1966-69 American, Rogue, and Rambler

Submitted by mhaas on January 17, 2006 - 11:23pm.

1966-1968 Rambler American
1966-1969 Rambler Rogue
1969 American Motors Rambler
1969 American Motors Rogue


1967 American Four Door Wagon (shown in 440 trim)	1968 American Four Door Sedan (shown in base trim)

General Information

The Rambler American was restyled in 1966. The main reason for this restyling was to gain more clearance in the engine compartment so that air conditioning could be used with the new 199 and 232 in-line six cylinder engines ( 232 introduced in Classic in 1964, first available in the American in 1965, 199 replaced the 196 in 1966). 1965 Americans with A/C had to have the 196 because the 199 was longer, and there was no room for the A/C condenser with the longer engine. To solve this problem, the 66 models were made 3.8 inches longer, with three inches added to the inside of the engine compartment in front of the wheels, maintaining the same 106" wheel base. The extra length was obtained by reshaping the exterior body panels only -- the bare unit body is identical in all respects to the 64-65 unit body. This redesigned body was used through 1969 but there were several significant changes made for the 1967 model year that limits the body panels that can be shared with the later cars. This information is detailed in the 1966-1969 Series 01 Parts Swap Guide. Note that due to significant differences, 1969 SC/Ramblers are detailed separately.

AMC began phasing out the Rambler name in 1966, selling the Ambassador and Marlin as AMC models without the Rambler nameplate. The Rebel was also sold as an AMC beginning in 1968, leaving just the Rambler American and Rambler Rogue. For 1969 "Rambler" was dropped from the Rogue name, making it an AMC model, and the American was simply called the Rambler.

top

Body Styles and Trim Levels

There were three trim levels and five body styles available. The body styles and trim levels can be determined from either the model number on the door tag or the 4th, 5th, and 6th numbers of the VIN (see VIN Decoder and Unit Body Identification Plate for additional information on decoding the VIN and door tags). The body styles and trim levels are:

4 door sedan in 220* and 440 trim (66-68 American, 69 Rambler)
2 door sedan in 220* and 440 trim (66-68 American, 69 Rambler)
4 door station wagon in 220 trim (66-67 American)
4 door station wagon in 440 trim (66-68 American, 69 Rambler)
2 door convertible in 440 trim (66 in 440 trim, 67 in Rogue trim)
2 door hardtop (66-67 American in 440 trim, 66-69 Rogue)

* 220 designation not used for 68 & 69 base models.

top

Engines

The available engines are as follows. The 7^th character of the VIN is the Engine Code and indicates original engine size:

Engine Code J, 199 cid inline six, 128 hp, 8.5:1 compression ratio, 1 bbl, 1966-69
Engine Code L, 232 cid inline six, 145 hp, 8.5:1 compression ratio, 1 bbl (or 155 hp, 2 bbl), 1966-69 (2 bbl only in 66)
Engine Code M, 290 cid V-8, 200 hp, 9.0:1 compression ratio, 2 bbl, 1966-69
Engine Code N, 290 cid V-8, 225 hp, 10.0:1 compression ratio, 4 bbl, 1966-69
Engine Code Z, 343 cid V-8, 280 hp, 10.2:1 compression ratio, 4 bbl, 1967 only

If you are unsure of the size of the engine currently installed, you can check it's size by the following methods:

For inline six engines, there is a machined pad on the distributor side of the engine between the first and second spark plugs. This contains the six character Engine Day Build Code. The first digit indicates the calendar year the engine was built. 1966=8, 67=9, 68=1, 1969=2, etc. Due to a change in the numbering system, 1980 and later uses the last digit of the year (1980 = 0, 1981=1 etc.). The next two numbers will be the month the engine was made in. A letter code (usually the same as VIN engine code) will tell engine size and compression. It is possible that the engine has been replaced with a newer or older engine. 199, 232, and 258 cid six cylinder engines made between 1964 and 1971 are almost externally identical as are the engines made from 1972 through 1983. The bell housing bolt pattern changed in 1972, so only 72 and later engines are direct bolt in swaps. There will also be a number of different mounting holes on the intake depending on the year as well as valve cover variations. If the original intake and accessories are used there should be few problems swapping in any 71 or earlier engine.
For V-8 engines, the best way to tell size is to look at the size cast into the engine block near the first and second core (freeze) plugs on either side of the engine. Note that service replacement blocks do not have the displacement cast into them and tear-down to measure bore and stroke is the only way to positively identify the installed engine. The second way to identify engine size is from the tag attached to the valve cover. The valve cover tag will be coded the same as the inline six Engine Day Build Code (see above description).?
V-8 Engine Notes. It is not unusual to find an American with a V-8 engine instead of the original inline six, or a larger or newer V-8 to replace the 290 (or rare 343) the car was manufactured with. See performance section for details.

Note: Engine dates are calendar dates and not model year dates. Since model year production actual starts in the previous calendar year, it is possible to have, for example, an engine coded 1966 in a 1967 vehicle and be correct but an engine coded 1968 would not be correct for the same car since no 1967 models were manufactured in calendar year 1968.

top

Transmissions

The following Borg Warner transmissions were used in 1968 Rambler Americans. The general transmission type can be determined by the third digit of the VIN.

T-96 three speed manual (199 cid six)
T-14 three speed manual (232 cid six)
T-15 three speed manual (290 cid V8)
T-10 four speed
M36 three speed automatic (199 cid six)
M37 three speed automatic (232 cid six)
M40 three speed automatic (290 cid V8l)

Note 1: All three speed manual transmissions were available with an optional overdrive unit.
Note 2: All 1967 Americans with a 343 used T-10 four speed transmissions.

top

Production Numbers

Columns with a '-' in them indicate that the body and trim style were not offered for that year.

Body & Trim Style	1966	1967	1968	1969
4 door sedan, 220/base	15,940	12,078	15.144	16,234
4 door sedan, 440	14,543	10,083	11,179	11,957
2 door sedan, 220/base	24,440	26,196	39,480	51,062
2 door sedan, 440	5,252	3,317	-	-
2 door convertible	2,092	921	-	-
4 door station wagon, 220	5,809	3,667	-	-
4 door station wagon, 440	6,603	4,407	10,414	13,233
2 door hardtop, 440	10,255	4,994	-	-
2 door hardtop, Rogue	8,718	4,249	4,765	3,543
Total	96,652	69,912	80,981	96,029

Dates of model introductions:

1966 - Oct 7, 1965
1967 - Oct 6, 1966
1968 - Sept 26, 1967
1969 - Oct 1, 1968

1966 - 1969 MSRP & Option Listing
1967 American & Rogue Detailed Options Listing
1968 American & Rogue Detailed Options Listing

Notable low production number models:

1966	500 Rogues with the 290 engine. 2 tone yellow/black paint
	28 440 converts with the 290 engine - 25 w/auto, 3 w/4 speed
1967	921 Rogue convertibles
	58 cars had the 343. 3347 had the 290
	986 Americans had the 4 speed
	217 Americans had disc brakes
1968	116 4 door sedans with the 290 engine
	2604 cars with the 290 engine
1969	33 4 door sedans with the 290 engine
	14 2 door sedans with the 290 engine
	1608 Americans had a 4 speed (and 1512 were SC/Ramblers)

top

VIN Decoder

Model years 1966, 1967, and 1968 will have a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) tag located on the top of the right side shock tower in the engine compartment. Very early 1966 cars will have a serial number instead of a VIN. Model year 1968 cars manufactured after January 1st, 1968 will have a VIN tag in this location as well as on the left side of the dash board. This was due to a new federal law that standardized VIN locations for all manufacturers. This second location is visible through the windshield. Model year 1969 cars will have a VIN tag on the dash board only. The VIN is also stamped into the left frame sill behind the steering gear box. It is necessary to remove the steering gear box to view the VIN in this location.

1966 American Beginning Serial Numbers

It is unknown how many early 1966 vehicles used serial numbers instead of VIN's. It is quite possible that only a few very early production vehicles used them, and they could have had the serial numbers replaced with a VIN before being sold. If you have a 1966 model with a serial number instead of a VIN, please e-mail farna@att.net.

Engine Size	Beginning Serial Number	Beginning Export Number*
199 cid, 1 bbl	A100001	AK100001
232 cid, 2 bbl	B100001	BK100001
290 cid, 2bbl	C100001	CK100001
290 cid, 4 bbl	D100001

* The "K" indicates vehicle was a "knock-down" kit to be exported and assembled at destination. No 4 bbl 290 V-8 cars were exported.

top

1966 & 1967 VIN

The VIN can be decoded as follows (sample VIN is a Kenosha built 1966 American convertible with column shifted 3 speed and 232 cid 6):

Company	Year	Assembly Plant	Transmission	Body Type	Trim Level	Engine	Sequential Serial Number*
A	6	K	S	7	5	B	100001

Note: Digit 1 is always an A (American Motors).

Digit 2 - Year
6	1966
7	1967

Digit 3 - Assembly Plant
B	Brampton, Ont. Canada
K	Kenosha, WI

Digit 4 - Transmission
A	Automatic column shift
C	Floor shift automatic
F	Four speed floor shift, w/console
M	Four speed floor shift, w/o console (1967)
O	Overdrive column shift, 3 speed manual
S	Standard column shift, 3 speed manual

Digit 5 - Body Type
5	4 door sedan
6	2 door sedan
7	2 door convertible
8	4 door wagon
9	2 door hardtop

Digit 6 - Trim Level
0	220 trim
5	440 trim
7	Rogue trim

Digit 7 - Engine
A	199 cid, 1bbl
B	232 cid, 2bbl
C	290 cid, 2bbl
D	290 cid, 4bbl
E	232 cid, 2bbl (1967)
X	343 cid, 4bbl (1967)

*The last six digits are the numbers assigned to the car when it was ordered from the factory. Numbers starting at 100001 are assigned to cars made in Kenosha, WI. Numbers starting at 700001 are assigned to cars made in the Brampton plant in Ontario, Canada.

Note: All 1967's with a 343 were only available with a four speed manual transmission.

top

1968 & 1969 VIN

The VIN can be decoded as follows (sample VIN is a 1968 Rogue with a 4 speed w/console and 232 cid 6):

Company	Year	Transmission Type	Series	Body Type	Trim Level	Engine	Sequential Serial Number*
A	8	F	0	9	7	B	100001

Note: Character one is always an A (American Motors) and character four is always a zero (American/Rogue/Rambler).

Char. 2 - Year
8	1968
9	1969

Char. 3 - Transmission Type
A	Automatic column shift
C	Floor shift automatic
F	Three speed floor shift
M	Four speed floor shift
O	Three speed overdrive column shift
S	Three speed column shift

Char. 5 - Body Type
5	4 door sedan
6	2 door sedan
8	4 door station wagon
9	2 door hardtop

Char. 6 - Trim Level
0	Base trim
5	440 trim
7	Rogue trim

Char. 7 - Engine
A	199 cid, 1bbl
B	232 cid, 1bbl
C	232 cid, 2bbl
M	290 cid, 2bbl
N	290 cid, 4bbl

*The last six characters are the numbers assigned to the car when it was ordered from the factory. Numbers starting at 100001 are assigned to cars made in Kenosha, WI. Numbers starting at 700001 are assigned to cars made in the Brampton plant in Ontario, Canada.

top

Unit Body Identification Plate

The Unit Body Identification Plate for a 1966-69 Series 01 can be found on the latch edge of the driver's door. Cars built in Canada usually have a "1" in front of the standard numbers listed below. The tag can be decoded as follows:

Body

This is the number assigned to the body as it was being produced. This number is different than the last six digits of the VIN.

Model

This identifies the body and trim styles.?The first two digits are the year, the third the series, fourth body style, and fifth trim level. Base trim level is often left out (only four digits). Blanks indicate that the body and trim style was not available for the year in question. Replace "xx" with last two digits of year for complete model number.

Code w/Body Style and Trim	1966	1967	1968	1969
xx05-0 = 4 door sedan, 220/base trim	X	X	X	X
xx05-5 = 4 door sedan, 440 trim	X	X	X	X
xx06-0 = 2 door sedan, 220/base trim	X	X
xx06-5 = 2 door sedan, 440 trim	X	X	X	X
xx07-5 = convertible, 440 trim	X	X
xx08-0 = 4 door station wagon, 220 trim	X	X
xx08-5 = 4 door station wagon, 440 trim	X	X	X	X
xx09-5 = 2 door hardtop, 440 trim	X	X
xx09-7 = 2 door hardtop, Rogue trim	X	X	X	X

Trim

This identifies the interior trim style, color, and seat types. The trim code is a four character number that may be prefixed by a "T". The first character is the year, the second the trim level, third color, and the fourth is the seat type. A blank indicates that the body style was not available for the year in question. Letters after the numeric code indicate the corresponding seat and fabric types that were available. Special order interiors were available and will have a code of "00". Codes are as follows:

Trim Level	1966	1967	1968	1969
220/base	623 C/P - Blue 628 C/P - Black and White 629 C/P - Tan	723 C/B - Blue 728 C/B - Black and White 729 C/B - Tan	828 C - Gray and White 828 B/M/N - Black and White	923 A/B/C/D - Blue 928 A/B/C/D - Parchment
440/Rogue	641 C/D/E/P - Black 643 C/D/E/P - Blue 644 C/D/E/P - Green 645 C/D/E/P - Red 647 C/D/E/P - Aqua 648 C/D/E/P - White 649 C/D/E/P - Saddle	741^4,5 B/C/D/E - Black 743⁵ B/C/D/E - Blue 744^3,5 B/C/D/E - Green 745⁵ B/C/D/E - Red 747^1,3,5 B/C/D/E - Aqua 748^2,5 B/C/D/E - White 749⁵ B/C/D/E - Tan	843 C/B - Blue 844 C/B - Green 845 C/B - Red 848 C/B - Black and White	941 A/B/C/D - Charcoal 943 A/B/C/D - Blue 944⁶ A/B/C/D - Green 945⁷ A/B/C/D - Red
Convertible	641 C/D/E/V - Black 643 C/D/E/V - Blue 644 C/D/E/V - Green 645 C/D/E/V - Red 647 C/D/E/V - Aqua 648 C/D/E/V - White 649 C/D/E/V - Saddle	741 B/E - Black 743 B/E - Blue 744 B/E - Green 745 B/E - Red 747 B/E - Aqua 748 B/E - White 749 B/E - Tan

The list of seat types is as follows:

A - Base level, bench, Brigadier Pattern (1969 440 only)
B - Vinylair, Tahiti pattern
C - Fabric bench seat, "Lancaster" Pattern (1966, 1967) / Saratoga Pattern (1968, 1969)
D - Bucket seat with fabric insert, "Lancaster" Pattern
E - Porous vinyl bucket
M - black and white standard fabric (Regiment Pattern), optional individual reclining seats
N - black and white standard vinyl (Tahiti Pattern) optional individual reclining seats
P - Porous vinyl w/fabric insert, "Yucatan" Pattern - station wagon only
V - Porous vinyl bench - convertible only

Notes

1 - Fabric only
2 - Vinyl only
3 - 440 only
4 - Rogue only
5 - 440 uses B and C seats, Rogue uses B (convertible only), D (hardtop only), and E seats.
6 - Vinyl for station wagons, all others are fabric
7 - Sedan only

top

Paint

The following colors were available in 1966-1969. The original color can be determined by looking at the Paint code on the body tag. If there are two codes separated by a dash, the first code is the primary body color and the second code is the upper body (sometimes roof) or accent color. For example, a car that was black with a white top would have a paint code of 1-72. Paint codes may also be prefixed with a P or suffixed with an A. Note that some cars were painted non-standard colors. These cars will typically have a code such as " 00" or "SPEC". This was reserved for large orders in the special color, usually for fleet use.

Paint Code	Color	Years
1	Classic Black	1966-68
3	Antigua Red	1966
8	Mariana Aqua Metallic	1967
9	Bright Red	1969
10	Bright Blue	1969
15	Brisbane Blue Metallic	1966
16	Britannia Blue Metallic	1966
17	Crescent Green	1966
18	Grenada Green Metallic	1966-67
19	Balboa Aqua	1966
20	Cortez Aqua Metallic	1966
21	Marquessa Mauve Metallic	1966
23	Samoa Gold Metallic	1966
24	Caballero Tan Metallic	1966
25	Apollo Yellow	1966-67
31	Strato Blue Metallic	1967
32	Barbados Blue Metallic	1967
33	Royale Blue Metallic	1967
34	Alameda Aqua	1967
36	Yuma Tan Metallic	1967
37	Sungold Metallic	1966-67
38	Stallion Brown Metallic	1967
39	Matador Red	1968-69
40	Flamingo Burgundy Metallic	1967
41	Rajah Burgundy Metallic	1967
42	Satin Chrome	1967
43	Saturn Blue Metallic	1968
44	Caravelle Blue Metallic	1968
45	Blazer Blue Metallic	1968
46	Laurel Green Metallic	1968
47	Rally Green Metallic	1968
48	Tahiti Turquoise Metallic	1968
49	Laredo Tan Metallic	1968
50	Calcutta Russet Metallic	1968
52	Scarab Gold Metallic	1968
54	Turbo Silver Metallic	1968
58	Hialeah Yellow	1967-68
59	Pale Green Metallic	1967
62	Ascot Gray	1969
63	Castillian Gray Metallic	1969
64	Beale St. Blue Metallic	1969
65	Regatta Blue Metallic	1969
68	Alamosa Aqua Metallic	1969
70	Surf Green Metallic	1969
71	Hunter Green Metallic	1969
72	Frost White	1966-69
75	Willow Green Metallic	1969
76	Pompeii Yellow	1969
77	Butternut Beige Metallic	1969
78	Cordoba Brown Metallic	1969
79	Bittersweet Orange Metallic	1969
80	Black Mink Metallic	1969
88	Bright White	1969

Color samples can be viewed at http://autocolorlibrary.com/aclns.html

top

Sequential Assembly Number

The unlabeled number at the bottom of the body tag is the Sequential Assembly Number. This number was assigned to the vehicle as it entered the final assembly line. Cars assembled in Kenosha will have an "E" or "W" preceding the number. This designated the East or West assembly line. Cars assembled in Brampton will have a "B" preceding the number. Vehicles were assembled in batches as needed -- i.e., 10 Americans may be assembled then 20 Classics followed by 15 Ambassadors, etc. Minimum and maximum sizes of batches are unknown -- in some cases single cars may have gone through the lines. The first number used each year was 000001. Earlier years used a different numbering system.

top

Bibliography

The following sources were used to verify the information contained on this page:

AMC Rambler Club 1958-1969 Production Handbook
Cars & Parts Catalog of American Car ID Numbers 1960-1969, ISBN 1-880524-11-2
1966-69 American Motors Technical Service Manuals
1966-1969 American Motors Collision Parts Guide
Official AMC production records and trim codes acquired from Thomas Benvie, AMC Historian, tbenvie@attbi.com

top