AMC Rebel

Infobox Automobile


boxcolor = darkgreen
name = AMC Rebel
aka = Rambler Rebel
manufacturer = American Motors Corporation
production = 1967 – 1970
assembly = flagicon|USA Kenosha, Wisconsin
flagicon|Canada Brampton, Ontario
flagicon|Australia Port Melbourne
flagicon|Belgium Haren
flagicon|Mexico Mexico City
class = Mid-size
body_style = 2-door convertible
2-door coupe
2-door hardtop
4-door sedan
4-door station wagon
layout=front-engine, rear wheel drive
platform=AMC’s “senior cars”
predecessor = Rambler Classic
successor = AMC Matador
related = AMC Ambassador

The AMC Rebel (known as the Rambler Rebel in 1967) is a mid-size car produced by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1967 to 1970. It replaced the Rambler Classic. The Rebel was replaced by the similar AMC Matador for the 1971 model year.

The Rebel was assembled from Complete knock down (CKD) kits under license in Europe (by Renault), in Mexico (by Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos), and in Australia (by Australian Motor Industries). Rebels continued to be sold in these and other markets under the "Rambler" brandname.

History

The Rebel name was introduced by AMC in 1957 as a special model with a big V8 engine: the Rambler Rebel, the first American factory muscle car. The Rebel name reappeared in 1966 on a specially trimmed version of the Rambler Classic two-door hardtop with a revised roofline. For 1967, AMC's entire intermediate line took the Rebel name.

Throughout its production, the Rebel was available as a 4-door sedan, 4-door station wagon, and 2-door hardtop. In addition, a 2-door sedan (coupé) with a thin B-pillar and flip out rear side windows was available in 1967 only, and a convertible was offered in 1967 and 1968. Engines included the auto CID|232 I6 (145/155 hp), auto CID|290 (200/225 hp), auto CID|343 (235/280 hp) and auto CID|390 (315/325 hp) V8s. Styling was similar to the senior Ambassador, which shared the same basic unit body aft of the cowl. In 1970, the sedan and coupe received a restyled rear-end, along with a new C-pillar shape and rear quarters. The Rebel was built at AMC's "West Assembly Line" (along with the Ambassador) in Kenosha, Wisconsin and at Brampton, Ontario, Canada (Bramalea).

The 1970 restyle was to last only one year before a further restyle and renaming the models as the AMC Matador. The 4-door and wagon platform would remain unchanged until the retirement of the Matador line after the 1978 model year.

Regional wagons

During the 1967 model year, AMC issued a series of specialty Rebel station wagons with luxury equipment. [http://www.bigflea.com/amc/ Tom Carter's site dedicated to the 1967 AMC Rebel Rambler regional station wagons] , retrieved on 2008-05-27.] They were limited for sale to geographical areas. Standard equipment included auto CID|290 V8 engine (the auto CID|343 was optional), automatic transmission, power steering, power drum brakes, and special duty springs and shock absorbers. [American Motors Product Information Packet, dated February 20, 1967] Each featured a distinctive interior and exterior trim:
* The Mariner (600 units) in Barbados blue with panels trim of simulated bleached teakwood planking accented by narrow black horizontal stripes and a "nautical anchor" medallion. The interior featured anchors and stars decorating dark blue suede bolster panels of the seats, which also had white piping and broad horizontal pleated inserts of medium blue antelope grain vinyl. The Mariner was sold along the coastal regions of the United States.
* The Briarwood (400 units) in Matador Red with simulated black camera grain side panels and "regal" medallions, as well as its own black "antelope grain" vinyl interior. The Briarwood was marketed in major markets in the east and south.
* The Westerner (500 units) in Frost White with plankwood trim side inserts and a "Pony Express" medallion. The interior featured stallion brown vinyl that simulated "richly tooled" leather on the seats and door panels in combination with white antelope grained vinyl. The Westerner was available west of the Mississippi River.Each version included the color-coordinated upholstery and door panels, individually-adjustable reclining seats, sports steering wheel, as well as the ft3 to m3|91|precision=1 of carpeted cargo room, a locking hidden compartment, and a rooftop luggage rack. Special regional nameplates were on the rear fender in addition to the unique medallions on the C-pillar. [American Motors Product Information Packet, dated February 20, 1967]

Regional Raider

In 1969, a Rebel Raider two-door hardtop was sold only in New York and New Jersey. The marketing of these cars was timed to coincide with the New York City Auto Show. Three hundred Raiders were built and many were part of a “driveaway” by area dealers on the eve of the Auto Show. [ [http://www.planethoustonamx.com/Photo_Gallery_Nascar/amc%20ads/AMC_Raider_Driveaway.jpg“Raider Driveaway” undated newspaper] , retrieved on July 22, 2008.] All Raiders came with a V8 engine with automatic transmission, as well as “blow-your mind colors to choose from: electric green, tangerine, and blue-you’ve never seen.” [American Motors Rambler Dealer advertisement, New York and New Jersey market, 1969.] AMC tried out its “Big Bad” colors first this regional dealer special. [ [http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/12/31/bring-em-back-olive-get-it/ Daniel Strohl, Hemmings Auto Blogs, December 31, 2007] , retrieved on July 22, 2008.] The hues were introduced at mid-year on the Javelin and AMX models. [ [http://www.arcticboy.com/Pages/arcticboysrebel.html ArcticBoy's AMC Rebel Pictures, undated] , retrieved on July 22, 2008.] Other standard features included black upholstery and carpeting, black front grill, black vinyl roof, a sports-type steering wheel, AM radio, power steering, and power brakes. The total price of the special Raider models was advertised at US$2,699.

Rebel funny cars

In 1964, following record sales and Rambler’s third place position in U.S. sales, AMC declared that the only race the company was interested in was the human race. However, with AMC’s precarious financial condition in 1966 following the race to match its "Big Three" domestic competitors under Roy Abernethy, the new management reversed AMC's anti-racing strategy and decided to enter motorsports as a method to gain exposure, publicity, and a performance image.

American Motors' Performance Activities Director Carl Chamakian was charged to get AMC automobiles in racing, which would help to attract a younger customer base.cite book
last = Mitchell
first = Larry G.
title = AMC Muscle Cars
publisher = MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company
date = 2000
pages = 116-118
isbn = 978-0760307618 ] In a “quest for quarter-mile glory,” AMC reached a $1 million agreement in 1967 with Grant Industries in Los Angeles, California (a manufacturer of piston rings, ignition systems, and steering wheels), to build the Grant Rambler Rebel, a "Funny Car" racer to compete in the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) X/S (Experimental Stock) and Super Experimental Stock classes. When asked why the company decided to work with AMC, Grant’s President, Grant McCoon responded, “Rambler is a good automobile, and it’s time somebody proved what it can do.” The relationship provided both companies with national exposure and publicity. The car had a altered wheelbase convert|122|in|0|adj=on RCS (chrome moly steel) tube chassis with a auto CID|343|1 AMC V8 that was bored and stroked to auto CID|438|0 tuned by Amos Saterlee. [http://www.draglist.com/artman2/publish/daily_stories/60_s_Funny_Cars_AMC_s.shtml Danny White and Dennis Doubleday. "Drag Racing Stories: 60s Funny Cars: The AMCs" draglist.com] , retrieved on July 22, 2008.] With its GMC 6-71 blower and Enderle fuel injection, the motor produced Convert|1200|bhp|kW|0|abbr=on winding up to 9000 rpm on a mixture of alcohol and nitromethane. Starting in June 1967, the car was driven by "Banzai" Bill Hayes and painted red featuring a blue racing stripe with white stars. Soon, Hayden Proffitt took over the Grant funny car program and ran the Rebel on the quarter-mile (402 m) from a standing start in 8.11 seconds at convert|180.85|mi|1. [ [http://www.60sfunnycars.com/round3.htm White, Danny. "60s Funny Cars: Round 3: More Hot Rod Headliners" 60sfunnycars.com, undated] , retrieved on July 22, 2008.]

For the 1968 season, a new car was built and renamed the Grant Rebel SST and painted in the new hash red, white, and blue AMC corporate racing colors. With Hayden piloting, the car consistently ran the dragstripin the mid-eight second range at speeds around 180 miles per hour. By the end of 1968, AMC dropped out of funny car racing and Proffitt retired from racing for a few years.

In 1968, Ron Rosenberry drove the King Rebel of Ted McOsker using a blown fuel Chrysler Hemi engine and had a known best of 9.58 seconds at convert|148.02|mi|1 in the quarter mile dragstrip.

The Machine

The most recognizable muscle car version of the Rebel was named The Machine which in its most patriotic or flamboyant form was painted white with bold red, white, and blue reflective stripes following success of the 1969 SC/Rambler. [ [http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/classicamx/RebMachArticle/RebMachineArticle.html Truesdell, Richard. The Rebellious American Machine] , retrieved on 2008-05-27.]

First proposed in June 1968, the car was to have been a 1969 Rebel coupe finished in black with authoritative black wheels and fat tires, without any stripes, scoops, or spoilers, but with an aggressive, street-fighting stance. [ [http://musclecars.howstuffworks.com/classic-muscle-cars/1970-amc-rebel-machine.htm "1970 AMC Rebel Machine" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide] , retrieved on 2008-05-27.] However, an even earlier attempt at a Rebel-based muscle car was produced by the AMC's engineering team: a 1967 two-door built as a development "project" car for carburetion-testing purposes, as well as with "Group 19" high-performance options and the car was re-equipped with a modified auto CID|390 engine with an estimated Convert|500|hp|kW|0 "capable of running in the 11-second bracket."Citation
last = Foster
first = Patrick
last2 = Donnelly
first2 = Jim
title = Rarified Ramblers
publisher = Hemmings Muscle Machines
date = November 1, 2004
url = http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2004/11/01/hmn_feature13.html .] The car was considered a legal drag racing car, according to NHRA and AHRA rules and regulations in effect during those years and was painted in AMC's trademark red, white and blue color scheme, although the color breaks were not the same as on other AMC-backed or -developed race cars.

American Motors' high performance halo vehicle made its official debut October 25 1969, in Dallas, Texas; the site of the National Hot Rod Association's World Championship Drag Race Finals. The Machine was developed from a collaboration between Hurst Performance and AMC, but unlike the compact SC/Rambler, there was no official connection between the two parties once production commenced. [ [http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/classicamx/RebMachArticle/RebMachineArticle.html Truesdell, Richard. The Rebellious American Machine] , retrieved on January 25 2008.] The standard engine in The Machine was AMC's auto CID|390 V8 engine with Convert|340|hp|kW|0|abbr=on and Auto ft.lbf|430|0 of torque @ 3600 rpm. It came with special heads, valve train, cam, as well as a redesigned intake and exhaust. This was the most powerful in any AMC vehicle while retaining features required for normal street operations, as well as components to assure outstanding performance characteristics without incurring high-unit cost penalties. [ [http://www.sae.org/technical/papers/700349 Petersen, Robert A. SAE Technical Papers (Document Number: 700349)] , retrieved on January 25 2008.] The engine is fed by a 690-cfm Motorcraft 4 barrel, it pumped up a 10.0:1 compression, and required high-octane gasoline. [ [http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/autos/columnists.nsf/oldcarcolumn/story/E29F5B221D816D6F862573BB005A3428?OpenDocument Kunz, Bruce. "1970 AMC Rebel" St. Loius Post-Dispatch 12/24/2007] , retrieved on 2008-05-27.]

The Machine features a large ram-air intake hood scoop that was painted Electric Blue (code B6) with a large tachometer visible to the driver integrated into a raised fairing at the rear of the scoop. The heavy-duty suspension was augmented by station wagon springs in the rear giving the car a raked look. Standard were a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission with a Hurst floor shifter backed by either 3.54:1 or 3.91:1 rear axle gear ratios, as well as power disc brakes, wide E60X15 Goodyear Polyglas white letter tires mounted on "Machine" mag-styled steel 15-inch wheels, and a black interior with bucket seats and a center armrest upholstered in red, white, and blue vinyl. Numerous other upgrades were standard to make each Machine a potent turn-key drag racer. According to a retrospective Motor Trend magazine article, The Machine is the most strip-ready car of the group they tested. [http://www.motortrend.com/classic/roadtests/c12_0511_1970_muscle_cars_comparison/amc_rebel_machine.html Lassa, Todd. "Muscle Cars Comparison: 1970 AMC Rebel Machine, 1970 Mercury Cyclone Spoiler GT, 1970 Plymouth GTX, and 1970 Buick GSX Stage I" Motor Trend] , retrieved on 2008-05-21.] The Machine could spring from zero to 60 miles per hour in just 6.4 seconds, a creditable showing even today.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) price was US$3,475 (approximately $20,000 in 2007 dollars). After the initial run of 1,000 units with its distinctive and easily recognizable identity, The Machine was available without the stripes in other colors with a blacked out hood. The rarest of all paint schemes for the Machine is Frost White with a flat-black hood (72A-8A), with only three made. The original trim scheme became a $75 option. There were a total of 2,326 Rebel Machines built in 1970. [ [http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z9472/default.aspx 1970 AMC Rebel Machine by Conceptcarz] , retrieved on 2008-05-21.]

According to the former editor of "Motor Trend" magazine, before BMW took "The Ultimate Driving Machine" moniker for itself, American Motors dubbed its high-performance model that could hold its head high in fast company simply "The Machine" and deserves to be considered among the Greatest Cars of All Time. [http://www.antiquecar.com/gc_amc_rebel_machine.php Nerad, Jack. "Great Classic Cars: AMC Rebel Machine" Driving Today, undated] , retrieved on 2008-05-28.]

The Machine was discontinued for 1971, replaced by the Matador, with an optional Convert|330|hp|kW|0|abbr=on, auto CID|401|1 "Go Package."

Convertibles

During the 1967 model year, American Motors produced a total of 1,686 Rambler Rebel convertibles in the top-trim SST model. For 1968, the Rambler name was dropped and two convertible versions were offered in the Rebel line. A total of 1,200 were produced (823 in the SST version and 377 units in the base 550 model) during the last year. AMC built convertibles until this body style was added to the small Renault Alliance in 1985.

Collectibility

Among the 1968 to 1970 models, the 1968 Rebel convertible should gain in importance as the last of AMC's ragtops, and although station wagons and sedans later joined the SST hardtop, only the two-door models have collector appeal. [http://auto.howstuffworks.com/1968-1970-amc-rebel-sst-hardtop-and-convertible.htm "1968-1970 AMC Rebel SST Hardtop & Convertible" by the Auto Editors of Consumer Guide, undated] , retrieved on 2008-05-21.] The Rebel's "clean but mundane styling" is a minus for collector appeal, but Carl Cameron, an automobile designer at Chrysler and developer of the original Dodge Charger fastback, mentioned that the best competitors during the late 1960s were the AMCs with new engines and the Rambler Rebels were really nice, very hot cars, but the company just did not have much of a presence in the marketplace. [http://wwnboa.org/carlcameron.htm Carl Cameron Speech at the 2006 TDC Meet, taped and transcribed by Sue George, Winged Warriors/National B-Body Owners Association, not dated] , retrieved on 2008-05-21.]

Today, surviving models of the Rebel Machine are bold reminders that tiny AMC once took on the big boys on the streets and strips of America – and won. [Citation
last = Lyons
first = Dan
last2 = Scott
first2 = Jason
title = Muscle Car Milestones
publisher = MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company
year = 2001
pages = 88
isbn = 978-0760306154 .] According to Motor Trend magazine, "The Machine is the collectible muscle car for people who laugh at collectible muscle cars." The radical Rebel Machine with its hood scoop "larger than the corner mailbox" places it among the most controversially styled cars of that era, and the cars have a strong following today with their owners being rewarded with climbing prices. [Citation
last = Mattar
first = George
last2 = Comerro
first2 = George
title = 2005 AMC Muscle Price Guide
publisher = Hemmings Muscle Machines
date = April 1, 2005
url = http://www.hemmings.com/mus/stories/2005/04/01/hmn_feature33.html .]

References

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External links

* [http://www.geocities.com/rebel70blue The Rebel Machine Scrapbook]
* [http://www.bigflea.com/amc/ 1967 Rambler Rebel specialty wagons]
* [http://www.AMCRC.com AMC Rambler Club]