I have wanted an SC ever since I saw one at the local drag track in Tucson,
Arizona, back in 1972. I was lucky enough to have one when I was a junior
in high school. My Dad said he would co-sign a loan for me to get my first
car. I found a Camaro, then a Mustang and even a Barracuda but he said
no to all of them.
Then I went on the base and sitting on the “for sale” lot
was the little SC Rambler. I called the owner and took the car out for
a test drive... I knew I had to have it. I called my Dad and told him
I had found the perfect car. He asked what it was and I told him it was
an AMC Rambler. He said..”Now that's a good dependable car"
and he said he would sign the paper for the loan tomorrow. I went and
signed up after my Dad did and that night he asked me to bring over the
Rambler for him to see it. Well he about had a cow when he saw that this
Rambler was Red, White and Blue…. and mean sounding. He said "You
got one over on me!" He let me keep the car as long as I promised
him I would not Drag Race on the street.
For the most part I kept my promise. I kept that same SC when I joined
the Navy in 1975 and used it when I got married to drive to my first Duty
station in Winter Harbor, Maine. I taught my first wife how to drive a
stick shift on that SC.
I won my share of Drag trophies. I drove it everywhere as it was our
only transportation. It never got stuck in the snow and never left me
stranded. I got a divorce (some bad memories there) in 1979. I sold the
SC to a local Drag Racer in 1980 to help pay some bills. He gave me cash
and a 1970 Javelin as a trade. I took the Javelin with me to Puerto Rico.
I knew some day I would get me another SC Rambler.
I had restored a 1953 Chevy Bel Air with a 700R4 Automatic and a 350
with TPI fuel injection. I did all my work and it took me 5 years to get
it done. The day I finished the Chevy, I found my SC in a barn in VA Beach.
I came home and told my new wife that I saw that same kind of car I had
as a teen for sale but it was a total basket case. She told me then and
there to buy the car and sell the one I worked so hard to restore, as
she knew the SC would mean so much more to me. I did sell my Chevy in
a week and went down with a flatbed and towed home my SC in boxes and
pieces and a rusted out body.
It has taken me 3 years to get it to its present rust free state and
I have had a smile on my face every day I have owned her. As you can see
I have now finished replacing both rear quarter panels. So in total I
have replaced both front floors, both quarter panels, the front passenger
side windshield post, the trunk lid and the rear tail light panel. After
all that, I am finally rust free and will get it painted this year. I
have done all the work myself and would even paint it if I had the room.
After it’s painted I will get the seats recovered. During the entire
process I still drive the SC when ever and where ever I can. I take it
to shows and enter in the "Under construction class". Just letting
people see such a rare car is half the fun ...I get bigger crowds then
the prettiest car in the show. I don't win many trophies but I enter the
shows for the fun and to talk with people and let them know that AMC made
a few cars that were ahead of its time and could hang with the Major 3!
She might not be the one I had in HS, but to me...it’s the same
car as it invokes the same feelings!!
Dave Phelps. |
