Topic: Joe Aguirre's Car

[JerBear418720]

At the very beginning of the movie, Joe Aguirre pulls up to his office trailer in a car that I THINK is a 1959 AMC Rambler.  I am a car nut, and this has been driving me nuts.  Can anybody confirm or correct the make/model/year of that car?

[bram]

I have no idea of the make of the car, but since you're a car nut, I have a question for you. In that scene, is it just me, or is Jack's truck bed really short?

I'm not good with identifying different cars, but more than half the cars on my street are pickups, and so are at least a quarter of the cars I see during the day, and his looks odd to me. Is there a certain kind that has short beds?

[JerBear418720]

I have no idea of the make of the car, but since you're a car nut, I have a question for you. In that scene, is it just me, or is Jack's truck bed really short?

I'm not good with identifying different cars, but more than half the cars on my street are pickups, and so are at least a quarter of the cars I see during the day, and his looks odd to me. Is there a certain kind that has short beds?

Dunno, Bram, it was a really old AMC pickup.  I know cars, but not trucks.  I'm a city boy, so pickups are not part of the landscape.  Sorry, man.

[bram]

Well, I got a better look at it, because they are/were selling the actual truck on ebay, and no, the bed is not short.

[jpwagoneer1964]

The car Agguire was driving is a 1960 Rambler Classic sedan, fairly common in those days, appearing to be in completely original condition. In the 2003 screen play it was a old Biuck station wagon. AMC Never produce as pickup

[welshwitch]

So what does a Rambler sedan imply? I'm not good on 1960s American cars - was this exepensive? And does the fact that he has a car and Jack has a pick-up ( and Ennis later too)suggest a difference in their income/occupation/social status?

[jpwagoneer1964]

So what does a Rambler sedan imply? I'm not good on 1960s American cars - was this exepensive? And does the fact that he has a car and Jack has a pick-up ( and Ennis later too)suggest a difference in their income/occupation/social status?

The Rambler lineup was consisted of compact to what was then considered medium sized cars. Agguire's car was the mid range model. The Rambler American was the smaller compact, the Ambassador slightly larger. As to it choice for the film I think it had more to do with the availability of vintage cars up in Alberta than anything else, rust causing the demise of most 1960's cars there. I alwas felt a mid to late 1950's Ford wagon would suit Agguire best.

[welshwitch]

So aguirre's car is a perfectly average one, a sedan ( in American)? I agree - a station wagon (estate car in English) would have been more appropriate but I suppose getting anything of the period was difficult, specially in another country.

What's the significance of pickups? Were they just cheap or also practical if you had to carry off sheep or whatever around? ( Not that I've seen people do this, though I've often seen dogs running round in the back of a pickup truck.)

[jpwagoneer1964]

So aguirre's car is a perfectly average one, a sedan ( in American)? I agree - a station wagon (estate car in English) would have been more appropriate but I suppose getting anything of the period was difficult, specially in another country.

What's the significance of pickups? Were they just cheap or also practical if you had to carry off sheep or whatever around? ( Not that I've seen people do this, though I've often seen dogs running round in the back of a pickup truck.)

Most everyone then or now that worked on a ranch or farm would have a pickup. Often cheaper that a car, but very useful. In thise day they were much more stark that today.

[Classic287]

At the very beginning of the movie, Joe Aguirre pulls up to his office trailer in a car that I THINK is a 1959 AMC Rambler.  I am a car nut, and this has been driving me nuts.  Can anybody confirm or correct the make/model/year of that car?

It is a 1960 Rambler Six Custom. It has a 195.6 cubic inch 127 HP 6 cylinder Custom Flying Scot engine with a Borg Warner (if automatic, which I bet it is, with pushbutton selector no less) I know because I'm not just a car nut, I'm A Rambler nut! Anything else you want to know about it?

[jackster]

. . . .  I'm A Rambler nut! Anything else you want to know about it?

You bet.
Where's the nearest Rambler dealer to "Signal" in 1963? For purposes of discussion let's just call it DuBois or Riverton. Where in the heck did he get that thing in the middle of Wyoming, inquiring minds want to know. Welcome aboard here Classic287, as one nut to another you might wanna' check the thread on "trucks" which was kinda' interesting (if ya' like old pickups). And FYI, in the original screenplay they called for Aguirre to be drivin' an older white Buick station wagon (I see a '55 or '56), which seemed more likely to me. Not so much 'cause he seemed like more of a Buick man than a Rambler man, but 'cause it seemed to me Rambler's musta' been scarce as hen's teeth in central Wyoming. Be interested to hear whut you think.
 

[Classic287]

Well, at that time, Rambler was pretty popular with cheapskates. Some 88,000 of that particular 1960 model
was produced. I'm sure Wyoming had plenty of them at that time. They were actually a pretty tough car, and simple. You could fix them with a wrench and a screwdriver. I had a 1961 about a year and a half ago.
Anyway to upload a pic here?

[Classic287]

Here's a quote from a story on a Rambler for sale ad:

The wife?s mother?s aunt bought it new in Wyoming. She drove this car for over 30 years. She brought it to Montana and dove it till she sold it to Robert.

[Classic287]

Here ya' go...

BUFFALO
82834, Big Horn Jeep Sales-Service, 710 N. Main St.

CASPER
82601, Frontier Auto Sales, AMC/Jeep/Renault, 300 W. Yellowstone Hwy.
82601, Gregory Motors, Jeep, 1743 E. Yellowstone Hwy.

CHEYENNE
82001, Taylor Jeep, 1720 Pioneer
82001, Tyrrell Co., AMC/Jeep/Renault, Box 1168

CODY
82414, Ken Motors, AMC/Jeep/Renault, Powell Hwy. Box 1058

GILLETTE
82716, Buck's Motor Co., AMC/Jeep/Renault, 902 W. 2nd

LANDER
82520, Wind River, AMC/Jeep, Hwy. 287 S

LARAMIE
82070, Laramie Motors, Inc., AMC/Jeep/Renault, 3609 Grand Ave

RAWLINS
82301, Skyline Motors, Inc., AMC/Jeep/Renault, 911 E. Cedar Box 730

ROCK SPRINGS
82901, Desert Inc., AMC/Jeep/Renault, 1600 Sunset Dr.

SARATOGA
82331, Zeiger Enterprises, Jeep, Box 246

SHERIDAN
82801, Riley Motor Co., AMC/Jeep/Renault, 61 S. Gould St. Box 821

TORRINGTON
82240, Valley Mercantile Co., AMC/Jeep, 2017 West A St.

WORLAND
82401, Western Motors, AMC/Jeep, 216 Pulliam St.

[tpe]

You bet.
Where's the nearest Rambler dealer to "Signal" in 1963? For purposes of discussion let's just call it DuBois or Riverton. Where in the heck did he get that thing in the middle of Wyoming, inquiring minds want to know. Welcome aboard here Classic287, as one nut to another you might wanna' check the thread on "trucks" which was kinda' interesting (if ya' like old pickups). And FYI, in the original screenplay they called for Aguirre to be drivin' an older white Buick station wagon (I see a '55 or '56), which seemed more likely to me. Not so much 'cause he seemed like more of a Buick man than a Rambler man, but 'cause it seemed to me Rambler's musta' been scarce as hen's teeth in central Wyoming. Be interested to hear whut you think.
 

Interesting info, Classic287 and jackster.   So the Rambler was a good choice for Aguirre then? 

[Classic287]

Well, In my eyes anyway LOL. It was great seeing that car in the movie.....

[hpv]

Anyway to upload a pic here?

Here you go... 

[Classic287]

Oh yes, I have that pic too. How do I upload a pic here?

[hpv]

Oh yes, I have that pic too. How do I upload a pic here?

A link for you...
http://ennisjack.com/index.php?topic=3632.0


BTW,  to our  forum...

[jackster]

Here ya' go...

BUFFALO
  82834, Big Horn Jeep Sales-Service, 710 N. Main St. (307) 684-5138
CASPER
  82601, Frontier Auto Sales, AMC/Jeep/Renault, 300 W. Yellowstone Hwy. (307) 235-2735
  82601, Gregory Motors, Jeep, 1743 E. Yellowstone Hwy. (307) 234-9149
CHEYENNE
  . . . . .
  . . . . .

WORLAND
  82401, Western Motors, AMC/Jeep, 216 Pulliam St. (307) 347-2441

Amazing, Classic287. Are these circa 1963 dealers or more current? I'd have never of thought the population of Wyoming (336,000 in 1963) could have supported such a herd. So I guess Lander, Cody, or Worland would be the "Port of Call" for Aguirre and his '60 Custom Six, huh? Were those available with reclining "make a bed" front seats? Be better than a tent, especially if you got a heater and radio.

"Ennis, quit your hammerin' an' get in here" . . . the mind reels . . .
 

[Classic287]

These dealers would have been called Rambler dealers in the 50's and 60's up until around 1970 when they became AMC, so yes, these dealers were around in 1963....