Tel: +1.613.392.8973 |
REBEL MACHINE AND AMC RESOURCE CENTRE
We are expanding our range of parts and accessories. Why should these old cars which were decades ahead of their time in 1970 be consigned to the past? Let's keep our Rebel Machines relevant and happening!
The 1970 Rebel Machine came with newly styled steel wheels made by Kelsey-Hayes specifically made for AMERICAN MOTORS CORPORATION. They were for the times both innovative and regressive due to their for the time innovative design.
The wheels were introduced on THE MACHINE as standard equipment and were 15" X 7" with E60-15 Goodyear Polyglass tires with raised white lettering on the side walls fitted on them.
The finish was a metal coating featuring a fine grit and a little metallic metal flake to add dimension to the finish. This finish has never been duplicated exactly by anyone. So wheels still sporting their original finish are rare.
These wheels were also optional on 1970 AMXs and Javelins.
In 1971, THE MACHINE was no longer a distinct model, it was an option on the new Matador. The option included the Rebel Machine intake, but no hood scoop. The exhaust manifolds had been updated to a free flow style that looked like and performed like a set of headers, so the special Machine exhaust manifold had been superseded. Nothing else was Machine specific.
Again for 1971; the AMX model was gone, replaced by a new (2nd generation) Javelin body. AMX was an option and one of those options was the Machine wheel.
The fact that more models than just the Machine meant that as years passed more Machine wheels survived than would have been the case if only the one model had worn them. Even so, there were differences between the original Machine wheels and the subsequent issues.
Trim Rings![]() The resolution isn't good here but the original magazine ad clearly shows a GM style of trim ring. Another interesting detail you can see in this shot is that the 1/4" wide key line stripe between the Electric Blue and the Frost White paint is black instead of the production run silver. |
![]() The Centre CapsUnless you have your original straight wall centre caps, your only alternative short of getting exceptionally lucky or having much deeper pockets than most to enable you to convince someone to sell you theirs is to either buy 2nd run curved wall centre caps if you can find them or buy incorrect plastic reproductions of those from AJ (Andre Jacobs). He carries the cap retainers as well. You can contact AJ at 30115 Hwy. 281N #126 1-830-980-3165 |
![]() The Machine Acorn Wheel NutsEven the wheel nuts on a Machine are special. They are 3/4" socket size where those of other manufacturers are 13/16". In addition, there is no bulge at the bottom as featured on all other similar nuts. Only one company sells them now and that is: ??? 1-800-932-7663 |
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The TiresUnfortunately, the stock tire on a Machine was far from the right tire - at least it was if you cared about traction in just about any extreme usage situation. To get maximum traction at the back wheels the tires had to be inflated to 10 psi beyond the recommended tire pressure moulded into every tire's sidewall. At 45 psi, the entire tread width made contact with the pavement. At 35 psi, only the outer half inch at the base of the sidewalls actually touched the ground leaving two thin lines on the pavement for each tire after a hard launch. Goodyear Polyglass tires were not a popular replacement tire for any muscle car at the time and literally vanished from the cars they were supplied with as they wore out - which as you can imagine didn't take very long on a muscle car. E-60s were mounted at all four corners on Rebel Machines and were the widest it was safest to use on the front because wider tires tended to rub on the ball joints during jumps or drifting. In modern times the rubber compounds have changed and the compounds have become stickier for all tires from the muscle car era. You know that because cars such as the 426 semi cars and the 440s which were running 14.6 and 14.7 in pure stock then are running in the 11s now. You can find these tires at Goodyear Performance Tires. Phone Number 1-760-731-8303 or you can just google the name of the company. Of course you can buy the stock tires for the front and up to L60s for the back on stock 7" wide rim but if you want to race Pure Stock, then all the tires have to be the same size regardless of manufacturer. |
Stock Wheel RestorationWe have established that Stockton Wheel in California can restore Machine wheels to the point were the trim rings will fit after restoration. No other company has been found that can be proven to do that. We were going to do a run with Diamond Racing Wheel but the trim rings would not have fit afterwards. Bill at Diamond will not restore any Machine wheels without a run of at least 24 wheels. Stockton will take our wheels one set at a time. Cost to restore each wheel was as of 2018 at $180 per wheel wheel plus shipping. What you get back is a repaired set of wheels that have been sandblasted and are ready for paint. That can mean your wheels need to be sandblasted again once you get them back depending on how humid the weather has been while your wheels are in transit. Stockton Wheel Service Inc. can be reached at 1-800-395-9433 The big deal is that the Machine wheel centres are 13 1/8" across the back where every other styled steel wheel was 13 1/4" across the back. That means that no stock hoop will fit our wheel centres without the addition of an extra band of metal between the wheel centre and the new hoop (rim). To make matters infinitely worse, the outside edge of the face side of the rim was rolled to form a continuous bead around the wheel. That bead is primarily what held the trim rings on. Without it they fall off. So the fact that Stockton's rims work is nearly a miracle. |
Wheel PaintWhen complete, the finished wheel will look like the one shown to the above but with much less sheen. It will not be shiny. It should have the same texture to your touch as 180 grit sandpaper. That means you don't put clear coat over the wheels after you paint them. |
Trim RingsSince we weren't able to come anywhere close to 400 wheels to restore, the company that did offer to remanufacture the wheels with the correct sized rims (hoops) without having to add an extra band of metal to the wheel centres before mounting the hoops as well as re-popping the trim rings and the centre caps won't be doing that. We couldn't come close. Not enough cars left needing wheel restoration. If you have trim rings that need restoring in whatever state, your best bet as tested by several owners is this company: Finishing Touch Metal Restoration, Everyone who has used them has been very impressed. They are very pricey though. |
AMC Rebel Machine Stripe Kits, Body Panels and information about AMC products
www.RebelMachineStripeKit.com
www.RebelMachineParts.com
www.RebelMachineParts.com
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