1950 - 55 Nash and Hudson Rambler

General Information

The Nash Rambler was introduced in 1950 as a compact, but solidly built, well equipped compact car. There were no U.S. built compact cars in 1950. The import market was miniscule and the compact cars that followed the Rambler, which were the Henry J and the Hudson Jet, were not as well designed or marketed as the Nash Rambler. The Rambler, like other Nashes had unit body construction, not offered on any GM, Ford or Chrysler model at the time. The modest success of the first series Nash Rambler, 1950 - 1952, was enough to finance a resdesign in 1953, which kept Nash Motors alive.

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Body Styles and Trim Levels

The 1950 model was sold as a convertible, with window frames forming an upper body structure, and a two door wagon. For 1951 and 1952, a hardtop model was added. All were on a 100 inch wheelbase and had a 2.8 liter (172.6 cubic inches) six cylinder engine.

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Production Numbers

Nash began to produce cars in Canada in 1950 and the Rambler two door sedan went into production for 1952. Only 817 were produced that first year.

As mentioned, the success of the Rambler allowed a redesign for 1953, leaving behind the inverted bathtub look for one which resembled the 1952 - 1954 Nash "Airflytes". For 1953 only the two door models on the 100 inch wheelbase were offered. Engine options were a 3.0 liter (184 cubic inches) L-head six for standard transmission cars and a 3.2 liter (195.6 cubic inches) L-head six for Hydra Matic cars (use of the Hydra Matic transmission was licensed to Nash by GM). The range was broadened in 1954 and 1955 by the addition of a four door sedan and wagon on a 108 inch wheelbase. All four door cars had the 3.2L six standard; for 1955 it became the standard engine on the two door models as well. Styling of the 1955 was greatly improved by finally opening up the front wheel openings. Production was as follows:

The Nash Rambler was also built in Canada for 1953 - 1955:

AMC was created as a merger of Nash and Hudson on May 1, 1954, but Hudson had no 1955 models ready. Hudson factory production ceased in July of 1954, but AMC had a contractual obligation to supply vehicles to Hudson dealers until the Nash and Hudson car lines could be consolidated. So Hudson dealers received the same Rambler as Nash dealers for 1955, the only difference being the Hudson emblem. U.S. production was 5,981 two door models, 19,223 four door models. Canadian production was only 188 two door sedans and 471 four door sedans.

Even at a price that was expensive compared to Ford, Chevrolet and Plymouth, the Rambler sold well enough to provide the foundation for AMC. It offered comfortable accomodation for four people, economy, sturdy contruction and a high level of equipment. It was a foundation that George Romney, who took over AMC when Mr Mason died in late 1954, would build upon brilliantly.

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Bibliography

Sources: All U.S. production statistics from AMC internal memoranda provided to me by John Conde, former AMC executive.
Canadian production statistics from Wards automotive yearbook, 1954; Wards Canadian automotive yearbook, 1956; Sanford Evans Motor Vehicle Data book, 1958.