Restored 1969 AMC SC/Rambler Roars Back to Life

American Motors Corporation (AMC) wasn’t exactly the first name you thought of when you heard “muscle car,” but the 1969 SC/Rambler proved that they could build a serious performance machine. Built in collaboration with Hurst Performance, this car was designed to dominate the NHRA F/Stock class, and it did so in style. With a bold, patriotic livery inspired by the American flag, and a powerful 6.4-liter (390 cubic-inch) V8 engine under the hood, the SC/Rambler wasn’t your average compact car.

What really makes the SC/Rambler stand out is its aggressive performance specs. AMC squeezed 315 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque from the V8, all sent to the rear wheels through a close-ratio BorgWarner four-speed manual transmission. The car was equipped with a “Twin-Grip” limited-slip differential, enabling it to hit the quarter mile in 14.3 seconds—without any modifications. With a few simple tweaks, you could drop that time into the 12-second range.

AMC produced 1,512 SC/Ramblers in total to meet NHRA homologation requirements. They were split into two paint schemes—1,215 of the more colorful “A scheme” cars and just 297 of the predominantly white “B scheme.” Fewer still remain on the road today, making a properly restored SC/Rambler a rare sight.

Matt Gause’s YouTube channel, Gause Garage, is lucky enough to feature one of these survivors. This 1969 SC/Rambler is in stunning, concours-ready condition and looks as if it just rolled off the factory floor more than 50 years ago. Documented by Gause himself, the car still sports its original tri-color paint scheme and the same 390 V8 engine that made it a legend. Although it’s clearly a garage queen, this SC/Rambler occasionally shows off its muscle, roaring to life in a way that only a true classic can.