1967 AMC Rebel
Real Driver
Bob Kenworthy of Aurora, Colorado, likes to venture off the beaten path when it comes to his rides. He got his start wrenching alongside pops on the front lawn of their apartment assembling their '23 T-bucket back in the '70s. He learned to make do with the resources available and build the best cars he could. His first was a '71 2.0L Pinto. He kept the four-cylinder in place and hopped it up enough to stomp the V-8 competition on the streets. In the 30 years since, he's owned almost 100 cars, among them were Chevys, Fords, and Mopars, but his favorites were the AMC cars. He's had 12 of them over that 30-year span, including this '67 Rebel.
When Bob first saw this Rebel he was really interested in it, but it wasn't for sale. After keeping an eye on it for a couple years, he saw it wearing a for sale sign, and pounced. The car's paint was in great shape, which was the biggest selling point. He replaced the floor panels, rebuilt the front suspension, and pitched the three-speed for a modern five-speed. The original engine was sound, but he still couldn't leave that be and added EFI, among other things. Like most cars past the 40-year mark, it had some problems, but nothing Bob couldn't handle.
This isn't a show car or a racer, but a driver. Bob wanted to be able to enjoy this car on the road more than anyplace else. That's why the five-speed swap was so important. He also added air conditioning to keep him and his family cool. Back in the day when he had an AMX he would have to trailer it to the car shows since the two-seater couldn't fit his whole family. But now Bob can drive this AMC everywhere with them, and that was the whole point!
By The Numbers
1967 AMC Rebel 550 Sports Sedan
Bob Kenworthy, 45 • Aurora, CO
| ENGINE |
| Type: |
AMC 290 bored .030-inch over |
| Block: |
factory |
| Rotating assembly: |
factory |
| Cylinder heads: |
stock steel |
| Camshaft: |
Crane 268H |
| Induction: |
Edelbrock Pro-Flow |
|
Multi-Port fuel injection |
| Ignition: |
MSD |
| Cooling: |
factory brass/copper radiator |
| Fuel system: |
electric return-style fuel pump |
| Exhaust: |
2.5-inch pipes |
|
with Flowmaster mufflers |
| DRIVETRAIN |
| Transmission/shifter: |
Tremec TKO |
|
500 five-speed, |
| SPEC Stage 2 clutch |
| Driveshaft: |
custom steel |
| Rear axle: |
AMC model 20, 3.15 gears |
| CHASSIS |
| Front suspension: |
KYB shocks, |
|
aftermarket swaybar |
| Rear suspension; |
AMC four-link, KYB shocks |
| Brakes: |
'75 AMC Matador |
|
power disc brakes front, |
| drum rear |
| MISCELLANEOUS |
| Seats: |
re-covered stock |
|
with gray vinyl and tweed |
| Paint: |
PPG base/clear black |
| WHEELS/TIRES |
| Wheels: |
15x7 and 15x8 American Racing |
|
Torq-Thrust II |
| Tires: |
225/70R15 and 275/60R15 BFGoodrich |