AMC Goes Muscle... [PIC]

In 1970, AMC brought the intermediate bodied "Rebel" into muscle car territory as a stablemate to their AMX and AMX Jevelin pony cars with this one year 390 "Machine". Their 2 door hardtop sported a slanted roof line supported by large trapezoidal C pillars. With enlarged intake and exhaust and a Ford Motorcraft 4 bbl, this one year 390 cid engine produced 340 HP over the standard 325 HP w/ 4 bbl. That, along with it low MSRP put the Machine as a competitor to the Road Runner with the standard Commando 383. The Rebel body also had more interior room and trunk space while still being smaller and lighter.. The tach mounted cold air hood scoop was functional and electric operated. It was introduced rather late in the muscle car game with severe performance restrictions looming. To try to maintain some level of power, the following year, that 390 was bored out to 401 cid. You have to love the patriotic red, white and blue paint and graphics similar to their AMX Javelin Trans Am cars. Although AMC was known to be on its last legs, it did manage to survive to the end of the decade by doing engine partnerships with Jeep, International Travelall and even the Bricklin SV-1. Only 1936 units of the Machine were built mostly due to concerns of the company's future.

The model is an inexpensive Road Signature model that has a sealed trunk. For the money, it's a reasonably good replica. The livery only lacks the tricolor painted sill in front of the grill. The engine bay is sort of marred by the ignition wired that scale out to garden hoses. I painted the sill and washed the wheels to tone down the bright shiny finish. I also 'washed' the fuel access door and trunk seams.