1969 ½ AMC Hurst SC/Rambler
American Motors wasn´t the first manufacturer to stuff its biggest engine into its mid-size model, but it was the first without enough money to properly promote its potent new package.
Too bad, because the junior muscle car that AMC made out of its 1969 Rambler Rogue was indeed potent. So: Lacking money for effective advertising, AMC made a billboard of the car itself.
Starting with a basic Rogue hardtop in plain appliance white, they plastered the bodysides with brilliant red paint, bolted on bright mag wheels, blacked out the grille and tail panel, and hung racing mirrors on the doors. The middle of the hood was fitted with a shirtbox-sized fiberglass scoop, the leading edge of which jutted skyward about 10 degrees, like the nose of a haunt who´s caught the scent. Then they slapped the word “AIR” in red letters on either side of the scoop.
Really getting into the spirit now, they painted on the leading edge of the hood – as being sucked up by that hound-snout scoop – a 12 inch wide blue arrow inset with six inch crimson-coloured characters that read “390 CU. IN”. The arrow continued over the roof and down the trunk lid as a big, blue racing stripe.
This was the 1969 ½ AMC SC/Rambler-Hurst. That was its official name, most just called it the Scrambler. And scramble it did, running the quarter mile in the low 14-second range.
Just 500 SC/Ramblers were slated for production, and at a price few could pass up - $2998 delivered, ready for the road or the strip. The only option was a $61 dealer-installed AM radio.
Drivetrain and running gear inlcuded the 315-horsepower, four-barrel 390 V8 lifted directly out of the AMX. It had a heavy-duty cooling system and a powerflex fan that flattened out at higher speeds to conserve power. Backing this up was a Borg-Warner four-speed manual gearbox with a T-handle Hurst floor shifter, 3.54:1 rear-axle gearing and Twin-Grip limited-slip-differential. Topping it all off was a straight-through dual exhaust system.
The suspension, with front coils and rear leaf springs, boasted heavy-duty shocks, anti-sway bar and twin torque links at the rear to prevent axle hop. Rolling stock consisted of six inch wide mag-style wheels and E70x14 Goodyear Polyglass Red Line biasbelted tires. The AMX´s optional heavy-duty braking system was a Scrambler standard and consisted of 11.2 inch Bendix front discs augmenting rear drums.
The interior featured reclining bucket seats in charcoal grey vinyl and a woodrimmed steering wheel. Instrumentation was standard Rogue, but with a Sun 8000-rpm tachometer strapped hotrodder-style to the steering column.
The first 500 SC/Ramblers received the “Yankee Doodle”graphics. After they sold out, an additional 1000 or so were run off, about half with the original graphics and half with narrower red and blue stripes. A total of 1512 Scramblers were built. Road Test Magazine noted : “Although the SC/Rambler doesn´t create the world´s best visual impression, when it comes down to the business of to go and stop, this little machine comes on with the best.”
Sharp of them to notice.
1969 ½ AMC Hurst SC/Rambler Facts At A Glance
Engine type : V8 AMC
Displacement (cid) : 390
Horsepower @ rpm : 315 @ 4600
Torque (lbs/ft) @ rpm : 425 @ 3200
Compression rate : 10.2:1
Bore (in.) : 4.17
Stroke (in.) : 3.75
Valve lifters : Hydraulic
Availability : 1969
Road Test, Car and Driver, May 1969
Times:
0-60 mph (sec) : 6.3
0-100 mph (sec) : 15.8
¼ mile (sec) : 14.7 @ 96.3 mph
Top speed (mph) : 114 (test)
Axle ratio : 3.54:1
Source :
Collecticle Automobile – Muscle Cars of the Sixties – November 1995