The Renault Rambler is a car designed by American Motors Corporation and assembled under licence in CKD form at Renault’s Haren plant in Vilvoorde, Belgium, between 1962 and 1967. It was based on the AMC Rambler Classic.
Renault Rambler at a glance
| Origin | American Motors Corporation Rambler Classic |
|---|---|
| Assembly | Renault Haren plant, Vilvoorde, Belgium |
| Production | 1962–1967 |
| Length | 4.95 m |
| Width | 1.90 m |
| Engine | 3,258 cc straight six, 128 hp SAE |
| Weight | 1,350 kg |
| Top speed | about 150 km/h |
| Gearbox | three-speed manual, first gear not synchronised |
Based on one source, the French Wikipedia article on the Renault Rambler.
History of the Renault Rambler
Why Renault needed an American car
At the end of the 1950s Renault tried to conquer the United States by exporting more than 34,000 Dauphines and 4CVs, a campaign that began promisingly in 1958 and 1959 but turned into a costly failure: in 1960 sales collapsed and about 45,000 cars had to be sold off cheaply on the spot and shipped back to France. The two models, unsuited to American roads, could not win over buyers who preferred large engines, and the failure led to Renault’s first redundancy plan, affecting 3,030 employees.
A partner in America
Renault persisted in the United States, launched the Caravelle and formed a partnership with AMC, the fourth largest American car maker. The aim was to have a car that kept Renault present in the family saloon class dominated by the Citroën DS: in 1962 Renault’s top model was only the R8 with a 956 cc engine, so an American car was needed to sell in Europe without having to design one. The choice fell on the most ‘Europeanisable’ model in AMC’s range, the Rambler Classic 6, a compact car by American standards at 4.95 m long and 1.90 m wide, with a 3,258 cc straight six developing 128 hp SAE that could move its 1,350 kg to nearly 150 km/h. The gearbox was a three-speed manual with an unsynchronised first gear.
Assembly in Belgium
The Renault Rambler was officially unveiled on 11 April 1961 for sale from 1962, and was assembled from CKD kits at Renault’s Haren plant in Vilvoorde until 1967. An earlier plan, project 114, had been dropped because developing a large Renault in-house was judged far too expensive for the expected sales.
Design and features
- AMC engineering: the Rambler Classic 6 built under licence.
- Belgian assembly: CKD kits put together at Haren, near Brussels.
- Big six: 3,258 cc and 128 hp SAE for about 150 km/h.
- Stop-gap flagship: a large car while Renault had no big model of its own.
Renault Rambler versions
- Renault Rambler (1962–1967): the single model, assembled in Belgium.
The Rambler filled the gap left by the Renault Frégate until the Renault 16 arrived. More cars are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault Rambler Classic 6 road test
Video by OudeRenault on YouTube.
Sources
- Renault Rambler, French Wikipedia: origins, dimensions, engine, Belgian assembly
