For sale here on Craiglist with a clean title and located in Bennington, Nebraska is this rather nice looking 1969 AMC Rebel SST. Priced at $6,800, this looks like quite an attractive proposition. A big shout out and thanks must go to Barn Finds regular Aaron for referring this one to us.
In 1969 AMC rationalized its Rebel model line. The upshot of it was that the 2-door hardtop body was only available on the base model Rebel and the SST. The SST hardtop was also the only car in the range to be available with the louvres in front of the rear wheel arches. Finished in “Bittersweet Orange”, the body and paint do look very straight and clean. There’s no indication as to whether the paint is original or a respray. The owner does state that the vinyl top is original, and is in near perfect condition. The kicker here? According to the seller the tires are the originals as the car has only traveled a claimed 6,200 original miles.
Inside things do look very nice…very nice indeed. The upholstery in both the front and back look in really good condition. The seller is of the opinion that the carpet needs replacing, but doesn’t indicate why he feels that this is necessary.
This is also rather nice, but is a bit of a mystery to me. The seller has installed a new leather headliner to match the upholstery. Given the condition of the rest of the interior trim, the replacement of the headliner and the suggestion to replace the carpet seems a little strange. Any ideas? Regardless, a friend of me would describe the interior as “a nice place to be”.
Under the hood doesn’t disappoint. Here we see the 343ci 2-barrel. The owner has had the engine out and replaced all of the seals. If the claimed mileage is correct and the car has been sitting, then this is a sensible move. Your eyes aren’t deceiving you. This one also features power steering and air con. The car also features new drum brakes, lines and a new brake master cylinder. The fuel tank has also been out and cleaned and checked for leaks. However, with all of this work done by the seller, one thing not done is that the transmission is not installed. However, the seller will install it for an additional $250. The seller also indicates that the car requires a new exhaust from headers to muffler.
Personally I quite like this particular car. If it really is as good as the ad indicates, then this could be quite a good buy. If everything is as stated (and you pay the extra $250 to have the transmission installed), then a new set of carpet and exhaust would make this a rather nice weekend cruiser.
250.00 to install a transmission? Go for it, future buyer!
Love the color combo on this one. I would put a set of redlines on it to make the colors pop!
Would be best if the trans were a manual.
Nice car! I used to have a ’67 Rebel SST. The usual caveats about Ramblerisms like trunnion front suspension, strut rod bushings, and vacuum windshield wipers apply. (Can’t tell if this car has the optional electric wipers, not that you’d want to drive it in bad weather anyway. Would be nice if there were wider-angle pics of the engine compartment and interior.) The leather headliner is a bit odd. Maybe the original was in bad shape, maybe it was a matter of personal preference.
Another thing to be wary of is that the gussets under the front fenders frequently rust out on these cars. They are completely hidden by the fenders, so owners could not easily tell when the drains clogged. The later Matadors and Ambassadors had wider hoods and narrower fender tops such that clogs could be easily seen and cleared.
Mine also had the 343 V8 engine and manual drum brakes. Trust me, you will want to upgrade to front discs.
Vinyl = Leather on Craigslist
Steve R
This is the original interior. If it is vinyl, then my bad. I can correct it if you would like.
Thanks
james
One word…SWEET!
With only 6200 original miles this one looks like a bargain
Probably would have been easier to install the transmission the same time that the engine went back in.
Not by yourself and not with 4 discs blown out in your back. 4 bolts and pulling the yoke out was easier.
With the trans out I guess that answers the question of why there appears to be a wedge of Vermont cheese in front of the left front tire. Looks awful light in color to be hard cheddar.
Neat car. But not having the trans installed equals what and how many surprises await on that ‘first drive.’
The tranny was out. So I had wheel chocks keeping the car from rolling downhill into the neighbors kitchen.
That’s gorgeous! Bonus that it’s not one of the Big Three, would confuse plenty of people nowadays.
Since when does a picture or a Speedometer verify the sellers claim about low mileage. It’s a pretty looking car and the seller isn’t asking a fortune, but it doesn’t run and there are no detailed pictures of the lower quarters or undercarriage. The car is absolutely worth a look, but it should stand or fall based on the results of an up-close inspection.
Steve R
I do have some maintenance records dating back to 84 showing mileage around 4,440 miles. Even the title shows a little over 6,000 miles when transferred.
It’s Nebraska, not Vermont. If it was closer, I might’ve been tempted to take the ride to check this one out.
I apologize for that one. That’s definitely my mistake. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how many times you look at something you just miss the obvious.
Adam,
This is my car and I can answer the questions you have in the add.
Please email me and I can clarify all this. Didnt even know this was on here until I had a caller tell me.
Thanks
James
Something is very fishy here about leaving the transmission out of the car. If the car runs properly, it would fetch far more money after a proper test drive. Seller seems to be hiding something.
Someone may correct me, but I thought all 1969 AMC motors were blue. Engine color charts show only ’67, 343’s as copper for 2 barrel, red for 4 barrel. I highly doubt the mileage, and could easily have over 100 ( numbers in odometer don’t line up)still, who cares, it’s a really nice car. Beautiful color. Like a Rebel Machine in an evening gown.
I went with the burnt copper as it was the closest color to the paint. You are correct, original color of engine of was blue. If you would like to stop by and look at it…feel free. Maintenance records and title verify the mileage. Also the interior would have much more wear and tear for a 100k mile vehicle, but its near flawless.
I question why, if the engine was taken out to reseal it, the transmission was not reinstalled.
That does effectively not allow the car to start for prospective buyers, which may be why.
I have a shortage of time and money with 5 kids. Again, I couldnt physically install both bolted together by myself…so I had to separate them. I have a video of this running and driving previous to me pulling the engine. That way, people know it did run and drive.
Couldn’t install, but had no problem removing? For $250, the slipped disc in your back is no longer an issue?? I think anyone would agree, an operational car should be worth more than an additional 250, right? Don’t forget to mention the mushy brakes…
No use being rude or snippy. Laying down and pulling out the tranny with a jack is a lot easier than being hunched over. I pulled it from the bottom…
As noted above…shortage of time. Yes all 4 drums have been repaired and lines replaced since. And it’s been sitting forever….
Very nice Rebel, and seems to be a great price as well. Always amazes me how cheap these are when you compare them to the other 3’s comparable offerings
The pictures do not do it justice. Is it showdows or is it rust around the rear wheel arches? I cannot tell.
Beautiful, unique car…however, the quarters are pretty holey.
Liked body style and appointments of this year.
Yup were sloppy to drive due to many suspension cost savings, but can be corrected and yes definitely add disc brakes, AM C had easy bolt on front spindles so quick and easy conversion from say Matadors or other AM C disc donor cars.
343 4Brl was a potent free revving mill, except for bending pushrods, and.some had steel cranks and tolerances on Rods so close almost balanced.
Not a slouch by any means compared to other marques of that era.
Friends all original, w/ manual in blue gets mistaken by many as being a Chevelle or Poncho.
I think price is right no matter miles, seems to be a relatively inexpensive fix a bit and drive. Never get out what a heavy restoration cost, but fix for street and easy small profit flip
PS: Tranny swaps on 343: From auto to stick , some 343 cranks on autos had no provisions for pilot bearings needed on stick.
Years ago found out hard way when day before race my 3 cranks came into AM C dealer,rebuilds, only one was for stick and it had somehow bent the flange.
Made it to track with a damn stock 360, cam and intake change, and AMC AUTO, circle track point system in place.
Blew tranny in main, and damn glad I had homemade scatter shield protector.
Beautiful car, but for the price, get the trans installed before listing.
Re the headliner: probably the recovering was a preference as the liner was a one piece molded fiberglass affair, never drooped or sagged and was often a selling point in ads.
The one in this car was probably a light color to match the interior.
This is incorrect. The headliner was not fiberglass. It was formed and one piece…cloth with foam padding underneath it. The entire one piece roof liner was pulled, brushed off all the old foam and re-padded this and new leather liner put on. Whether it was one piece or or not, the liner was still sagging and drove me nuts.
Here is a link to a feature list for the 62 Rambler.
AMC was still using the one piece headliner in 72 as the same thing was used in our Ambassador.
http://oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/AMC/1962_AMC/1962_Rambler_Brochure/1962%20Rambler-14-15ab.htmlador
Hey, knock it off with your seemingly catchy, work around names. The authors never claim to be experts. Please, get lost. Apologies to the owner.
The original carpeting in these cars was notorious for unraveling about 5 minutes after leaving the factory so I understand the seller’s comments about that! Beautiful looking car with a lot of potential and a very attractive price for the completeness involved.
All,
Please feel free to email or text me questions if you are interested. Email is jimminee2000@yahoo.com. I can send pics or videos or even do video chat to walk you around the car.
https://youtu.be/mx9NXaUHL0A
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