FUN With 1963 Rambler Americans

1963 Rambler American 220 Sedans: There’s room for all the family in the nimble, smooth-running Rambler American 220.

Rambler American automobiles were manufactured by the American Motors Corporation between 1958 and 1969. The Rambler American’s target audience was motorists who wanted reliable, economical transportation in a package that was small without being crowded. It was most often the lowest priced car built in the U.S., although it was possible to add many options that could increase its price substantially.

1963 Rambler American Sedan: Rambler American is the recognized Economy King.

Automobile advertising postcards were common in the mid-twentieth-century. Most of the cards are of interest mainly to automobile enthusiasts rather than to the average postcard collector. Typical automobile advertising postcards feature “glamour” photographic shots of the cars.

1963 Rambler 440-H Hardtop: Here is sports-car style, family-size!

My interest in automobile advertising postcards is limited to what I call “lifestyle” advertising. What I mean by that is that the cars are shown in settings and situations that illustrate how the car could be used by a potential customer.

1963 Rambler American Station Wagons: You get all the riding comfort and luxury of a sedan — combined with generous cargo-carrying capacity for travel or shopping.

This series of 1963 Rambler American advertising postcards is unusual in that it uses artwork rather than photography. It illustrates how the cars could be used for FUN by active families throughout the four seasons of the year. The settings represented are iconic Americana: classic river boats, patriotic fireworks, local carnivals, and winter sports. Now, the way that they illustrate mid-twentieth-century life also provides a strong dose of nostalgia.

Visit Sepia Saturday to see more vintage images.

The Family Car : Unknown Subjects and Location (Isobel Wales Collection)