AMC Muscle Cars

Buzz

The very presence of AMC muscle cars, such as the AMX, Hurst SC/Rambler, and the Rebel "Machine," demonstrated how widespread the muscle car craze became across the U.S. during the 1960s and early '70s. Even American Motors, once the leader of affordable economy cars, was swept up in the trend.

In the late 1950s and early '60s, AMC was synonymous with the compact Rambler, a beloved car that helped the company thrive in a growing economy car market. But what led AMC to evolve from producing economical vehicles to encouraging buyers to "Test drag a Javelin," as they boldly advertised in 1968?

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AMC's brief foray into the muscle car market was a byproduct of its mid-'60s strategy to diversify its product lineup. Following the departure of AMC President George Romney in 1962, his successors shifted the company's focus to competing with the Big Three in multiple market segments. While this strategy didn't prove successful for AMC in the long run, it did bring some thrilling cars to dealership floors.

Though AMC was somewhat late to enter the muscle car scene, it managed to produce an impressive range of performance cars in a relatively short period. AMC's performance efforts began in 1965 with the debut of the bold yet awkward Rambler Marlin fastback, aimed at competing with the Ford Mustang and Plymouth Barracuda.

From both a sales and performance perspective, the Marlin didn't succeed. However, AMC gained muscle car credibility in 1967 when it introduced its new 280-horsepower, 343-cid Typhoon V-8 engine, which was placed in both the Marlin and the more standard Rebel. By 1968, AMC was firmly established as a legitimate muscle car contender.

In that pivotal year, the company rolled out two exciting new performance models: the Javelin and its shorter sibling, the AMX. The Javelin was a far superior effort at competing in the pony car market compared to the Marlin, and the two-seat AMX introduced a whole new concept in performance cars.

Both the Javelin and AMX were offered with 290-, 343-, or 390-cid V-8 engines, with the 390 generating a respectable 315 bhp. Vehicles equipped with the 390 engine could generally achieve high-14-second quarter-mile times, positioning AMC squarely in the midst of the muscle car rivalry.

The Javelin and AMX were not AMC's only high-performance models. In 1969, AMC partnered with Hurst, a manufacturer of shifters and specialty vehicles, to create the 390-powered SC/Rambler. The following year, AMC introduced the Rebel Machine, featuring a 340-bhp 390 engine. When the Rebel was discontinued, it was replaced in 1971 by the Hornet SC/360, which became AMC's affordable muscle car.

In 1971, AMC unveiled its largest-performance engine to date: a 401-cid V-8 producing 330 bhp. This engine was available in the new, larger Javelin, as well as the AMX, which was no longer a separate model and became part of the Javelin series. As the 1970s wore on, AMC's performance vehicles became less prominent, but the Javelin/AMX carried on with a low-compression, 255-bhp 401 engine for a few more years. When the Javelin was discontinued in 1974, AMC's performance legacy came to an end.

Return to the Muscle Car Information Library.

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Profiles of AMC Muscle Cars

For detailed profiles, images, and specifications of the top AMC muscle cars, check out:

The 1968 AMC AMX was a high-performance car that captivated not only muscle car fans but also sports car enthusiasts.
With its 315-bhp V-8 engine, the 1969 AMC Hurst SC/Rambler could outpace many of its more established muscle car competitors.
The 1969 AMC AMX 390 was so powerful that it came without a factory warranty due to its unpredictable nature.
Fast and agile, the 1970 AMC AMX became a celebrated two-seater muscle car for AMC.
The 1970 AMC Rebel "Machine", with its bold tires and aggressive styling, was a true rebel of its time.
The compact 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 was a "practical" vehicle that marked the beginning of the end for the muscle car era.
The 1971-1974 AMC Javelin AMX demonstrated that bigger isn't always better in the world of muscle cars.

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