American Motors’ entry in the red-hot intermediate coupe segment for 1966 was the Rambler Classic Rebel.
American Motors used the Rebel name on a variety of models over the years, but for 1966 it was applied to the two-door hardtop body style in the company’s mid-sized Rambler Classic line. Intermediate hardtops were a hot market segment in the mid-sixties, and American Motors was eager to cash in, as this vintage AMC commercial demonstrates.
To be perfectly honest about it, AMC’s intermediate coupe for ’66 wasn’t quite in the same league as, say, the Pontiac Le Mans or the Chevy Malibu. The Rebel’s styling wasn’t bad—a little dated, arguably. But underneath, the AMC full/mid-size platform was almost quaint, with torque-tube drive and trunnion-joint front suspension. You’ll notice there’s no mention of the available engines, a 232 CID six and a pair of V8 in 287 and 327 cubic-inch displacements. Instead, the focus is on the cloth bucket seats and the console-mounted shifter for the three-speed automatic.transmission.
Rebel sales weren’t terribly thrilling, either: barely 7,500 units in 1966, a tiny piece of AMC’s showroom volume that season. For 1967, the product line would receive a $60 million makeover, including much-needed updates of the chassis and V8 engine family. The Classic name was dropped and now the Rebel badge would be applied to the entire mid-size product line. In this spot, we note that the Motor City’s number-four automaker was still working through the brand transition from Rambler to American Motors in 1966, as both names are prominently featured. Also featured are some familiar character actors from ’60s television. While we can’t summon their names, we sure remember the faces. Video below.
I just sold one of these recently. White with a black vinyl top. You’re right they drove like an old lady’s car but this one was like new and AMC seemed to have better interior materials. The car was like new all over and the price was not bad.
Mid 60’s to mid 70’s Rambler-American Motors cars had some decent styling for the most part, even if the suspension and running gear was a bit sub par compared to the big 3. If they had of had the big budgets of the others there is no telling what they could have produced.
The actor that says “can’t get that on my Chevelle” is Roger Bowen. He was Henry Blake in the film version of M*A*S*H. And believe it or not most actors get paid more when they work on commercials than films. They get paid a residual every time the commercial runs. And if they have a speaking part it’s even more. The guy who plays the cop is a veteran character actor whose name escapes me! And chances are when the car owner taps the shifter it’s not his hand. They used a “hand double” instead. Really!
The fellow with the glasses at the beginning is Edward Andrews, who made a living playing officious businessman types. He also did a lot of journeyman TV and movie work, including the original Twilight Zone episode “You Drive” and delivered the line, “Dong, where is my AUTO-MO-BILE?” in the 1984 John Hughes film “Sixteen Candles.”