Automotive History in Kenosha, WI

In memory of and thank you to Tony Salituro, Vince Ruffolo and Don Jensen for their help in this video.
Unfinished Video of the History of Automotive in Kenosha, Wisconsin. The video was started in 2002, my senior year in highschool. It was part of our "NO DOORS PRODUCTIONS" group.

[@lennylexx5611]

I had 2 1970 AMC AMX. Loved em. My sister had a 68 Javelin, my girlfriend had the Gremlin, a friend bought a Pacer, another bought a 4 wheel drive AMC wagon, another friend had the AMC Javelin SST. Those were the days

[@charleebunch6637]

Lenny Lexx yep,I wish I could afford to restart amc just like the April fools article in hot rod, I truly believe that it would be successful

[@vladimirvolkhov6786]

Love to have a 68-69 AMX, 71/72 Javelin SST, gremlin , 71hornet. Well hell just about any AMC.

[@ericknoblauch9195]

​@@charleebunch6637 Now that Chrysler is part of Stelantis, they could do it if they wanted to. Chrysler bought AMC before merging. They quickly shut them down, and kept Jeep. Now Chryslers brand is down to only two models, and one of them is being discontinued. They should shut down the Chrysler brand, and relaunch AMC. Chrysler got two government bailouts, and AMC got nothing. AMC should have been bailed out, and Chrysler should have not been bailed out. Stelantis should relaunch AMC, and turn it into a big company.

[@jckaok]

From everyone who grew up in Kenosha and had an interest in this company; thanks for posting this.

[@rogerstill71]

Reading the captions is hilarious, while you get an excellent narrative of the Kenosha autoworks.

[@ManiaMusicChannel]

Nice to here about these stories about AMC, interesting. Fan of AMC and Chrysler, 2 of the underdogs and most unique car companies

[@olicityfan1150]

Thanks for this always wanted to learn more about this company ever since I found out my great grandfather Alfred Seaberg worked for the company

[@richvalentine1889]

Thank you for posting, my dad worked there, he retired in 1990

[@goatfokerkadyrov7528]

U prolly got half-siblings u don’t know about

[@boggy7665]

15:02 - Nash-Healey sports car. European bodywork, American drivetrain. 507 made 1951-54. 15:16 - Hudson Italia. Inherited in the buyout of Hudson. Only 26 made. Liberace owned one, iirc what I read on the web somewhere. 15:30 - Nash Rambler, introduced 1950. 100" wheelbase. 'First successful American compact car' 16:52 - 1957 Nash Rambler, 108" wheelbase. Smaller than Big 3 cars. I remember these fit in the smaller garages of the era while the Big 3 land yachts were a tight squeeze if they even fit at all. 20:52 - In 1954, Nash introduced the modern air conditioner. Relatively inexpensive, components under the hood, fully integrated with the heating and ventilation system, 100% dashboard controls. Available on the compact Rambler, as well as on Statesman and Ambassador. "It could freeze you out," an owner recalled. That's what's at 20:52, she's adjusting the A/C vents. Some luxury cars of the era offered A/C, but they were heavy, costly units that took up trunk space and had unsightly ductwork. So, 'Arriving clean and fresh' was not just marketing hype, it was selling Nash's pioneering A/C! My experience with AMC started as a small boy. Not from an AMC family, but lived close to the plant - I remember the 7 am - 12 noon - 12:30 - 3 pm steam whistle - and the odor of old fashioned enamel or laquer or whatever it was - went to school at McKinley. I really do rememember (I think) the giant finned cars sticking out of garages, and tidy AMCs fitting inside them! I certainly remember how carefully Mom & Dad had to park the '59 Chevy wagon even with the straight shot, while the upstairs neighbors easily maneuverd their Rambler wagon into the other bay.

[@tonyvargas368]

I love automobile history. Thank you.

[@acmecompany]

Relatives worked there, great company! Took care of employees

[@roberthiggins4611]

I remember AMC. Always #4. My father UAW 435 member worked 35 years on GMs Boxwood Assembly Plant but refused to own a GM product. However he swore by AMC. We owened a 82 Hornet Wagon, a 77 Gremlin, a 73 Gremlin and a 1985 CJ5 Jeep Limited. The 77 Gremlin ended up being the last one we had cuz of accidents or breakdowns and was given to me in 10th grade '92. I drove it all over. Finally died in 1996 with 224k miles on it.

[@jackdale9831]

Dang, Rob, you couldn't put a 401 in that Gremie?

[@roberthiggins4611]

@@jackdale9831 Dude. If I was able to make my own version of a Randall Gremlin I would have absolutely done it. Believe that. Black with a red racing stripes down the middle. Fatty tires in back with some Cragars. Niicce!! Little ass car with like 275hp. Stay in the 70s and 80s.

[@sillygoose2508]

Wow that's some goofy shit my friend your father being a member of the UAW would get a deep discount on the GM products and hands down it was a much better product than anything America motors was putting out

[@roberthiggins4611]

@@sillygoose2508 I know that as an adult but as a kid I went with whatever my Dad said. It was personal for him. He hated working there because of the conditions in the 80s. Long night shift hours in the hot summers 6 days a week. I pretty much only saw my Dad awake on Sundays. He also hated the politics that went on there. He retired in late 99' and was a completely different dude. I definitely made use of that employee discount. 18% off base price and 18% off options. Got a 98' SS S10 for 16.5K. Loved that truck. Used the discount on my Silverado and wifeys Impala. Pops drives a Crossfire SRT now and Challenger when it's "drivin' weather".

[@dchurch2012]

Great video; much good information and history

[@MrTommyboy68]

A little bit of trivia: Nash/Kelvinator pioneered the in dash A/C units for passenger cars. Prior to that the A/C units were in the trunk under the package shelf, took up a lot of valuable space and was very expensive. The newer units were much smaller, more efficient and less costly (still a lot of money for the mid '50's). I read that in a car magazine some years ago. GM spent untold MILLIONS in the '60's and later to help perfect modern A/C systems that we enjoy today.

[@ramblerclassic400]

Those rear A/C units had clear plastic tubes coming out of the package shelf that blew the air toward the front. Even in the '60's, with A/C in the front, some big 3 cars still had a big A/C console added on to the dash. My '62 Rambler Classic has all its A/C controls in the dash, with the air diffuser in the same opening as the radio speaker.

[@thomasleemullins4372]

I think this is very informative and fascinating.

[@stephaniebooth6169]

Always loved American Motors the little guy on the block the company that could BEAT the Big 3. My Father always bought Ramblers and I did too. Thanks to all who worked for American Motors .I still own a 1977 HORNET X Thank You AMC for making such wonderful cars

[@daveb8378]

Stephanie Booth lol. If they could beat the big three they would still be around. It’s nice to dream though.

[@goatfokerkadyrov7528]

Alcoholics Making Cars

[@joshgellis3292]

WHY is the sound so LOW!? ALL my volume controls ARE 100%!

[@Rieju-Sherco]

God bless, the great company gone by "AMC"

[@pentium4person2]

good video! thanks for uploading it!

[@lisamunson1789]

My boy friends father retired from amc

[@PearComputingDevices]

Long live AMC!!! Thanks for posting this video.

[@sillygoose2508]

You gotta be kidding maybe I'm not getting the sarcasm

[@PearComputingDevices]

@@sillygoose2508 Wow, guess not. Don't kid a joker after all.

[@sillygoose2508]

@@PearComputingDevices wow I get it and long live your scene of humor your knocking them dead I mean you're killing it and I'm sure to catch your next comic tour when it passes by my local firehouse or veterans club how's that for sarcasm I know you love me and every interaction you have with me welcome to the club goof ball

[@PearComputingDevices]

@@sillygoose2508 I am sure you will. Definitely see that one coming.

[@sillygoose2508]

@@PearComputingDevices relax shithead you're scaring me with your idle threats of what I might see look here and pay attention this might help you along your lack luster performances you gotta get a whole lot funnier if you're going to make it as a stand up comic in all actuality I think you're hilarious but I don't set the bar so try harder short stuff and I'm sure you will make it someday

[@rocko882]

My grandfather worked there from the age of 18 to retirement at 55.

[@rocko882]

Yep I bet they had a few beers for lunch.

[@goatfokerkadyrov7528]

He also got blow jobs at break-- tru story

[@Toolman22364]

My Great Grandfather and grand father work there from about 1905 to 1917. They followed from Chicago when they made bikes in Chicago.

[@ramblergarage]

Very informative.

[@561SWEETS]

K-Town , my hometown 👍👍

[@rang123yea5]

Is the 561 for the Palm Beach area code? I grow up in Ktown but now i live in Delray Beach.

[@lisamunson1789]

My bf father worked at amc he retired in 77 from local 72 last name was fosbinder nicholas

[@7flag]

Amc was a good company to work for.

[@goatfokerkadyrov7528]

Yah for lazy useless fukks like u

[@drewschilling5158]

Read the Closed Caption. It's hilariously wrong. "In nineteen 42 cord Roosevelt head commissioned worried Kevin member was everybody fact you'd world production no the Alaska. I was built in 1842. so therefore in a here thank you for the through ashes" It gets even better LOL

[@billbright1755]

The little Nash Rambler stayed right behind.

[@bobburbach2253]

Beep,Beep as I pass you by, Hey buddy, how do I get this car out of 2nd gear

[@vassa1972]

Interesting video

[@jkllfdsa]

+Stephen Michael Salituro: I'm quite surprised there's no major documentary on AMC yet, especially its wildly crazy, colorful, risk-embracing 1970s that made them quite memorable. Until I watched this & a documentary on the Pacer I never realized how innovative they were. People too often sneer at AMC these days, but I have memories of them that make me smile, esp. those go-go psychedelic colors '70s when I was a teenager. AMC's history really deserves the Ken Burns treatment, or a major motion picture about AMC in the '70s & '80s. Were you one of the filmmakers? Has anyone considered crowdfunding (e.g. GoFundMe) to get the $$ needed to complete the film?

[@etiennescarbinski7890]

Life and Death of AMC, search it up

[@danstar455]

$750 was all it cost? Back then that was a lot of money.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

I guess the end of this story is the closing of the engine plant in 2010. At that point Chrysler had the plant declare bankruptcy and liquidated its manufacturing. The end was in October 2010 with the last engines from the PowerTech 2.7 L V6 and the 3.5 L V6 were made and that was it for manufacturing in this city of automobiles.

[@UnionThugg]

Chrysler and GM declared bankruptcy in 2009. Just prior to that, Chrysler had plans for a huge new facility at Somers, WI, just west of Kenosha.

[@Buc_Stops_Here]

@@UnionThugg Had no idea about that - just knew it shut down in 2010. Thanks for sharing.

[@tomlehr861]

My dad drove for kat, kenosha auto transport in the 50s

[@joseguadalupejuarezgaytan6082]

gracias por estos videos atraves de ellos puedo conocer mucho que desconocia tengo un rally 78 y lo quiero restaurar

[@neildickson5394]

Like South Bend, IN. Kenosha was along with Detroit the big car manufacturers in their days the way the South is today. All that's left today in the former is decay and ruin.

[@ATARI800XLfan]

South Bend has recovered very well.

[@drstevenrey]

Can somebody help here. What car did we used to call Kenosha Cadillac way back in the 70's. I can't remember what we meant with that.

[@goatfokerkadyrov7528]

Pacer dummy

[@kevinyancey958]

I was laid off in 2006, the KEP closed a couple years later, then all buildings were demolished in 2013. After 106 years of automotive production, Kenosha is no longer in the automotive industry. In fact, the only thing Kenosha manufactures, is cranberry juice! The foundries are gone, wire gone, and auto industry gone!

[@goatfokerkadyrov7528]

Because of greedy union labor

[@jamesziegler2763]

Interesting

[@curtnicholson7771]

There last few years this company made some very unique cars or at least I thought so. I always wanted a Gremlin!

[@sillygoose2508]

Wow that's setting your standards at a very achievable goal my brother had a javelin and my mother had a rambler and I was embarrassed to be seen in both of them but that's just my slack ass behavior and issues of my very own wow please excuse my mistake he had a hornet not a javelin actually that was about the only decent and up to standard car was the AMX javelin had a little horsepower to it

[@tootall5559]

ah the old Ramblers... great cars but misunderstood.

[@curtcollett2893]

Interesting to see public reaction to a Challenger frame based 4 door big block Rebel or super luxury Ambassador concept.

[@jayyates1676]

I evidently don't speak Wisconsin. Neither does the closed caption. I'm lost.

[@jkllfdsa]

Man with Cookie Monster's voice @ 22:08!

[@mikefallopian3191]

Who did the subtitles ? There's hardly an accurate sentence...downright comical.

[@salit008]

Mike Fallopian you can thank KZbin for the subtitles

[@deedavao2627]

1) AMC's brief period of glory was under George Romney, yet he only gets about 30 seconds of mention. 2) Boring video with not enough air time for the cars. Talking heads focus on pre-1950 era too much. 3) 37 minute listed time yet quits after only 28 min. Needs editing.

[@fk4515]

People don't buy cars like they used to, it doesn't take as many people to build cars, state governments want to tax the snot out of new car purchases. Doesn't take a genius if people keep their cars longer there isn't the need to make as many cars. If you don't have to make as many cars you don't need as many autoworkers. And yes the classic auto worker since after WW II got good wages for a lower skill job. It was great while it lasted but basic economic theory would indicate it was not sustainable.

[@marvco64]

Stop the damned sub-titles, they are totally worthless.

[@johnhull6363]

5 minutes of bicycle history...nothing to do with title

[@salit008]

John Hull you're right! They didn't build bikes and then decided to take what they learned and build cars. Nothing having to do with the history of automobiles in Kenosha. I'll be sure to change it

[@littlejohnny47]

Slow paced and does not cover any new ground. In fact, there is less coverage about the key post WWII period that ended up killing the company. Only good part is listening to the line worker who worked in final rework fixing all the mistakes of the plant and parts supply chain. He liked his job but they should not have even had a job like that. One of the key reasons American auto makers fumbled and still have not recovered.

[@goatfokerkadyrov7528]

Alcoholics Making Cars