1969 AMC Rambler Resources

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1969 AMC Rambler  Facts – Body Paint Color Codes

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1969 Rambler

1969 AMC Rambler Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1969 AMC Rambler Facts

Since its introduction, the Rambler American/Rogue was a great success for American Motors. In this, its final model year, 1969, the “American” name was dropped as the car was now referred to as the “American Motors Rambler”. Continuing the tradition of minimal changes, the models received a new suspended accelerator pedal and cable throttle linkage. A subtle adjustment was the removal of the V-8 option for the base 2-door and 4-door Sedans.

Models Continued with the Base, the 440, and the Rogue 2-door hardtop.  The SC/Rambler muscle car would evolve from the Rogue. (See Special Section below)

As a true compact-sized car on a 106 inch wheelbase, the Rambler station wagon had no domestic competitors, and it offered an interior space advantage compared to imported models with its 66 cubic feet  of cargo space.  Available only in 440 trim, the wagons came with a roll-down rear window with drop-down tailgate for cargo area access, as well as a roof rack.

Additional safety equipment for the 1969 models included front shoulder belts and headrests for both front outboard seating positions. The front parking lights were illuminated when the headlights were on. On the exterior, the “Rambler” badge on the grille bar was deleted.

Total production for the 1969 model year was 96,029.

Historical
The last U.S.-made Rambler was assembled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on 30 June, making the production total of 4,204,925 units.

1969 AMC Rambler Facts – The SC/Rambler

The SC/Rambler was produced this year in collaboration with Hurst Performance.  The objective of AMC with the SC/Rambler was to create a car made and promoted for a specific drag racing class, in this case the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) F/Stock class. (Oldsmobile used the same strategy with it Cutlass W-31 in 1968). American Motors asked Hurst to help develop a vehicle for the drag racing market. As such, stock class rules required a minimum of 500 identical vehicles to be produced and sold. 

The  “SC” in SC/Rambler, meant “Super Car”. The car is commonly referred to as a “Scrambler” by the media and the public.

The SC/Rambler was a competent performer with quarter-mile times in the low 14-second range.  It’s intention was to reach out to those individuals seeking performance at a bargain price, much like the Plymouth Road Runner had done on its release in the previous year. It had a suggested retail price of less than $3,000. Certain marketing brochures suggested that owners check the current NHRA rule book for current racing classification and whether any modifications were allowed.  It was one of the most underrated muscle cars,  with racers achieving a quarter-mile time and speed of 12.07 seconds at 114 mph  in full street trim using street tires!

Equipment
All Hurst SC/Ramblers came equipped with the 315 HP 390CID AMC V-8  extracted from the AMX line. This translated into 10.03 pounds per horsepower. No factory options were available for this package. Standard clutch was a 10.5-inch with a three-finger, long-style Borg and Beck pressure plate. The 390 engine was mated to a four-speed manual Borg-Warner T-10 with close gear ratios. A Hurst shifter came with a large metal “T” handle. The rear axle was an AMC 3.54:1 “Twin-Grip” limited slip differential using Dana internals. Factory cast-iron manifolds exited to a true dual exhaust with two-chamber oval mufflers. These were baffled mufflers, not glass packs. The exhaust exited through chrome tips.

While similar Rogue and other American models used standard drum brakes, the SC package used front discs along with a heavier front sway bar. A strengthened drive train and other body components were used. For example,  connectors between the front and rear sub frames were inserted. The rear end housing used fore-and-aft staggered rear shock absorbers to reduce wheel hop  due to the axle wrap that occurred under extreme acceleration conditions with leaf spring suspensions. The staggered shocks required a special plate riveted in the trunk pan, as well as brackets for the sub frame end of upper torque links. Another body modification that separated the SC/Rambler from regular hardtop Rambler Rogue models was rolled-back front and rear wheel openings to allow for larger tires.

Interior 
The Sc/Rambler was available only as a two-door hardtop. The interior came in standard gray charcoal vinyl-upholstered reclining bucket seats with a headliner embossed with small squares. The front seats reclined, and the new safety-mandated head restraints were upholstered in red, white, and blue stripes. The SC/Rambler included a standard 90-degree-arc dial Sun tachometer. It was attached to the right side or top of the steering column with a stainless hose clamp. The only factory option was an AM radio.

Exterior
The SC/Ramblers came with outrageous factory paint jobs. They featured a hood graphics at the front with “390 CU. IN.” and a an arrow pointing to a functioning box-type hood scoop  with “AIR” in large letters on both sides of it. The hood scoop allowed higher pressure cool air to pass through an air flapper that was vacuum operated, to a Carter AFB carburetor.

Other unique standard exterior items  included racing mirrors and blue painted “Magnum 500” 14×6-inch styled steel wheels with chrome beauty rings and AMC hub centers. Tires were E-70-14 fiberglass-belted, four-ply tires with red-stripe Goodyear Polyglas tires. American Motors priced the SC/Rambler at just $2,99.

There were two trim/colors produced: SC/Rambler in “A” trim and SC/Rambler in “B” trim.  AMC historians say that American Motors built 500 “A” scheme SC/Ramblers before switching to the “B” scheme, with 500 “B” models built before a switch to the final lot of 512 SC/Ramblers in “A” pattern. However, some “B” scheme models have very early build dates, putting their manufacture among the “A” scheme versions. AMC used the same paint codes for both “A” and “B” schemes, so it cannot be used to determine exactly how the 1512 cars rolled out of the factory. The paint codes “SPEC”, “SPECIAL”, “88A”, and “OOA” can appear with either the A scheme or B scheme. It is documented that 1,215 were painted in the “A” scheme, meaning that a total of 297 “B” scheme SC/Ramblers were produced.

NOTE
While the “street trim” SC/Rambler was capable of a 14.4 second quarter mile time, the automaker provided AMC dealers with numerous “Group 19” parts and upgrades that allowed SC/Rambler models even quicker. Well-tuned legal stock S/Cs with allowable changes have run in the 12-second range.

1969 AMC Rambler Facts – Powertrains

• Engines
  • 199 CID one-barrel 128 HP I-6 – Standard on Sedans and Wagons. Not available on Rogue Hardtop.
  • 232 CID one-barrel 145 HP I-6 – Optional on Sedans and Wagons. Standard on Rogue Hardtop.
  • 290-CID two-barrel 200 HP V-8 – Optional on 440 Series and Rogue.
  • 290-CID four-barrel 225 HP V-8 – Optional on 440 Series and Rogue.
  • 390-CID four-barrel 315 HP V-8 – SC/Rambler Machine Only.
• Transmissions
  • Three-speed manual transmission was standard – except SC/Rambler – not available.
  • Automatic transmission was optional on all – with floor control when console mounted and where available – except SC/Rambler – not available.
  • Four-speed manual floor shift transmission optional, with V-8s only. Standard with SC/Rambler.
• NOTE: The automatic transmission was cited as not available on the SC/Rambler. 

1969 AMC Rambler Facts – Powertrain Options

• Transmissions
  • Automatic transmission ($171) with “Shift-Command” floor shift and console ($188).
  • Three-speed Overdrive manual transmission ($166).
  • Four-speed manual transmission with floor shift  in Rogue ($193).
• Transmission Ratios
  • Three-Speed Manual Transmission
    • 199 CID I-6 –  First: 2.61:1, Second: 1.63:1, Third 1:1. Reverse: 3.54:1. Synchromesh 2nd & 3rd gears.
    • 232 CID I-6 –  First: 2.64:1, Second: 1.61:1, Third 1:1. Reverse: 2.64:1. Synchromesh all forward gears.
    • 290 V-8 –  First: 2.55:1, Second: 1.56:1, Third 1:1. Reverse: 2.55:1. Synchromesh all forward gears.
  • Four-Speed Manual Transmission
    • 290 and 390 V-8 – First: 2.23:1, Second: 1.77:1, Third: 1.35:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.16:1.
  • Three-Speed Automatic Transmission
    • 290 2-bbl V-8 – Low: 2.39:1, Second: 1.45:1, Direct 1.00:1. Reverse: 2.09:1
    • 290 4-bbl and 390 V-8 – Low: 2.40:1, Second: 1.47:1, Direct 1.00:1. Reverse: 2.00:1
• Rear Axle Ratios
  • 128 HP I-6:
    • 3-Speed manual transmission: 3.08:1; Optional: None.
    • 3-Speed manual Overdrive transmission: 3.15:1; Optional: None.
    • 3-Speed automatic transmission: 2.73:1; Optional: 3.08:1.
    • 3-Speed automatic transmission with A/C: 3.08:1; Optional: 2.73:1.
  • 145 HP I-6:
    • 3-Speed manual transmission: 3.08:1; Optional: 3.31:1. 
    • 3-Speed automatic transmission: 3.08:1; Optional: 3.31:1.
    • 3-Speed automatic transmission in Rogue 2.73:1; Optional: 3.08:1.
  • 200 HP 290 CID V-8:
    • Automatic: 2.87:1 Optional: 3.15:1.
  • 225 HP 290 CID V-8:
    • 4-Speed manual transmission: 3.54:1; Optional: None.  Rogue Only.
  • 315 HP 390 V-8:
    • Four Speed Manual: 3.54:1. NOTE: See Optional ratios.
• NOTE: Axle ratios available from 2.87:1 to 5.00:1 with some Dealer installed. Twin Grip axle available on all ratios. See AMA Specifications, page 17 for all available ratios – HERE.

1969 AMC Rambler Facts – Significant Options

• Prices where known
  • • Air conditioning package includes Solex glass and power steering ($387).
    • Automatic transmission oil cooler ($18).
    • Black or white vinyl roof, Rogue only ($79).
    • Code 56-4 Appearance Group for Base Rambler – sill moldings and wheel discs ($39).
    • Code 70-1 Handling Package with heavy-duty sway bar, shocks and springs ($17).
    • Custom steering wheel, standard in Rambler 440 and Rogue ($12).
    • Electric windshield wipers, standard in V-8s ($15).
    • Front and rear bumper guards, except wagon ($25).
    • Full-wheel discs ($21).
    • Light Group includes door switches, trunk, courtesy, glove box and other lamps ($23).
    • Power brakes ($42).
    • Power steering ($90).
    • Radio, push-button and antenna, ($61).
    • Rambler sedan/hardtop, Size 6.45 x 14 two-ply whitewalls, exchange ($32).
    • Rambler station wagon, six 6.95 x 14 two-ply whitewalls, exchange ($32).
    • Rambler V-8, Size 6.95 x 14 two-ply whitewalls, exchange ($32).
    • Reclining bench seats ($52).
    • Special paint color application ($39).
    • Sports steering wheel, available Rambler Rogue only ($30).
    • Station wagon rooftop rack ($39).
    • Tinted glass, all windows ($32); windshield ($23).
    • Two-tone paint ($24).
    • Undercoating and under hood insulation pad ($21).
    • Visibility Group with outside rear view remote control mirror, electric wiper & window/washer. ($29).