Being one of the smaller American manufactures meant that AMC couldn’t truly compete with the Big 3 head on, at least not by the late ’60s, so they had to come up with new ways of drawing in buyers. While they came up with some interesting marketing campaigns, it was their special edition cars that caught the attention of most buyers, especially their performance models. For most the Rogue was just a done up American, but those that took the time to look at the specs noted its sleeper capabilities. The 290 Typhoon V8 didn’t produce huge amounts of power, but new construction techniques kept weight down. Pair that to a 4-speed and you had a stop light dragster. There can’t be many of these left and sadly someone decided to install a GM powerplant. Thankfully, the seller got ahold of it before the swap took place, but it is now missing a lot of the important bits. Hopefully a correct 290 Typhoon and 4 speed can be found for it! You can find this project here on eBay with an opening bid of $750 and a BIN of $1k in Spencerport, New York.
This should be a good body to restore and the price is not out of sight. A Rambler 290 v8 should not be to hard to locate but the 4 speed tranny…..Does anyone know who made the 4 speed and what else it might be found in?
~ Would have been the Borg-Warner T-10, I believe. Should be easy to find a suitable replacement.
Personally I’d go for a transplant. AMC used so many suppliers from Saginaw to fomoco.
Don’t know why, but this makes me think of the Rambler American-based “Torino” built in Argentina by IKA. In the late 1960s, IKA introduced a special two-door model using a hotted-up Jeep OHC inline-six with three sidedraft Weber carbs, a four-speed manual transmission and stiffer suspension.
Saw a photo of it in a car magazine back in the day, and have wanted to build a replica ever since. I somehow doubt many have survived….
A 290 Rogue would be fun, and perhaps a more realistic substitute.
I bought a ’68 Rogue for my mother whose ’60 Corvair had rusted beyond repair, red with black vinyl top, 290 V8, automatic, and it went incredibly fast, and handled incredibly well, faster than my wife’s 6 cylinder Camaro, and about on a par, up to about 70 with my Chevelle. She drove it until 1984, paint faded some, but otherwise in great shape, was sort of a barn find for a guy who stopped every few months to see if it was for sale. Although it was a “compact” car you could fit 6 adults in it.
This is going on the watch list. I’m first and foremost a MOPAR fan, but I have a soft spot(in my head?) for AMC/Ramblers. This hits all the right buttons and I happen to know where a 343 is sitting that should slip right in there.
I was stunned when I saw how much of the car was missing! BUT the seller to the rescue: “ALL of these parts will be for sale to winning bidder at an additional cost above and beyond the auction price…”
What a sport! >_<
Blindmark, AMC had their own engines but used accessories sourced from the big three. A very smart move for a small independant. It would not be feasable to produce everything in house. You will note what happened to the “Old GM and Chrysler” It is a practice all companies do today. AMC was not the first but always seems to be the punching bag. Fast forward. Many companies study and follow AMC’s methods today.
AMC never had a lot of money to spend on development so they got very inventive. Chrysler adopted many AMC methods after the acquisition.
I agree 100% AMCFAN. My dad was a service manager for them in the early 70’s
Mark E Had to laugh. You are correct it WILL be an uphill battle for the buyer. But the seller is your friend and will help you out for free…I mean a fee!
I have seen this many times with project cars for sale. The best or most valueable items are held back. Seems easy enough to spot when the seller advertises he will be selling other rare vehicles of the same make. If you stop and think It would seem impossible for the evil Chevy guy to pull everything from this rare Rambler and just throw it out.
Would seem to be a shame to add that T-10 trans the seller offers as extra and the other missing goodies and start the auction at a higher price. It is all about money. But that is what hooks everyone is the cheap price thinking I’ll just put in a motor. At least he left the standard shift pedals.
The Rambler V8 4 speed specific parts are a premimum. AMC guys know this. Thanks to those building a clone or restoring a 1969 SC/Rambler.
Kills me to say it but it would be cheaper to finish this with the small block Chevy combo.
I bought one of these in 1972 in Arlington, VA for $150. Bracket raced it in Maryland for a year. Bought a 390 the following year. Had the time of my life racing it. It was fun to look over at a mustang or camaro sitting at the “christmas tree” & the looks on their faces when the lights turned green & I was gone!!! Wish I had that car back again.
I once lined in the staging lanes up next to a 1966 tri powered 427 Corvette he was pretty smug until the tree went green and I was gone . then he had to see what I had under the hood .