AMC operated at a loss, with only their small, compact models truly selling decently. As a result, focus shifted to exclusively making smaller cars for the rest of that decade. Dick Teague, who had previously worked for General
After two model years (1963 and 1964) of only producing compact cars, AMC focused back to larger and more profitable cars like the Ambassador line from the perceived negative of the Rambler's economy car image. In the face of deteriorating financial and market positions, Roy D. Chapin, Jr....
and other popular designs—developed six concept cars to be touted on a 1977 North American press tour, dubbed “Concept 80,” through seven major cities. The design studies included several compact hatchbacks, a scaled-down Jeep reminiscent of a Willys, a diminutive electric car with Buck Roge...
The first generation AMC Javelin spent its 1968-1970 model life seemingly one step behind other pony cars such as Mustangs & Camaros. Essentially a shortened, fastback Hornet (certainly a decent platform to start from!) the Javelin was a nicer car than it got credit for. This SST model was...
The Trans Am street carshad a 390 cubic inch V8 (in Trans Am, they ran the 290) with AMC’s Go Package. To sweeten the pot, they threw in a Hurst 4-speed manual transmission, Ram-Air hood, spoilers, 140-mph speedometer, tachometer, power steering, front disc brakes, heavy-duty susp...
He grew up splitting his knuckles on British automobiles, came of age in the golden era of Japanese sport-compact performance, and began writing about cars and people in 2008. His particular interest is the intersection between humanity and machinery, whether it is the racing career of Wal...
EVs of the 1960s 1967: AMC Amitron With increasing concern about air quality in the 1960s and later the gas crisis of the 1970s there was an increased interest in electric vehicles in the US. The result was small city cars like AMC Amitron which sported a 150 mile range but never...
his bets with two additional Rambler models: the subcompact Rambler American (really the original Rambler with new skin) and the big Ambassador. This put AMC in the novel position of offering cars in three distinct sizes, something many of its competitors wouldn’t match until the mid-1960s....
“designer ego” or defensiveness. When I began getting to know him, about the time he retired after 22 years as American Motors design chief, Dick had come to terms with history’s verdicts on the Gremlin, Pacer, Matador coupe, the Marlin, and other cars attributed to him. He knew he...
The AMC Rambler and it’s successor the Hornet were cool American compact cars before compact cars were cool. I don’t have much to say about the base models other than that they seem like nice basic cars, but the SC versions are both batsh!t insane in a good way. Hurst and AMC pa...