AMC generated uneven success with its attempts to enter the pony and muscle car markets, starting with the Javelin and the AMX, and following up with the SC/Rambler. As flamboyant and fast as these models were, AMC still labored under its conservative image. It wanted to break into a younger echelon of buyers. Aiming for something like the SC/Rambler but in road car guise seemed plausible. So in 1970, The Machine arrived. The new model was a heavily modified Rebel two-door hardtop, with graphics and performance parts designed by Hurst. The new car was seriously quick – reaching 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds. Despite its credentials, only 2326 examples were made, with the first 1000 painted Frost White with bold blue and red stripes. Here on craigslist is a well-tended Rebel The Machine priced at $69,000 and located in Englewood, Colorado. Thanks to T.J. for the great tip!
The Machine was equipped with AMC’s 390 cu. in. V8 with upgraded internals, a redesigned intake and exhaust, fed by a four-barrel Motorcraft carburetor. The compression ratio came in at 10:1, and output registered 340 hp and 430 lb-ft of torque at 3600 rpms. The functional ram-air hood scoop and hood-mounted tach reinforce the car’s performance credentials. This example features a four-speed manual, but an automatic was also available. The condition of the underside and the engine bay are a notch above the typical Cars ‘N Coffee show. Send this car to the Forest Grove Concours!
The Machine’s order sheet included several options ranging from tilt steering, air conditioning, cruise control – even a “service kit” for the engine that could boost output to 400 hp. The bucket seats here are augmented with a red/white/blue armrest and “buddy seat”. The kick panel and carpet on the passenger’s side could use some attention – just a clean-up and re-fitment.
The original The Machine steel wheels have been refinished, and the paint is quite nice. A minor misalignment of the driver’s door can likely be fixed by fiddling with shims and bolts. This car, VIN A0M190Y205709, was sold by Mecum at its Dallas auction in 2024 for $71,500, so now two years later, the seller recognizes he’s going to have to take a discount. But this sale, also in 2024 at $55k, and another sale of this show-quality The Machine one year later at $46,200 hint that the Mecum sale was an outlier on the high side. This is one of my favorite AMCs, but I’d wait for a better opportunity; what do you think?
What a gorgeous car ! …The price maybe high but where are you going to find another one for sale that is in this mint
shape ? You can always talk him/her down.
Agree.
I had never heard of the “service kit” or pack so I went and did some reading. Apparently, AMC farmed some performance work out to their dealers due to lack of factory floor space. I learned something new. Thanks!
Despite being a brief owner of a Pacer with bad valves in my youth, I was never into AMC. I have come to appreciate them more as the years go by.
Oh, this car is cool but beyond what I’d be willing to spend on a non daily driver.
What you found out is called Group 19 by AMC collectors. It listed a variety of performance parts, from factory 4 barrel manifolds to Edelbrock items such as the R4B and a three barrel Holley. Capacitor dis-charge ignitions, dual point distributors and a cam kit that allowed 6000 rpm. One could also order the AMX torque links for other leaf spring AMC cars with a V8.
The AMC 390 was very potent in stock form. I found that out in my brothers ’69 Javelin SST.
Someone removed the air conditioning from under the hood. That would have added to the value of this car if it had been retained.
I’m wondering if the car ever had AC, ’cause IIRC the heater-defroster controls would have a fourth up-and-down lever. A three lever arrangement was only used in non-AC vehicles. There would also be a louver in the dash pad above the instrument cluster with AC. Then again, the memory may be playing tricks.
I believe the non-ac cars will not have the vents in the center of the dash as this one has.
It’s an oddity wrapped in an enigma. Yes, with AC there should be 4 levers plus a rotary knob to the left of the main HVAC panel for AC temperature control. (A pretty confusing setup overall.)
Without AC there should be no dash vents. (Back then you would rely on vent windows and kick panel vents for ventilation with main windows closed.) In addition to the easily visible vents this car does have the vent above the instrument cluster, though the cover is closed on it in the photo.
I have an Ambassador with AC and a Rebel without AC that have the same basic dashboard and that’s the way they’re set up. So not sure what’s going on here. Of course a lot of things can happen to a car in 56 years so there might be some major mixing and matching of components going on. (Then again knowing what quality control was like back then maybe it came that way from the factory!)
Command Air was a rare option
This is one clean AMC Machine! I like it!
I was a dyed in the wool GM man and more specifically Chevy in that day but genuinely appreciated these cars when they made their debut. Time has only intensified that appreciation. What a fine specimen!
The Rebel Mo-Shien! What a great looking car with the right stuff. I’d only fault them for that kooky dash, but it is what it is.
Gotta love the excitement of buying at a Mecum auction, where the motto is “Of course it’ll go up!”.
If he takes it back to Mecum, he takes at least a 10% seller fee haircut, plus the real risk of it selling at $60k, so this price saves him some money.
The owner surely knows he’s now standing at the top of a double black diamond.
At this price and this condition, it’s a trailer queen. You can’t risk anything happening to it, or it becomes a huge loss instead of a manageable loss.
Probably why he wants out of it.
Barrett Jackson or any other auction house are all the same. As far as a trailer queen… that’s why you have proper insurance, called “agreed value”
A lot of the value here is the level of prep and presentation..
Put it on the road, and that disappears fast. Even if nothing that warrants an insurance incident, you have rain mud, pebbles and highway trash, dust and bird crap attacking the paint and finish at all times.
Throw in fluid leaks, brake dust, exhaust residue coating the engine bay and other surfaces.
Then you have sun baking the interior, and human wear and tear, wrecking the seats and carpeting.
Pristine becomes road-used very quickly. That knocks off a lot of price value.
My father was an AMC guy… when he went to buy a new 1970 AMC, I went with him. My 13 yo self tried to convince him to buy The Machine, but he overruled me. We came home with an olive green station wagon.
Just picture this color scheme on a wagon… Missed opportunities.
I tried to talk my Dad into buying an Audi 100LS.
Glad he didn’t take my advice.
probaly ran forever
this a neat AMC for sure. IMO, they paid too much for it to start with now they may take a hard-hit if they do sell.
Do you still have yours Mainly Muscle?
NICE!!
It’s kind of an oddball of a vehicle. I think AMC built it solely to only make a statement (we’re hip!), because the AMX, Javelin or especially The SC Rambler (Rambler Scrambler) with the same drive train would blow it away simply because this is a bigger heavier barn door of a car. I think AMC made one-to-many hot cars that year.
The scrambler was their best hot rod.
I love this car!If I could afford one,I’d be looking for one.
Sweet….just not for everyone…..have we seen this one before ?
I’d rather have this than a Chevelle.
Two things needed to be addressed: The Rebel Machine engine did not come with “upgraded internals” compared to the 390s in other AMC vehicles. it did have a modified intake plenum and larger exhaust manifold outlets. Other wise, it was the same as a 325 hp 390 available in 1970. There were no cylinder heads, valvetrain or cam specific to The Machine. Performance items could be ordered from Group 19 or, like tubular headers, directly from vendors. Before a purchase, i would inquire about the enhancements claimed by the seller.
Questions about A/C are answered in the sellers description. The car has Command Air. This was available on some AMC cars beginning in 1969 and into 1971 (maybe). It used A/C vents but had no A/C system. A fair number of AMXs & Javelins have it.
Like GM’s”Astro air” then. Just a relocated vent system.
AMC called it “high level ventilation”. A colleague had a 69 Malibu with the “astro-vents”.