In the 1960s, American Motors competed in many market segments, but not the mid-size muscle car class. They had the AMX and Javelin to do battle with the Mustang and Camaro, but nothing for the GTO and Road Runner. So, enter the Machine in 1970, a one-year offering built on the Rebel intermediate. They gave it a powerful motor and a wild paint job but held production to a limited supply. When the Rebel was replaced by the Matador in 1971, the Machine was gone as a standalone model. Located in Rhine, Georgia, this car is in running condition, but will need a lot of cosmetic work to bring it back to its former glory. This Machine is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $3,350, but the reserve hasn’t kicked in yet.
Creating The Machine wasn’t a difficult task for AMC. They already had the body and drivetrain and just needed the inspiration to cook up something different. And different it was, at least matching Chrysler at their own game and new Hi-Impact colors. The Machine was given a white body with red stripes that went up the front fender and down the length of the body, and then a blue hood section that incorporated the functional hood scoop/tachometer. It looked like a rolling American flag! Later in their run, solid body-color Machines would come along, and they could even be had with a vinyl top, but the red, white and blue Machines are what people remember today.
This seller of this somewhat forlorn Machine tells us it was sitting in a barn for a number of years, waiting to be saved. After some mechanical work, including reconditioning the gas tank, installing a new carburetor and doing a full tune-up, they’ve got it running again. Videos of the car in motion are available upon request. However, it’s only a yard car for the moment as the brakes need more work (it does have new master cylinder). For now, you have to use the emergency brake to get it to stop.
From the factory, the Machine came with a 390 cubic inch V-8, AMC’s largest powerplant at the time. It was rated at 340 hp which was more than even the AMX could muster. And it had a ton of torque. Hurst partnered with more than just Oldsmobile back in those days, so Hurst shifters came with The Machine (this car is an automatic). However, the engine here is not original and we don’t know if it’s a Machine 390 or even a 390, but it does wear the car’s original valve covers and valve cover tag as well as the factory intake manifold. Sources don’t agree on how many of these street racers were made. One source says that 1,936 Machines were built (1,340 with the red-white-blue paint) while another says the number was 2,326. Either way, even if a third of them have survived the past 50 years, that doesn’t leave many for the rest of us.
We’re told that 80 percent of the car’s paint is original. The rest may be attributed to an accident the car was in some years ago in the front. The outer sheet metal was replaced along with the radiator port and everything seems to line up as it should. That may explain why the blue portions of the paint look darker than the blue you see on other Machines. Not just the blue hood, but also the lower body stripes. And the front bumper might not be totally straight.
There are some rust issues that must be attended to, including the trunk floor, lower right rear quarter panels, and both front floor pans. So, some patching or replacements will be in order. The engine compartment is rather crusty looking, which means the engine will need to be pulled to cosmetically restore that area as well. The interior itself is also original and pretty worn, including the seats and dash pad. The lack of carpeting reveals the bad floors. This Machine came with factory air conditioning and the seller tells us all the plumbing and components are still there.
The mileage stated is 19,195 which could be the mileage on the motors, a broken odometer cable or that the car has turned over 100,000, which seems more likely. The seller has owned this car for about two years so its history before that is limited. This Machine looks highly restorable, even with its rust issues, and premium examples have been known to go for more than $50,000 (they listed for $3,500 back in the day!).
Cool machine with potential.
When it comes to AMC muscle, don’t forget the Sc/Rambler which had the same engine and went toe to toe with Nova 396 and Dart GT 383.
And the SC 360 Hornet!
The SC/Rambler’s 390 V8 was rated at 315 HP, while the Machine’s was 340 HP.
I always liked these Rebel Machines, powerful, neat looking and something you probably won’t see at your local car cruise. This car pretty much needs a total restoration; I know it’s a little sacrilegious, but I would do gloss black and replace the red/white/blue side stripes. I think that would look sweet. 😎
Nice ride for someone with the money and patience!
1000 were produced in this color combination and approximately 600 still exist. I’d say this one is worth restoring.
Average Sale Value
$37,670
Lowest Sale Value
$12,500
Highest Sale Value
$77,000
While not wildly successful, the Marlin was AMCs entry into the pony car field. Americans and Rebels could also be had with V8/4 speed motivation. The Rebel was available as far back as ‘57 with a 327 V8. Just sayin’…
The Marlin was AMCs answer to the Mustang, similar to Plymouth’s Barracuda.
A fastback roof stuck on an existing car does not a pony car make.
The Javelin was AMC’s entry into the pony car field. The Marlin was supposed to be a personal luxury entry.
Jack, I understand, but it took them 3 years to come out with the Javelin. They needed something to compete.
Jack? I meant Mike. (I wish there was an edit option on Barnfinds!)
The Rambler Marlin concept started in 1964 as the Rambler Tarpon, same fastback roof line on the all new 1964 Rambler American, same size as a Mustang or Barracuda. Then AMC management decided to switch away from smaller cars and put that roof line on a 1965/66 Rambler Classic which still had a Nash style torque tube driveshaft through 1966. Chevy had torque tubes through 1954 and that was a big reason why 55-56-57 Chevys were so collectible but not 54’s. Just about everybody who sees the Tarpon concept car says that the decision to go with Marlin over Tarpon was a costly mistake for AMC not quite as bad a the big $ put into the Pacer. The all new 1967 AMC Rebel and later rebadged Matador replaced the Rambler Classic and was a little bigger. The Rebel Machine was a special 1 year run of Rebels created without big design expense. The Matador mid-sized sports coupe was AMC’s last all new design separate from the existing Rebel/ Matador sedans and wagons. It was unique for having its strange front headlights and a large body with the design elements of AMC’s mid-engine AMC AMX-3 project for which only around 7 were built (selling for over 100K). They should have built the Tarpon and the AMX-3 instead of the money they dropped on the Marlin, Pacer and Matador Coupe. That spelled doom for AMC getting 49% bought by Renault and then entirely sold to Chrysler mostly for their jeep division and all new factory in Canada.
I worked on Marlins in the seventies. My recollection of the is they fit more with the Charger than anything else.
The Barracuda was not an answer to the Mustang. The Barracuda came out before the Mustang.
Chrysler knew it was coming. That’s why they hastily threw a fastback roof on the Valiant. So THERE!
LOL
So…what was Chrysler thinking when they created the Charger?
“So…what was Chrysler thinking when they created the Charger?”
That’s not a fastback… I’ll show you a fastback!!
My mother bought a new 67 rebel sst convertible. Red with white interior. As I recall it had a 289. I don’t think I’ve ever seen once since then. I had my first few dates in that car.
How’d that work out for ya? ;-)
If her car had a V8 it would have been the 290 or the 343.
This would be one of my favorites, for a project, if I didn’t have too many already
Solid dark blue, no vinyl top, black interior, Hurst competition plus 4 speed shifter, anodized Torque Thrusts, and the angriest “street legal” exhaust. Now that would stand out on a more serious note.
The whole red white and blue thing is interesting but I dont need people looking at me like a goldfish. Funny, I’ve never seen one of these in a solid color, maybe here but not in person. In ’70, with monsters like the 454 Chevelle and Stage 1 455 Buicks sitting on the lot brand new I’d have to be a die hard AMC nut to consider this,
I know they’re quick and all, just not at the top of the food chain.
Bought a Machine when I was in High School for 300 bucks, the parking lot was full of Chevelles, Camaros or Mustangs. The Machine really stood in the crowd. Sold it when I graduated for 400 bucks, after all it was just an old AMC. Hey, at least I made some money on it!
Those gas pumps look like old ones with mechanical spinning numbers!
http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/52AAAOSwjxRgEfmR/s-l1600.jpg
Do they or ANY still work/still being used in 2021??!!
Not sure if i would WANT to use them! lol
Lots of Wikipedia experts here…..very good