words Bob Sblendorio, photos Chris Penree
For owner Pete Maio, everything for this project just fell into place. Was it divine intervention? At the very least it was a dream come true. It’s quite common for car enthusiasts to feel that intense urge to relive their youth by acquiring their very first car later in life. I suspect some succeed while others do not. In Pete’s case, he was among the successful ones, embarking on an adventure that many car lovers will envy, all the while with the encouragement and support of his wife of 56 years.
I’ve written numerous car articles over the years and have never included myself in the narrative, but this time I must make an exception. A few years back I attempted to achieve what my car buddy Pete accomplished—and failed! I was on the hunt for a 1972 Ford pickup, a truck I bought for $50 when I was 16 and restored it with my best friend. After years of searching desperately to recreate that memory, I finally “surrendered” and ended up with a 2000 Ford Harley Davidson pickup instead. It’s a fantastic truck, but it doesn’t even come close to the original goal! However, Pete succeeded in doing what I had been trying to achieve for years—in spectacular style no less. He really should be offering a master-class to all of us car enthusiasts who fell short!
Original Rebel
At 19-years-old, while working at a dealership in Rome, New York, Pete became captivated by the AMC Rambler Rebel. That fascination soon turned into an obsession—a common occurrence for many young men of that era—leading him to that feeling that he had to own that car. With his father’s support, who set the budget maximum, he ordered his dream car with as many options as he could until the budget limit was hit. As a concerned dad, he also capped the engine size to no larger than the 290 ci V8, not the more powerful 343 ci. Ultimately, the car that was ordered was the 1967 AMC Rambler Rebel SST, a 2-door hardtop featuring a black vinyl roof in “Hialeah” yellow.
Even though he bought his dream car, life changes quickly at that age, and it was sold about a year-and-a-half later as he was preparing to get married.
The AMC Story
The largest corporate merger ever recorded at that time took place in 1954 with the establishment of The American Motors Corporation (AMC), resulting from the combination of Nash-Kelvinator Corp. and the Hudson Motor Car Company. The goal was to challenge the dominance of the “Big-Three”: GM, Ford, and Chrysler.
During the 1950s and 60s, AMC concentrated on compact cars, particularly the Rambler. In 1970 AMC then acquired Jeep, and in 1979, they formed a partnership with Renault, a French automobile manufacturer. By 1987 Chrysler took over AMC which was then facing severe financial difficulties. They eventually phased-out the AMC car brand while expanding the more profitable Jeep brand, which had been the main reason for the acquisition.
Focusing on Pete’s specific vehicle, the 1967 Ramble Rebel, this was AMC’s first model designed to compete in the muscle car space against the offerings from the Big-Three. The Rambler name was dropped in 1968, as the term “Ramble” seemed contradictory in the muscle car segment. The Rebel brand thrived until 1970, with models available in a base version called the 550, a deluxe version known as the 770, and the premium SST which was offered exclusively as a two-door hardtop.
The Rebel model concluded in 1970 on a high-note with the launch of The Rebel Machine, a striking car featuring red, white, and blue accents. It was equipped with a powerful 390 ci V8 engine that could produce up to 340hp, the highest horsepower ever provided by an AMC engine. The vehicle also had enhancements to its drivetrain and suspension.
The Quest
Apex Automotive Magazine was a wildly popular local publication managed by a team of volunteers, and Pete was part of our team. Central New York is a hotspot for classic cars, featuring tons of car shows, cruise-ins, and the largest car event in the Northeast, known as The Syracuse Nationals.
It was in 2019, at a local car show, that Pete came across a 1970 Rebel Machine that caught his eye, prompting him to exclaim: “I stopped dead in my tracks with all the fond memories of my first car racing through my head.” That moment ignited a passion within to recreate the dream of owning another 1967 Rebel SST.
Due to his excitement in seeing the Rebel Machine, he wrote an article about the car and its owners, which ignited his desire to find a 1967 Rebel for himself even more. That article played a crucial role in this “It Was Meant To Be!” story. (Click here to read that article.)
Together with his friend Collin Smith, a classic car buyer and seller, they discovered a 1967 Rebel SST at a home estate auction in Pennsylvania—but it had just been sold. The car was precisely what he was searching for. Collin, undeterred by the sale, reached-out to the new owner. “How would you like to triple what you just paid?”
The woman who purchased it hadn’t even taken delivery and was indifferent to the proposal. After some back-and-forth, the best Collin could manage was permission to come and take a look at it…and that was all. At least the door was slightly ajar. The following day he and Pete drove five hours from Upstate New York with a car trailer in tow, just to— “take a look.”
Upon their arrival, Collin, the primary negotiator got right to work. The negotiations were tense at times and eventually broke down.
Reluctantly, Pete began to walk away— “hold on, we’ll accept your offer,” the woman’s husband called out. And with that they were able to finalize the deal. The title was signed over, the car was loaded, and the journey home began. Securing a car which had already been sold, marked the first instance of “It Was Meant To Be!”
Restoration
The car arrived at its new home in May of 2024. Since the previous owner never took possession or title, it was effectively bought from the original owner. It came loaded with nearly all available options including the powerful 343 ci V8, which was rebuilt by the original owner. Although the car was in good overall driving condition, it didn’t meet the desired standards in terms of condition and color. Once again, his aim was to recreate what he bought new when he was just 19-years-old. To start with, the car was painted blue with a blue interior, not Hialeah yellow with a black interior like the original. Thus, the research and work commenced in earnest to restore the car to the one he had 57-years-ago.
Nearby there is a shop that specializes in high-end restorations, primarily focusing on building hot-rods. Pete was familiar with this shop because they had completed a one-off restoration of The Rebel Machine featured in the Apex article he wrote five years prior. Would they possibly take on his project, just as they did for the other owner?
He made his way to Brown’s Metal Mods in Port Leyden, New York, which was a short drive from his home, and met with the owner and master builder, Gary Brown. Gary was kind-enough to give the car a quick inspection and explained that they were extremely busy and this kind of project was generally not their focus.
Anticipating this response Pete was ready. He outlined his goals and then presented a copy of the Apex magazine featuring his article on The Rebel Machine that the shop had restored. Gary recognized the magazine and recalled that an article had been published years ago. “I wrote that article!” Well, that was it, and it was also the second “It Was Meant To Be.”
The car was delivered five months later in March of 2025 so that the work could commence. The plan was for a complete high-end restoration that encompassed everything except for the interior and vinyl top. Every single part and component was either restored or replaced. Pete worked diligently behind the scenes, conducting research and sourcing parts that needed replacement. The two major challenges included locating a new trunk lid, as the one on the car was from a different AMC model (a common practice by AMC), which didn’t fit properly. Additionally, Gary engaged Pete’s help to find a new rear right quarter panel since the existing one was damaged and filled with bondo body filler. With a stroke of good fortune, he managed to secure both parts by connecting with the right-people at the right-time.
After 10 months of dedicated work, the car was nearly one-hundred-percent complete, at which point it was sent to RP Interiors, located in the southern tier of Upstate New York. There, Rich Perez revamped the interior and installed the black vinyl top. Following this it was returned to Brown’s for a few final minor details, and the project was ultimately completed in February of 2026.
Pete has done an excellent job documenting the entire project from beginning to end, including a binder filled with photos. Upon looking through all the photos it must be stated the work done by Brown’s shop is absolutely stunning! The level of skill and effort executed by Gary and his two brothers Paul and Dylan, is extraordinary—and that might be an understatement. Click here to learn more.
The whole project was a year-and-a-half odyssey from start to finish, but the end result is a top-notch restoration that will surely be the envy of car enthusiasts throughout Central New York.
Final Thoughts:
For those that might be interested, the total cost of this ride was just shy of six figures all-in; however, for Pete the sentimental value far out-weighs the monetary value. Others who have reached a similar outcome with their cherished car might agree that the true value in the end is priceless.
Sometimes there are goals that surpass monetary worth, and this story illustrates that concept. It serves as an inspiring tale for fellow car enthusiasts who may be hesitant about embarking on a project. What’s that famous Nike slogan? …”Just do it!” That might serve as the appropriate guiding principle.
The plan for this summer is to participate in the Central New York car show circuit allowing people to admire this stunning ride and hear the story. Congratulations to Pete and his wife Rosemary!
Pete Maio’s – 1967 AMC Rambler Rebel SST (Super Sport Touring) | |
Model | SST, 2-door hardtop |
Engine Type | Gen-2 AMC V8 (Typhoon) |
Engine Specs | 343.1ci, 280hp, 365lb-ft |
Transmission | Automatic, Shift-Command console |
Fuel System | 4-barrel carburetor |
Valves | 16 valves, OHV |
Exhaust | Dual |
Performance | 0-60mph = 7.5 sec (approx.) |
Power Options | Steering, brakes, windows |
Options | Bucket seats, Tach, AM Radio, Clock |
Weight | 3290 lbs |
1967 Production | 15,287 cars manufactured |
Build Facility | Kenosha, Wisconsin |
