AMC’s Rebel Machine was available for the 1970 model year. It was the high-performance version of the Rebel, introduced after the success of AMC’s 1969 SC/Rambler.
The car made its public debut on October 25, 1969, at the NHRA World Championship Drag Race Finals in Dallas, but it was sold as a 1970 model. Its launch specification included a 340-hp V8, a four-speed manual transmission, heavy-duty suspension, power disc brakes, and distinctive red, white, and blue graphics.
The 1970 model-year timing is important because the Rebel name did not continue indefinitely. AMC restyled and renamed the intermediate line for 1971 as the Matador. The “Machine” equipment returned in package form, but those cars were Matadors rather than Rebel Machines.
AMC built 2,326 examples of the 1970 Rebel Machine. Early cars strongly emphasized the flamboyant striped appearance, while later examples could be ordered in other colors with less dramatic trim, helping the model appeal beyond its initial launch image.