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American Motors 196ci (1958–1965) specs: 196 ci 6-cylinder, 3.125 x 4.25 in (79.4 x 108 mm) bore and stroke. Rated 90-138 hp, 1958–1965.
The American Motors 196ci (1958–1965) is undersquare — the 4.25" stroke exceeds the 3.125" bore by 26.5% — a layout that trades peak RPM for leverage and torque low in the range. The 4.25" stroke puts mean piston speed at 4,000 ft/min around 5,650 RPM, which is where a production bottom end is generally considered at its limit. Each of the 6 cylinders displaces 32.7 ci (535 cc).
14 factory variants share these dimensions, rated from 90 to 138 hp across 1958–1965.
| Displacement | 196 ci |
|---|---|
| Bore | 3.125" |
| Stroke | 4.25" |
| Cylinders | 6 |
| Configuration | I6 |
| Compression ratio | 8–8.7:1 (published figures vary) |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 0.735 |
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Advertised HP | 90–138 hp |
| Years | 1958–1965 |
| Bore/stroke character | 0.735 — undersquare — stroke exceeds bore, which favours low-end torque |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 4,250 ft/min — in the range typical of performance street engines |
| Displacement per cylinder | 32.7 ci |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
These records share identical bore, stroke, displacement and compression. They differ by model year and factory power rating.
| Year | Advertised HP | Code |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 90 hp | — |
| 1959 | 90 hp | — |
| 1960 | 90 hp | — |
| 1961 | 90 hp | — |
| 1961 | 125 hp | — |
| 1962 | 90 hp | — |
| 1962 | 125 hp | — |
| 1963 | 90 hp | — |
| 1963 | 125 hp | — |
| 1964 | 90 hp | — |
| 1964 | 125 hp | — |
| 1964 | 138 hp | — |
| 1965 | 90 hp | — |
| 1965 | 125 hp | — |
1 factory vehicle, 1958–1965. Each year opens that model's engine table.