Most Wanted Classic Cars: Rambler Rebel (Part 2)

Posted by Steve White on Sep 06, 2010

The third generation Rambler Rebel was released in 1960. Similar to the previous generation, this new Rebel was offered as a 4-door sedan and a 4-door station wagon. However, its performance declined as it was fitted with a low compression 2-barrel engine that could only make 200 hp. AMC did not use the Rebel name in the next few years.

In 1966, the Rebel was reintroduced as one of the versions of the Rambler Classic 2-door hardtop. This model came with special exterior and interior trim, revised roofline, and bucket seats. Sports options were also available, and they included a dash-mounted tachometer, floor-mounted manual 4-speed transmission, and a 327 cid V8 engine with 270 hp. With these improvements, AMC reestablished its presence in the muscle car market.

Introduced in 1967, the fifth generation Rambler Rebel was totally different from previous models. It had a longer wheelbase, smoother and rounder body, and more glass area, and a new 2-door sedan model was also offered. AMC also introduced a number of advanced V8 engines, one of which is a 343 cid V8 that provided true muscle car performance. 1967 was the final year for the Rambler marquee, and all Ramblers became known as AMC Rebels. AMC continued to produce the Rebel until 1970, and the car was replaced by the AMC Matador in 1971.

Most Wanted Classic Cars: Rambler Rebel (Part 1)

Posted by Steve White on Sep 03, 2010

The Rambler Rebel is known as one of the earliest muscle cars. It was produced by AMC from 1957 to 1960 and 1966 to 1967. With its innovative technology, it was a ground-breaking automobile in many ways.

The first generation Rambler Rebel debuted in 1957 as a high-performance car that was built on a lightweight Rambler 4-door hardtop body with a 108-inch wheelbase, and it was fitted with AMC’s powerful 327 cid V8 engine. As such, it was the first post World War II production mid-size car that featured a big block V8 engine, and it was rated the fastest American stock sedan of its time by Motor Trend. The Rebel was offered with a wide range of performance enhancing features, including heavy-duty suspension, dual exhaust system, and front sway bar. The standard engine could make 255 hp, and an optional electronic fuel injection engine was available to boost output to 288 hp.

AMC continued to use the Rebel name in 1958, but it was no longer used to identify a specialty model. All the Ramblers that were powered by AMC’s 250 cid V8 engine became the second generation Rebels. The new Rebels were offered as Super, Custom, and Deluxe 4-door sedans and Cross Country station wagons, and they came with new grille, quad headlamps, and tailfins. In 1959, the Rambler Rebel was regarded as “one of the most attractive cars” by Car Life magazine. It received significant modifications, including a simpler side trim, restyled fenders and rear doors, more slanted windshield and rear window, narrower C-pillars, and smaller tailfins.

54th Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival

Posted by Steve White on Sep 01, 2010

Auburn, Indiana is widely considered the “classic car capital of the world”, and it lives up to its reputation by holding the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival on Labor Day weekend every year. This year, the festival is in its 54th edition, and it will be held from the 2nd of September to the 6th of September, 2010. More than 200,000 people from across the United States and other countries are expected to attend this grand and exciting festival.

The festival will feature lots of interesting classic car-related events, including a drag race, auctions, cruise-in, arts fair, and much more. The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum will be holding extra events throughout the festival, including the 5th ACDA Museum Benefit Extravaganza, the Arts Show and Sale, the Connecting Rods Luncheon, and the Gala Ball for museum members. One of the highlights of the festival is the downtown cruise-in, which will attract more than 700 participating vehicles as well as thousands of spectators. Those who enjoy drag racing can attend The Ab Jenkins Memorial Duesenberg Exhibition of Speed and Stinson Fly-In, a thrilling drag race at the Kendallville Airport. Auctions that will be conducted during the festival include The Auburn Auction by Worldwide Auctioneers, Auctions America by RM, and Classical Event Auctions.

Other notable events that will be organized during the 54th Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival include the ACD Parade of Classics, Cars and Guitars, Garage Cruise, Classic Car Masterworks, Motoring to the Square, Auburn Arts Fair, Brain Games, and others.

Join the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association

Posted by Steve White on Aug 30, 2010

If you are residing in the Midwest and you are a vintage car racing enthusiast, you should consider joining the Vintage Sports Car Drivers Association, or VSCDA. This club provides excellent opportunities for you to test your driving skills regularly, as well as meet with other racing enthusiasts to share your passion and exchange racing tips.

The VSCDA was established in 1978 by an ardent vintage car racing enthusiast called John Kleen. Over the years, it has organized numerous races and social events, and it has trained close to 800 amateur drivers. Presently, it has a total membership of about 600. The VSCDA holds wheel-to-wheel competition races at major race tracks in Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin during the weekends. By joining these races, you will get ample opportunity to take part in practice and qualifying sessions, friendly sprint races, enduros, and handicap run. The association focuses on building good camaraderie among drivers both on and off the track to give amateurs an encouraging environment to improve their racing skills.

As a VSCDA member, you will also get the chance to participate in a number of major vintage car racing events in the Midwest, including the Gingerman Spring Brake Drivers’ School and Races, Blackhawk Vintage Classic, Continental Grand Prix, Vintage Grand Prix Au Grattan, and Elkhardt Lake Vintage Festival.

The National Packard Museum

Posted by Steve White on Aug 27, 2010

Packard had played a major role in the advancement of auto manufacturing in the United States during the early 20th century. In fact, it was the manufacturer of the earliest known American production car. The best way to learn about the illustrious history of Packard is to pay a visit to the National Packard Museum. This museum is situated in Warren, Ohio, which is the birthplace of Packard automobiles, and it is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and displaying historic automobiles, as well as artifacts and documents that are related to the Packard company.

The National Packard Museum is home to more than 25 immaculately preserved Packard vehicles, which collectively provide a comprehensive account of the company’s achievements from 1900 to 1956. Some of the notable vintage cars that you will find in the museum include the 1900 Model B, which is the earliest known production automobile in the US; 1927 Sterling Knight, the last automobile that was produced in Warren; 1941 One-Eighty Touring Limo, which was originally owned by wife of J. W. Packard; upgraded 1951 Pan American, an Alvin McCauley car; and a 1956 Packard Caribbean Convertible. The museum also displays a wide range of interesting artifacts, photographs, documents, and special items.

The National Packard Museum is open from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. General public admission rates are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for seniors and children aged 7 to 12.