From Rambler To Javelin: The Cars Of American Motors In Vintage Photos

Text by Patrick Bell.

American Motors Corporation was formed in 1954 with the merger of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and the Hudson Motor Car Company.  Both of those names were quickly phased out and replaced by Rambler, which was later dropped and all cars used the AMC name.  Today we have an extensive gallery of 1960’s and 1970’s models to view, so get in a comfortable spot and take a look.

Our opener today was a 1972 Javelin AMX with presumably its owner sitting on it.  The AMX started out with its own 2 seat body style, but the restyle of 1971 made it a model of the Javelin line.  Standard power was a 304 cubic inch V8, with options up to a 401 ci V8.  This one also had aftermarket bumper guards and a New York license plate.

In the street was a gold 1973 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and parked on the right was a 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle Malibu Sport Coupe.

This 1960 Rambler Custom Sedan was the newest in the photo and it had a Michigan license plate with a 1960 renewal tab that was issued in Oakland County where the seat is Troy.  This was the top trim series of three on the mid sized Rambler, and was powered by a 195 ci 6 cylinder.  A Rebel V8 was also available, but the 6 cylinder models outsold them by over a 17 to 1 ratio; Ramblers were popular for their economical cars.

To the left was a 1959 Plymouth, and to the right on the other side of the shopping cart was a 1955 Pontiac.  In the background was a gold 1957 Plymouth Belvedere and a 1959 Mercury Monterey 2 door sedan.

For 1961, the mid size line was named the Classic, and shown here was a 1962 Classic Custom 4 door sedan.  The Custom was now the mid level trim series of three, and no V8’s were available in the Classic for this one year.  This one looked close to new and had at least three smiling people aboard. They were out for a drive on a nice fall day.

The American was their most compact model, and the one above was the last year of the generation that was built from 1961-1963.  The hood ornament indicates it was an 1963 American 330 or 440 wagon, the middle or upper trim series of three.  It had a California license plate, and may have been fairly new with perhaps the buyer’s tag in the windshield.

On the left was a red 1964-1966 Chevrolet or GMC C series Fleetside, and behind it was a white 1959 Chevrolet Impala convertible.  To the right looked like a 1963 or 1964 Cadillac Coupe.

A restyle was introduced for the American in 1964, and here was a 1965 American 330 wagon with a camp trailer in a 1966 photo.  This was the middle series but the top of the line wagon for the year.  A new 232 ci 6 cylinder with 155 horsepower was available which brought the choices up to three. With the big six this wagon likely made a decent tow vehicle, as long as you weren’t in a big hurry.

The Classic/Ambassador lines were restyled for 1963, and shown here was a 1964 Classic 660 Cross Country wagon from New Jersey.  Six and V8 power were both available, but I don’t see a “V8” emblem on the fender, so apparently this one had one of the 6 cylinder choices.  The 660 was the middle trim series of three.

AMC’s entry in the fastback market was the Marlin that debuted in 1965 to less than overwhelming response.  Just over 10,000 units found homes that year, which was more than the net two years combined.  It was replaced by the Javelin in 1968.

The featured one was a first year 1965 model that a dealer in Texas was attempting to unload;  I can’t imagine what its problem was, as it at least had a good color combination.  I see it had a column mounted shifter, perhaps it was a manual transmission that no one wanted.  The brown car to the right was a 1965 Ambassador, so it did not seem to be a leftover model.  I guess it was just an ugly duckling…

Another image of this car was featured HERE. 

Here was the newly restyled 1965 Classic 660 4 door sedan.  The 2 door version of the Classic was the model the Marlin was based on.  It was the middle and most popular trim line of the year.  Power came from one of the 6 cylinder engines, and it had a same year Illinois license plate.  This was your typical Rambler of the mid 1960’s.

The Classic got rebellious in its 1967 restyle, thus the name was changed to the Rambler Rebel.  The sales did not improve, but this middle series Rebel 770 4 door sedan retained the title of the most popular series of the year.

The featured car was 11 years old in these 1978 photos, and it showed a poor paint match of the past, and some owner improvements in the mirrors, rear wheels and suspension height.  It had one of the three available V8’s, a Bicentennial issue Michigan license plate that was used through 1978, and I think the right front tire was flat, giving it the abandoned look.

A lady in red was posing with a 1968 Rebel 770 Cross Country wagon with an Alberta license plate.  This was the top of the line Rebel wagon, and engine choices were two 6 cylinders and three V8’s.  The white side panel could have been ordered with woodgrain paneling for a slight extra charge.

AMC brought a pony car to the scene in 1968 and called it the Javelin.  It did well in its first year, but sales fell for a couple of years and then leveled off.  The car above was a 1970 model, which saw a trim update in what was the last year of the original generation.  It had aftermarket fog lamps installed, a badge in the grille, and a bumper sticker.

This was the inaugural 1968 Javelin SST with a vinyl roof.  It had one of the three V8’s you could choose from, or a 6 cylinder could have been selected if you so desired.  The mag style wheel covers were standard on the SST models.

It appeared like an AMC fan lived here, with a 1973 Gremlin at the curb, and a 1970 or 1971 Hornet 2 door sedan in the driveway.  Both were offered with 6 or V8 power, but since they both look like low option models, more than likely they were 6 cylinder powered.  The Gremlin had a pair of vulnerable looking aftermarket fog lamps under the bumper.

In front of the Hornet was a 1964 Chevrolet Bel Air wagon, while next door in the driveway may be a 1978-1980 Buick Regal, and in the yard was a 1968-1973 Opel GT.

Green was a common color in the 1970’s; I believe this one was called Jolly Green, and was on a 1972 Javelin.  And if that wasn’t enough the interior also was green.  Other options I see were the trunk lid rack, gold “C” Rally stripe, full wheel covers, and white letter tires.

Here was a nice looking, conservative compact sedan, what AMC did best.  It was a 1973 Hornet 4 door from Connecticut.  It shows the new front end style, which integrated the new bumper standards better than many of others at the time did.

The mid sized Rebel received another name change in 1971, and now was the Matador.  The Coupes were redesigned for 1974, while the sedans and wagons got a reskin.  Shown here was a 1974 or 1975 Matador Coupe.  Sales improved, but overall they did not catch on in the personal luxury car atmosphere of the time.

A lonely looking 1977 or 1978 Gremlin with a roof rack was in the far reaches of a parking lot all by itself.  1977 brought an updated front and rear treatment, and the optional V8 was dropped leaving two 6 cylinders to choose from.  1978 added a new “perky” 4 cylinder to the menu, and it was the last year of the Gremlin.

And here was a 1977 Hornet AMX Hatchback shown in a 1978 Polaroid.  The AMX was a trim package on the Hornet Hatchback that required either the 258 ci 6 cylinder or the 304 ci V8.  A 4 speed was available on the 6 cylinder, but the V8 was automatic only.  It was a decent package for the day with lots of appearance items and a few useful ones like full instrumentation, and upgraded wheels and tires.  I see no information on a pop up roof glass, so it may have been an aftermarket add on.

Our final image today was a 1968 Javelin SST with a 343 ci V8 that was painted in the Super Stock/Trans Am color combination.  The original AMX did have some success in Super Stock and Trans Am races and used this color combination.

Thanks for joining us and have a great day!

 

More Vintage Photos Here