Flawless 1965 AMC Rambler American Flexes Rare Color Combo at Car Show

Sure, the Big Three had the most popular rigs in showrooms, but this doesn't mean that AMC's automobiles were subpar. By 1965, the company had introduced quite a few notable vehicles. AMC tackled the full-size segment with the Ambassador and entered the midsize market with the Rambler Classic.

Thanks to the Rambler American, American Motors was also a key player in the compact segment. Introduced in 1958 as a spiritual successor to the Nash Rambler (1950-1955), the American beat both the Ford Falcon and Chevy II Nova to the compact market.

And while it did not provide America's first compact production model, it pioneered the high-performance midsize segment (later known as the muscle car market) with the Rambler Rebel (1957-1960).

But I'm not here to talk about AMC's rather impressive 255-horsepower four-door sedan. I'm here to show you one of the finest third-gen Rambler American models I've seen in recent years. One that also sports a rare color combination.

If you're unfamiliar with the Rambler, the nameplate debuted under the Rambler marque in 1958. The compact was redesigned for the 1961 and 1964 model years and remained in production until 1969. While the first-gen Rambler looked similar to its Nash-badged predecessor, the second-generation compact arrived with radically different styling.

AMC took things up a notch for 1964 with a simpler yet sportier look, tunneled headlamps, a longer wheelbase, and a roomier interior. More importantly, the engine lineup included new inline-six engines and, for the first time, V8 powerplants. This two-door hardtop is part of that generation.

What makes this specific example special? Well, it was ordered in Montego Rose, a metallic, pink-like hue. One of 13 colors available on the American during the 1965 model year, Montego Rose is a finish you just don't see nowadays. It was far from popular then, and AMC discontinued it before 1966-model-year production began. Yup, it's also a one-year-only option.

But assuming you've already seen a 1965 Rambler in this color, I bet you haven't seen one with a matching interior. That's right, the light pink hue adorns the cabin as well as part of a three-tone finish that also combines tan and brown. I know these things are subjective, but this combo is downright stunning in my book.

So, is this Rambler an unrestored survivor? Judging by how it looks inside and out, I'd say it's a restored classic. And whoever handled the refresh did a fantastic job. This AMC is a top-notch rig that could win prizes at just about any classic car concours out there. So forget about early Mustangs; this is the gem you need to talk about right now.

While I know this Rambler is a 440 trim (see the extra chrome on the fenders), there's no word on what's under the hood. 1965 was the final year for the flathead six-cylinder and the first for the brand-new overhead-valve straight-six. The latter came with 155 horsepower on tap. AMC did not offer a V8 in the American until 1966.