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April 7, 2009
CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot: The 1971 AMC Hornet SC 360
By Jim Brennan
UDMan
Welcome to the CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot, a regular feature which aims to expand the notion of what a muscle car is, and to shine a little light onto vehicles that certainly deserve a second look. At the beginning of the 70′s, when muscle cars were at their pinnacle, the signs were there for those who chose to look. Federal safety watchdogs, state and national emissions regulators, insurance companies, and even a changing social climate took aim at the high-performance car. For ’71, the shots began to hit the target. Compression ratios retreated to accommodate regular-grade fuel, gross horsepower ratings reverted to net figures, and public relations-conscious automakers backpedaled. Into these turbulent times stepped the 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360.
The 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 was a muscle car that reflected the changing times. “Introducing a sensible alternative to the money-squeezing, insurance-strangling muscle cars of America,” said its advertisement. “The Hornet SC/360.” Hornet was the company’s newest compact, and the two-door sedan was a reasonable basis for a low-profile muscle car. Original plans called for both an SC/360 and an SC/401, but when AMC discovered that a 401-cid Hornet probably wouldn’t provide much of an insurance edge, the 360-cid V-8 alone was borrowed from the Javelin AMX.
In standard form, it had a two-barrel carb and a modest 245 bhp. The $199 “Go” package included a four-barrel and a ram air setup for a more satisfying 285 bhp. These were gross ratings. Optional in place of the standard three-speed was a Hurst-shifted four-speed or an automatic. Polyglas D70Xl4s were standard, with upgrades running to the handling package and the Twin-Grip diff with 3.54:1 or 3.90:1 gears. Hot Rod Magazine tested this hot Hornet with a 1/4 mile time of 14.80, at 94.63 mph.
An SC/360 couldn’t stay with the big-cube holdovers, but it did combine respectable quickness with a taut suspension, big tires, and modest size for a package praised by Motor Trend as “just a plain gas to drive…it handles like a dream.” It was more than competitive with the other “compact” muscle offered at that time, including the Duster 340 (and its twin, the Dodge Demon 340), and the Chevy Nova SS 350. The Ford Maverick Grabber with the 302 just started production, with only 210HP.
The SC/360 didn’t set any sales records. Even with a base price of just $2,663 (about $40 below the ’71 Duster 340), it made up only a fraction of the 75,000 Hornets built for ’71. The SC/360 died after just one year as one of the muscle car era’s better-kept secrets. Only 784 were ever produced.
CarDomain Members Rides
I knew there had to be some CarDomain members who own one of these rare classics, and it looks like there are three actual SC360′s and one clone. Let’s take a look at that clone–it belongs to Mark from Boulder City, Nevada. And though it looks like an actual SC360, leave it to Mark to actually tell the truth. Good one!
The other three actual SC 360′s are in various states of restoration. Here’s Joe’s green Hornet, from Medina, NY. Here’s Pete’s SC 360, from Fort Langley, BC, having an extensive restoration done. And last but not least, here’s Stephane’s blue SC 360, from Gatineau, Quebec, and it looks almost done.
Well, what do you think of this very rare, and very obscure AMC? Is is a Muscle Car, and does it belong on the parking lot? Remember, this was the most potent of the “compact” muscle cars, unless you compare it to a Nova SS 396, which wasn’t offered after 1970. It also has rarity going for it, with fewer than 800 produced. And you’ve got to hand it to AMC for offering something that was just this side of quirky. Let me know what you think.
A good friend of CarDomain, Richard Truesdell, is credited with a great article that was published in the UK based magazine American Classics. It dealt with the Hornet SC 360, along with its contemporaries like the Nova, the Dart, and the Mustang, and you can read all about it here.
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CarDomain Obscure Muscle Car Parking Lot Year End Wrap-Up; The 70’s OPEC Inspired Cruisers – CarDomain Blog
Jan 4, 2010 at 10:17 am
[...] Full Sized Muscle Cars. – The 1970 Oldsmobile Rallye 350, or what it really was, the 442 Light! – The 1971 AMC Hornet 360 S/C, a follow-up to the S/CRambler. – The 1971 – 72 Plymouth Sport Fury GT. This was a full sized [...]
lifeonacloud
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:38 am
“damn thats not a bad idea, i might have to think about that, get a cobalt and put in a 383 stroker and make it RWD or maybe even AWD… hmmmmmm lol”
lol that’s cute. My buddy had an insane fast cobalt, which he drove like a girl, and riiiiight into a meridian. Oops.
lifeonacloud
Apr 15, 2009 at 8:37 am
That car has some porportion issues. I’d agree it’s muscle, but its like every other 70/71+ muscle car, where everything just got so ugly.
Katakuna
Apr 11, 2009 at 4:32 pm
It reminds me of a Mustang II in its styling, but then again I’m one of the few who actually like the Mustang IIs.
I definitely consider this an obscure muscle car.
dragorphan
Apr 9, 2009 at 2:35 am
a buddy of mine had one in high school. that car was a blast to drive. his had headers after market intake and carb plus 4.30`s and slicks for friday nites. definatly a muscle car it ran 13.20`s at english town.
Bluestinger
Apr 8, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Darn right it’s muscle and it’s anything but ugly. Have you ever seen one in person? The SC360 is a great looking car.
dgaf88
Apr 8, 2009 at 7:47 pm
Its ugly, but it’s muscle.
PathosBedlam
Apr 8, 2009 at 6:40 am
dudefromthenorth Said:
Apr 7, 2009 at 9:30 pm
It’s crazy how much it looks like an Americanized Cortina Mk3.
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I totally agree, it’s like someone took a Cortina and beefed it up. But the final result is something I could definitely see myself having a lot of fun in. It’s like a mini dodge challenger or something, but it sounds like it handled pretty good too. Would have been fun on tight corners, a bit like a well set up Mini.
wsbob
Apr 8, 2009 at 12:27 am
Yeah its a muscle car. Its not the most muscular, but if it competes with a Chevy Nova, its definitely a muscle car
dudefromthenorth
Apr 7, 2009 at 9:30 pm
It’s crazy how much it looks like an Americanized Cortina Mk3.
retroman
Apr 7, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Well, it seems that anymore, all AMCs are obscure. You just don’t see them all that much at shows, let alone on the street. When I worked fast food, we used to have this Gremlin come through. Everyone would be like “What is that thing?” Then someone would say “It’s so ugly” and someone else would reply “I don’t know. It’s kinda different. I like that.” Needless to say, I’m glad there are underdog muscle cars like these. I just wish Chrysler would let AMC live again and start making retro looking Gremlins, Hornets, and Pacers.
Bluestinger
Apr 7, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I can’t believe you included my car in the article. I’m flattered. Even though it’s a clone, the person who built the car attempted to make it as close to an original SC360 as possible. The engine is factory correct and the hood scoop is a factory scoop not a repop. As the photos show, my car is missing the wraparound stripe. I had the car repainted and I have a new stripe kit which I need to put back on. It’s definitely a fun little car.
SouthernGuy8503
Apr 7, 2009 at 2:00 pm
im not really into AMC but i bet they preformed just as good as the chevy, pontiac, ford and mopar, from what i’ve seen it looks like all their cars were small compact and they’ll put big blocks in them so thats a lot of power in a light car, well light car compared to the other muscle cars from that time, now a days that would be like if you put a SB 350 or 383 stroker in a little cavilier or cobalt, would just have to beef up the front suspension and make it into RWD, even though 350 and 383 ain’t big block but since newer cars are a lot ligher it would still be the same thing, a SB V8 in a newer compact car would be the same as a BB in an older muscle car…… damn thats not a bad idea, i might have to think about that, get a cobalt and put in a 383 stroker and make it RWD or maybe even AWD… hmmmmmm lol
88eurotrash
Apr 7, 2009 at 1:48 pm
YES, I agree this one. little car+v8=musclecar