The Rogue was a sporty version of the AMC Rambler American, built between 1966 and 1969. Its goal was to help American Motors transform its image from that of an economy car builder to a full-line automaker. The Rogue took on the hot new Ford Mustang, a battle that it came nowhere close to winning. The seller has a nice first-year Rogue that’s currently a roller as its engine and transmission were liberated for another project. Located in Louisville, Kentucky, this mostly solid shell is available here on craigslist for $5,000. Bravo to Chuck Foster for this cool AMC tip!
Those of you who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s will remember them as the “anti-establishment” years. So, names like “Rogue” and “Rebel” certainly stood out for a car company like AMC, which had products named American, Classic, and Ambassador. The Rogue was introduced as an American 2-door hardtop in mid-1966 and managed to remain relevant until the compact was discontinued in 1969, in favor of the revived Hornet compact.
Early 1966 Rouges came with AMC’s newly reworked 290 cubic inch V8, but soon the inline-6 power offered in other Americans was added. The Rogue took the American 440 hardtop and stepped up the level of trim offered. A convertible was added in 1967, but it quickly disappeared from the lineup due to low sales. We’re guessing the seller’s Rogue had the 232 CI I-6, but it and the transmission were extracted to go into a 1950s Jeep (why would they neuter an otherwise nice automobile like this?).
The paint looks really good on this AMC, though there are a few dings and one rust hole in the passenger side rear quarter panel. The matching interior is amazing, looking hardly used after 60,000 miles (the odometer reading). This Rambler is one of 8,718 produced in ’66, with sales declining in each of the remaining three years the model was on the assembly line. If you need help sourcing a new drivetrain, the seller says he/she has some contacts that may be able to help.
Seen these with V-8s in them. They weren’t slow with that powertrain.
Howard 👉
Shame about this one.It looks like a nice car,but will
probably also need a paint job.I like this local Rogue.
My ex-grandfather-in-law had one just like that, even the colors… except for the wheels. His had V8 power.
I had one just like this, same color combination. Mine was a factory hurst 4spd with reverse lockout and 290 V8….. hurst rambler. Unfortunately I was 16yrs old and totaled it, not realizing how rare it was!
@angliagt That one is sweet!! V8 also!! Wonder if it is a manual car…
It is!
Hmmm – I see an auto shifter w/ telltale on the steering column & only two pedals…
I can’t see why someone would take the motor and transmission for something else. Why not just use one from a Jeep? Plus the fact this one had a Borg/Warner unit for the trans. While not a bad unit, if I had my choice I think I would pick something else. Later AMC’s used Chrysler Torqueflites and later Jeeps had Automatics with overdrive. If I were to buy this I think I would go with a 4.0 jeep motor and a 5sp. stick. Back in the late 70’s I had a ’69 Rambler American. I paid 250 bucks for it (beater with a heater) drove it for a year, then sold it and got my money back. I was a good running car.
There is one I see at a car show here in NH with a SBC the license says RAMBLURR
My Aunt drove a ’64 440 hardtop
with a 232/3-speed W/OD. Bear in mind that this was in the 1980s
and that her car was a rust belt special, there was nearly no rust on it anywhere. It was Gold and White with the shifter on the floor
and bucket seats too. What a sharp car it was too. Lost track of it after she passed away in ’87
and to be honest, I’ve wanted one
ever since. As for this car, it’s waaay too nice to turn into a gasser. Now lessee, think I’d go
with either a 258 or a 300 6 mated to a 4-speed tranny. Either
if these engines can be tweaked
with modern parts to make a respectable amount of horsepower and enough torque to fry the back tires if you so desire. Just look at what the guys on Power Nation did with both a Ford 300 mill and a 225
slant 6. They beefed up the innards, screwed on a turbo, and
had a grand old time with both of
them. Come to think of it, the slanty might be a better choice due to the low hood line this car has. You could still bolt on a turbo and STILL close the hood.
Add some type of ram air system
under the bumper for the turbo, and you’ll have yourself a real screamer! Not sure if you can beef up the rear end to take the extra torque, but I”m sure there’s
something out there for that.
a Cherokee 4.0 liter will slide right in – at 180-190hp more then enough power for spritely performance with a modern bullet proof drivetrain.
Good choice for a replacement motor, the 4.0! One of the best bulletproof motors as long as you don’t over heat them. You can never understand why people do what they do with car projects like this! The good news is that the motor is already out, so a transplant is inevitable! This could be a fun driver!!
63 Rambler, 550…4 door, front seats folded down into the back seat….great for dating…3 on the tree…6 cyl….first car, they ran forever…those were the days…wish I had kept her
The Rambler or the date?
Actually both, very dependable. They do not make them like that anymore.
I took and passed my driver’s test in a 69 Rogue with the 232 I6. Unfortunately, AMC didn’t use inner fender liners, so the front fenders eventually rusted out. Free windshield wash on wet roads!
I can’t imagine pulling a 6 out of this for another project. V8 maybe, but as other have said, why pull anything from this especially as nice as it looks. Maybe it was/is also a low mileage car. Finding a 290 to drop back in will not be easy so I concur on the Jeep 4.0 and auto trans. That would be a $300 combo pull from any wrecking yard local and adapting it I can’t think it would be that hard. Unless you’ve just got a 302/C4 lying around with nothing else to do. At $5k – I can see that number for a complete car. I think maybe $1,500 would more reasonable.
bit optimistic on the price considering it’s just a roller. it pretty clean but not 5k and not running.
My mom had a ’64 660 2-door, white (dealer shot at Mom’s request) over black with red interior. Base six and auto. I enjoyed driving it although sway bars fore ‘n aft plus higher shift points in the B-W would have made it that much nicer. A little tall and tippy but the bars would have obviated much of that.
This is one of B/F listings that, I wouldn’t think twice about buying. If I was younger and had time and money. I would love to have this car, what a great driver it could be. Can you say LS? I think 5K is a bargain! Th it ise perfect donner car, It is perfect as is or you could step it up with body and paint. I wouldn’t put any badging on it, most people wouldn’t even know what is. What it is, an assume car to make your own.
That hole screams LS SWAP to me………………
I agree. LS3 motor and drive train to go with it. This could be made into a fun stop lite sleeper. The roller would have to be had for a lot less, 2500 ballpark
I would go for a 343 out of an ambassador, they were a nice engine. I had one in a 69 ambassador.
Nice car/project, but $5k? I’m out.
Ray G, and Stu Put your LS engines in your GM products! This little car needs anything AMC. There is plenty out there! If I had the place for it, I would buy it.
HEMI swap it and make it interesting. Too many LS swaps out there. Although a great engine, it’s making restomods repetitive and lame at shows. So, go 382. Maybe a 6.1. Heck 5.7 and a single screw. Dare I go crazy and say make it really interesting and build a long haul cruiser for events like the ol Hot Rod Tour? Dump a Pentastar and an 8hp50 in it with some 3.08’s….. it’ll make an awesome highway cruiser, grab attention at shows and still get decent gas mileage. Plus, parts are a plenty and they’re easy to work on. Just a thought. I’m nutty like that and love weird stuff. 305hp in a car like this would be a blast. Chuck on some bolt ons, tuned with the gears as a torque multiplier….. you’d have a wonderful classic daily driver!
HEMI swap it and make it interesting. Too many LS swaps out there. Although a great engine, it’s making restomods repetitive and lame at shows. So, go 392. Maybe a 6.1. Heck 5.7 and a single screw. Dare I go completely crazy and say make it really interesting and build a long haul cruiser for events like the ol Hot Rod Tour? Dump a Pentastar and an 8hp50 in it with some 3.08’s….. it’ll make an awesome highway cruiser, grab attention at shows and still get decent gas mileage. Plus, parts are cheap, plentiful and they Pentastar is easy to work on. Just a thought. I’m nutty like that and love weird stuff. 305hp in a car like this would be a blast. Chuck in some bolt ons, like exhaust, tuned with the 3.08 or even 3.70 or 3.90 gears as a torque multiplier….. you’d have a wonderful classic daily driver that will roast tires and still get you to and from A to B in comfort.