1970 AMC Rebel Machine
source: Wikimedia
The bygone American Motors Company made some pretty stunning muscle cars, and their 1970 Rebel Machine is no different. The name conjures up imagery of a Mad Max-esque monster, a rough patina of a boxy bruiser. In some essence, that’s what the Rebel Machine really is.
Featuring a comparatively large motor inside a small, boxy chassis, the Rebel Machine thumped out over 340 horses and around 430 torques from its 390 engine. Tucked underneath a twin-snorkel hood, the Machine was a true street rod by necessity. It wasn’t pretty, it didn’t blush with sexy, flowing lines. It was a squared up knuckleduster created by a partnership with Hurst Performance.
Some say the Machine was late to the game. Its small size, big power, and coupe configuration shared similarities with the first pony cars, and it certainly could have blown Ford and Chevy out of the water. In fact, the Machine was first developed and tested in the mid-sixties at Great Lakes Dragway, and in 1968 a stock photo showcased a stealthy black Machine, seemingly ready for sale – though it never saw daylight. That doesn’t matter, though. The Rebel Machine has intrinsic value.
source: Wikimedia
The Machine was an intermediate muscle car. It wasn’t the biggest, it wasn’t the baddest, and it didn’t have the kind of star power that the big blocks of the same year boasted. What it did aim to do, though, it did without fail. It was meant to be a fun car, like a Euro roadster minus the straight-six and airplane inspiration.
It made the quarter mile in 14.49 at 93 mph, which certainly wasn’t stellar. That wasn’t the point, though. The car’s self-deprecating description even read, “not as fast on the getaway as a 427 Corvette or a Hemi, but it is faster on the getaway than a Volkswagen, a slow freight train, and your old man’s Cadillac!”
The Rebel Machine was an excellent project car, a relatively affordable piece of muscle that just needed a few bench presses to make an impressive performance. Super Stock & Drag Illustrated helped showcase this value and potential by taking a stock Machine and outfitting it. With a Crane cam, Edelbrock manifold and 850-cfm Holley, the Machine dropped its quarter mile to just 13.34, and with drag slicks inflated to around 16 pounds, the car made an impressive 12.81 pass – faster than a Chevelle LS6. Any car that can manage such performance with only basic modifications deserves a spot on our list of 25 stunning muscle cars.
