Rambler Rebel

Rambler Rebel
Production period:	1957-1960 1966-1967
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Successor:	AMC Rebel

The Rambler Rebel V8 was a passenger car manufactured by American Motors Corporation (AMC) of Kenosha , Wisconsin , from 1957 to 1960 and from 1966 to 1967.

Model year 1957

1st generation
Rambler Rebel (1957)
Production period:	1957
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Petrol engines : 5.4 liters (190–215 kW)
Length:	4835-5052 mm
Width:	1822 mm
Height:	1485 mm
Wheelbase :	2743 mm
Empty weight :

American Motors surprised most observers with the introduction of the Rambler Rebel in December 1956. The new 1957 model appeared as a high-performance vehicle that combined the mid- range floor pan from AMC with a 2743 mm wheelbase and a 4-door hardtop body with the 5.4-liter V8 engine. This was the first time a large V8 engine appeared in a mid-range car after World War II . Although AMC was known for its reliable and economical automobiles, this particular model appeared with a larger engine than its main competitors from Chevrolet , Ford or Plymouth could offer. At US $ 2,786 (recommended price), the Rebel was inexpensive for its performance class and (by the standards of the time) was economical with gasoline.

The Rebel was tested by Motor Trend magazine, which found that the sedans equipped with the Bendix Electrojector , an electronic fuel injection (EFI), were faster at standing start than the 1957 Chevrolet Corvette with mechanical injection. This would have been the first mass-produced engine with gasoline injection; but it did not go into production because there were problems with the cold start behavior. But there are at least two pilot series Rebels with electronic fuel injection. All series Rebels were equipped with a quadruple carburetor system. However, the version with EFI appeared in the operating instructions for the production vehicle.

The Rebel were equipped with a manual transmission with overdrive or an automatic transmission. In addition, there were a number of other performance-enhancing details, such as double- pipe exhaust , reinforced chassis with Gabriel shock absorbers and a stabilizer on the front axle. The Rebel with the standard 255 SAE HP engine (190 kW) accelerated from 0 to 100 km / h in approx. 7.5 seconds. The light, self-supporting body of the car provided a power-to-weight ratio of only 13 lbs./SAE- PS (5.9 kg / PS). The Rebel's engine also differed from the equal displacement engines installed in the Nash Ambassador and the Hudson Hornet because it was more highly compressed. Since both engines were rated at 255 SAE horsepower, it is likely that the Rebel's was undervalued.

Power steering and drum brakes with brake booster were standard equipment, as in all better Rambler models. The Rebel was only available in silver-metallic with gold-colored aluminum trim on both sides. In 1957 1,500 vehicles of this type were manufactured. Many of them were repainted by the AMC dealers after a few years, as the standard paintwork was not weatherproof. The Rebel is considered the forerunner to the muscle cars that became popular in the 1960s.

Model years 1958–1960

2nd generation
Rambler Rebel (1960)
Production period:	1958-1959
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 4.1–5.4 liters (149–160 kW)
Length:	4722 mm
Width:	1837 mm
Height:	1450 mm
Wheelbase :	2743 mm
Empty weight :

In 1958 there were new Rebels, but no longer only with the 5.4 liter machine. Rather, the name referred to all Rambler models that were equipped with a 4.1 liter V8 engine. These Rebels were no longer the muscle cars from 1957, but simply normal Rambler models that had a little more power than their standard sister models. After 1957, the 5.4 liter engine was standard equipment on the more luxurious Rambler Ambassador .

In the model years 1958 and 1959 there was the Rambler Rebel with quadruple carburettors and double exhaust pipes. The engine developed 215 SAE-PS (160 kW) with 353 Nm torque.

In 1960 there was the Rebel with a lower compression engine with double carburetors and an output of 200 SAE-PS (149 kW).

After 1960 all Rambler models with a 2743 mm wheelbase were called Rambler Classic .

Model years 1966–1967

3rd generation
Rambler Rebel (1966)
Production period:	1966-1967
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , coupé , convertible
Engines:	Petrol engines : 3.8–7.2 liters (? –895 kW)
Length:
Width:
Height:
Wheelbase :	2845-2896 mm
Empty weight :

The name Rebel reappeared in 1966 on a Rambler Classic as a 2-door hardtop coupé with a special interior and a revised roof line. In 1967 all Rambler mid-range models were called Rambler Rebel.

In 1968 the traditional name Rambler disappeared and the cars were called AMC Rebel from then on .

Web links

Commons : Rambler Rebel - Collection of images, videos and audio files

swell

Gunnell, John (editor): The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1946-1975 , Kraus Publications (1987), ISBN 0-87341-096-3