Unlike General Motors, Ford or Chrysler, American Motors didn’t have a contender in the mid-size muscle car space until 1970. They took the concept of the 1969 American-based SC/Rambler with its potent big-block engine and red, white, and blue paint job and applied it to the Rebel platform. This resulted in The Machine, a one-year offering that would certainly leave its mark. This example, one of 1,000 decorated that way, has its fair share of battle scars and isn’t complete. But the asking price of $3,950 here on craigslist isn’t in the upper stratosphere, either. The car can be found in Olathe, Kansas and our thanks go to Gunter Kramer for alerting us to this find!
While Chrysler had its wild Hi-Impact colors and the competition would follow suit, none set the stage like the 1970 Rebel Machine. Initially, the cars looked something like a rolling U.S. Flag, with the use of red and blue colors on a white automobile. A variety of AMC hues were used on an additional 1,326 cars bringing the production total for The Machine at just 2,326 copies. All the cars came with a functional fiberglass hood scoop that had a built-in external tachometer, styled steel 15X7 wheels and trim rings, and special “The Machine” decal graphics.
Each of these beasts had a 390 cubic inch V8 that put out 325 horsepower. When AMC’s Cold-Air Package was ordered, the output went up to 340 hp. While most were sold with the 4-speed manual transmission, an automatic was also available. The 390 wasn’t as legendary as a 454 LS6 Chevrolet or a Ford Cobra Jet 429, it would be the most powerful engine in the AMC arsenal.
This ’70 Machine, with the more memorable red/white/blue paint, was purchased by the seller two years ago with the intent to restore the hot rod, but he no longer has the time to work on it. One of the reasons why the asking price sounds low (besides its poor condition) is because it’s not a complete car. The car’s engine block and heads, transmission, Machine rims, and the front seats are all being sold separately (!?). The listing does not indicate what the total ante would be if you took it all.
If you’ve been wanting to restore an AMC Machine, this one is going to take a lot, especially if you must buy it ala carte off the seller. Due to their low production numbers and unique appearance, these one-year cars can command upwards of $75,000 in top-shelf condition. Fair shape is one-third that number and this car will have to go a long way just to get there. Before pulling the trigger on this opportunity, buyers should be aware of what’s there and not there and what it might cost to pull it all back together again. But anything can be done at the right price.
There might be a few usable parts but other than that this looks like scrap metal to me. (The good parts are being sold separately from this rusty hulk.)
The car is completely restorable. I sell of the body parts to restore this car to better than new condition. rebelmachineparts.com
Why on earth would you sell the matching parts to this car seperate? Doesn’t care about the originality of this car or that it is rare and should be kept complete. Money it is always about tge money!
He’s basically parting it out, leaving just enough to try and entice someone into paying him money to hauling it away. In the 80’s me and friends would often buy a parts car when we started a project, if you found a car with the right options there were occasions that after you sold off the parts you didn’t need you made back the money you paid for your project car. Times have changed, but people underestimate the amount of money that can be locked up in certain parts, if the seller is willing to put in the time to sell the parts separately.
Steve R
I hope that was not me you were thinking you were replying to James. I’m not the owner of that Machine. I make the body parts that car needs.
But it is a sad reality that if you have a notable car and can’t get the money its parts would command, then that’s what happens. Every part of a Machine can be worth quite a bit of money to someone and there are a lot of Machine projects going on right now. Most of them need bits and pieces. None of those people want to pay for an entire car and chances are, they have no room for it either. Since AMCs are orphans, a derelict becomes your own personal parts department. But if you don’t have the room, you get what you can where you can.
Machine specific parts go first. Then common parts come from rusted out 2 door hardtops. But fewer 2 door hardtops were built than Machines apparently so these days, no two door hardtop is being scrapped either . That leaves four door sedans. Or me.
Thankfully, the 67, 68 and 69s make good donors and the later Matadors do as well though those are scarce now too.
This rolling shell still has more salable parts on left on it than the asking price.
There is a lot more going on with this car than meets the eye.
I consider myself to be an AMC fan, but I’m sorry, this example of a Machine is too far gone and should be sent to the crushing machine.
Talk about a rip off. Who would sell the engine separately from the car? This seller has it figured out. Let someone buy part of it and then make them pay out the nose for the rest of the car. Boooo!!!!!! I don’t mind non-car people selling and making money from the hobby we love, but this takes the cake. Sell it all together!!!!!
They don’t show enough of the car to know if it’s totally rusted out. Being so rare, this might be worth restoring if you can get the rest of the parts at a decent price. I’ve seen much worse on here that sold…
This Machine is very restorable. My own Machine was much worse off than this and it is being put. back together.
There are key elements though. The most difficult parts to replace are the outer wheel wells that nest inside the rear quarter wheel arches and the resr valence. Everything else is rare, but available.