Tag Archives: AMC

Parking Lot Spotlight: AMC Matador Drag Car

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Yes you read it correct!!!  What you see below is a rare sight.  An extremely well preserved ProStreet/Drag AMC Matador.

Sure I’ve seen AMX as a drag car and I’ve even seen a Gremblin and a Pacer with V8 shoved between the fenders, but I’ve never seen a Matador with a drag set up.  And the condition is amazing.

See for yourself.



This is the Matador X

This is the Matador X

Also referred to as Matador Series 10

Also referred to as Matador Series 10

IMG_20150613_161037082

Control Freak Suspension specializes in AMC suspensions (and other makes).

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The Matador X was a true sub-model not just a option package.

The Matador X had only a two year run 1974 and 1975.

As best as I can tell this is a 1975 and if the 401 badge on the side is correct, the is one of four cars (two door coupes) that left the factory with those engines that year (rest of the 84 cars with that engine were 4 door…hiss….boo!!!)

I would seriously consider doing up a Matador like this!!!

Got an interesting AMC?   Drop me a note, we can get it published.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Friday Afternoon Challenge: Find A Car Name From Two Other Cars

I realized that the name, Tempo Matador, could be formed from the model names of two other notable cars, the Ford Tempo and the AMC Matador. Realizing this, I screamed like a banshee and flipped over the table at the soft-serve frogurt shop I steal my …

Friday Afternoon Challenge: Find A Car Name From Two Other Cars

I realized that the name, Tempo Matador, could be formed from the model names of two other notable cars, the Ford Tempo and the AMC Matador. Realizing this, I screamed like a banshee and flipped over the table at the soft-serve frogurt shop I steal my …

Scale Model Kit of the Week: Wild Custom AMC

Today, however, we’re going back in time and to Detroit — actually, to Kenosha — for a long-out-of-production AMT kit that has us cranking up the Frijid Pink and catching a buzz off the Testors fumes: this AMC Matador Coupe. Yes, the seller hopes to …

Auto Factoids – Week of 4/20/2014

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Here are your Auto Factoids for the week of April 20, 2014;

 

Only 3 major hits this week.

The first is that the American Motor Corporation (AMC) was formed by the merger of Nash and Hudson that happened on 4/22/1954.  It was actually Nash-Kalvinator and Hudson.   Cars were still produced under the Hudson name until 1957.

Hudson Hornet Hollywood.

Hudson Hornet Hollywood.

You know that AMC brought you some pretty out of the ordinary cars (Gremblin, Pacer) as well as some class muscle, (AMX, Javelin, Rebel).

There is great article on a Rebel in the May 2014 Hemmings Muscle Machine on a 1970 AMC Rebel.
Javelin

Rebel

 

Next up Chrysler purchases Lamborghini on 4/23/1987. What?   Yes….funny now Chrysler is owned by an Italian car company (Fiat).  Oh it was a smoking deal, only $25 million dollars.  That lasted until 1994 when Chrysler sold Lamborghini to an Indonesianan company.  In 1998 Volkswagen took over Lamborghini.

 

Finally this week back on 4/25/1970 Mazda’s first cars show up on U.S. shores.

 

RX-2

Mazda’s 1970 RX-2

Thanks for reading.  

Tim    

If you liked to sponsor an Auto Factoid article drop me a note.

 

lamborghini countachamc

 

 

 

 

Engine Line Up for the 1967 American Motor Company

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With names like  Rogue,  Rebel and Marlin you have to imagine some monster power plants moving these hunks of steels across the face of the earth.  So where they?  Here is the line up.

The body styles ranged from stately station wagons to slick fastbacks.  Some of the names are iconic like Rebel SST and Marlin.

1967 Rebel SST

1967 Rebel SST

 

https://i0.wp.com/www.marlinautoclub.com/images/1967/Marl67studio.jpg?w=800

Both nice cars and you could get them with the following engines.

First up was the Inline (straight) Six.  This engine was has a cast iron block and overhead valuve.  Displacement was 199 cid with a bore and stroke of 3 3/4 “x 3″.  The compression ratio was 8.5:1 and producing 128 hp.  It sported seven main bearings and topped with one of two single barrels carbs a Cater Type RBS or a Holley Model 1931C-3705.

From there  you could graduate to the next level Inline Six.  This one mirrored but with 232 cid displacement and a bore and stroke of 3.75″ x 3.50”. Compression ratio stayed the same and so did the carb options.    However it did manage to squeeze out 145 hp.

Now you could get both of these in the other models, including the wagons, but the engine you wanted in your Rebel or Marlin was the  V8.

This was an overhead valve cast iron block engine.  It displayed 287.2 cid and have a bore and stroke of 3.75″ x 3.25″ and had a compression of 8.7:1.  Five main bearings and hydraulic lifters topped with either two barrel Carter WCD or Holley.

https://i0.wp.com/www.amccf.com/Omat/67Rebel_Engine.JPG?resize=800%2C600

Inlline Six

 

1967 V8

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

 

Engine Line Up – 1966 AMC

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Often over looked is the first year AMC products.  AMC invested approximately 300 million dollars in  advanced engine designs, bodies and plant facilities as it prepared for the move from Nash Rambler hold over to AMC proper.

Of course the company was formed from Nash Rambler (AMC Rambler) in 1958 and eventually just American  Motors Corp.  So 1966 found a fair amount of “redesign” going on.   The available models for that year were:

Rambler American Rouge Series 01 (4dr w/V8)

Rambler Classic 770 Series 10 (2dr conv w/V8)  (4dr station wagon w/6cyl)

Rambler Rebel  Series (2dr w/V8)

Marlin Series 50 (2dr w/6 or V8) (My favorite besides the Javelin)

I love these cars. The two-tone paint is great. I love the yellow and black, blue and black and the silver and black combo.

Ambassador 990  Series 80 (4dr w/V8)

Rambler Ambassador 990  Series 80 (2d conv w/V8)

1966 Rambler Ambassador 990 Convertible

Rambler Ambassador DPL Series 80 (2dr w/V8)

Gone from the engine line up is the 196.5 6 cylinder overhead valve engine.  It was replaced with the 198.8 In Line Six. It was a cast iron block with overhead valves and a bore and stroke of 3.57 x 4.00 inches.  It displaced 198.8 cubic inches with a compression ratio of 85:1 and mustered up 128 hp. It was topped with a 1bbl Holley carb.  This was the base engine and all of the models could have been optioned with it.  But that wasn’t the only 6 banger the American 232 cid with produced 155 hp which sported a 2bbl Holley carb.

On the V8 side of things there was the 287 cid.  It was a cast iron block with overhead valves with a bore and stroke of 3.75 x 3.25 which produced a compression ratio of 8.7:1.  Topped with a 2bbl Holley (model 2209-2699) it made 198 hp.  The other option was the 327 cid that put out 270 hp and carried a 4bbl Holley on top.

New for that year was the 290 V8 (4.8L) it had a bore and stroke of 3.75 x 3.28  and with an iron block and overhead valves which produced 200 hp with a 2bbl plopped on top for 225 with a 4bbl carb.  Snap up the car with an original 290, only 623 of these engine were place in the 1966 models (all may the “American” models vs the “Classic” (those should have 287 instead).

The 290 used sparingly in the 1966 models.

The 327 was available in 1966. It was 5.4 liters with cast iron block.  The bore was increased over the 287 (they were similar set up) and it had hydraulic lifters.

The AMC 327 was similar to the 287, but displaced 327 cu in (5.4 L) due to the bore increase to 4.0 inches (102 mm). Unlike the 250, the 327 was available with hydraulic valve lifters.  The bore and stroke was 4.0 x 3.25  and topped with 2bbl carb it produced 250 hp.  Put the 4bbl option and you push it up to 270 hp.

I really these early AMC.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Engine Line Up for 1957 Nash

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Now here’s a brand you don’t see much in print.  Nash produced some very distinctive cars and as many of you know the company eventually morphed into AMC that brought us some great models like the Javelin and some interesting cars like the Gremblin.

For 1957 Nash produced the Ambassador in a couple of variations, Custom 4 door and the Super Country Club 2 door coupe (all Series 80s).

1957 Ambassador Custom

The other offering was the Rambler, which came in a couple of versions as well, the Custom 4 door (Series 20) and the Rebel (that name rings a bell…yes?  AMC Rebel?) 4 door (Series 30) and they added a station wagon as well, the Super Cross Country (Series 10 w/6 cylinder).

’57 Nash Rambler

Yup..the Super Cross Country Rambler Wagon

These were all powered by one of the following engines.

Ambassador V8 which was an overhead valve configuration with cast iron block.  327 CID with bore of 4 x 3.25 and compression of 9.0:1.  Making 255 hp with hydraulic lifters and a Carter 4bbl WCFB-2593SA carb.  Hey it had dual exhaust!!

Ramber V8 which was 250 CID, overhead valve, cast iron block power plant.  The 3.5X 3.25 bore and stroke with a 8.0:1 compression ratio help produce 190 hp.  It had no-adjustable hydraulic lifters and a Carter 2bbl model WGD-2352SA carb.

Ramber Rebel V8 which displaces 326 cubic inches rated at 255 hp and identical to the Ambassador V8 but with Solid lifters.

Lastly here was the Rambler Six.  It was an inline (straight) 6 cylinder, iron block engine with a bore and stroke of 3 1/8 x 4.25 inches.  This helped create a compression ratio of 8.25:1 and 125 hp.  It was fitted with a one barrel Carter carb, model AS-2580S.  There was an option that could be order that s was called the Power Pack which was really just a 2bbl carb that added 10 more horse power (135).  That extra boost would help when hauling around 3034 lbs wagon.

Own one of this beauties?  Drop me a comment.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

AMC Grembin and Pacer New and Now Value

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One of the things I enjoy checking out is increase in the value of some of our US classic cars.

I recently ran across this  breakdown in Hagerty Insurance magazine…it normally has some good articles.  This one was about American Motors and it had a section on original cost of the cars and the current collector’s value.  So check this out:

1967 Marlin – a cool looking car if you ask me – had a base prices of $2,963.  Today that car will cost you about  $23,100.

A good looking car in Two Tone paint.

1969 Javelin SST – love these cars  – I once dated this girl who drove one and..oh…um..nevermind – back in the day they cost  $3,144 and today average cost is $33,900.

69 Javelin SST

1970 AMX 390/325 – I know I’m suppose to love these cars – they being, perhaps the sporty-est of the AMC brand, but I don’t – they would run you $3,798 back then and now you can pick one up for a mere $55K!

1970 AMX

1972 Javelin SST – see my comment for the ’69 – base price in 1972 was $3,807 and today $22,400.

1973 Gremlin X Coupe – ok  I really don’t care at all about these, except when I see them at the drag strip with a huge GM block stuffed between the fenders – they would set you back $2,098 back in ’72 and today you can get one have it mounted on a pole in the front yard for $11,700 (pole not included and labor extra and you’ll have to sign a waiver).

1973 Grebmlin X Coupe (Seen here without the pole)

 

1976 Pacer DL Coupe – well.. if wasn’t a DL coupe….ok even though it is…insert comment for Gremlin above – except for $15,000 you can pick one up today, remove the body from the frame, bury it upside down in backyard and with a little tweaking you can have a really cool hot tub.

1976 Pacer DL Coupe…just before it was turned into a hot tub!

OK..that was mean..here ya go:

’76 Pacer DL Sport Coupe

1978 Matador Hardtop Coupe would have tapped your wallet for nearly $5K (4,799) – I sort of liked these cars – but not a lot and today you can sort of like them for about $12,500 big ones.

78 Matador Coupe

Unless it look like this one!!!

This is the Matador X

 

Want to see some more brands laid out like this? Drop me a comment and I’ll dig  some up.

Thanks for reading

Tim