Dream cars

[GGJaguar]

Rambler Scrambler

390 cid V-8 with 425 lb-ft of torque in a 3000 lb car. That thing must have launched like a bat outta hell.

 

[Guildedagain]

Very clever of AMC, one of my favorite underdog brands, to borrow a little styling from the '66-67 Satellite/GTX but make it smaller, about the size of a Nova.

 

[Soul Tramp]

Very clever of AMC, one of my favorite underdog brands, to borrow a little styling from the '66-67 Satellite/GTX but make it smaller, about the size of a Nova.

That's interesting! I never made the connection. But now that you point it out, I can clearly see it.

 

[Guildedagain]

Good grief, a nearly flat 14 second quarter mile car!

https://knowhow.napaonline.com/rambler-scrambler-all-about-the-1969-amc-hurst-sc-rambler/

For those who don't know what that means, or think it means nothing, it's a 10th of a second faster than a modern Camaro SS with all of that super advanced technology, comparatively.

 

[Soul Tramp]

Good grief, a nearly flat 14 second quarter mile!

https://knowhow.napaonline.com/rambler-scrambler-all-about-the-1969-amc-hurst-sc-rambler/

For those who don't know what that means, or think it means nothing, it's a 10th of a second faster than a modern Camaro SS with all of that super advanced technology, comparatively.

It would have been SO EASY to bump that 390 up to 600+ HP (intake, carb, cam, headers).

The factory gears should have been 3.89. Add some slicks that thing would have run in the 11's. Tire technology of the day was a real problem.

I wonder what the F/Stock rules were.

 

[adorshki]

Before the Avanti, Traction Avant, unveiled in 1934, so incredibly far ahead of it's time.

The nasty rumor that they used Slinkys for springs is untrue. Slinkys hadn't been invented yet.

 

[fronobulax]

Very clever of AMC, one of my favorite underdog brands, to borrow a little styling from the '66-67 Satellite/GTX but make it smaller, about the size of a Nova.

Proving inspiration is a judgement call, as any composer who has ever been sued for plagiarism knows but there are several AMC vehicles that also might have influenced their "brandmate". I see a lot of the American and Rogue models in the Scrambler styling.

 

[adorshki]

Very clever of AMC, one of my favorite underdog brands, to borrow a little styling from the '66-67 Satellite/GTX but make it smaller, about the size of a Nova.

Except the Rambler American (that the SC Rambler was based on as the Rogue) was already there in '65, size-wise, and already had the styling in '66:

 

[adorshki]

Proving inspiration is a judgement call, as any composer who has ever been sued for plagiarism knows but there are several AMC vehicles that also might have influenced their "brandmate". I see a lot of the American and Rogue models in the Scrambler styling.

The Scrambler was based on the Rogue which was the "Youth market" version of the American.

 

[fronobulax]

Except the Rambler American (that the SC Rambler was based on as the Rogue) was already there in '65, size-wise, and already had the styling in '66:

Having learned to drive on a '64 Classic, I did pay a lot of attention to the brand in the 60's. The Scrambler really reminded me of the American but I didn't push the point because the American images I was getting had two headlights per side and a "rounded well" on the fender. Thanks for finding this.

 

[adorshki]

Having learned to drive on a '64 Classic, I did pay a lot of attention to the brand in the 60's. The Scrambler really reminded me of the American but I didn't push the point because the American images I was getting had two headlights per side and a "rounded well" on the fender. Thanks for finding this.

Speaking of related models, long long ago it occurred to me that Guild at least, was like many auto manufacturers in a lot of ways, where parts commonality allowed some economy of scale, and models which may well share identical woods and dimensions are distinguished by their "bling".

I always liked that the 16" lower-bout F family for example, has used more combinations of body woods, back style, and scale lengths, than any other Guild platform.

 

[Nuuska]

 

[Guildedagain]

Except the Rambler American (that the SC Rambler was based on as the Rogue) was already there in '65, size-wise, and already had the styling in '66:

Great minds think alike, and the AMC cars used Chrysler Torqueflites when not using B&W transmissions. The placement and styling of the hood emblem reminds me of the Polara. Quarter panels remind me of older Chrysler Newport/NY/300 but shrunk down.

Who did the body design for AMC at the time, pre Javelin?

 

[Wilmywood]

1968 Plymouth GTX 440 4 speed 4:10 posi Dana 60 rear end. H-pipe exhaust, staggered rear leaf springs, all factory. 375hp, 425 lbs ft torque 14 second flat 1/4 mile in stock form. Mine I added Hedman Hedders, a port clean up and high rise intake and 850 Holley 4bbl double pumper and a dual point plate in the distributor, along with 10" rear tires, got it down to 13.1.
That thing was a beast, I could cruise down the street at 30 mph in 3rd gear, stomp on the gas and lay down 100 feet of rubber ...

Not my car, but similar - mine was army green with a black vinyl top:

 

[adorshki]

Great minds think alike, and the AMC cars used Chrysler Torqueflites when not using B&W transmissions. The placement and styling of the hood emblem reminds me of the Polara. Quarter panels remind me of older Chrysler Newport/NY/300 but shrunk down.

Who did the body design for AMC at the time, pre Javelin?

Dick Teague:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Teague
"By 1957, the entire Packard styling team had moved to Chrysler Corporation (!-my exclamation) and Teague became Chief Stylist."

"Teague joined American Motors Corporation (AMC) as a member of Edmund E. Anderson's design team in 1959, and became principal designer when Anderson left in 1961. Teague's first assignment, according to designer James W. (Jim) Alexander, was to re-do the front sheetmetal on the 1961 Ambassador.[15] The first cars influenced by Teague's styling were the 1963 Rambler Classic and Ambassador, AMC's first all-new models since 1956.[16] With the ascendancy of Teague in the early 1960s, "AMC Styling began to be written of in a more positive manner" within the industry and automotive press.[17]"

"During the 1970s, "only a handful of cars had real personalities, and many of those came from the smallest U.S. producer, American Motors" under the direction of Teague.[20]"

We'll forgive him the Matador, wonderful flight characteristics notwithstanding:


The Hornet, on the other hand, had nice clean lines and a nice torque-y inline 6. Remember, torque=twisting force:

 

[adorshki]

Next up in the mystery date category, the first 2 prizes (1 dozen Virtual California Brownies per vehicle) of which by the way, remain unclaimed:

https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-4f09304167a8eb8bc2f70129264f93cb

Hint: How do you say "Monocular" in Russian?

Edit: oops, thought that was an image file, but it works ok if you want to click (or cut'n'paste) the link.

 

[twocorgis]

How about cool station wagons/estates? A friend posted this one today, and if brought back a lot of great memories. Growing up, my parent's besties were Citroën fans, and while they had a couple of DSs, this is one cool wagon. @bluesypicky approved, too!

Sam retired the front seats from his first DS, and used them for chairs in his basement. Comfy!

 

[gjmalcyon]

1968 Plymouth GTX 440 4 speed 4:10 posi Dana 60 rear end. H-pipe exhaust, staggered rear leaf springs, all factory. 375hp, 425 lbs ft torque 14 second flat 1/4 mile in stock form. Mine I added Hedman Hedders, a port clean up and high rise intake and 850 Holley 4bbl double pumper and a dual point plate in the distributor, along with 10" rear tires, got it down to 13.1.
That thing was a beast, I could cruise down the street at 30 mph in 3rd gear, stomp on the gas and lay down 100 feet of rubber ...

Not my car, but similar - mine was army green with a black vinyl top:

High school buddy of mine had the same car, but with the six-pack and some nice engine mods by a notorious local stock car engine builder.

He brought it up to Rutgers to see me when I was in school and took my then-girlfriend's best friend for a little ride down Route 18, which was still two lanes.

He had it up to 120.

My girlfriend didn't speak to me for a week.

 

[PreacherBob]

This probably topped the list of “things I should’ve never sold”. Not many folks were aware that for two years Chevrolet
produced a handful of high output Citation super cars, yes a Citation. Normally they were considered nothing more than a slightly larger Vega. However, this one was very different. It was titled the X-11. 2.5L High Output V6 front wheel drive, four speed manual. Larger carb, performance exhaust and high lift camshaft, it loped at idle. Molded fiberglass cowl induction hood. The police department here outside of Columbia in Irmo, SC, purchased two in 1982. After two years they went all Crown Victoria. My dad bought me of the X-11s from the police department and I took it back to Virginia Beach. I ditched the mass steel front bumper and found a fiberglass nose at the junkyard from an 80s Honda CRX that fit perfect, and made brackets to attach it. Then had it custom painted Yellow, it was originally silver. I’ve owned a few muscle cars over the years, but this was the ultimate driver. Very quick, the front would raise up a bit at every shift. Sold it in 1992 after I got married to buy a truck. You know, the priority thing…I was never embarrassed back then to admit “yeah, I own a Chevy Citation.”

 

[adorshki]

How about cool station wagons/estates? A friend posted this one today, and if brought back a lot of great memories. Growing up, my parent's besties were Citroën fans, and while they had a couple of DSs, this is one cool wagon. @bluesypicky approved, too!

Sam retired the front seats from his first DS, and used them for chairs in his basement. Comfy!

Last of a breed, the great American wagon:

'96 Buick Roadmaster Estate Wagon. Your living room on wheels. A highly desirable classic these days.

Always had a soft spot for the Olds Vista Cruisers, too, if only for the shared Cutlass platform:

My buddy with the G37 had one, could easily fit all his equipment in it.
Had to wrap the steering wheel on my Cutlass, too:

(aftermarket installation only)

That brings to mind "interiors". Sometimes the most important element in a vehicle. Whatever happened to great interiors?
Even Bond's lowly Hornet featured hounds-tooth fabric.

And Cadillac, ahhhh, Cadillac!

That sweet brocade tolerated neglect a lot better than leather, too.

Even heavily mojo'd leather would improve a Tesla's interior, though. But I vote for arabesque brocade. And huge rear seats.
And a glass-rimmed canopy on top.