5 of the most American vehicles to wear red, white, and blue
On this Fourth of July, we’re taking a look back at some of the most America-centric vehicles ever sold. These are the cars and trucks that leave no doubt as to their origin and purpose.
You might think that it would be easy to just drape the stars and stripes over any car, but the U.S. flag code frowns on that practice. That’s why one of the Corvette’s crossed flags uses a Chevy Bowtie and a fleur-de-lis rather than the U.S. flag. However, that hasn’t kept manufacturers from showing their patriotism in other ways.
As you’ll see by the last car in our list, it’s up to interpretation … and it runs deeper than a couple coats of paint.
Racing livery AMC Javelins
AMC had “American” right in its corporate name, so it’s no surprise that it raced its sporty Javelin in a livery inspired by the stars and stripes. The Javelins that Mark Donohue raced on the road courses all across North America wore bold swaths of red, white, and blue and a similar paint scheme was offered to the public. Donohue’s 1971 effort in a tri-colored Javelin like the one seen at the top of the page gave the brand its first Trans Am series victory in 1971, and George Follmer backed it up for the brand in 1972.
1969 AMC SC/Rambler
AMC offered another red, white, and blue racer at the same time as its Javelin pony car was tearing up road courses, but this one prowled the streets and drag strips. The Hurst SC/Rambler used a 390-cubic-inch V-8 that breathed through an aggressive hood scoop to churn out 315 hp. The wilder of the two patriotic paint schemes, the one shown here is known as the “A” trim, distinguished by its red flanks. The SC/Rambler package also included subframe connectors, larger diameter sway bars, and disc brakes, so don’t let anyone tell you that muscle cars were only about straight-line speed.
1972 Ford Mustang Olympic Sprint
Few events bring a country together like the Olympics, and Ford’s celebration of the 20th Olympiad included Sprint packages were offered for the Pinto, Maverick, and Mustang. The blue rocker panels and hood stripes are accented by red pinstripes, and twin stars-and-stripes shields adorn each quarter panel. Inside, white vinyl seats received blue cloth inserts with red piping inserts, while the door panels were all blue. The darker rockers really fit these bigger fastback Mustangs and give them a sleek look.
1975 GMC Indy 500 Edition
It may seem a bit strange that an open-wheel car race has an official truck, but the Indy 500 is one of America’s most loved and historic races, and pickup trucks are perhaps the most quintessentially American of vehicle classes. The resulting mashup gave us strobing blue and red stripe graphics on a white background—a rather flashy look from GMC, as if the brand had pulled a page from the early ’70s Mopar muscle playbook. That’s OK by us. They’re a rare sight today, but fans of GM square-body pickups have created some impressive homages lately, keeping these Indy 500 Editions alive for new fans.
Dodge Viper (any of them)
There’s something inherently American about Dodge—the mid-range brand from the smallest, scrappiest member of the Big Three—building a bespoke engine and chassis for a no-nonsense sports car as rowdy as the Viper. Even though Dodge did have input from Lamborghini on casting the huge aluminum block, the resulting engine, which grew to more than 500 cubic inches, could hardly be more American. It’s basically a race small-block V-8 with two extra cylinders, and it managed to power the Viper to lap records across the globe. Weak sales proved downfall of the unapologetic and unforgiving Viper, since Dodge refused to offer an automatic transmission (to its everlasting credit). Even though the Viper is no longer in production, the fact that the final generation of the Viper was its most gorgeous and highest performing offers some solace.
As with any list, there are always some holdouts that don’t get their due. There are plenty of Bicentennial editions that we could have added to this list, but which ones would get the nod? You tell us: Which car or truck was (or is) the most unabashedly American?
JAVELIN wore it best!!!
How about the Rambler Rebel Machine?
AMC #1, & #2 on the list. Should have the Machine at #3. Finally Hagerty has got it right. Viper? NOT.
I concur! And the Javelin was the SCCA champ in that livery.
AMEN to you Casey!
Does anyone but me remember the 1976 (CJ5) Super Jeep? How much more AMERICAN can you get?
You are right but it was 1973 Super Jeep only one year.
A friend, a retired Air Force loadmaster, had one. Took it to Germany and participated in racing and off road events. Great truck.
THATS WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY,
How about the Spirit of America Chevrolet Impala of 1974.
I agree, I had a ” Spirit of America ” 1974 Vega !
74 Spirit of America Nova
I had one of those in the very late 70’s. I pulled the stripes off, repainted the original White, Bright White. I Blacked out the pillars and post with Flat Black below the lowest door edge and rocker panels. It already had a 1/4 Black vinyl top. Jacked her up with air shocks and replaced the front springs, and the biggest tires I could fit. (60’s? 70’s Frt) , SS Cragars all around. She looked bad ass, but wasn’t much of a mover. Aaaaw, the 70’s.
Agreed. Where’s the Machine?
Scratching my head why the Viper in the photo is neither red, white, nor blue.
HAGERTY MUST BE COLOR BLIND TO PICK THE UN AMERICAN VIPER , HAGERTY SHOULD TAKE THERE HEAD OUT OF THERE BUT AMERICA IS RED WHITE AND BLUE I AM PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN
It would be interesting to know why you think the Viper is un-American, when I think that most of us would see it as exactly the opposite.
Geez, aren’t we shouty, today? Shouldn’t this be posted on Truth Social?
BTW, guess which ones of these you should be using: their, they’re, there, but, butt. Also, when writing, punctuation is your friend.
…and before you go off and decide that based on my signature I’m not a PROUD AMERICAN, I was born and raised in the USA and still have my citizenship.
Happy 4th of July, y’all.
Also colour, not color …oh wait… this is July 4 not July 1
I was wondering the same.
I second that!
I third that!!!
I’m disqualifying the Javelin because it’s an after-market paint job not available to the public. So the Mustang takes the win of the choices offered here.
The Trans Am Javelins were R/W/B from the factory.
So we’re the 1970 Rebel Machines
Agreed, AMC did the best with red, white and blue factory paint jobs and the 1970 AMC Rogue ‘The Machine’ is the best.
AMC sold R/W/B Javelins in the racing scheme for one year only — 1969 IIRC. Only a few were made, and some dealers actually had the one they had painted a solid color in order to sell it! I believe they only had to make 500. Trans-Am homologation rules changed for the next year, requiring a percentage of production to have any special equipment. The 69 SC/Rambler was R/W/B — 500 with the wild wide stripe down the center and sides, 500 white with a red and blue rocker stripe. 1512 were made. There is no documentation on the last batch, but they are believed to be white with rocker stripes due to cost of the first wilder paint scheme. Then there is the R/W/B 1970 Rebel Machine. I don’t recall how many were made in that paint scheme, but you could order a Machine in any solid factory color — more colored than R/W/B models were sold. There was a Bicentennial Pacer also.
What about the red, white and blue Chevy monza mirage! V8 and a cool tribute car with fiberglass body panels and front spoiler.
There were 100 1970 Trans Am Javelins painted in R/W/B from the factory available to the public.
There were actually a very limited number of RWB from the factory.
You’re dead wrong, they manufactured 100 red white and blue 1970 javelins
Racing livery AMC Javelins for the win!
How about the 1975 Buick Pace car, https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Buick+Pace+Car&t=newext&atb=v308-1&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.deansgarage.com%2Fmedia%2F75CenturyPCpub.jpg
How about the Buick Pace car: https://www.deansgarage.com/media/75CenturyPCpub.jpg
1969 AMC AMX Super Stock (converted for AMC by Hurst) with its only option: the red, white, and blue AMC logo paint job. The most distinctly American auto company, for the most distinctly American type of motor sport, drag racing – can’t get any more ‘murican than that.
When I think of Red, White, and Blue the first thing that comes to mind is AMC, Javelin and Rambler!
The title reads wear Red, White and Blue and yet their final admission doesn’t.
Ridiculous.
yeah, can the viper
Once again, no mention of the three 1974 Spirit Of America Chevys (Impala, Nova Vega)?
https://novaresource.org/ads/74soan.gif
https://novaresource.org/rpo_Z51.htm
https://novaresource.org/history/soan01.jpg
https://novaresource.org/history/soan02.jpg
As a 1970 Nova SS owner since new, I’m so glad it was mentioned. Since my retirement several years ago, my Nova is my daily driver. It is all number matching and still looks like new. Actually better than new. I have all the factory drawings and as a Aircraft engineer (and very anal I mean picky) the car is as per drawing specifications.
The Javelin & the Rambler, both, take your pick !!!
The SC/Rambler are the best. Still see them at Cruise nights and car shows on occasion.
A yellow Viper…??!
Uhhhh… Why? 😳
1976 International Scout Spirit.
💥🇺🇸⚾️🥧
1976 International Scout Spirit.
I agree. That’s the one vehicle I immediately thought of as well.
And the 76 International Scout Patriot.