When people think of American cars, the first vehicles that come to mind are Corvettes, Mustangs, and Hummers. However, there have been several smaller domestic carmakers throughout history. Some of them merged with larger companies, others just went out of business.

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The American Motors Corporation (AMC) released some very interesting vehicles during its tenure as a carmaker. Though they ended up getting overshadowed by more popular muscle cars, AMC cars were far from being tame. There are several facts gearheads never knew about AMC's muscle cars, but their classic cars were severely underrated.

10 1958 AMC Rambler

During World War II, the US showed the world that it was capable of producing some of the most advanced weaponry. When the war ended, the production of weapons and other military goods drastically diminished. Instead, companies started producing consumer goods that would satisfy the needs of the American people.

The Rambler is an American classic car that is much cheaper than people may think. Even if it is a collectible, it is possible to get a Rambler for less than $10,000 in good condition. The Rambler is not the most powerful AMC car ever made, but that is to be expected from a car released before 1960. The 3.2L straight six develops a decent 127 hp.

9 1965 AMC Rambler Marlin

The year 1965 was a very decisive one in the domestic automotive industry. The Mustang had been on the market for about a year, and the Camaro was just getting released. Pontiac was going toe to toe with Ferrari to figure out which company deserved to use the label GTO on their cars. AMC was working on developing its own muscle cars.

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The Rebel Marlin is not only among the most underrated AMC ever produced, it is also one of the most underrated muscle cars. At best, the Marlin comes with a 5.4L V8 that produces 270 hp. It is decent given the fact that AMC did not have the same resources as Ford and Chevrolet to manufacture more powerful cars.

8 1966 AMC Rambler Rebel

When looking at the two largest muscle car manufacturers, Ford and Chevy, it's clear the companies focused their resources on the most popular cars. For example, Chevrolet greatly overlooked fantastic cars such as the Nova and the Chevelle. The same thing happened at Ford Motors. The Gran Torino could have become a tremendous vehicle if Ford hadn't allocated most of its resources to the Mustang.

1966 AMC Rambler Rebel, Side
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The fourth generation Rambler Rebel is quite a stylish vehicle. In fact, it is an amazing base for a restomod. The Rebel is originally fitted with either the standard 3.2L inline six, or the optional 5.4L V8 rated at 270 hp. The Rebel is a true sleeper car that can easily beat more popular muscle cars on the quarter mile.

7 1969 AMC AMX

By 1969, the domestic muscle car market was pretty much saturated. Ford and Chevrolet were the de facto hegemons. Thanks to cars such as the Shelby GT500 and the Corvette L88, Ford and Chevrolet set the bar extremely high. As a result, smaller carmakers came up with more powerful cars in order to remain relevant.

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The AMX is not the sexiest muscle car ever made. Far from it. However, thanks to a 6.4L V8, the car is capable of cranking anywhere between 315hp and 340hp at best. Given its much smaller size and lighter weight (compared to most conventional muscle cars), the AMX is a collectible that gearheads should purchase before its value goes through the roof.

6 1969 AMC AMX3

Throughout the 1960s, several American carmakers had a go at producing cars that would rival European supercars. Pontiac tried with its Banshee, dubbed the "Corvette killer," back in 1964. Cadillac tried as well with its Eldorado Fastback in 1965. AMC realized that releasing an American supercar might help the company get more exposure.

The AMX3 is unfortunately no longer easily accessible. An AMX3 was sold a couple of weeks ago for $400,000. That is a lot for a car that was an abject failure when it was first announced. The 6.4L V8 is rated at 340 hp, which is great for a concept car released in the late 1960s.

5 1970 AMC Rebel Machine

The early 1970s witnessed the production of muscle cars that were extremely powerful for their time. Without any electronics providing drivers with support they may need, most muscle cars from that era were absolute beasts. AMC did not fail to produce its own monster.

The Rebel Machine is among the fastest AMC muscle cars. Thanks to its 6.4L V8 rated at 340 hp, the Rebel Machine is faster than some of the higher-end Mustangs and Camaros. Though the car's aesthetics are not some of the most exciting ones out there, the Rebel Machine is a true underrated American muscle car.

4 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360

From the late 1960s onward, pony cars became all the rage. Their racy styles and outstanding performances have conquered the hearts of generations of gearheads globally. While Pontiac and Oldsmobile were producing some elongated muscle cars, AMC went the other way and decided to produce much smaller muscle cars.

The Hornet SC/360 is the sort of compact muscle car that should be given a face lift. Equipped with a 5.9L V8, the SC/360 is a small car that still produces 245hp. That is a huge amount of power for a car that size. Unfortunately, SC360s tend to be on the more expensive side as they appreciated over time.

3 1974 AMC Hornet

In 1973, the oil crisis shook the world. Entire economies slowed down and the job market greatly suffered. Additionally, the US government ratified emission laws that completely undermined the well-being of domestic carmakers. The once iconic muscle cars saw their power outputs cut in half in some cases.

The Hornet is a stylish smaller muscle car. It is far better looking than some of the AMC vehicles released during the previous decade. Unfortunately, the Hornet came at best with a 5.9L V8 that only produced 175 hp. That is half the power of some AMC cars released in the late 1960s. Thankfully, the Hornet is a great looking car perfectly suited for a restomod project.

2 1974 AMC Javelin AMX

The effects of the oil crisis and the new emission regulations were felt across the board. For small carmakers such as AMC, this combination of issues prevented any astonishing cars from being produced. AMC vehicles now had an average design and a mediocre engine.

The Javelin AMX is not ugly, but it is not the prettiest car released during that year either. Sadly, its 6.6L V8 only produced 235 hp, which is absolutely nothing for a top-of-the-line muscle car. However, the Javelin has proven to be the most unconventional base for a sick restomod project. The Defiant, produced by Ringbrothers, is one of the meanest restomods out there.

1 1979 AMC Spirit AMX

1979 AMC Spirit AMX
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The late 1970s and early 1980s were by far the darkest era of the muscle car. Most engines were simply not cutting it. Iconic vehicles such as the Dodge Challenger were now Mitsubishis with Dodge badges on them. For true muscle car fans, it was the end of an era.

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The best part about the Spirit AMX is its looks. The car looks fast and aggressive – that's a fact! However, its 5.0L V8 is among the worst engines ever made by AMC. On a more positive note, it is possible to turn a 5.0L V8 into something that would knock your socks off.

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