American Motors Corporation

American Motors Corporation

The end result of merger upon merger had ended up with AMC being owned by the Chrysler Corp. and the only model left was the popular Jeep. Now I am sure there are many loyal Rambler fans out there and I admire that in a person. It just seems that AMC could not get it together to appeal to the masses of muscle car buyers out there. Plain or just old looking body styles and they just had a hard time trying to shake the Rambler stigma.

AMC shot right into the muscle car market in 1968, a bit late but a came in with a bang. This car was the AMC AMX a chopped version of the Pony Car Javelin model. This sporty 2 seat version was probably the best looking muscle car AMC offered into the market. A variety of engines starting at 290 c.i. up to the 390 c.i. gave the AMX buyers their choice of muscle. Add to this a beefier suspension and a spiffy interior this car was a good offering to the AMC line-up.

In 1969 along with the minor changes in the AMX which included some exotic paint schemes, a few additions to the suspension and tires and most important modifications to the 390 c.i., AMC added a new vehicle to the muscle car line. The SC/Ramber or Scrambler as it was called. Now this was an ugly looking little car. However they added a strong power train, suspension, brakes and tires. All this with the power of the 390 c.i. engine made a potent vehicle. The weird part was the paint jobs they offered. The red, white and blue themes were a bit hokey for me. I remember seeing some of these cars in my area and they made me laugh but I was nervous of the performance. The car did stand out especially the groovy hood scope they designed. However it only lasted one year out there in muscle car land.

1970 was the last year for the popular and nicest looking car in the AMC muscle car line up the two seat AMX. There were some minor style changes and an air induction scope but the engine would stay the same in the two seater.  Now the Sc/Rambler was gone and enters The Machine, a mid-size offering to the muscle car field. Again with the red, white and blue paint job to try and hide the family car looks of the car. AMC stuffed the 390 c.i. engine under the air induction hood along with a 4 speed tranny and decent suspension system and a few choices of rear end gears. For me, The Machine, name was a bit of a stretch trying to make the car sound tougher than it was. Again this AMC entry only lasted one year.

In 1971 the AMX reverted back to the four seat new Javelin style. They still offered the beefed up suspension, braking and tires along with a 401 c.i. engine and a cowl induction air scoop. Still a popular model the AMX was appealing to many buyers. The American Motors Corporation offering into the muscle car market for 1971 was the small AMC
Hornet/SC. This would be the last muscle car offering AMC would make. The smaller car was offer with the 360 c.i. engine either in a standard package or a high performance version. This would include the stronger suspension package and a higher output engine for a rally good price. This car would not have the red, white and blue paint scheme as the other muscle cars AMC offered but would have a yellow and black theme that enhanced the name Hornet. Muscle cars were disappearing in the market place and AMC was no exception. The Hornet/SC would also only last a year. The AMX would survive through 1972 and AMC itself would eventually be swallowed up and vanish.