1971 AMC Hornet SC/360

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. As the sun set on big-block intermediates, automakers turned to junior muscle cars. One of the quickest -- and rarest -- was the 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360. See more muscle car pictures.

The 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360 was a musclecarthat reflected changing times. Even a year earlier in 1970, when muscle cars were at their pinnacle, the signs were there for those who chose to look. Federal safety watchdogs, state and nationalemissionsregulators,insurancecompanies -- even a changing social climate -- all took aim at the high-performance car.

For '71, the shots began to hit the target. Compression ratios retreated to accommodate regular-gradefuel, gross horsepower ratings began to fall to tamer-sounding net figures, and public relations-conscious automakers backpedaled. Into this upheaval stepped the 1971 AMC Hornet SC/360.

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"Introducing a sensible alternative to themoney-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.

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. Based on the compact Hornet, the SC/360 offered a 360-cid V-8 in 245-bhp two-barrel form or, as shown here, a 285-bhp ram-air four-barrel.

In standard form, it had a two-barrelcarband 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-speedwas a Hurst-shifted four-speed or anautomatic. Polyglas D70Xl4s were standard, with upgrades running to the handling package and the Twin-Grip diff with 3.54:1 or 3.90:1gears.

An SC/360 couldn't stay with the big-cube holdovers, but it did combine respectable quickness with a tautsuspension, big tires, and modest size for a package praised by Motor Trend as "just a plain gas to drive...it handles tike a dream."

©2007 Publications International, Ltd. With the optional Hurst-shifted four-speed, an SC/360 like this could turn high 14s. A sport suspension and efficient dimensions made it a pleasing handler.

The SC/360 turned out to be a sleeper in more ways than one. Even with a basepriceof 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.

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