1968 · AMC · United States
1968 AMC Rebel: Two Sheets Disagree on the SST's Standard Engine, but the Tally Sheet Settles the 390's Rarity
Now badged AMC, the Rebel came in 550, 770 and SST trims and could be ordered with the 315-hp 390. It is host-car context for the 1970 Machine.
United States · researched through 2026-09-22
For 1968 the car wore an AMC badge rather than Rambler, and the Rebel line ran three trims, 550, 770, and SST, with OldRide's tabulated factory prices spanning $2,443 for a 550 sedan up to $2,999 for an SST convertible. That roughly $556 spread across the line put the SST convertible at the top of the Rebel price ladder well before any options were added, on a body that shipped at 3,348 pounds as an SST hardtop per OldRide's own tabulated weight.1
Exactly what engine came standard on the SST, and whether the 390 was genuinely a Rebel option, is not something two AMC-adjacent sources agree on. OldRide and AMC's own VIN key both show the 290 V8 at 225 horsepower as the SST's standard engine, with a 390 at 315 horsepower listed as optional across the line; but AMC's full-line brochure's Performance Selector instead gives the Rebel SST a 200-horsepower two-barrel 290 as standard, reserves the 225-horsepower four-barrel 290 for the American and Javelin only, and does not list a 390 for the Rebel at all. AMC's own 1968 factory tally sheet settles the rarity question even if it can't settle the naming one: just two Rebel 550 hardtops built at Kenosha carried the 390 that year, out of 7,377 550 hardtops total, with no 390s at all in the separate Brampton production block, consistent with the engine being a genuine option but an exceptionally rare one on the Rebel, whichever specification sheet turns out to be right about exactly how AMC marketed it that year.1,2,3
Convertible production is the one body style with a fully confirmed count: 377 Rebel 550 convertibles and 823 Rebel SST convertibles, figures that match exactly between OldRide's tabulation and AMC's own Kenosha tally sheet. The tally sheet also breaks down the hardtop bodies by engine: the 550 hardtop's 7,377 units split 5,083 sixes, 2,135 with the 290, 157 with the 343, and the 2 rare 390s; the 770 hardtop's 4,420 units ran 2,120 sixes, 1,920 290s, and 380 343s; and the SST hardtop, the volume leader at 9,876 units, was overwhelmingly V8-powered, just 3 sixes against 7,545 290s and 2,328 343s, a mix that shows just how thoroughly V8-powered the sportiest Rebel trim actually was on the assembly line.1,3
A full-line production total of 73,895 Rebels for 1968 circulates on Wikipedia, attributed to secondary web histories rather than to the AMC tally sheets this record can otherwise cite directly, so it is carried as reported rather than checked against the sum of the individual body rows above, since the tally sheets read for this record do not itemize every body style and the Brampton production block was not separately tabulated here. Beyond the drivetrain, the 1968 options sheet ran to comfort and convenience items rather than performance parts: two-tone paint, a vinyl-covered roof in black, off-white, or blue, All-Season air conditioning, power steering and brakes, Cruise-Command speed control for V8 automatics, and a Twin-Grip limited-slip differential, alongside reclining bucket seats standard on the SST and a sports wood-grain-look steering wheel offered on the 770 and SST trims.4
Fact sheet · 1968 · United States
The numbers
1968 AMC Rebel — Now badged AMC, the Rebel came in 550, 770 and SST trims and could be ordered with the 315-hp 390. It is host-car context for the 1970 Machine.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebel line, all series4 US Secondary web attributions only. | 73,895 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebel 550 convertible, body 68171 Rebel 550 · 2-door convertible · US | 377 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Rebel SST convertible, body 6817-71 Rebel SST · 2-door convertible · US | 823 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Rebel 550 hardtop, body 6819 (AMC tally sheet)3 Rebel 550 · 2-door hardtop · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha Engines on the same row: 232 = 5,083, 290 = 2,135, 343 = 157, 390 = 2. | 7,377 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Rebel 770 hardtop, body 6819-5 (AMC tally sheet)3 Rebel 770 · 2-door hardtop · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha 232 = 2,120, 290 = 1,920, 343 = 380. | 4,420 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Rebel SST hardtop, body 6819-7 (AMC tally sheet)3 Rebel SST · 2-door hardtop · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha 232 = 3, 290 = 7,545, 343 = 2,328. | 9,876 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Rebel 550 convertible, body 6817 (AMC tally sheet)3 Rebel 550 · convertible · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha Agrees with the OldRide figure. 232 = 227, 290 = 137, 343 = 13. | 377 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Rebel SST convertible, body 6817-7 (AMC tally sheet)3 Rebel SST · convertible · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha Agrees with the OldRide figure. 290 = 529, 343 = 294. | 823 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rebel 550 hardtop with the 390 V83 Rebel 550 · 2-door hardtop (6819) · 390 V8 · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha The only 390 entry among the 1968 Rebel rows of the Kenosha block; the Brampton block shows no 390s. Scope is AMC's tally; dealer engine swaps are outside it. | 2 | built, model-year | Reported |
Only convertible counts are itemized in the source. Other bodies are blank there.
The sheet-* rows come from AMC's 1968 tally sheet (Kenosha block). Rebel rows also appear in the Brampton block, which is not itemized here; do not add the two blocks.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Rebel 550 4-door sedan (6815)1 | $2,443 | 'factory price' as tabulated, 1967-09 |
| Rebel 550 convertible (6817)1 | $2,736 | 'factory price' as tabulated, 1967-09 |
| Rebel 550 hardtop (6819)1 | $2,454 | 'factory price' as tabulated, 1967-09 |
| Rebel 770 hardtop (6819-5)1 | $2,556 | 'factory price' as tabulated, 1967-09 |
| Rebel SST hardtop (6819-7)1 | $2,775 | 'factory price' as tabulated, 1967-09 |
| Rebel SST convertible (6817-7)1 | $2,999 | 'factory price' as tabulated, 1967-09 |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| B · 232 six2,1 232 cu in | 145 hp @ 4,300, 215 lb-ft @ 1,600 (period factory rating (gross era)) | standard | Not yet sourced |
| N · 290 V8 (SST standard)2,1 290 cu in | 225 hp (period factory rating (gross era)) | standard on SST | Not yet sourced |
| S / T · 343 V8 (235 or 280 hp)2 343 cu in | 235 hp @ 4,400, 345 lb-ft @ 2,600 (period factory rating (gross era)); 280 hp @ 4,800, 365 lb-ft @ 3,000 (period factory rating (gross era)) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| X · 390 V82,1 390 cu in · 4-barrel | 315 hp (period factory rating (gross era)) | optional, all models | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Dual exhaust for 343 V-8s (except wagons) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Two-tone paint (except convertible); black, off-white or blue vinyl-covered roof (770 and SST sedans and hardtops); black or off-white powered convertible top (no charge); side paint stripes (SST) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Ventilated vinyl upholstery (standard on wagons; fabric a no-charge option); individually adjustable reclining seats (standard SST); reclining bucket seats for SST with armrest and center cushion or console; headrests | — | Not yet sourced |
|
All-Season air conditioning; power steering; power brakes; power disc brakes (V-8s); Cruise-Command (V-8 automatic); Twin-Grip; Adjust-O-Tilt; sports wood-grain-look steering wheel (770, SST); custom steering wheel (550) | — | Not yet sourced |
|
Automatic transmission oil cooler for sixes (standard on V-8s) | — | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Shipping weight, SST hardtop1 | 3,348 lb | 6819-7, as tabulated |
| Brake diameter / lining area | six (except wagons) 9 in / 153.8 sq in; V-8 and wagons 10 in / 167.5 sq in | Rebel |
| Tires | 7.35x14 (sixes and V-8s), 7.75x14 (wagons) | Rebel |
| Fuel tank capacity (approx.) | 21.5 (19 for 3-seat wagons) US gal | Rebel |
| Axle ratios (standard; no-cost optional) | 232 1-bbl and 2-bbl: 3-speed column 3.15, overdrive 3.54 (1-bbl), Shift-Command column 3.15; 290 2-bbl: 3-speed 3.15 (3.54), overdrive 3.54, Shift-Command column 3.15 (2.87), console 3.15 (2.87), 4-speed 3.15 (3.54); 343 2-bbl: Shift-Command 2.87 (3.15); 343 4-bbl: Shift-Command column and console 2.87 (3.15), 4-speed 3.15 (3.54); 4.44 dealer kit :1 | Rebel and Ambassador |
Identification
- VIN
- In the 1968 key, series digit 1 = Rebel. Model digit 0 covers American Basic or Rebel 550, 5 covers 440, Javelin, 770 or DPL, and 7 covers Rogue, AMX, Javelin SST, Rebel SST or Ambassador SST. Body 7 = convertible, 9 = hardtop.2
Where the sources disagree
1968 Rebel SST standard 290 rating and 390 availability
- 290 standard on SST at 225 hp; 390 (X) listed2
- Rebel SST standard engine is the 290 2-bbl at 200 @ 4,600; the 225-hp 4-bbl 290 is listed only for American and Javelin; no 390 in the Performance Selector
Show both. The VIN key is line-wide, the brochure is model-specific; the tally sheet records two 390 Rebel 550 hardtops, consistent with a rare 390.
Identification
Read a 1968 AMC VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1968
- AMC AMX AMC's two-seat AMX arrived mid-year on a 97-inch wheelbase. The enthusiast production table counts 6,725 cars, two-thirds of them with the 390.
- AMC Javelin AMC's first pony car, launched in September 1967 as base and SST hardtops. Production of the two combined was about 55,000.
- Buick Riviera Record Riviera sales of 49,284, including 5,337 with the GS handling option.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX On the new 112 in two-door body the GS 400 was joined by a GS 350 hardtop, and a dealer-installed Stage 1 package arrived for the 400.
- Buick Wildcat 73,561 Wildcats with the 430 V-8.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The restyled Chevelle kept SS 396 as its own series and added an SS 396 El Camino: 62,785 SS 396s in three bodies.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova SS engines per the source: L48 350, L34 396 and L78 396. Enthusiast-compiled production: 183,552 cars; Super Sport 5,571.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The first factory Super Sport El Camino: a separate SS 396 model, 13880, built 5,190 times.
- Chevrolet Impala SS Super Sport becomes an option again (RPO Z03): 36,432, plus 1,778 SS427 (RPO Z24).
- Dodge Charger The redesigned 'Coke bottle' Charger and the new R/T multiplied sales roughly sixfold over 1967.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The redesigned Coronet kept the 440-powered R/T and added the budget Super Bee coupe, a 383 car with an optional Hemi.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon The new Dart GTS brought a 275 hp 340 or a 300 hp 383, and in February Dodge released 80 Hurst-completed LO23 Hemi Darts for Super Stock drag racing; GTS production was not reported separately.
- Ford Fairlane The restyled intermediate split into Fairlane, Fairlane 500 and the new Torino series; the Fairlane 500 fastback shared the Torino GT body and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived on April 1, 1968.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Ranchero GT carried Torino GT trim; 1,669 GTs were built, per reference-site counts in the Standard Catalog lineage.
- Ford Thunderbird The new 429 Thunder Jet V-8 arrived as the Thunderbird's optional engine at 360 hp.
- Ford Torino Torino arrived as the new top series of the restyled Fairlane line, the Torino GT fastback became its volume performance car, and the 428 Cobra Jet was added on April 1, 1968.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone The Cyclone moved to the new Montego-based intermediate; the fastback outsold the notchback hardtop by about ten to one, and the 428 Cobra Jet arrived mid-year.
- Mercury Cougar The year of the 427 GT-E, the mid-year 428 Cobra Jet, and the XR7-G, with production down to 113,741.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 Neither the S-55 nor the Marauder model appears in the sources for 1968; no performance full-size Mercury production figure was found.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The restyled 4-4-2 became its own series, the W-31 small-block arrived, and Hurst built the first 455 Hurst/Olds: 515 cars in the tabulation.
- Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The new 340 arrived in the Formula S alongside the 383, and Plymouth issued a competition-only Hemi Barracuda under order code BO29.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite The GTX became its own model on the restyled 1968 intermediate body, still with the 375-hp 440 standard and the Hemi at $605, and outsold its first year.
- Plymouth Road Runner Plymouth added a stripped Belvedere-based coupe and hardtop with a special 335-hp 383 as standard and the 426 Hemi as the only engine option, and sold 44,599 of them.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am The first full season: the six grew to 250 cu in, the 326 gave way to a 350, and output rose to 107,112.
- Pontiac GTO A new 112-inch-wheelbase body with an Endura nose, the sport coupe dropped, and 87,684 built.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The last full-size Grand Prix: 31,711 hardtops, with a 390 hp 428 HO at the top.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The new two-door body arrives, and a 350 HO replaces the 326 HO.