After Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson Motor Car Company merged into AMC in 1954,
Hudson production was discontinued in
Detroit, MI and moved to Kenosha, WI. Both divisions shared
engineering and styling platforms from 1955 until 1957. From the1958 model year through 1965, Rambler became the product name.
Some fans derisively refer to AMC-built Hudsons as "Hash" cars, or Hashes, to suggest that they were simply a Nash product with a Hudson Badge(and therefore somehow inferior to other Hudsons). Although this "badge engineering" claim is true of the Rambler and the Metropolitan, there were many similarities in concept, design, engineering, and target markets between the two concerns before the merger. Nash was simply better capitalized and possessed more modern facilities and equipment.. Hudson had more of the badly-needed capital, many talented people, additional engineering know-how, advanced ideas, and an impeccable reputation for quality, performance, and value, all of which contributed immeasurably to the overall development of AMC in the marketplace.
Beginning in 1966, AMC began a progressive "de-Rambler-izing" process, beginning with the Rambler Ambassador, changing the name presentation to "Ambassador by AMC". The Marlin was also de-Ramblerized in 1966, with the lettering spelling out "Rambler" on the rear of the car being changed to spell out "Marlin".
In 1967 this process continued when the name of the Rambler Classic was changed to Rebel "by AMC".
The American continued to be known as the Rambler American through 1968, but became simply Rambler by AMC for 1969. The little car had come full circle from the 1950 Nash Rambler, through the 1958 Rambler American, and back to the AMC Rambler. In 1970 the platform was re-styled and redesigned with different front suspension and other refinements, and re-named Hornet. This basic design spawned the Gremlin, Spirit, Concord, and Eagle. The earlier American had generated the Javelin and through it, the AMX.
In my own opinion, the basic 100-inch wheelbase concept of the 1950 Nash Rambler, carried through into the 106-inch American and 108-inch Hornet, is the single most important vehicle design ever created by American Motors Corporation, either for itself, or for the industry.
THAT's the car that makes me wanna say, "Rambler".