Special Features

The heart of The Machine was AMC's hottest performance engine, the 340 horsepower and 430 lb-ft of torque 390 cubic inch V8. It had a 10.0:1 compression ratio, a 690 CFM Motorcraft Autolite 4300 4-barrel carburetor, and other performance goodies. A free-flow dual exhaust system was standard. All this equated to a 14.4 second quarter mile time which was mighty impressive. However AMC didn't stop there it offered a package for only $500 from its network of dealership parts departments. The kit was purchased mostly by those who wanted to race their Machines. This package increased horsepower by at least 100 ponies and allowed The Machine to obtain high-12 second quarter mile times. It's a pity that AMC didn't offer the kit package from the factory. If it had, the Machine would have had the honor of being the fastest production muscle car during the original muscle car period. AMC also offered ridiculously low 5.0:1 rear gears though its dealership parts network. AMC definitely knew it's audience when it offered The Machine for a base price of only $3,475. It was so much performance for the money. AMC didn't bother with trying to make the Rebels interior more upscale for The Machine, it kept it as Spartan as a fleet taxi cab or police car. Only the bare essentials were found inside The Machines cabin. This also kept The Machines curb weight down to a little over 3,600 lbs. The Machine was aimed at buyers who wanted serious performance and lots of exterior flash. The sad aspect of The Machine was it was great muscle car that came to the party too late. Muscle car sales by 1970 were tanking heavily due to high insurance premiums. This was one of the factors why only 2,326 Machines were produced for 1970. Had The Machine arrived on the scene in the mid-1960s, AMC could have been the all-star player during the muscle car time period. AMC for 1971 brought back The Machine as a go fast package for the 1971 Matador. Its production volume was similar to the 1970 Machine. By the mid-1970s AMC was out of the performance car business entirely. Though AMC may be long gone, The Machine still lives on as a muscle car legend.