Forgotten Detroit Factory AMC Cars | Abandoned Michigan Adventure

While driving through Detroit Motor City I made a pit stop at the long-abandoned AMC car factory. At 1.46 million square feet it is huge. It built in between 1926 and 1927 as a Kelvinator appliance factory. They merged with Nash Motors in 1937. During this time they even were contracted to assemble helicopters for Sikorsky Aircraft. After merging with Hudson Motors in 1954 the became AMC or American Motors Corporation. It was the AMC Headquarters during this time. AMC was purchased by Chrysler in 1987. The property became the Jeep and Truck Engineering Center. In 1996 Chrysler moved the research center and much of the work. Chrysler went bankrupt in 2007 and the last employees left the car factory to be put up for sale in 2009. The property now sits abandoned and for sale. A great little Michigan adventure.
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Warning: Always be respectful of others property. Urban exploring comes with risks and we do not encourage exploring by anyone that does not have a good understanding of building structures and risks. EXPLORE AT YOUR OWN RISK.

[@OnceOccupied]

Make sure you check out Cryztal Grid on Spotify and Instagram. These boys are making killer music.

[@rickw7903]

Just look at the ornamental wood and plaster work. I bet there were even stained glass windows in it. Even the factories had a touch of elegance to them. Now all the current residents can come up with are spray painted pictures of dicks. So. Fucking. Sad!

[@stephencapone5011]

great work you look at the motels with all the stuff oh yeah in some the power is still wow thank you i love the history context

[@stephencapone5011]

but honey our in laws got this place for us womans touch lol

[@carolyn19185]

I worked in this building from 1999 to 2005 when it was Jeep Truck Engineering. I seriously cannot even believe it looks like this now! It was a beautiful building not too long ago. I have a lot of great memories from working there. So sad to see the state it is in now. Thanks for posting this though!

[@tonypistagnesi6296]

So did I - 1998 through 2004. Someone just sent me this - I remember a lot of those places. Some great cars were designed there.

[@Ruhlracer49]

I attended meetings in this facility as recently as 2006. It was full of engineers and designers. It was called JTE (Jeep and truck Engineering) The Dodge Ram truck, Jeep Liberty, Jeep, Grand Cherokee, and Wrangler were all designed and engineered in this facility. The building was very old but had lots of really cool woodwork and marble and granite. The surrounding area was really scary and you definitely got out of there before sunset.

[@mattzinicola7460]

They will never build them like that again (ornate ceilings, railings, woodwork, marble steps...) a bygone era for sure.

[@jefftube58]

The scary area stuff is why the big three automakers moved out of Detroit. I can't blame them.

[@waclawjarzabek6311]

@@jefftube58 its not that bad to be honest. go on have a walk

[@prvtjy]

That’s just cause y’all really are cowards deep down inside,....

[@breakermorant2428]

george jetson No, one knows the difference. Ofcourse it could be fun with something belt fed....

[@derricksmith6573]

My father was a machinist for AMC till Chrysler bought the company. He machined ring and pinion gears for 20+ years at the Kenosha Wisconsin plant.

[@happydays8171]

I hauled steel from '84 to '98. Delivered big steel coils there twice (The plant in Kenosha), I distinctly remember. They received until 10pm, so I'd wait for traffic to die down in Chicago. Just remember the huge buildings on each side of the street, and huge walkways between the buildings high above the ground. Almost All those plants I delivered to are gone. It's just sad. When I was a kid, you could go to college for a good job, or you could work in the steel mills, car manufacturer, get dirty, but make the same money. Like Bruce Springsteen said in that song about his hometown and his dad driving around saying, "These jobs are going, boy, and they ain't coming back."

[@happydays8171]

Travis Bickle -- Thanks for sharing Travis. Sorry to hear you got hit. I haul fuel now, so I stay local around Hammond, IN. And south side of Chicago, home every night. Last time I was in Millwaukee was June of '95, on the hottest day of the year. Something like 700 people died in heat related instances in Chicago over 3 days. I brought a load of rough, almost looked like cast iron tubing, from Granite City IL, to a fire hydrant company in Millwaukee, and my AC went out halfway up there. Tried to sleep in my sleeper outside the factory, it only got down to 85 that night. Next morning, a Friday, owner of the company came and shook my hand, said how happy he was to see it got there on time, thanked me, called my company, said most trucking co's get it to him sometime next week complimented about me to my boss. Otherwise, in the '80's, my buddies and I would go to Great Lakes Dragway, south of Kenosha, and drag race our motorcycles. We'd meet Broadway Bob the owner at the time, who drank quite a bit, but would give us a few free beers from the tap. Good times! w

[@tristanmccauley2318]

Such an enormous building, so much planning and effort just left to rot.

[@OnceOccupied]

I agree. It is such a waste!

[@DjHollow-jm2gu]

This is America

[@Hear-MeoutTwo2]

You can't move it to a new location, what are you going to do???

[@michaelanderson9792]

More to see than any AMC and Chrysler factory I worked in they are all gone

[@Rajnoma]

What a damn shame! Such a great building with its storied history manufacturing iconic American products; now it sits as a graffitti covered ruin. So sad!! This is what has happened to the US in the twenty first century! A land crumbling, once so bold and the leader of the world!

[@TheMonkdad]

I grew up in Detroit and used to see this building from the back seat of my Mother's car on the way to my great grandmother's house while driving down Plymouth rd.

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

I miss AMC . Their industriousness was endearing .

[@ccbsnyc]

Yes, but their cars from the 1970's onward were pretty crappy, except for Jeep.

[@georgeelmerdenbrough6906]

@@ccbsnyc Crappy ? I dunno . They were reliable but unremarkable .

[@williamj768]

I worked there from 1997-2007. It was an engineering office, no car production. the executive offices in the tower building were finished in dark wood paneling. the first floor level was garage and shop/lab space. Jeeps and trucks were designed, engineered and tested there. the place was spotless, full of energy and well equipped for its purpose. the parking lots were full of employee cars and visitors coming and going. in the summer you could eat lunch outside in the courtyard. Fond memories

[@allthingsfairy]

😱 Nooooo! 😱 These ladders look rusty and the rungs are so thin!!!! This one was a challenge for me to watch because I don’t do heights very well. I went to Detroit once for a concert and was haunted by all the abandoned factories I passed on the highway. Thanks for showing us inside one of these! Please be careful!!!! 😱

[@OnceOccupied]

There were a couple ladders that were really sketchy in the attached of the way they should be after years of rusting. I definitely avoided those😜

[@Pantherman63]

Used to enjoy driving my red AMC Pacer between 1989-1990 over in SoCal. It was a very comfortable and roomy car.

[@scotia807]

I imagine all the people working there thinking they made a difference and provided a product for the company. Then, it's all gone in a heartbeat.

[@scotia807]

@@MitchMitch77-77 yeah "was"

[@happydays8171]

Yessir, darn shame. Used to haul steel for a living, almost all the factories I delivered to are shuttered. Just don't understand how this country can survive without manufacturing jobs?

[@barnabyjones6995]

When AMC decided to take on GM Ford & Chrysler model for model in the early 70's, they lost their niche. Poor management & marketing left Jeep as the only profitable make left as they went bankruptcy inthe early 80's.

[@plaguex1]

@@happydays8171 we're surviving artificially.

[@TonyTony-vb5pu]

At least you are trying to say something positive instead of lying blame.

[@kidcomet3969]

You left something out about its history...in about 1979 i was 18 yrs old dating my girl pam her father worked in the back portion of that Blgd. as a machinist for AMG, Building the first ten prototypes of the HUMMER Military veh. Pams father brought her an I into work one day to look around ...some kind of father son/daughter day at work thing...I remember being in Awe seeing a Hummer for the first time at 18...crazy

[@cw2gtc]

Just curious... Still with the same girl? (Ahhh... that first real girlfriend. I was crazy about her. Eventually got married. Eventually got unmarried. Ahh, yeah, but...)

[@kidcomet3969]

@@cw2gtc No just memories

[@cw2gtc]

kid comet Thanks. Well, hopefully more good memories than stinky ones.👍🏼

[@MsJamiewoods]

A subsidiary of AMC, AM General, manufactured the Humvee for the military. AM General also manufactured Jeeps for the US Postal Service as well as current generation postal delivery vehicles. If I am not mistaken, AMC spun off AM General well before Chrysler bought AMC.

[@kidcomet3969]

@@MsJamiewoods I believe you're correct

[@ans05]

It's crazy how fast places deteriorate!

[@OnceOccupied]

Absolutely. This one went real quick.

[@56cadd]

The gang was all there.

[@barnabyjones6995]

Once the roof leaks and the windows fail or get broken, moisture gets in and it's all downhill from there.

[@raheemcurtis7706]

@@56cadd yea blame them Mexicans

[@56cadd]

@@raheemcurtis7706 , okay.. 😆

[@cindymcoldiron]

Love that sassy sax music in the background. Stay safe and blessed.

[@OnceOccupied]

Thank you🙏🏻 You can never have enough sassy sax 🎷😜

[@MW-fs7vi]

My friends and I did the Packard plant and the train station at least twice over a dozen years ago, didn't even know about this one. It's amazing to know there were still employees there in 2009. We always try to stay in groups of no fewer than three, you have a lot of courage to go in there yourself. Thank you for sharing

[@dr.detroit1514]

I occasionally serviced computers at this building from 1977 until 2004. Hard to believe it looks this way now. Another monument to a disappearing industrial America.

[@debbiescookingchannel2614]

Yeah but the FCA plants in Mexico are fuckin amazing. UAW ruined it just like $15 McDonald's employees will.

[@happydays8171]

Yeah man, McDonald's will probably move to Mexico and you'll have to order your burgers from there. The only people in this country making any money then will be the UberEats/Grubhub drivers!

[@gwendiffenbacher1695]

Makes you wonder what the hell went wrong with us. Millions of American Soldiers went to wars fighting communism and socialism: and now we are embracing it. That dingbat, Alexandria Occasio-Cortez, is the cause celebre for the left.

[@Tmax-ub5br]

My dad had many of them. The last one he had was 75 Ambassador police car.

[@David-jd5lp]

I liked AMC cars.

[@ETGrc]

Love to see AMC come back

[@suzyjohnson4667]

I think that's possible. All they need is one model car, and one truck. Make it something everyone wants to buy.

[@CamaroAmx]

@@suzyjohnson4667 not going to happen. Chrysler owns the name and they have done nothing with it since they bought them. Chrysler even destroyed the dies for the machines to make the parts that’s why there is little quality aftermarket replacement parts for AMCs. Chrysler bought AMC for several reasons. 1- AMCs new factory in Canada (where they make chargers, challengers and 300s at today). 2- the cash cow that is Jeep (the number 1 reason). 3- AMCs dealer network. 4- AMCs design team and the way things went from concept to production. That’s it.

[@suzyjohnson4667]

@@CamaroAmx I had no idea of this. Sad indeed, one company destroying another for its own short term gain. Really senseless, would have been better to keep some of the AMC product line, even improving it bringing it into todays technology, not to mention all the jobs this would create. Money in not exactly everything! Everything has a price, I couldn't begin to even imagine what those bastards at FIAT would want for the rights to use the AMC names and models. Even though I'm a Ford guy, I have always liked AMC and would love to see a modern Javelin among others.

[@CamaroAmx]

@@suzyjohnson4667 a little bit of AMCs technology still exists today in Chrysler’s. AMC’s last new design was the Eagle Premier. Chrysler adapted that platform into the LH platform (fwd) which included the Cirrus, Sebring, Intrepid and other cars that Chrysler sold throughout the 90s. The rwd version of that platform was the LX platform which still is produced to this today (abeit heavily modernized) as the Challenger, Charger and 300.

[@whitewitch1105]

Beautiful wrought-iron banister

[@OnceOccupied]

I agree. I wish I could have seen it 30 years ago!

[@thisguy5050]

When you climb a ladder especially old ones like that never ever hold the rungs, grab onto the sides instead. If a rung breaks off in your hands your going backwards if you hold onto the sides and a rung breaks off it'll be under your feet and you'll at least have a chance at not falling.

[@OnceOccupied]

Very good point! Usually if the latter is not solid steel all the way through or is super corroded I just pass it up. I love exploring but I really don’t like dying 😜

[@song4you80]

That's right my uncle died in 1973 when he fell from a 3 story building with rung still in his hand when they found him dead. RIP Arlis Richard Green

[@zilksmooth]

I grew up about a 1/2 mile from this building. In the ‘70’s, my school bus would pass it daily. It looked like a cathedral. A cathedral to manufacturing. Often there were new AMCs parked out front to showcase their offerings. Once I remember an open wheel race car, which was odd because AMC never supported a team in any open wheel series. The building was stunning though.

[@wrongwayeric]

Don't go up. Go down, That's where the Boiler rooms at. That's the Heart of the building. You could probably see the old coal shoots, to fuel the original boilers. Which were then converted to Heavy Oil. Later they would be abanded (many times in place) and the New 60's Boilers and related equipment installed, diesel and then later converted to Nat gas, diesel fuel back-up. The back up generators will be near by, The Buildings Main electical supply. Not to mention the Buildings Maintenance department/Shops where they keep all the buildings equipment running. Often with big equipment left behind. Thanks for the great video.

[@OnceOccupied]

I’m always a sucker for the attics and basement. I wish I had more time to explore this place. It was huge.

[@topspeederalmond]

I worked for Greater Detroit Landscaping and I used to cut that lawn every week in the summer. 5 guys all day.

[@jeffwhite8017]

Lots of edging too i bet?

[@lorishiversdogmom]

Dude I swear to God. You trying to kill me looking down all those stairway holes lol. I could feel my feet sweating off lol.

[@OnceOccupied]

As crazy as it might seem you get used to it after a while. 😜

[@robertheinkel6225]

AMC had the right idea, but not implemented correctly. Their cars were built with parts from other manufacturers. In theory, if you buy the best engine available, and the best transmission, the best rear end, and best steering gear, merged them all together, and you should have a great car.

[@bryangadow1459]

I remember some interview I read with an employee who worked there; they had lots of old Kelvinator refrigerators still working throughout the building. This was in the 90's/00's.

[@brenthill3241]

I remember a green Rambler American going down my street every week when I was a kid back in the 60's. It was the smoothest, quietest car around. Just a whoosh of air and sensible styling with large windows, reasonably high roof and easy access doors. It was ahead of its time. Was as boring as a Corolla and just as practical for the real world. But back in those days it was all styling, size and mega power that defined even family vehicles.

[@keithlucas6260]

We had a new pink Rambler station wagon in 1960

[@debraburnham9802]

Michigan is my birth place & current home so I find this extra interesting

[@mariocruz6281]

I appreciate you sharing this video. When you see something like this. And you know the history. It takes you back. And you can imagine all the workers. All the noise. Most importantly all the things that were made in those buildings. You have a lot.of guts going all the way to the tower. Stay Safe. God Bless.

[@MikeSmith-wx9xe]

Amazing just how quickly it has deteriorated. Really sad would have been beautiful not so long ago less than ten years such wast!

[@skroy8671]

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing! Ten years and all of that??? Of course, it's also obvious with all the graffiti (and who knows how much other damage) that it's being helped along considerably by "destructive people." What a shame. And I'm being polite by saying "destructive people."

[@worseto1]

The american people have no one to blame but themselves. Buy american! !!!!

[@Ideal1980]

Barack Obama must be going there at nights..

[@bobb1870]

Corporate America started the decline, the people contributed to the decay. Structurally speaking parts could be saved and reused, but it will take a real reinvestment from corporate America and the people. We blame outsiders for our decline, decay starts from within. Remember Rome.

[@jeffreyfurtado3681]

@mansa afer globalism NWO.

[@lindaslaght2707]

I have a 1959 AMC Rambler Super the seats make a bed and has original air. It's in really good shape

[@dotell3359]

I started to work their back in 1973.. I liked it very much.

[@jackmckenna8410]

kelvinator made the best refrigerators ever! We had a 1943 model at our cabin, it was still running strong in 2013, seals finally went on it and they bulldozed our cabin.

[@BlankBrain]

Why did they bulldoze your cabin? Obviously, it's not because the seals went out in the refrigerator. I just wonder about stuff like this, because you probably have many family memories there. Family could no longer afford taxes and upkeep? Family all moved away? Storm damaged beyond repair? Most of my neighbors have cabins elsewhere, have inherited them, and plan to pass them down.

[@trainships1795]

The Water Tower was part of the original Fire Suppression System for the Building.

[@Mowers11]

I didn’t realize that.

[@1L6E6VHF]

15:01. I'll have to hook a converter box up to that! Amazed how many people trusted their lives to a ninety-year-old ladder! Welcome to Detroit, from a former AMC Matador owner!

[@ursus353]

How ornate, I love the iron stair railing, you just don't see that anymore.

[@agoogleaccount2861]

The same factory that made the AMC. Gremlin concord javelin and spirit. Very interesting and seldom seen nowadays American cars

[@OnceOccupied]

Anyone ever owned an AMC car?

[@vince_vatican777]

My Aunt owned a Pacer back in the day.

[@OnceOccupied]

Nice! I’ve always wanted the 4x4 wood sided Eagle.

[@oldfatandtired6406]

I had a Gremlin. The whatever the Gremlin became. In the Army, my undercover car was a shit brown Hornet. Someone had Installed obscured antennas and did not seal the hole. The passenger side floorboard would have 2 to 3 inches of water in it. We Called it the Lake Huron Hornet. We had an IG inspection and the 2nd in charge threw goldfish in the car. He thought it was funny, I got my ass chewed

[@Seabeejim133]

When I was in high school my dad gave me his 1959 Rambler station wagon, with the push button automatic transmission.. That thing was heavy.

[@sassysue6472]

My husband had an AMX. My brother in law has one he plans on restoring. Great little muscle cars! They just don't make them like that anymore.

[@Todd82TA]

The video could probably do without the 80s porno music. I had the speakers up, and my wife was like... "What are you watching???"

[@samuelmorado70]

I agree

[@achillebelanger989]

Todd Na HaHa

[@farmereinar]

I feel the same way; I picture the cameraman walking around rubbing it out on the walls n a wonton fashion

[@gerib.4093]

Lol hmmm how would you know lmao

[@Todd82TA]

Oh... I know... @@gerib.4093

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

Seen on March 23, 2019 After watching this video from a NYC hotel room, to get ready to fly home this morning, I joined your channel. My normal comments read from the city of Angeles. Los Angeles. This morning from the big Apple, NYC. Interesting video. Thumbs up 👍

[@Offthbadan]

Great video!!! I was born and raised near the Packard plant. But this building I never heard of until maybe 10 years ago. I didn’t know it was this massive until seeing this.

[@ArtByKarenEHaley]

Our first car was an AMC Rambler Classic, a white four door with the teal-blue interior. It was an A/C model, so the glass had been tinted blue as well. My husband bought it out of a field in rural Oklahoma back in 2008, in December, and it was so cold he had to use a mallet to unstick the rear wheels in the wind and snow. My father in law likes to laugh about how he and the car's owner hung out in the house and drank coffee while the young buck froze his tail off outside, but boy my husband sure was proud of that car. It was a cool ride.

[@patrickmcconville9908]

Looks like the scrappers did a pretty good job on it. Need ceiling tiles, oh yea, i can get you plenty!

[@josephdenver1612]

I used to take prototype parts there from 1999-2003. It was run down then. The guard shack brought back memories. When you took the path to the back loading docks, there was a a railroad. I'll never forget seeing a dog foaming at the mouth walking sideways along the train tracks. The trip down there was always a great time too. Dead dogs laying on the side of Plymouth road and a dead body found across the street in the overgrown park. DPD was barely around. It was a horrible place.

[@richfreedom6577]

You can tell they built that building when they had some class and style and when they cared about what they really built not like what they build today they just build the buildings up that building probably would Outlast these newer buildings it is a shame that people have to go tag those buildings and Destroy them and you climb those ladders you freaked me out bad felt like I was there on the ladder thanks for doing the videos of keep them up

[@OnceOccupied]

Thanks! The marble stairs and entry ways were amazing. Nobody’s doing that anymore. Even the office bathrooms were marble!

[@BusterDoberman]

oh I Tottaly agree and I know for a fact that all the older buildings will outlast the new ones just look at how long the Old Reid memorial Hospiatl had lasted so long over a hundred years and had been still going strong saddly its now torn down because of stupid vsntals and taggers who thoght it was fun tag everything in sight and also bust every window in sight too then the city got tired of it new places dont have the dedicatioin or charm to building either like the old ones did

[@OnceOccupied]

I worry about what we’re going to explore in 20 years.

[@marksommers6764]

Once Occupied , bedpans ?

[@gwendiffenbacher1695]

@@OnceOccupied: a lot sooner than that. We're skating on thin ice as it is.

[@lordexplores]

Awesome climb. I'll be there in March and hopefully will climb this tower. Awesome video, keep up the good work

[@OnceOccupied]

Thanks 🙏 Be safe out there! Maybe we can collaborate one of these days

[@mariofollowerofjesus8068]

Sad to see all the. Vandalism in such a historic place

[@budgetgokart3990]

Cant have shit in detroit

[@vtwinbuilder3129]

@@budgetgokart3990 look at who lives there. They don’t have shit in Africa either.....

[@ericbivins8014]

@@vtwinbuilder3129 My wife is South African and you should see what the dumb bastards have done to that country in 26 years of black rule.

[@Mark_The_Magnificent]

Holy crap - you are so brave going up all those ladders! what a sight that place is!!! I would be terrified just to go into such a place at all in fear of meeting other (not so friendly) people. Great video!!!

[@OnceOccupied]

That is my biggest fear. I try to be silent and often stop to listen. Worst case I carry bear 🐻 spray. Knock on wood I’ve never run into people that are violent.

[@suzyjohnson4667]

I'm in construction (35 years plus). Roughly this place could be brought back for about 25 to 30 mil, depending on the new occupants requirements. Sounds like a lot of capital but with right company, like an Amazon the initial investment could be recovered quickly.

[@yank-tc8bz]

Pity it is in the wrong location. And no where to draw employee or residents from.

[@OnceOccupied]

Agreed

[@fardali6654]

I live in the area and have done a lot of photography around and in this building. It’s too far gone to be brought back and some of the buildings are missing. The city sold it to a guy that immediately started scraping it.

[@suzyjohnson4667]

@@fardali6654 probably the best thing to do. Different use for the place.

[@cheshire-yu4nz]

One more time who wants to live in Detroit?

[@v.p.b.2807]

Thanks for the great footage. You may not be familiar with it, but there is a 1978 movie called "The Betsy" that had a few scenes filmed at this location. It's about a troubled automaker that hires a famed race car driver to develop a revolutionary new model. You might get a kick out of it.

[@johndillard8588]

Vance Philipp Browne : Don’t forget Betsy’s pool scene. An interesting movie.

[@dixiechampagne2892]

@@johndillard8588 Will hafta check out the film. If I recall correctly, the novel was written by Harold Robbins (my taste for trash literature was acquired at a very young age)

[@JimCockerham]

Incredible place

[@OnceOccupied]

I didn’t spend a ton of time in the factory portion just because it was in horrible shape and I was getting wet. It was almost freezing outside and I decided to be a pansy.

[@waynemitchell1543]

Like taking a tour of the Titanic

[@carlbowles1808]

I'm a former detroiter who remembers AMC as a maker of unusual cars like the matador, gremlin and jeep. They went under during the 1980's. Only jeep remains. Nothing lasts forever. We need to remember the storied past while embracing the now, it's all that we have. The future depends on us regardless of location or time ⏲️. Americans can do the impossible, we've done it over and over again. God bless America 🇺🇸🙏.

[@65marlin327]

Likely not much was built here. AM was a Kenosha, Wisconsin company. There were some government jeeps built in Detroit, where the Hummer ended up being built. But, mainly, AMC buildings were in Wisconsin, and have been razed. They no longer exist.

[@sixmile2360]

Kenny Anderson I did my engineering internship at this facility. It was mainly an administration and design facility. Had its roots in the Hudson company. Manufacturing was based in Wisconsin in god awful facilities.

[@neildickson5394]

I agree. Not much since appliances.

[@MsJamiewoods]

@@sixmile2360Wasn't this building originally used by the Kelvinator company to design and build appliances? Kelvinator was later acquired by Kenosha Wis.-based Nash Motors and became Nash-Kelvinator. In 1954 Nash-Kelvinator merged with Detroit-based Hudson Motors in what was the largest corporate merger in US history at the time. A few years later the merged company took the name American Motors. George Romney, Mitt's father, was the first CEO of American Motors. He oversaw the decision to close the Hudson assembly plant in Detroit. While the corporate headquarters and design center stayed in Detroit, most of the manufacturing was in Milwaukee and Kenosha, Wis. The body and stamping plant was in Milwaukee with engine works and chassis/final assembly lines in Kenosha. A Walmart now stands where the Milwaukee AMC plant once did.

[@sixmile2360]

Jamie Woods You know the history much better than I do. I do know that the Detroit Engineering Center used to design appliances because my old office had a Art Deco relief of a refrigerator over my doorway. I loved that old building. There is a persistent rumor that the complex is being bought by Volkswagen Group as an. Electric Car Research Center. Stranger things have happened. Who would have thought that Ford would buy the old Michigan Central Station? These are interesting times here in Detroit. As far as AMC goes. I miss the company. They were survivors by being creative. Real entrepreneurs. They were not tied down to the “Detroit “ way of thinking. That ended up being a good thing.

[@OnceOccupied]

For most of it’s life it was an engineer Eaton center where it didn’t do a ton of mass production so you are correct 😜

[@dandylionriver]

Born and raised in southwest Detroit. My father worked at J & L Steel on 7 mile and Mound Rd for many many years. He passed away in 1979, and J & L closed it's doors a year later. The beginning of the end for Detroit. I'm a proud Tennesean now, and no longer have an emotional connection to Michigan.

[@madmanmechanic8847]

Wow dude you got brass balls climbing up all those 80 plus year old ladders My hats off to you ! I wish I was in that good of shape good job

[@ep477]

Good ole scrappers. This place would be a solid and useable building but for scrappers.

[@OnceOccupied]

The last owner actually bought it and used it for that and broke a bunch of laws and is in prison now. The front building would still be in decent shape if somebody hadn’t smashed all the windows out. There’s always somebody to ruin it for everybody.

[@MsJamiewoods]

@@OnceOccupied Laws broken likely were ones about asbestos and lead-based paint. You just can't start ripping copper and steel out. Nor can you just start swinging a wrecking ball. You have to abate the asbestos first and do things to contain dust from lead-based paint. This is likely why so many old buildings now stand abandoned attracting vandals and urban explorers.

[@regsparkes6507]

Wow! What a hike! Can you imagine the number of staff who walked back and forth inside these hall ways and offices. Now,..all for nothing! Oh by the way " be safe out there." this is a very good thought t bear in mind whenever we explore places like this. I was especially drawn to your video because I have owned a couple of Rambler cars and like d them very much. When you climbed those ladders my own 'phobia' of heights kicked in! so I was glad you took your camera there so I could enjoy the climb and to see what was there.

[@OnceOccupied]

It’s that nostalgia that draws us to explore these places. So humbling. I agree on the shoes! I have all kinds of rules for myself like never go alone and wear boots but I am always tempted by impromptu adventures and my rules go out the window 😜.

[@regsparkes6507]

@@OnceOccupied Absolutely, and I do the same . Maybe on second thought there was no need to mention that part of my comment, so I have now removed it.

[@chanraedouglas7768]

Located on Plymouth Road @ Freeland, just east of Hubbell... I used to deliver mail there... Such a beautiful building and such a waste....

[@michaelcook768]

You that Senator Mitt Romney, when his father, George, was President of AMC was in the building. I would think that his dad's office was in that building, somewhere. Interesting video. It breaks my heart to see a historic building like that, fall to shit. It could have been preserved.

[@tacoma5543]

But who would restore it in shithole Detroit?

[@michaelcook768]

@@tacoma5543 Oh, that I agree 100%. Detroit is Muslim Headquarters US A. I know when you go down 75, there is a smokestack that still says Willys Overland...all the buildings are torn down. Just seems sad history is rotting into the ground. Billions of dollars in history.

[@ramblergarage]

I was in that building when it had been restored by Chrysler as was a design center for Jeep. What a shame.

[@strobx1]

I had a 70 Rebel with vacuum wipers. Step on the gas, no wipers until vacuum rose. Nice car anyhow.

[@GJM866]

Great video, thanks for posting!

[@OnceOccupied]

Thanks 🙏

[@mcribs7811]

I can’t believe NED was up in there with Zappos. I’ll keep looking “Bro C Coli”. ✌🏼

[@alfredritcher]

Breaks my heart i worked for a amc,jeep,eagle and Renault dealer for years

[@stephenmartini5890]

My winter ride is a 1988 AMC Eagle wagon, the last year for AMC.

[@adrianmolm715]

No one will ever tier this building down. It will be converted to apartments and community help.

[@dcw1540]

It’s a sham what people have done to that building. Thanks

[@breakermorant2428]

Douglass Wilkin "e" it truly is. And yet the Colosseum stands. Italy actually went through Rome and surrounding areas to find, bring back and reassemble stone, and still do so, trying to reassemble pieces they find.

[@BIGBADWOOD]

Thanks for the great video !

[@lateefcarrere1649]

Good thing you're leaving before dark...you don't want to be caught by the #Morlocks. :D

[@barnabyjones6995]

I'm suprised your rental car was still there, and even the tires were still on it!

[@lilpoindexter]

I worked there '04-'07. I always thought of going up the tower, but never did.

[@larryborkstrom3580]

got balls climbing up them rusty ladders and going into that neglected building

[@willschultz5452]

That thing was built to last forever and those are steel ladders they aren't going to go any place, solid as a rock.

[@superaa6779]

First thing I thought was this would have made great condos.Of course, there's nobody to buy them.What a waste of a grand old building.

[@shitmonkey]

Turn it into veteran housing

[@achillebelanger989]

John Ball Spaceship docking port for Trump's Spacial Farce.

[@michaelcook768]

@@achillebelanger989 No farce at all. You just don't know enough about how vulnerable satellites are...they could bring Wall Street to a halt.

[@sixmile2360]

Michael Cook You are absolutely and completely full of shit. I have lived in Detroit and Dearborn for fifty years. There has been a large middle eastern population in Dearborn sine before ww2. The actual population of middle eastern people in Dearborn has dropped in the past ten years. Obama has nothing to do with it. There is no sharia law in Dearborn or Detroit. I live here. Quit pedaling your bull shit.

[@michaelcook768]

@@sixmile2360 I see. So, my nurse and her doctor husband, moved away from the family because of the Muslims taking over Dearborn...she said it was terrible...dangerous. They did not want to raise their children there. I believe her way over you. You are probably not being truthful. By the way, THEY ARE A WONDERFUL AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY. I THINK YOU LIE. WHEN I DROVE AN 18 WHEELER UN 2016, I WENT TO TAWAS CITY. NUMEROUS PEOOKE RHERE TALKED ABOUT DETROIT. MAYBE SOROS PATS YOU TO COVER UP.

[@aaroncone6778]

Great video! You definitely have a set, climbing up those deteriorated ladders. What a shame it is to see these grand old manufacturing & administration buildings, all gone now, not just AMC, but ALL of them. It's all about outsourcing, robotic manufacturing, and the almighty dollar... Sad..

[@johngibson3594]

Could you imagine this building in its former glory I bet it was beautiful thank you for daring to Roam this now decrepit building

[@duanemcdaniel9883]

Roam

[@tyrssen1]

Amazing how much a place can deteriorate in a mere ten years.

[@OnceOccupied]

Absolutely as soon as the windows get broken it starts. 😩

[@neil6212]

@@OnceOccupied Yep, buildings and water aren't a winning combination! Just hastens the destruction!

[@wjem13]

It must be the air in Detroit. the whole place is a pile of shit

[@tyrssen1]

@@wjem13 I'd have another explanation, but, be that as it may. You're quite right. So has it been, for a long time. It was a clean, safe fun place to visit up until about 1965. (I'm a geezer; my folks would take us to see the Thanksgiving and Christmas parades generally sponsored by Hudson's, back in the late 50's. I lived downtown, as a student at Wayne State, in '70, and it was a shit-hole then, too. Oh, and for the record -- my mom owned two Gremlins in succession, and I bought one new in '73. Great cars.)

[@garycarraigeacha8794]

It 's a combination of human activity and a lack of it. Loss of upkeep, plain old vandalism and nature taking everything back. Most of this is vandalism.

[@bg45420]

Good samaritan hospital in Dayton is scheduled for demolition this year. You may want to check it out before it's gone.

[@OnceOccupied]

We’ve been looking into it ;-)

[@kenarnold9132]

Best car they ever made was the AMC Javelin.

[@martihill3611]

Ken Arnold - no way, the gremlin was the king.

[@BlankBrain]

A friend of mine in HS had one. Blueprinted the engine and did everything to it. I remember there were four of us kids in the car and he lifted the front end about a foot off the ground before it took off!

[@KimberleySprowl]

I love these abandoned building exploration videos especially ones like this from my hometown. However, as a mom I was literally screaming at you through the entire video. 😂 I was soooooo nervous when you went up the ladders but I couldn't stop watching. I am so glad you didn't get on that shaky ladder being held up with just two bolts. Great video, stay safe. 😀

[@cryztalgrid5973]

I'm not going down that....well, maybe lol! Awesome video!!!

[@OnceOccupied]

Will have to drag you guys along one of these days.

[@mr.logicpants2835]

This was really cool. Thanks for posting it. I live in Las Vegas NV and there is nothing that old out here that i know of. We implode anything older than 20 years old to make way for new stuff. It was interesting and a shame that the building is so messed up now.

[@monav4062]

Wow. If these buildings were located in Southern California -- they would be converted into Lofts and sold for a million and up! Why a developer hasn't seen the opportunity here is questionable! They don't make buildings like these anymore and to see these in this condition is crazy! Where are the developers? These buildings are so well made and could easily be rehabbed into Lofts and Townhomes.

[@happydays8171]

Mona V --> Because it's Detroit. You can't pay people to live there.

[@monav4062]

@@happydays8171 It's still in America! With all of the illegals coming in by the millions -- places like Detroit will someday thrive again! I truly believe that will happen. And, the reason is that places like CA and Florida are being taken over by illegals and Americans and American culture is being destroyed. Americans are being pushed out of places like California. I live in a suburb of Los Angeles and with our current State government -- California is slowly being handed over the illegal Mexicans, Hondurans and Guatemalans. Places like Detroit will build up again, especially if we continue to see the kind of leadership that President Trump has brought to the table. If we continue down the path that Trump has created and shown that there is a way to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. America's corporations have been called out by Trump as having ''sold Americans out'' by moving their factories out of the U.S. He's made them own up to the fact that they've done so because of nothing but pure GREED !! Those companies like Levi Strauss who had started and built their business by using American workers and selling their jeans to the American people -- just pulled up stakes and moved out of the country! Other companies like NIKE did the same thing! Levi Strauss and NIKE wouldn't have built the empires that they did if it weren't for the American people and the opportunities that America gave them! Detroit CAN become a thriving, beautiful place to live and work again. And, there are so many beautiful homes there that have been left to decay -- homes where the craftsmanship is nothing like it is today! Those homes were built by the hands of skilled craftsman that came over from Europe to the U.S. through Ellis Island. What the so called ''craftsman'' of today do -- is build homes made of cardboard without any details or effort put into them. I would choose to buy a house thats 100 years old over one that's only a year old! You're going to get your money's worth with buying the one that's 100 years old!

[@glastronjohn1837]

I use to haul Jeeps and Dodge pickups in and out of here (JTE) in the 90's and early 2000's. Even then you wouldn't want to be in that neighborhood after dark. Walking down the local street doesn't look much different than the inside of this building .You would have seen that had the video panned the surrounding neighborhood. Sad to see such deterioration in what was a grand building. Thanks for making this video, it brought back some good memories of an exciting period in my employment history.

[@happydays8171]

Mona V --> Yes I agree with you, Trump may have said "I will put America Last! " With his creating the biggest trade deficit in American history. So glad I'm an Independent, don't have to make excuses for his poor performance. You're smart, he promised to cut the trade deficit in half, what a joke, I agree with you, said he's cut the deficit, his spending has ballooned it. He's so proud of the 14,000 GM jobs he eliminated last Thanksgiving. Imagine those people who's lives it affected, just before Christmas. Just don't see how people can support him, I thought Obama was bad, he's so bad. I hope you're praying for him, he says he never sins, so he doesn't have to go to church, what do you think about that?

[@monav4062]

@@happydays8171 I never said anything that "you" would agree with! We are (obviously) complete political opposites! AND as far as Trump eliminating 14,000 GM jobs -- can you elaborate on that? I would appreciate seeing the facts behind your claim. Can you give me the links to any unbiased media outlets that reported that's what he did? I will wait for your reply.

[@davedennis6042]

Put a yellow light on the roof of the car and call yourself an Uban Inspector and you got it. LOL

[@stephencapone5011]

i showed this stuff to my roomate but after i dont think she gets it im like jesus its only five hours left cheers

[@OnceOccupied]

A lot of people don’t get it. But that just makes the people that do that much cooler 😜

[@XenaBe25]

I don't often upvote urban exploration vids. You'll occasionally catch me upvoting an old castle or smthg… but city stuff... not so much. Climbing that ladder like Jean Luc frikkin Picard, tho. That was a nice touch. Upvoted :D

[@OnceOccupied]

This comment literally made me laugh out loud. So glad you liked the video!

[@XenaBe25]

@@OnceOccupied :)

[@jdoyle843]

I bet a lot of the damage is from thieves looking for copper.

[@jimc3688]

Why did they remove all the windows ?

[@MsJamiewoods]

Likely the windows were broken out by vandals.

[@MsJamiewoods]

And by scrap metal thieves. Electrical conduit has been obviously removed along with grids for the suspended ceiling tiles. Notice later in the video stairwell railings and fire sprinkler pipes have been removed.

[@raymondbaker3413]

imagine how much usable material could be salvaged, all that beautiful woodwork, it is truly a shame to leave it all to waste

[@taraerskine3954]

of course!!! but it closed way before 09??? AMC made ugly cars!!! like the concord with them big ass tires?

[@jamesthompson6523]

I went by there every day back in the early 50's to pick up my Detroit Times newspapers.

[@nomadman123]

If you put some spooky music over this it would be wild!

[@apocyldoomer]

Chrysler destroyed AMC, frigin idiots, first time I have ever seen or heard of the abandoned AMC factory, always focused on the Packard plant, Fischer plant which is awesome, abandoned factories fascinate me, I.e. The shitter, who was the last workers to use the bathroom haha subbed, I'll catch up later, sleepy time..nice work!!

[@OnceOccupied]

Thanks!

[@OnceOccupied]

I agree about the Packard plant. I’m editing the video of the Cadillac plant now and it should be live in a few days. You should like that one it was crazy a huge pipe Just randomly fell from the ceiling while I was standing in one of the big rooms. Talk about needing to go to the bathroom.

[@apocyldoomer]

Once Occupied Cool, I'll def check it out, are you by yourself, be careful out there man, crackheads abound!

[@OnceOccupied]

Yes, I am about 50% of explores because I travel for my real job. I carry bear mace just in case. I try to find fellow explorers to collaborate with when I am out of town.

[@lazyrrr2411]

@@apocyldoomer Yeah - Chrysler only wanted Jeep & threw AMC down the drain 🚽

[@christopherlucy1772]

We had 3 rambler/ AMC autos including A Pacer and I learned to drive in a Rambler wagon my uncle had one too..sad end.

[@dixiechampagne2892]

I still want a Pacer with which to tow my vintage 10' camper. A friend had a Pacer in high school that his mom gave him.

[@mikehunt8375]

Wow that place is awesome! I want it go climb around real bad now!

[@johanruiter5848]

My friend had a amc pacer back in the early 80's overhere in Holland

[@sharichambers7333]

What a fascinating building! Some parts of it were creepy.

[@airtow6766]

Wow, what a spectacular complex!

[@lorispain1]

Wow, such an amazing video, I live in Spain but it's my dream to visit Detroit!

[@topspeederalmond]

Don't do it.

[@richdiscoveries]

Incredible explore my friend. I can only dream of taking my channel on the road to Detroit one day and visit some of these phenomenal abandoned factories!! Great work my friend

[@larrybrown1984]

I wonder if the water tower was for the building sprinkler system or actual water supply. Love to see the inside of the place when new and when it was obviously ‘updated’ at some point with the drop ceilings.

[@davidstancu2963]

It's pretty safe, just dont go in the basement lol