My friend has a one of these...340 horse 390, 4 speed...best he ran was 14.15 at 101...stock....the only part he changed to get the Rebel to go down in the 13's was to change the carb...he put on the 735 CFM Holley carb from a 428 CJ Ford....that woke it right up. It was surprisingly quick.
I bought one new in 1970 price was around $3500 . Mine had the air conditioner, automatic and was a green color with a black vinyl top. Top speed was around 120mph. It was definitely a stoplight to stoplight car. There was no way I would race someone on the open road. I knew that they would hand me my ass. I might not have won every race, but I did get some respect. It wasn't the pushover that they thought it would be. I got rid of it 2 days before I got married and have regretted it ever since. I had a 71 vette and would still rather have this one back.
Ok, now did they talk about the "Special" exhaust yet or the front disc brakes or the rear coils (that looked like some kind of air bladder in them)? Didn't know whether I missed those features
The performance car market took a big hit in 1970 and thereafter. The Machine was a good effort but was not sufficiently differentiated from other makes' offerings to win a lot of new buyers. It was intended as something of a low volume "halo" car. In that way, it was successful although it didn't dent the sales of such cars as the Road Runner. Had they put 390's into the Rebels in '68 when that engine was introduced, they might have seen a stronger response to their performance efforts. I drove both cars a number of times during that period. They were both very good for what they were designed. Neither would be desirable today for handling compromises alone.
they had no idea what a person rebel does because they stuck to the system instead. So what they're doing is selling this car to the shop guys who are into wrenching, not girls. you don't need to use flowers to sell to them, they'll make their own story. you tell them like it is about what its got. whole story, right there. sold me for sure. you know you're not going to sell a car called "Rebel Machine" to Churchmouse Sally or Bob Fline who works at Daveson & Associates and drives the exact same strip of road twice a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year not including holidays. most of these probably never left their hometowns and prefer it that way, still wrenching on it to this day.
I think what differentiates this car from the competition was the large cubic inches in a small block sized package. The new Chevy 400 small block was not positioned as a performance engine. With the exception of Pontiac 400, the other makes 390 or larger engines came in big block sized packages with the associated extra weight. Could the weight of the Rebel Machine have been a differentiator as well?
easy to imagine the salesman Al Bender consuming 3 or 4 too many drinks at lunch with the district boys, and then puking in his wastebasket right before meeting with his prospect David
WAIT WAIT hold the phone 📞… 1:20 “You can stop the record” ?? … so a record went with this as a presentation to salesmen? It must have been a process. Records were easy to use in classrooms back than. I have a record player like that. Use it all the time. It plays analogue, why not? Hit the bright “cue” button and it stops.
back in the 80s a guy guy at work had one of these. one of the most arrogant jerks I ever worked with. I hope he wrapped the thing around a utility pole.
AMC's head designer was Dick Teague. He was among the finest ever to design cars in the US including such outstanding examples as the Packard Caribbean and the AMX/3. Had this been a Chevrolet, people would be falling all over themselves to praise the look.
informed buyer my ass. Why would anyone consider a rambler for the same price as say a 396 chevelle? No wonder AMC couldnt give these away.The goofy color schemes made the drivers look like assholes.
My friend has a one of these...340 horse 390, 4 speed...best he ran was 14.15 at 101...stock....the only part he changed to get the Rebel to go down in the 13's was to change the carb...he put on the 735 CFM Holley carb from a 428 CJ Ford....that woke it right up. It was surprisingly quick.
Love AMC, especially the Ambassador for 1970..
What a car! What a time!
Thanks for sharing, these cars were built about 8 miles from where I live
1970 was the last year for the Rebel, the next year the Matador took over as AMC's mid-size offering.
I think the Machine in 71 was just a low key option in the broacher
@@williamtaylor5922 Reduced to a option package, though all items in the 1971 Machine package would also be available as stand alone options for 1972.
I can dig it!
Did anyone notice the address 666 oh my .
I did, I wouldn't even walk into that building
The devil drives a Rebel Machine!
I think that was the first dealership that closed
Paul Makresias
Sure did I saw it even though it was reversed...I’d skip this dealer and got to the Chevy dealer down the road...
Forshadowing the 71 dodge demon and 70-1/2 gremlin...
Interesting clip. Have one for the AMX 2 seater?
Where do you find these gems of automotive history?
Last time I looked at the registry there was only about 400 still licensed to drive on the road out of just short of 2000 produced.
I bought one new in 1970 price was around $3500 . Mine had the air conditioner, automatic and was a green color with a black vinyl top. Top speed was around 120mph. It was definitely a stoplight to stoplight car. There was no way I would race someone on the open road. I knew that they would hand me my ass. I might not have won every race, but I did get some respect. It wasn't the pushover that they thought it would be. I got rid of it 2 days before I got married and have regretted it ever since. I had a 71 vette and would still rather have this one back.
Ok, now did they talk about the "Special" exhaust yet or the front disc brakes or the rear coils (that looked like some kind of air bladder in them)? Didn't know whether I missed those features
That had to be a hard sell considering what the others were selling in 1970.
The performance car market took a big hit in 1970 and thereafter. The Machine was a good effort but was not sufficiently differentiated from other makes' offerings to win a lot of new buyers. It was intended as something of a low volume "halo" car. In that way, it was successful although it didn't dent the sales of such cars as the Road Runner.
Had they put 390's into the Rebels in '68 when that engine was introduced, they might have seen a stronger response to their performance efforts. I drove both cars a number of times during that period. They were both very good for what they were designed. Neither would be desirable today for handling compromises alone.
The term 'grasping at straws' comes to mind. I'm surprised Al didn't extol the virtues of the doors that open and close for your convenience.
they had no idea what a person rebel does because they stuck to the system instead. So what they're doing is selling this car to the shop guys who are into wrenching, not girls. you don't need to use flowers to sell to them, they'll make their own story. you tell them like it is about what its got. whole story, right there. sold me for sure. you know you're not going to sell a car called "Rebel Machine" to Churchmouse Sally or Bob Fline who works at Daveson & Associates and drives the exact same strip of road twice a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year not including holidays. most of these probably never left their hometowns and prefer it that way, still wrenching on it to this day.
I think what differentiates this car from the competition was the large cubic inches in a small block sized package. The new Chevy 400 small block was not positioned as a performance engine. With the exception of Pontiac 400, the other makes 390 or larger engines came in big block sized packages with the associated extra weight.
Could the weight of the Rebel Machine have been a differentiator as well?
Its design was shared by brand's VIIth-Gen. top-line Ambassador models
OMG love the name... I'm Al BENDER!!! Bender right over😂😅😅
Tim and Paul your both to Superstitious.. It's only a number..
Mag style! And that awesome paint job. God bless Richard Nixon!
Looks like a Plymouth road runner
What is the street number displayed above the door behind the car on the showroom floor? Oh yeah, the sign of the devil. Must be one hellacious car!
Lol, I saw that also sheesh what an address to live with for a car dealership
Al Bender sounds like he's from New Jersey. 😊
Following model season (1971) Rebel would be re-named Matador
😍😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩🤩😍😍😍😍😍😍
easy to imagine the salesman Al Bender consuming 3 or 4 too many drinks at lunch with the district boys, and then puking in his wastebasket right before meeting with his prospect David
Standard upholstery.
The address on the showroom window at 1:20, 666
Mopar? I'm lmao! AMC was American Motors, NOT Mopar! lol
If only they'd offered it without the cartoon trim. I was a teenaged boy when this came out and we all thought it was just corny.
AMC must have been underrating the horsepower. 340 at 5100 rpm. HP peak might have been 700 to 1000 rpm higher.
WAIT WAIT hold the phone 📞… 1:20 “You can stop the record” ?? … so a record went with this as a presentation to salesmen? It must have been a process. Records were easy to use in classrooms back than. I have a record player like that. Use it all the time. It plays analogue, why not? Hit the bright “cue” button and it stops.
Dave I emphasize Dodge Charger
Al bender and Jake tapper ,😄😄😄😄
Wish I Made 10k per Year....
Keep voting republican and you might in about 20 more years
Go Brandon
And the address is.....666
I thought I was the only one to notice that. Maybe Satan worked for AMC back then?
socomcygnusx1 This car would later turn into the Demon
What the fuck is that high pitch noise after a feature is listed
Sterling Hayden Do you really not know what that is?
It is an audible cue to advance the film projector strip to the next image. That's how it was done so long ago.
back in the 80s a guy guy at work had one of these.
one of the most arrogant jerks I ever worked with.
I hope he wrapped the thing around a utility pole.
I remember these in the mid 70's when they couldn't give muscle cars away when the gas shortage hit. Saw a lot of dweebs driving these and Pacers
Most AMC guys keep to themselves and avoid the haters that always seem to follow them around.
He can,t help it Mike.None of them are ever happy at all.
hah.
666!😄
Al Bender...rhymes with fender and gender. And for you ladies..Blender
TH-cam plays records? Lmao
TH-cam & the internet did not exist in 1970. You want info, you get it the way it was recorded.
Kind of a plain looking car a bit boxy.
It looks similar to a 66-67 Charger or Coronet
AMC couldn't afford actual designers for their cars, so everything came out kind of wonky.
AMC's head designer was Dick Teague. He was among the finest ever to design cars in the US including such outstanding examples as the Packard Caribbean and the AMX/3.
Had this been a Chevrolet, people would be falling all over themselves to praise the look.
Chevrolet would never have marketed something as ugly/dowdy as this-packard caribbeans didnt sell either
When you think about it this car could haul some serious a
informed buyer my ass. Why would anyone consider a rambler for the same price as say a 396 chevelle? No wonder AMC couldnt give these away.The goofy color schemes made the drivers look like assholes.