'70 AMC Rebel "The Machine"

A closer look at the rear corner of the door. I saw this years ago on my 1970 Javelin and noticed the poor fit on other AMC cars. I may replace the passenger side. The driver's door has the body tag and the VIN sticker. The metal tag can be transferred bit the sticker is permanent. I have been in contact with a company that claims to be able to reproduce the driver's door VIN sticker EXACTLY. I am very skeptical of this. They charge 70 dollars. For that price I want it EXACT, no BS.

My vehicle sat around a while before being purchased. According to Mike Levi, a fellow MACHINE owner, 390 of them sat on dealers lots after the 1970 model year ended. That matches the 390 unit discrepancy in production figures. The factory tally sheet says 1,936 but many publishings state the figure at 2,326. I believe that the 390 "orphans" were added to the production figure by some idiot somewhere.

Why did this turn into a build thread full of blurry, snapshot, cellphone pics?

Okay. Replace "cellphone" with "Olympus". My question remains unanswered.

I am a photographer. I know how and why photos get degraded. That was not my question.

Try getting your image right in-camera. This will increase IQ (even when shooting with an Olympus), due to the lack of the need to enlarge, crop, etc.

Imagine having to explain THAT on a photography forum!

Call if you want better photos of your build. I'll bring a potato.

My original response, deleted, was from a bad mood and my presumption that you were trying to belittle me. Maybe I was wrong. We'll see. Here is a better response:

These photos that I post were taken for MY RECORDS, not this forum. I take them spur of the moment, in the cold, not properly dressed for the weather conditions. I put them here, as an after thought to illustrate the series of events happening with the car. My involvement here is only to show the progress of that car not to try to be an expert photographer. Most of my pictures have been pretty good (in my opinion) even though I have a lowly Olympus camera.

I must assume, by your remarks that you look down on people with Olympus cameras. Oh well, that is what I bought, on sale, about 15 years ago because the camera at work was real junk and I needed to take pictures of machines at work. I will use it until it fails to function. There is no money in my budget for a new camera. The wimpy Olympus will have to suffice. I have spent too much money on my cars and all the parts in the past few years that I have NOT shown here yet (well over $20,000.00.)


The build tally sheet from American Motors assembly records is a crappy one I found on the internet, again it is here to convey information ONLY. The original copy and any subsequent images of it were most likely destroyed decades ago when Chrysler got it's filthy hands on everything at American Motors (and destroyed all it's historic documents) and it is with luck that the 1 known image exists!

As you can see, the car was apparently rear ended at one time. The typical shoddy repair and sloppy repaint is a nightmare that us old car guys must endure. Very few people take enough pride in their work to do a good job. The valance panel that is the piece below the (removed) bumper is haphazardly "repaired" and primitively spot welded on, NOT COOL! The 4 door "donor car" that I bought a few weeks ago has supplied a non-mangled, slightly dented one that is 1000 times better. I am in the process of stripping it so I can straighten and level the dents and attach it PROPERLY to my car shown here. You gotta love that they painted the car with the bumper in place and have all that yellow primer overspray and polishing compound residue underneath it.

mc5fan1968 wrote in post #17970480
My original response, deleted, was from a bad mood and my presumption that you were trying to belittle me. Maybe I was wrong. We'll see. Here is a better response:

These photos that I post were taken for MY RECORDS, not this forum. I take them spur of the moment, in the cold, not properly dressed for the weather conditions. I put them here, as an after thought to illustrate the series of events happening with the car. My involvement here is only to show the progress of that car not to try to be an expert photographer. Most of my pictures have been pretty good (in my opinion) even though I have a lowly Olympus camera.

I must assume, by your remarks that you look down on people with Olympus cameras. Oh well, that is what I bought, on sale, about 15 years ago because the camera at work was real junk and I needed to take pictures of machines at work. I will use it until it fails to function. There is no money in my budget for a new camera. The wimpy Olympus will have to suffice. I have spent too much money on my cars and all the parts in the past few years that I have NOT shown here yet (well over $20,000.00.)


The build tally sheet from American Motors assembly records is a crappy one I found on the internet, again it is here to convey information ONLY. The original copy and any subsequent images of it were most likely destroyed decades ago when Chrysler got it's filthy hands on everything at American Motors (and destroyed all it's historic documents) and it is with luck that the 1 known image exists!

I decided you quote you this time, just in case this is another "bad mood post".

"My involvement here is only to show the progress of that car not to try to be an expert photographer." < Here lies the problem.

Just in case you weren't sure, you are in a PHOTOGRAPHY forum full of people who are trying to be better at photography. Please allow me to point you in the right direction. Have you tried The AMC Forum? They even have a Member Projects area that your posts here would be PERFECT for!

Don't get me wrong. Your photos and coverage are full of information. They just don't belong here.

96whiteknight wrote in post #17970537
Don't get me wrong. Your photos and coverage are full of information. They just don't belong here.

I personally enjoy this thread, the photos, and the project. It seems to fit in with "Photo Sharing & Visual Enjoyment" as far as I'm concerned.

I didn't think wanting to be an expert photographer was a requirement for membership on POTN?

From the main page . . . "Discussion and photo sharing Forum for all digital camera enthusiasts. photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums has separate boards for different camera types. Forum contains also photo sharing and gallery discussions, general photography and technique discussion areas. Photo equipment reviews, gear ratings and great member galleries. The best and most friendly photo forum on the net!"

Pekka might want to revise the "most friendly photo forum on the net!" part.

neacail wrote in post #17970545
I personally enjoy this thread, the photos, and the project. It seems to fit in with "Photo Sharing & Visual Enjoyment" as far as I'm concerned.

I didn't think wanting to be an expert photographer was a requirement for membership on POTN?

From the main page . . . "Discussion and photo sharing Forum for all digital camera enthusiasts. photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums has separate boards for different camera types. Forum contains also photo sharing and gallery discussions, general photography and technique discussion areas. Photo equipment reviews, gear ratings and great member galleries. The best and most friendly photo forum on the net!"

Pekka might want to revise the "most friendly photo forum on the net!" part.

He is not a digital camera enthusiast. Therefor, this is not the place for him.

96whiteknight wrote in post #17970563
He is not a digital camera enthusiast. Therefor, this is not the place for him.

I don't see anything that leads me to that conclusion. I see evidence of the opposite. He is using a digital camera to document events, and he's doing in a way that is quite clear and concise.

I'm sure if PhotosGuy---the OP, a forum Mod, and someone who responds to this thread with some regularity---objected, the thread would have been locked if the content was truly not appropriate.

But, I didn't post to this thread to bicker with you. I posted to the thread to let mc5fan1968 know that not everyone shares your view with regards to what is appropriate content on POTN and that you don't speak for all of us.

Fortunately you don't run the place. I for one have enjoyed the thread. You don't have to look at the thread either. If you truly don't think it belongs here, report it.

neacail wrote in post #17970585
I don't see anything that leads me to that conclusion.

mc5fan1968 wrote in post #17970480
My involvement here is only to show the progress of that car not to try to be an expert photographer.

There you go.

neacail wrote in post #17970585
He is using a digital camera to document events

I am using a keyboard to type this to you. Does that make me a keyboard enthusiast?

It's like the Car people that hate AMCs. Anything from AMC is garbage because it isn't a GM, Ford or Chrysler. Then you hear all the stupid "All Makes Combined" jokes and the old wives tales about AMCs manufacturing and using old parts from the other auto makers. I have no use or tolerance for it. It was old in the 1970s and I sure as hell do not want to hear it now! Thank you for your kind words and support!

I have taken thousands of pictures of cars and of my pets. This is MY vehicle! You are full of yourself. YOU don't belong on this thread!