(By Greg Rourke) – I love me some AMC’s. Something about my oddball personality attracts me to the underdog marque. They always did the most with what little they had to work with up in Kenosha. The Rambler American was a good looking compact competing for sales with the Falcon, Chevy II and Dart. As with those three, the American makes a fine looking race car. Here’s one where someone’s vision may have gone a bit sideways.
What we have here looks like a fairly solid hardtop American. So far, so good. Not a lot of aftermarket support for these, so rust free is important. The architect of this project decided a 5.0 liter Ford would be perfect power. Not my first choice, but I wasn’t consulted. Dig the remote oil filter conveniently draped over the intake plenum. We have the correct number of pedals, and a manual transmission of an undetermined number of forward gears.
Random exhaust elbows dump the spent gasses out the side. Or it would be, if the seller could figure out which wires to twist together to make the little Ford crank up. What remains of the harness looks like an explosion in a spaghetti factory. Power is transferred back to the not terribly reliable Rambler rear, which was barely strong enough for the rompin’ 199 cube six it likely came with.
Still, I see potential. A proper AMC 401 under the hood, a call to Painless for wiring, and a stouter third member and we’re off to the races. After, of course, we remove that HVAC sourced hood scoop.
eBay Link: 1965 AMC Rambler That’s A Long Way From Ramblin’ Again
“Not my first choice”
Brian – not everybody is addicted to LS motors and there are people out there who buck the trends
I don’t give a rip how much you like cookie cutter Fords. An AMC 304 revs to the moon and would stomp a 5.0. The 304 is the natural fit for this build. The only way to build this is as an altered wheelbase nose high red, white and blue AMC powered dragstrip terror that destroys piecrust and breaks hearts!
Am AMC big block with a GMC blower and Hilborn shotgun injection would top that beauty of yours off a treat!
OMG you had to say “AMC big block” didn’t you?
That thing is hacked. But once you got it running, the whole SBF in a crusty Rambler is probably annoying and odd enough to make bank grudge racing purists and snobs.
Thats it….I am buying this and the Buick straight 8 dragster and putting them together!
Ironically enough 289/302 valve springs will fit an AMC Gen 3 head just right. more spring pressures along with the .904 cam lobe width (thanks mopar!) will make those old 304’s rip. I had one in a 78 pacer DL, was a screamin little angry “150” hamsters. Also built a badass 401 for a J10, loved that engine too. Classic display of AMC badassery is Brian Ambrosini and his flyin gremlin. The fact that he kept it AMC powered makes him that much cooler.
Hi Brian I\’m glad to see your building a Rambler. I think that is neat! I\’m building a 64 typoon. I\’ve got most of sheet metal work done. Unlike yours mine was a rust bucket. I\’m putting a small block Chevy with a glide and a 9\” in mine because it is cheaper. Just thought I\’d share that with y\’all! Keep us posted on your progress!
This is what I need as a parts car…for the 1969 AMC SC/Rambler I found rotting away at a shop.
I’ve got one that’s not all hacked up with all the right parts I’ll sell for less—- bonus mine doesn’t have that ford motor either!!!!
ditch that ford engine and drop in a stout 401 and show what an AMC can really do