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  • tb

    Aug. 31, 2010 10:47 a.m. tb Reader

    Normally this type of vehicle is so far removed from my typical desires that I ignore them completely, and then I noticed one rotting away behind a friends house and it has started to haunt my thoughts...

    I literally only got a one minute look at it, but it appears structurally salvageable. Ran when parked (did't they all?), no brakes or suspension left to speak of and LOTS of rust...

    My real question is this: Can I actually keep this classic running and driving safely for reasonable cash and effort or should I run away and let the new england winters continue to eat it away? Would I ever actually find enough parts for this thing to have a drivable project?

    hurried cell phone pic:

  • ArthurDent

    Aug. 31, 2010 11:16 a.m. ArthurDent Reader

    Seems like the sort of car that could be picked up reasonably cheaply in good shape that it isn't worth messing with a rust bucket ...

  • bravenrace

    Aug. 31, 2010 11:20 a.m. bravenrace Dork

    Maybe drop it on a modern chassis?

  • 96DXCivic

    Aug. 31, 2010 11:21 a.m. 96DXCivic SuperDork

    bravenrace wrote:

    Maybe drop it on a modern chassis?

    P71?

  • tb

    Aug. 31, 2010 11:27 a.m. tb Reader

    ArthurDent wrote:

    Seems like the sort of car that could be picked up reasonably cheaply in good shape that it isn't worth messing with a rust bucket ...

    Very good point. This guy just kinda said "Help! I'm not dead yet!" and I wonder if it is worth saving.

  • tb

    Aug. 31, 2010 11:29 a.m. tb Reader

    96DXCivic wrote:

    bravenrace wrote:

    Maybe drop it on a modern chassis?

    P71?

    My first and second thoughts exactly in that order, but that is probably a bigger project then I want for this winter. It says 'special' on the side, I just wondered if it was actually even close to special in any way...

  • Junkyard_Dog

    Aug. 31, 2010 11:40 a.m. Junkyard_Dog Dork

    tb wrote:

    It says 'special' on the side, I just wondered if it was actually even close to special in any way...

    I rode a bus that said "Special" on the side once. Wasn't nearly as cool as I thought it would be.

  • stuart in mn

    Aug. 31, 2010 12:07 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

    I believe those Ramblers were unibody cars, so a lot of rust may be a bigger issue than you think.

  • 914Driver

    Aug. 31, 2010 12:34 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

    It had a frame.

    http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1957-1960-rambler-rebel.htm/printable

    Depending on what your friend wants for it, why not? I'm sure parts are available, and everything else is so caveman that a mig will take care of it.

    I'd rock it, but you know me ....

    Dan

  • tb

    Aug. 31, 2010 12:41 p.m. tb Reader

    914Driver wrote:

    It had a frame.

    http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1957-1960-rambler-rebel.htm/printable

    Depending on what your friend wants for it, why not? I'm sure parts are available, and everything else is so caveman that a mig will take care of it.

    I'd rock it, but you know me ....

    Good info, thanks for the link. I can probably have it for a song, so if I get more space soon I might just take it and decide later... I'm thinking that this would be my excuse to learn to weld and a perfect canvas for all my mistakes...

  • Varkwso

    Aug. 31, 2010 1:40 p.m. Varkwso Reader

    tb wrote:

    914Driver wrote:

    It had a frame.

    http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1957-1960-rambler-rebel.htm/printable

    Depending on what your friend wants for it, why not? I'm sure parts are available, and everything else is so caveman that a mig will take care of it.

    I'd rock it, but you know me ....

    Good info, thanks for the link. I can probably have it for a song, so if I get more space soon I might just take it and decide later... I'm thinking that this would be my excuse to learn to weld and a perfect canvas for all my mistakes...

    You will learn welding and metal forming since I am pretty sure patch panels are hard to come by.

  • P71

    Aug. 31, 2010 1:58 p.m. P71 SuperDork

    914Driver wrote:

    It had a frame.

    http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1957-1960-rambler-rebel.htm/printable

    Dan

    Ahem... Reading comprehension...

    "unitized body/chassis rather than an old-fashioned body on frame"

    The 57 Rambler Rebel was the fastest of all 1957 cars with the sole exception of the fiberglass Corvette, mostly thanks to being a unit-body car and thus much lighter.

    I had a 62 Ambassador. I used the same unibody and 327 V8. Great car! Run away from rust.

  • 914Driver

    Aug. 31, 2010 2:10 p.m. 914Driver SuperDork

    Nah, I understood every word I read. Both of 'em.

  • P71

    Aug. 31, 2010 2:52 p.m. P71 SuperDork

  • iceracer

    Aug. 31, 2010 5:44 p.m. iceracer Dork

    Nash was a pioneer with unibody construction . As such they did not have a seperate frame. this includes Ramblers.

  • 96DXCivic

    Aug. 31, 2010 7:26 p.m. 96DXCivic SuperDork

    Enough cutting and welding and anything can fit.

  • patgizz

    Aug. 31, 2010 8:30 p.m. patgizz SuperDork

    doit doit doit doit doit

    did i mention do it?

 
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