Historic Hood River
Rambler Bicycle
3-18-2016
Notes
Readers of the Hood River Glacier may have been tempted by this ad for the 1896 and 1897 Rambler bicycles, but it would have been a pretty big purchase. $80 was worth something in the range of $2000 today. And it doesn’t even have a suspension or disk brakes.
The company which made the Rambler bicycle until 1900 went on to make the Rambler automobile, which lasted in the US until 1969. I have fond memories of waving at cars behind us from the fold-up rear-facing back seat of a blue-green 1964 Rambler station wagon.
Charlott
When you say Rambler automobile is that like the Nash Rambler or was that another company in it’s self?
Steve r
Yep !… A rear facing back back seat was all the fad … Along with blue shag carpet coverings and the strong smell of tobacco smoke. Yuck ! First it was in a rambler …. Then the olds vista cruiser wth the skylights … More at this link ….
http://www.hemmings.com/magazine/hmn/2010/01/We-Call-the-Back-Back-/2601761.html
Arthur
By the 1960’s Rambler was owned by AMC (American Motors).
My other memory of the Rambler was that it had a "secret compartment" under the carpet in the rear bed where you could hide valuables. Sort of like a glove box under the carpet.
Judy
A Bike for sale a few weeks ago at downtown bike shop $7,400.00
Prices and bicyclists have changed..in Hood River
Rowbare'
My second car was a’64, green, "three on the tree", four door, flathead six, Rambler – many a Friday nite cruz’n the gut, cherry comes at the Hand Out, French fries w/ secret sauce from the Artic Circle, chocolate-banana milk shakes from the Ranch or Humm-Dinger! Exciting and delicious memories.