1957 Rambler Rebel

Everyone knew Rambler as a slow but thrifty, small but comfortable, reliable and - well - dull.

Suddenly, American Motors sprung on an unsuspecting public a Rebel: a flashy silver four-door hardtop with gold bodyside sweepspears, "continental" spare tyre and a bigger V-8 than anything found at Chevrolet, Ford, or Plymouth. So this was hardly a Rambler - it could embarrass most any car at any stoplight in America.
As only 1500 samples were built, the '57 Rebel was obviously never intended to make money, especially at its $2786 base price. But it did introduce the public to a new name - and the idea that at least some future Ramblers might not be economy compacts.
The cars biggest attraction lurked under its hood: a new AMC - designed 327 cubic-inch V-8, engineered by David Potter and first seen a bit earlier on full-size Nashes and Hudsons. This big engine made the mid-size Rebel on of 1957's hottest performers. No wonder - this was the same formula Pontiac would use with its 1964 hot rod, - the GTO. In the Rebel, this resulted in a power-to-weight ratio of about 13 lbs/bhp, which looked good even in the muscle-car Sixties. To handle it, AMC fitted Gabriel adjustable shocks and heavy-duty springs all around, plus an anti-roll bar at each end. Power steering came standard, as did the power brakes that all Rambler Customs received.