Tuesday, July 15, 2008

AMO 2008: Circle the wagons!

SC/Rambler station wagon

While you Yanks were eating bratwurst watching fireworks this past weekend, I was up in Kingston, Ontario, for an equally patriotic event, but with a twist: The American Motors Owners Association for the second time in its history held its annual convention in Canada, which made for much clashing of accents and currencies. Definitely not the largest AMO meet, but anytime the meet moves eastward, attendance drops. Still, some neat cars showed up, including an abundance of station wagons.

For example, the SC/Rambler two-door wagon above had a lot of interesting what-ifs going for it: What if AMC built a two-door American wagon in the late 1960s? What if AMC applied the SC/Rambler formula to an American wagon body?

Cross-Fire Chevy in SC/Rambler station wagon

But the Cross-Fire Injection small-block Chevrolet V-8 underhood stopped that cool what-if vibe dead in its tracks.

Rambler American station wagon

Another late 1960s Rambler American station wagon showed up, though this one an honest driver with four doors and awesome patina.

Rebel 770 Cross Country station wagon

Rambler American station wagon too small for your burgeoning family? How about a Rebel 770 Cross Country station wagon in similar colors?

Rebel 770 Cross Country station wagon

Ambassador SST station wagon

Still not big enough? then step up to this 1969 Ambassador SST station wagon, owned by Tom Bunsey of London, Ohio, and fitted with a 390-cu.in. V-8.

Rambler Classic 770 station wagon

Then on the show field Saturday, I spotted a couple older wagons, including John McGhee’s Keswick, Ontario-based 1965 Rambler Classic 770.

327-powered Ambassador station wagon

And next to it John Hampton’s Lansdowne, Ontario-based 1965 or 1966 Ambassador wagon, equipped with the 327-cu.in. V-8.

Check back tomorrow for more coverage from Kingston, including one incredibly rare Hornet.

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