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AMC Rambler Aficionados - READ ONLY

80 messages,  Last post on Apr 19, 2002 at 11:44 AM

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What is this discussion about? AMC, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 8 of 8

#71 of 80 by speedshift

Jul 25, 2001 (8:09 pm)

Just today I saw a pumpkin orange '73 Javelin, not your everyday sight even back in '73. Had a half-vinyl roof that had been peeled off but probably had been black like the interior. Automatic with stirrup shifter and either the six or 304 since there were no engine badges. The styling still looks pretty sharp so I guess Dick Teague was still working his miracles, although some '70s AMCs look a little bizarre.
 
I thought I remembered Roger Penske and Mark Donahue winning a Trans Am championship in a Javelin so I looked in "The Encyclopedia of American Supercars", one of the best books I've run across on American high performance. They won in 1971.
 
The book also mentions the Group 19 parts. Hot cam with 302 degrees duration, hi rise 2x4v manifold, wide or close ratio four speeds, gears up to 4.44s.
 
The AMX was a great image car for AMC when it first came out, much like the Road Runner or GTO. The car guys I knew in high school were in awe of it.

#72 of 80 Penske/Donahue Javelin by rayt2

Jul 31, 2001 (12:53 pm)

Yep that was it. I used to watch them race in Limerock Connecticut throughout the 70's until AMC dropped out and the muscle car phase went into limbo for a while and the Porsche's took over.
My brother just bought a basket case 70 Donahue Javelin that he is restoring, I've never seen so much surface rust! This thing has a factory replacement engine (360)in it since the original owner blew up the first one, it's tagged as such also by the factory. It will be worth some money to a collector for sure when he gets done with it because he is a perfectionist on this stuff.
 
Ray T.

#73 of 80 How 'bout the Matador Coupe? by announcer

Nov 15, 2001 (10:40 pm)

I just bought a '74 Matador Coupe with full vinyl roof and opera window, and the old 360, same as in my '87 Grand Wagoneer. It's been in a barn for a year, but took us only fifteen minutes to get it started and running smooth. Interior is a little rough, and there's a little patch of rocker panel gone underneath, but otherwise in good shape. Wish I trusted it enough to take to my 25th high schol reunion next weekend - though my disco clothes no longer fit!

#74 of 80 wow by ghulet

Nov 19, 2001 (8:11 pm)

A friend of mine in high school (~15 years ago) had a Matador X (I think) coupe, it was the 'sporty' (inasmuch as that big wide thing could be) model. Black with white side stripes and I think a plaid interior, with those oval slotted mag wheels. You definitely have yourself a period piece.

#75 of 80 Congrats, announcer! by andre1969

Nov 20, 2001 (11:02 am)

Hey, one thing I've always wondered...did the Matador coupes with the opera windows in the back still have roll-down rear windows? I know I've seen the cheaper coupes with the big rear windows, and they were still roll-down.
 
My uncle used to have a '76 Jeep pickup with that same 360. Very torquey engine!

#76 of 80 One of the first AMX cars by opera_house_wk

Mar 01, 2002 (8:14 pm)

My brother went to school at Babson outside of Boston. My brother bought one of the first AMX show cars from the son (who was also going to school there) of the president of AMC. This car was supposed to have gone around as a demonstrator to dealers. It had extras on it like Indy gas caps where the AMX symbol was on the back roof and a plate on the dashboard that said car number 200 something. I just remember it was in the low 200's. He had the warrantee plastic card with the president's name and address on it. By the time my brother got it it was less than pristine. Even the number plate on the dash had some corrosion on it. Must have been beer. Well, you know rich college kids. At the time I didn't think it was that neat, just better than I was driving. He blew up the engine two years later in Florida and bought a GTO. Has anyone heard of these original cars that were numbered? A guy I knew had a body shop and saw this red car with the white stripe at a dealer when it was in for service. He didn't know it was my brother's He commented how all the body panels matched perfectly and he had never seen that before. We all forget how the quality was at that time.

#77 of 80 Which one is best? by ambull

Apr 19, 2002 (10:43 am)

My parents had a '64 Classic 660? with a small V8 (273?) that was a pretty good car. I've been thinking about getting a newer model like the Rebel, Hornet or Matador (don't like the Marlin's styling), with a V8.
Anyone out there with experience with these have any comments as to which is better and why?

#78 of 80 Ok, what does everyone think about... by barresa62

Apr 19, 2002 (10:47 am)

a 1970 AMC Rebel SST 4dr w/38,000 orig miles
PS, PB, Auto, and 360 V8 for $1500? I'm thinking of something not too big as a 2nd car for limited towing of a seadoo or something similiar. My WRX wagon really isn't rated to tow.
 
Side story to a Rebel: When I was a kid in 1970 living in Germany when my dad was stationed at the American Embassy we went to p/u a Boxer/Shepard mix puppy. We had the Embassy driver take us. He drove us in an all black, base 70'AMC Rebel. On the way home w/the puppy who was being pretty out of control, my dad asked what I should name him. The only thing that came to mind was the name of the car...Rebel. So, that became the dog's name. It might be kind of cool to have a Rebel again...the 4 wheel variety as opposed to 4-legged.
 
Stephen

#79 of 80 Rebel SST for $1500 sounds good by ambull

Apr 19, 2002 (10:53 am)

Stephen,
So how does the Rebel drive- plenty of power and reasonable handling? I'm thinking about the same thing as you: these cars are cheap and reasonably good performers, right? Anybody know what one weighs?
 
Also, did anyone see the movie "Just Visiting", with Christina Applegate? It had a funky-painted Matador that just looked too retro-cool!

#80 of 80 Richard: by barresa62

Apr 19, 2002 (11:44 am)

Thanks for replying! I don't know how the Rebel drives (this particular one or any). I'm going to drive down near Portland, OR to go take a look today.
 
Stephen

Messages Page 8 of 8

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