The Machine was a one-year-only performance car built by American Motors at the height of the muscle car movement. Production numbers were low, so the assortment that survives today isn’t large. Most remember the cars for their wild red/white/blue paint jobs, but other colors were offered like the dark green on this one. It was a one-owner car when the seller acquired it and it looks to have been idle for some time. Located in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, this piece of performance history is available here on eBay where the opening bid of $9,999 is awaiting its first taker.
In 1969, AMC did another one-year muscle car called the SC/Rambler built on the compact American which was in its last year of production. So, the concept was moved upstream to the mid-size Rebel in 1970. Besides patriot paint jobs (at first), the Machine had a 390 cubic inch V8 (the biggest AMC offered) that produced 340 hp and was often paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. Just 2,326 copies ever saw the light of day, with half of those being painted to resemble a rolling American flag. Later in the model year, AMC opened production up to 16 other colors with a flat-painted hood and functional Ram Air hood scoop (which contained a working tachometer).
The seller refers to this car as The Green Machine, although we don’t know if AMC ever used that description when promoting Machines painted that way. The seller’s pitch is a bit difficult to read but tells us that it was built in July of 1970, making it one of the last Machines to be produced. The body looks a bit rough, but we’re told the green paint is from Day 1. Rust can be found in places like the floorboards and drop-off panels in the trunk. There is evidence of some earlier amateur bodywork having been done. All of this supports that the AMC was likely stored outside for many moons.
Under the hood, the 390 V8 is frozen from sitting and we’re told everything is original except the spark plug wires. The front spindles are from a Chevrolet as the ones on the Machine were pirated for another project. However, the seller has some spares you can have to install. Though not wearing matching wheels, the car will come with four Machine wheels that may need work. In the passenger compartment, the dash pad is a mess, and the headliner looks to be hanging down. You may have to get the car rekeyed. How many “Green Machines” could there be left?
( crickets chirping) You know, AMC was the butt of all jokes, but right here, we were riding high. Adam-12 was the biggest show, and did more for AMC than people realize. Neck jerking( not snapping) performance was the hot button then, and even the stodgy AMC hopped on board. I was at the AMC reunion in 2014, and the swap meet area had all kinds of “Machine” parts. Clearly taken off some rusty Machine nobody wanted. Fact is, one guy told me, there are more put together Machines now than came from the factory. It was our moment in the sun, performance wise, that is. The Javelin racing success, cars like this, boring sedans with big( to us) motors and 4 speeds and the seldom mentioned Hornet SC/360, really gave the Big 3 something to sweat about,,for a spell.
This car? Again, as mentioned before, I think there is a market for obscure makes of cars, and AMC is pretty obscure to most today, but it has to be nice. Competition is tough, and with other classics much more recognizable in the same price range, this literally has to have the plastic on the seats, or folks won’t give it a second look. Just like in 1970. It’s a great find, but I say that about every AMC/Rambler. Most aren’t so loyal.
Another bucket list vehicle for me… Would
love to be the restored owner. Not sure I
have the patience to be the restorer owner!
Nice project, won’t be for the faint of heart. Will be an amazing car when restored. Story time, was probably 18 when I had a friend that was a friend of a wrench at the local AMC dealer ship. He had a red white and blue Machine. Took us for a ride and won’t forget it. I am almost 70 now, he took us down a curvey back road and it held the curves. Tires weren’t real happy but it stayed where he pointed the car. That was the hard part he had the wheel I was riding. Then we went down a straight away stopped and did it again. Was a 4 gear and it made lovely sound. I have built and owned faster but that was a memorable night for sure. This green one will be a really great car to return to its former self.
Man. It wasn’t easy being green.
I actually bought one of these in Wisconsin fully complete with 4 flat tires that had been sitting in a storage unit 8 yrs ago. The gentleman who owned it was old, knew it’s worth and did not want to sell it. He passed away, single, with no children. His nephew (executor) sold me the car, 390,4spd I dropped the tank cleaned everything, it fired up, ran nice. Went through the brakes as they were sticking. Solid no rust had the rare Kelsey Hayes wheels still in place, factory 8 track, and still had the production order sheet under rear seat. Still have the pics! I sold it on eBay in 4hrs. Went to Canada. Right after selling, I had a call from a guy, he offered $5000. For those wheels. I made money on the car but, if it were in today’s prices, I’d probably be able to pay for my granddaughters college!
These are such neat cars but man, this one needs a lot of parts and parts for these have to be unobtanium by now. The purchase price is only the down payment on the tens of thousands of dollars that would need to be spent to bring her up to driver condition. Not surprised no one has bit yet. Like stated above, not for the feint of heart.
I think the red, white, and blue paint should be mandatory paint on any of these fast AMC rides.
Funny you say that, Stan, me too. The reason, I feel, was it was “AMERICAN” Motors, and nothing says USA like red, white and blue. The “colored” Machines didn’t stand out as much, just another Rambler( until it blew their doors off) and while it may seem corny today, but people were a lot more patriotic then, and expressed it in their cars. Not sure that sales gimmick would fly today.
Right On Howard 👍🏁
Very cool car
Guy down the street in my teenage years had a dark purple one.Being Canada we got the solid colour ones mostly.
It does have a bid now, but reserve not met.
I’m sure that this car will in short time wear the same patriotic AMC red-white and blue paint job like most of its brothers and clones.
They turned the Rebel into the Matador…..which was a major mistake.
Rebels could haul arse and looked pretty good doing it.
The Matador….oy…..was a POJ. And morphed into one of the ugliest heaps ever built.
Matadors were awesome in ’71, ’72, and ’73. They actually lloked better than the ’70 Rebel. In 1971 there was a Matador Machine. It was more rare than this ’70. by far, looked better, and had a 401.
My mom had a 68 Rebel SST. It was special ordered and the guy never picked it up. Dad brought it late 68 when the 69 were on the lot. 390 4 BDL Auto and Factory Duels. That this would fly. Mom surprised many of the big 3. It got hit by a 63 Lincoln got it fixed second time it was hit by a Caddy. It couldn’t be fixed, Dad made a deal at the dealer and came home with a 71 Matador 304 2BDL. Mom still says it was the BIGGEST POS she ever had. The mechanic at the dealer brought the REBEL cheap, PULLED the 390 and made his own BAD A$$ Gremlin
That is perfect except for the spindle thing. I don’t get that. 4 spd and Dark green My Grandfather had a dark green 69 Rebel 4 door. Totaled on ice in NH where they lived. Should start drippin the Marvel mystery oil…
last summer, a Rebel Machine hit $140,000+ at Mecum!