)
• 4 door sedan in Deluxe, Super, and Custom trim (1959-60)

Unlike the 1954-55 four door models, the 1959-60 American retained the wheelbase of the two door models (100 inch vs. 1954-55 four door 108 inch).

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Engines

The following engines were available:

• 196 cid L-head inline six, 1bbl (90 hp)
• 196 cid OHV inline six, 1bbl (125 hp - available in 1960 only; standard in Custom, optional in others) 

There is a machined pad on the left (driver's) side of the engine near the front and just below the block/head division. This pad contains the 1958-59 Engine Serial Number or the 1960 Engine Day Build Code.

1956-59 Engine Beginning Serial Numbers
A letter was assigned to each engine size with one barrel carburetor, a following "B" was used for two barrel models along with a different letter. The serial number listed was the first used that year. All possible serial numbers are included to help identify replacement engines. No OHV engines were used in 1958-59 Americans, but engines from the Classic will fit as long as the short shaft American water pump is used. Likewise no 2 bbl OHV engines were used, but Classic versions can be retrofitted (entire engine or just manifold and carburetor).

• 1956 195.6 OHV 1 bbl - S1001
• 1957 195.6 OHV 1 bbl - D341001
• 1957 195.6 OHV 2 bbl - CB2001
• 1958 195.6 L-head 1 bbl - E101
• 1958 195.6 OHV 1 bbl - B145001
• 1958 195.6 OHV 2 bbl - CB9001
• 1959 195.6 L-head 1 bbl - E33001
• 1959 195.6 OHV 1 bbl - B227001
• 1959 195.6 OHV 2 bbl - CB36001

Beginning in late 1959 the six character Engine Day Build Code was adopted. The first digit indicates the calendar year the engine was built. 1959 = 1, 60 = 2, 61 = 3, etc. Numbers repeated, but no zero was used (1967 =9, 1968 =1; due to a change in the numbering system, 1980 and later uses the last digit of the year (1980 = 0, 1981=1 etc.) . The next two numbers will be the month the engine was made in. A letter code will tell engine size and compression.  A is 195.6 L-head w/1bbl, C is 195.6 cast iron OHV w/1bbl (there was an aluminum version of the 195.6 OHV, but it wasn't available in the American -- only 1 bbl versions used). It is possible that the engine has been replaced with a newer or older engine. 195.6 cid six cylinder engines made between 1956 and 1965 are direct bolt-in swaps and are externally identical, though water pump design varies slightly on the 56-57 OHV engines. 

Note: Engine dates are calendar dates and not model year dates. Since model year production actually starts in the previous calendar year, it is possible to have, for example, an engine coded 1958 in a 1959 vehicle and be correct but an engine coded 1960 would not be correct for the same car since no 1960's were manufactured in calendar year 1958.

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Transmissions

The following Borg Warner transmissions were used in 1958-60 Rambler Americans. The general transmission type can be determined by the third digit of the VIN.

• T-96 three speed manual , available with an optional Borg Warner overdrive unit
• Borg Warner "Flash-O-Matic" three speed automatic (air cooled torque converter, cast iron case, vacuum modulator -- predecessor to model 35)

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  Production Numbers

Blank columns indicate that the body and trim style were not offered that year.

Dates of model introductions:

1958 - October 22, 1957
1959 - October 8, 1958
1960 - October 14, 1959

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Serial Numbers & Body Tag Decoder

Serial Numbers

Before January 1966, all cars had a manufacturers assigned serial number, not a VIN, which was mandated by the U.S. government for all cars built from 1966 on. The serial number is on a tag located on the top of the right side shock tower in the engine compartment.  The serial number gives no information except year and model series. Technically, any changes can be made to the car that were available from the factory and it will be "correct". Serial numbers were assigned to the car when it was ordered from the factory. Numbers with a single letter are assigned to cars made in Kenosha, WI.

• 1958 M1001
• 1959 M32001
• 1960 B100001

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Unit Body identification Plate

The Unit Body Identification Plate for a 1958-60 Rambler American can be located on the right side of the firewall under the hood. It can be decoded as follows:

Body

This is the number assigned to the body as it was being produced. It is different than the serial number. Bodies were produced in batches, so the numbers aren't consecutive to each series. 

Model

This identifies the body and trim styles. The first two digits are the year, the last two or three identify the series, body style, and trim level. Blanks indicate that the body and trim style was not available for the year in question.

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Trim

1958-59 trim codes use three digits. The first digit is the last number in the model year (1958 = 8) and the last two represent the seat covering material and color. In 1960 a four character code that may be prefixed by a "T" was adopted. The first character is the last digit of the model year. The second character represents the seat type 1960-63, the model (first digit of series) from 1964 on. The third is the upholstery color, and the fourth is the upholstery material for 60-63 and seat type for 1964 on. Letters after the numeric code indicate the corresponding seat types that were available. Special order interiors were available for large orders (usually fleet vehicles) and will have a code of "00". 

1958-59 Upholstery Material and Color Codes(colors not currently available)

Cloth

• 00 - Deluxe and Business models only
• 12-15 - Super and Custom

Vinyl

• 01 - Deluxe and Business models only
• 02-05 - Super and Custom

1960 seat types are as follows:

• 0 - Standard Bench, Deluxe and Business
• 1 - Standard Bench, Super
• 2 - Standard Bench, Custom

1960 trim colors are not currently available.

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Paint

The following colors were available in 1958-1960. The original color can be determined by looking at the Paint code on the Unit Body Identification Plate. If there are two codes separated by a dash, the first code is the primary body color and the second code is the upper body (sometimes roof) or accent color. For example, a car that was black with a white top would have a paint code of 1-72. Paint codes may also be prefixed with a P or suffixed with an A. Note that some cars were painted non-standard colors. These cars will typically have a code such as " 00" or "SPEC". This was reserved for large orders in the special color, usually for fleet use. 

Instrument panels were painted body color (primary body color if two tone). Remaining interior moulding and trim was painted one of the following colors to harmonize with interior trim. Interior colors were usually semi-gloss to reduce glare.

• N-45  Satin Black (58-60)
• N-80  Metallic Medium Blue (58)
• N-81  Metallic Medium Green (58)
• N-109 Pine ridge Green Metallic (59)
• N-110 Nocturne Blue Metallic (59)

Color samples can be viewed at  http://autocolorlibrary.com/aclns.html

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Bibliography

The following sources were used to verify the information contained on this page:

• AMC Rambler Club 1958-1969 Production Handbook
• Standard Catalog of American Motors, ISBN 0-87341-232-X, Krause Publications
• 1958-59 American Motors Technical Service Manual
• The Compact Chronicles, copyright 1992, Frank Swygert
• DuPont Automotive Finishes book (1959-71)
  

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