AMC was known for giving its customers more features for less money, features that even luxury car companies had, and yet they were standard issue on AMC products. As a period brochure states, “It’s the best dollar value in the automobile business.” The seller has this 1968 AMC Rebel SST listed here on eBay in York, Pennsylvania, and the current bid price is $8,000.
The Rebel was made for four years in this era, starting out as a Rambler Rebel in 1967 and then as the AMC Rebel for 1968, 1969, and 1970 before going away in favor of the new AMC Matador. At different points in their four-year history, there would be a two-door sedan, two-door hardtop, two-door convertible, four-door sedan, and a four-door station wagon. This example looks great overall, but the blurred-edged photos make it hard to see the details. It appears that the driver’s door is a shade off, or maybe it’s a shadow? They do say that the original paint has had some touchups here and there and is showing some fading.
The Rebel Machine is undoubtedly the most famous version of this body style with its bold red, white, and blue color scheme. The Rebel SST was also a sporty model, but one that was sporty, stylish, and luxurious all at once. Below the SST would have been the mid-level 770 and below that was the base-level 550. The SST came with simulated chrome vents just in front of the rear wheel openings. That’s quite a distinctive feature, as are the recessed door handles, a feature found even on the lower-tier Rebels. The red wheels on this car are absolutely perfect, in my world, I would not change or modify anything about this car.
This black interior appears to be in very nice condition both front and rear, and the seller mentions that it’s all original inside other than a replacement headliner. In typical AMC fashion, as far as offering more for less, these are coil spring seats similar to what Cadillac had at the time. This would have been a very comfortable car for road trips. In the four-door sedan or wagon, buyers could have had seats that fold down into a bed. This car is equipped with a Borg Warner three-speed automatic transmission, but column or floor-shifted manual transmissions would have been available.
All Rebel SSTs came with a V8 and this is the base version, AMC’s 290-cu.in OHV V8 which would have had 200 horsepower and 285 lb-ft of torque. The seller says that it runs like a champ, and this car drives, steers, and shifts effortlessly. Everything works on this Rebel SST and this appears to be a very nice original car. Have any of you owned a Rebel SST?
Love the “speed holes” in the air cleaner, and the sireeeeen is a nice touch. These were simply the best cars to come out of beer fart land, BEFORE the Matador. Gone were the corny ( to me) stacked headlights, as mentioned, this car had everything the “Big guys” had, save for the fact, it was still a Rambler. Couple things the Big guys” got away from, like vacuum wipers( still present here) but the “Typhoon 290” was one of the best motors, B-W transmission, Bendix brakes, Delco electrics, reclining seats, that the biggies didn’t have, what’s not to like? Due to their obscurity, cars like this have to be this nice for any interest today. Most folks have no connection to the brand, except, maybe an aunt/uncle had one, as the case here, I’m sure, and people will find out what great cars they really were,,,,sadly,,50 years too late. I could see the author making his “rounds” with this, Scotty, ditch the Porsche and get this!!! 14 mpg is 14 mpg, no? Knowing his attraction to these, I wish I could buy it for you, my friend.
In a sidebar, I hope this person isn’t selling the car due to work uncertainty. York is 2nd home to Harley, and have been teetering on closure for years, and declining sales puts many in peril. Best of luck to those folks, Milwaukee, I hear, isn’t far behind.
Howard,
“Gone were the corny ( to me) stacked headlights”
As far as I know, neither the Rebel (or the Rambler Classic that it replaced ever had stacked headlights). Were you thinking of the Ambassador?
1967 Marlin also had stacked headlights.
Correct.
67 Marlin was based on the Ambassador for ’67 and had the Ambassador’s stacked headlights.
Also 1966 was the last year for mid-sized Ramblers/ AMCs to all have the Nash designed torque tube (driveshaft inside of a tube which is bolted onto the tranny and the rear end. Difficult to pull the transmission without pulling the rear end and torque tube back, so not good for backyard mechanics. The last Chevys with torque tubes were the 1954 models. So, the 1967 Rambler Rebel/ 1968 AMC Rebel were 1st years for the new midsize platform that lasted through to the last AMC Matadors and Ambassadors.
I’m thinking seriously about this one!
Or… seriously thinking… about this one!
Where does the seller say that there is a replacement headliner? He does say that the interior is very nice except for the headliner which is sagging…
I really like this one. Very cool car!
Nowhere does the listing say anything about the headliner “sagging”. What it says is that the very nice interior is all original – except the headliner.
Just enough power and torque to be a pleasent driver. 3.15 gear ⚙️ is juat perfect. What a beauty SST
Dad had a turquoise four door sedan. Not a single option on it, even had a rubber floor. Wasn’t anywhere near as attractive as this one.
I own a Rebel SST, a 1967 model still badged as a Rambler, equipped with 343 V8 and automatic transmission. As I recall legendary auto journalist Tom McCahill gave the ’67 Rebel a glowing review. Sure wish mine looked as good as this one!
If this had been a Chevy it would have sold thousands more.
Yea. But it ain’t.
The recessed door handles were introduced in 1968, and were standard on all AMC models except the soon-to-be-phased-out American. They weren’t denoting luxury, but simply AMC’s ongoing reluctance to accept the push-button door-handle standard.
The first generation post-Nash Rambler models had a squeeze-up door handle, a bit awkward in use. Those were phased out in 1963, in favor of push-button handles. But obviously the AMC designers didn’t like those.
The recessed brushed-chrome handles turned out to last as long as AMC’s car line did, and, on Jeep Wranglers (powder-coated black) well into the Daimler-Chrysler era. The only AMC offerings (other than Renault-branded cars) not to get them, were the J/SJ and XJ Jeeps. Wagoneers, etc, just kept their Kaiser-era door handles. The XJs got new polycarbonate black handles…push-button.
But about the same time, the Wrangler, with its flat doors to fit the CJ-7 tub…got those same handles on the half-doors and rear swing-out gate. Interestingly, the full doors kept the CJ-7 paddle handles.
My parents bought a 68 Ambassador SST two door hardtop new in 69.
It had sat on dealer lot for a year and they got a deep discount. Blue with white vinyl top and white interior, 343 4 barrel , auto on the floor. That car would haul
and if you stood on it from standing start it would wheel hop so bad you had to let off of it. I was only allowed to drive it two times with out them present my dad knew I was putting it thru it’s paces.
Just watched a new episode of Roadworthy Rescues last night…..he pulled a Rebel SST convertible out of a barn/shed where it had sat for 40+ years belonging to that “last AMC dealership” family. the car had been gifted to the owners son [then 9 years old] when he took it in on trade and needed some door bodywork and top issues.
That car looked great when he was done, but if you know the show, he only does what’s needed to make it driveable. they didn’t fix the door but did renew the interior and top, along with the brakes an fuel system/carb swap.
buffed out the paint and new wheels/tires and drove it 100 miles to the “coast” to take pics with the top down.
Collier in NC..? It looks like an abandoned salvage lot
I think the styling cues of this Rebel look somewhat like a Mopar product. Its a nice looking car. Much better than the ridiculous Matador models of the mid 1970s, for sure.
I agree, look at 68-69 roadrunner I have always thought chrysler took some styling from these.
A nice car. The left door is roughly fitted. So my guess is that many
people just have a lop-sided sight. Fair price for a fair car.
Very nice and today also rare.
What i find on this:
No center console thru the rear passenger footwell.
No round instruments – it calls itself sporty, so these
instruments that are meant for grandparents don’t
really fit.
The rear end is too long – looks too less offset proportions.
The unimaginative steering wheel. A Nardi with alu center
fits the bill!
And the slippery seats without lateral support.
A nice car. The left door is roughly fitted. So my guess is that many
people just have a lop-sided sight. But fair price for a fair car.
Very nice and today also rare.
What i find on this:
No center console thru the rear passenger footwell.
No round instruments – it calls itself sporty, so these
old-fashioned instruments don’t really fit.
The rear end is too long – looks too less offset proportions.
The unimaginative steering wheel. A Nardi with alu center
fits the bill!
And the slippery seats without lateral support.
Currently working on a 68 sst like this one but red with black vinyl top. The car my parents received as a wedding gift in
December, 1968. My Mom’s father, in true frugal fashion, bought it off a used car lot with less than 5000 miles. The story goes that it was a rental car although I don’t have proof. Dad stuffed it in garages over the years and now I’m bringing it back to life. Love the story and adore the car; fun to have something unique no matter the value.
Great looking car but what’s up with the door gaps ?
My dad bought one of these in early 70s. 1967 SST 290 baby blue black vinyl top. Loved that car! Lived on farm in central Illinois. Only 14 but drove all over neighborhood. Older sisters boyfriend was picking on me(maybe other way around?)so I jumped in the Rambler and took off down the road gravel flyin! Macho city boy chased me in his Mustang. Didnt make it a Quarter mile before he ditched it. Said a dog ran out in front. Yeah right! Limped it back to farm with badly twisted frame. Looked like left front wheel barely on ground! Never seen him after that. My sis and I still laugh about it. Beautiful car!
I had a ’70 Rebel with a 304 back in ’79 I picked up for $600. Great car, very reliable. BUT, you couldn’t fill it up with the gas nozzle on “high” or the gas would splash back on you out of the filler pipe!
Auction update: this baby sold for $9,600!
“In the four-door sedan or wagon, buyers could have had seats that fold down into a bed.”
Hardtop and convertible as well.
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/AMC/1967_AMC/1967_Rambler_Rebel_Brochure/1967%20Rambler%20Rebel-04.html
Standard on the SST.
Optional across the rest:
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/AMC/1967_AMC/1967_AMC_Data_Book/1967%20AMC%20Data%20Book-041.html
We have a 1968 Rebel SS gold body and black hardtop original paint less than 60k miles on it
My father gave it to my husband. Trying to find rims/wheels/hubcaps as this is all that is needed to be 100 %original ( would like to surprise him)
Any suggestions?
Put it in Autorama maybe 8/10 yrs ago and got third place.
Love the car !!!