Long before Mitt Romney became a household name in politics, the Romney name was already deeply intertwined with the American automotive industry, thanks to his father, George Romney. While modern associations might drift towards rooftop dog carriers, the legacy of George Romney is rooted in revolutionizing car manufacturing. He was the driving force behind transforming a merger between a refrigerator company and Hudson Motor Cars into American Motors Corporation (AMC), a successful and innovative venture.
George Romney, a millionaire auto executive turned politician, surprisingly championed the cause of the everyman car. Known as the “Dinosaur Hunter” for his vocal criticism of the excessive size and fuel inefficiency of the “Big Three” automakers (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler), Romney advocated for smaller, more efficient vehicles. His personal transportation reflected this ethos. After leaving AMC’s leadership, Romney notably drove a modest 1964 Rambler Classic coupe. This car, far from being a luxury model, embodied his revolutionary idea of automotive efficiency, a stark contrast to the gas-guzzling giants dominating the roads at the time. In essence, Romney’s philosophy championed a revolutionary car part concept: efficiency and practicality over superfluous size and power.
This very 1964 Rambler Classic coupe, a white two-door model in excellent condition, recently appeared on eBay in a no-reserve auction, offering a tangible piece of automotive history.
According to the current owner, George Romney donated his Rambler, complete with original registration documents, to Chrysler in his later years. The intention was for the vehicle to be preserved within Chrysler’s museum collection. However, Chrysler’s subsequent bankruptcy altered these plans, leading to the disposal of various assets, including Romney’s historically significant car. This Rambler, a symbol of a revolutionary car part philosophy advocating for smaller, efficient vehicles, narrowly escaped being lost to time.
For those with a keen memory of past presidential campaigns, George Romney’s manual, straight-six coupe played a subtle yet significant role in one of his son Mitt Romney’s speeches during his brief 2007 presidential bid. While the car remained off the campaign trail in 2012, Will Ritter, Mitt Romney’s campaign advance and operations director, confirmed that Ramblers, in general, were prominent in both campaigns.
“We were very Rambler-centric,” Mr. Ritter stated. “Part of the gov.’s stump speech was a Rambler reference — an inside joke to the folks in the audience old enough to remember it — that his first car was a regular car. At a time when everyone drove boats, he drove the smaller, more efficient car his dad championed.” This “inside joke” highlighted the revolutionary car part of Romney’s message – a departure from the norm towards practical, efficient vehicles.
Upon learning about the eBay listing, Mr. Ritter discussed it with Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney fondly recalled the unpretentious Rambler as one of several AMC models used by the family.
Josh Ackerman of California, the current seller, expressed admiration for both Romneys, especially the elder. Interestingly, Mr. Ackerman’s first car was also a 1964 Rambler. This personal connection motivated him to acquire Romney’s Rambler at an auction in Northern California.
“I only bought the car so that it wouldn’t be ‘lost’,” he explained in an email. “The seller wasn’t looking to make money, just sell the car, and I didn’t want the car to land into the wrong hands of someone who would treat it like just another old car.” Mr. Ackerman is carefully vetting potential buyers, seeking someone who appreciates the car’s historical significance and will maintain its pristine condition. The opportunity now exists for a discerning buyer to own a piece of automotive history, and perhaps even experience the vinyl bench seat that once warmed the posterior of George Romney, a champion of the revolutionary car part idea that changed the American automotive landscape.
