What Was This Unknown American Motors (AMC) Car? A Very Special Prototype...

[@InternetDude]

I have an 86 Eagle wagon, love it. The Eagle was so ahead of it's time.

[@Rob-kv1sj]

Kind of like the grandfather of the Subaru Outback. Great little car in the 80s

[@carlm8821]

@@Rob-kv1sjYes, you hear that often and I too was going to say it was the precursor to the Outback…but, Subaru was already producing the Leone wagon, or DL in North America before and during Eagle production, which was already a very capable AWD/4WD vehicle. However, I won’t dispute the fact that I’m sure the Eagle had some influence on the Outback’s development…hence larger wheels/tires for the taller suspension, two-tone specific paint and a few other small similarities that differentiated it from its Legacy counterpart, much like the Eagle and Concord. And I also loved the Concord.

[@Atomwaffen-y3s]

Except Subaru did it before them.

[@michaelgallagher7872]

Had an Eagle 4 door years ago. Loved it.

[@stevepavey5954]

After saving my money dad was a car wheeler dealer at buying cars and he helped me in purchasing a AMC Matador Coupe $3200. 360 V8 Automatic Transmission, power steering, bucket seats. It was a great car. My next car was the Pacer, it also was a great car. I’m now retired and still driving AMC’s currently 1977 Pacer Wagon and restoring Matador Barcelona.making it a little hot rod with Edelbrock heads 4 V intake and carb. Looking forward to getting it on the road. I guess I’m a AMC fanatic

[@jefferysmith3930]

That refreshed 4 dr concept looks like a jacked up Dodge Diplomat

[@hendo337]

That's exactly what I was thinking 😂 The roof on the coupe and sedan look a lot like Diplomat.

[@HelpingHand-ic4wt]

and Chrysler 5th Aves with the fiberglass roof cap and taillamp panel. The AMC Kenosha plant went on to make those Chryslers years later, it could have been so simple to merge the two.

[@roguedalek900]

Diplomat Eagle 😂

[@HelpingHand-ic4wt]

@@roguedalek900 Gran Eagle Fury!!

[@mpetersen6]

@@HelpingHand-ic4wt I worked in the Kenosha Plant in the Tool Room (1). When the assembly equipment arrived from the St Louis facility it was severely worn out. Our people getting it up and running told the engineers from Chrysler no problem. We can make new bushings and whatever else we need plus repair all of the other parts. The engineers looked at our people in amazement. Chrysler would have to of sent the work to outside shops because they didn't have their own people at the assembly plants to do the work. 1) Not the room where they hand out the tools. The plant's shop that did all of the Tool and Die and in house Machinery Repair. There wasn't much we couldn't do ourselves as long as it was within the work envelope of our equipment.

[@frankbrowning328]

The AMC Eagle was WAY ahead of its time. I remember when they introduced it and Kenosha, WI was quickly full of them. It was not only a decent car overall but also more capable off road than you would think possible. No, it wasn't a Jeep, but it was better than any other car of the time off road

[@HAL-dm1eh]

I always thought the Eagles and Spirits were so friggin cool. I was a fan of the 71-73 Mach 1 Mustangs so naturally I secretly liked the AMC Javelin, too. AMC was a cool company. They just didn't have the money of the big three. Had they fought a little longer and came out with the Grand Cherokee themselves maybe they would have survived. I don't know. They were dark times for US automakers.

[@johnchildress6717]

I did not secretly like the Javelin.I bought a 74 amx javelin from Colonial amc jeep where my dad was salesman of the month half of the year.g4 paint fiberglass hood.Damn why did I sell it.Be cool if Adam owned one.

[@johnchildress6717]

It was a73

[@bwofficial1776]

I was always impressed by how much AMC was able to do with so little. They held their own against the Big 3 longer than any other American brand, though they needed Renault's money towards the end. I own an AMC product and one thing I like is that it's got everyone's parts in it so it's easy to fix. GM alternator, GM steering column, Ford wiper switch...

[@tonywestvirginia]

71-73 Mustang was my fave also.

[@plane_guy6051]

@@johnchildress6717 I had a 74' Javlin but it had the smaller engine which had problems. The 401 probably would have been pretty amazing.

[@lwstallsmith]

My teacher had one of these Eagle wagons. My gym teacher had a Toyota Previa, my math teacher had an Acura Legend, and my principal got a Mark VII. During recess, I was the young car guy at the fence in wonder. Thanks, Adam for another great video.

[@pyrexmaniac]

My 5/6 grade teacher drove a 1969 Oldsmobile 442 drop top. It had 5-spoke mag wheels with white sidewalk lettering and white interior. The car's black top complemented the car's brash ORANGE paint. I dont remember what kind of car any of my other teachers drove.

[@lwstallsmith]

@ Your teacher’s car sounded awesome!

[@rustybearden1800]

My in laws had a 1981 Eagle Wagon burgundy and 'woody" side panel trim over a rather cheesy plaid burgundy interior, fully optioned. It was a quiet beast that, with care and skill, could literally be driven anywhere on almost any surface. At first I thought it was odd and somewhat crude with a rather agricultural feel but I eventually grew to love it and admire it. Not the prettiest car but who cares? Now they are revered as pioneers in everyday AWD vehicles. Great post as usual!

[@gabrielv.4358]

As an American (South American) its very cool to see these unique cars, thanks for the videos

[@ronh1940]

Adam, your knowledge and insights are truly astounding. R.

[@bluelithium9808]

Amazing how innovative AMC was and how long they lasted with nothing.

[@bobbylibertini]

I learned to drive on a nearly new Concord coupe. Always liked that car. They were rare to see on the street, even when they were new. Loved the Eagle! I really enjoyed this episode! (Then again, I enjoy them all!)

[@kenhollis9591]

My mom had an '81 black 2 door Eagle with the 4 speed manual. She loved that car and drove it until she couldn't do the clutch thing anymore. Thank you Adam for bringing back some really good memories from years gone by.

[@barrykochverts4149]

Had an '84 Eagle briefly. It was an American Subaru Legacy. Always admired AMC's pluck!

[@randyfitz8310]

I was briefly employed by a dealership selling AMC/JEEP when the new models were introduced. The Eagle 4X4 wagon was getting lots of attention.

[@horseathalt7308]

I remember that time. I was a teenager just turning 16 and getting a DL! Yes the new Eagle 4x4 was a bit hit in the US motoring press, and it seemed to be with the general public as well in the snow belt areas especially! If only AMC could have held on just a little bit longer, they would have pulled though.

[@TheHelado36]

Can’t believe the Matador coupe did not sell well, when it had such a beautiful design !

[@jamesslick4790]

It is a cool design, But when it came out, "everyone" wanted mid-size coupes with "neo classic" styling (Think "Cordoba") The Matador Coupe was just to sporty looking for the Mid 1970s. I had one that I bought in the early 1980s because I loved they styling since they were new.

[@Hazdazos]

Vehicle ahead of it's time. The American Subaru Outback. If the SUV craze started about a decade earlier, it would have saved AMC.

[@martinliehs2513]

The AMC Eagle 4x4 came out around the same time as the Audi Quattro, I believe.

[@gabrielv.4358]

@@martinliehs2513 If it had a supercharged 4.1l i6...

[@jamesslick4790]

Subarus ads calling the Outback "The worlds first sport utility wagon" drove me nuts, As the Eagle actually WAS.

[@swmeyere4817]

Never knew Eagle also used Formula Fergusson derivative. Always thought Jensen and AMC were separate takes on pre-Quattro passenger 4wd, with Eagle taking some Jeep know-how. Well, one might still learn smth. new. Thanks for the highlight, Adam

[@PhillBogart]

Came to say the same. I just assumed AMC/Eagle used Jeep transfer cases in all their cars. The Jensen FF (actually Ferguson Formula) was one of the earliest modern all-wheel-drive sports cars as well as the first production car with ABS. Not bad for the 1960s.

[@roberthoffhines5419]

In the automotive media of the time, ChryCo wanted AMC for the JEEP nameplate. They got stuck with the Renault deal which they badged as "Eagle"

[@carlsaganlives6086]

AMERICAN EAGLE - or - french le car 🐩? Which would you drive outta the showroom in broad daylight?

[@timmcshan3881]

I had a 71 sportabout wagon. Damn good car. 258 six cylinder engine. Tough car

[@jamesslick4790]

Not to mention the best looking wagon of the decade! I have always loved them.

[@MrMikepresley]

I remember seeing so many AMC vehicles in Toronto (Canada); what got really confusing for me, was when I stepped into a Renault showroom in Toronto, and seeing the Jeep, AMC, Renault and my head was spinning, was not use to seeing so many brands together.

[@Gazdatronik]

That Matador coupe looks excellent.

[@jamesslick4790]

Too bad that the market in the mid 70's was for cars with "classic" bits bolted on (Cordoba, etc) The Matador Coupe would have sold like mad in 1970-1972.

[@jcrowellz2000]

The Eagle is a phenomenal vehicle. Maybe a little slow, but it will get you anywhere you want to go

[@DSP1968]

A very interesting story you tell here, Adam. I learned a few things -- always good! Thank you.

[@dosgos]

Spirit was an excellent, but quirky car. Lots of interior room and incredible in the snow in 4wd form.

[@KDoyle4]

AMC was in dire straits when Roy Abernathy's line of enlarged cars came out for 1967. So they ran Abernathy out of town, and Roy Chapin took over. Chapin decided that AMC should buy Jeep from Kaiser, which the press called "Chapin's Foly". Turns out that Chapin was right. AMC turned Jeep division into the brand that originated the luxury barges driven by so many today.

[@Atomwaffen-y3s]

No, they didn't. US Government overregulation of passenger vehicle is the reason why.

[@KDoyle4]

@@Atomwaffen-y3s Whom did you mean to respond to?

[@kleverich]

I think AMC is an interesting case study as a business. It had a lot of basket-case products that weren't competitive and didn't sell very well. At the same time, even with limited resources it was able to come up with innovative products like the Eagle and the XJ Cherokee.

[@jamesthompson8008]

@kleverich Along with your thought, I am amazed at the engineering department making subtle changes/additions to existing product for YEARS! But when you look at the history of AMC, it really isn't a surprise, as most of those engineers came from(or got their start at) many of the marques that became Nash/Rambler. So these were guys who essentially started when Hudson, Packard, Kaiser, & Studebaker were in their final years, & they learned how to make designs/parts run as long as they could, until those firms closed. So, ultimately, they became masters at it by the time AMC was facing crisis in the 1980s. I've long believed IF Jeep had debuted the Gran Wagoneer say 10 years earlier, they would've had a much different sales position. Though I also think that the designs(Matador coupe/Pacer were kind of approaching that area of choices like V Exner's cars of 1961/62, just getting out of touch with mainstream buyers.

[@kleverich]

@@jamesthompson8008 Good comparison between AMC's 70s car lineup and Exner's early 60s designs. Both just too strange for the market.

[@thebestisyettocome4114]

I've owned two AMC Concords 1978 & 1982. 🇺🇸

[@creativeloafer9792]

I had a 78 in 1998/99 in really good shape. That thing was plush! Either the taillight lenses fell out or were swiped. I never figured that out.

[@BELCAN57]

I bought a Concord D/L coupe brand new in 1978. Black with black interior and the rock solid 258 inline 6. It's sorely missed.

[@misters2837]

I owned an 83 AMC Concord DL Wagon (83 was a rare year, didn't make many)

[@n84434]

You have to do a fleet video at some point. I feel like that would be a good one to watch👍🏻 Love the content!

[@eggsngritstn]

A friend of mine in high school had a 1976 Matador Coupe we dubbed the "Fatador". Legend.

[@donaldsperring5055]

I had to see this one Adam. 😊always like your information on these cars. Well covered and entertaining to listen to. Thanks.

[@RangerMan2002]

9:28 That 3/4 view looks like a mashup of a 1975 Seville, 1977 Olds 98 (peaked rear fenders) , and 1977 Chevy Caprice (tail lights) in a shrunken down version.

[@cbsctom7428]

AMC still has a very loyal following, no doubt because many of our fathers worked in the Kenosha Plant. Back in '85 a co-worker bought an Alliance and gave me a ride. It rode quite well but when we went around a corner, I thought it would roll because it leaned so much due to the soft springs.. That was a rough car!

[@trainglen22]

I loved the prototype of this car. The AMC was definitely ahead of the curve with the Eagle.

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

My mother bought a new '83 Eagle then traded it in for a new '86, she loved them! I at the time was driving a '76 Jeep CJ 304 4bbl 3sp

[@charlieharper4975]

1963 Rambler American & 1968 AMC Javelin. Both good, well built cars, my first two cars.

[@charlesdalton985]

My family had to AMC vehicles. A 73 Hornet and an 83 Eagle. I nicknamed the Hornet "the anvil" because it was about as simple as an anvil and just as unbreakable. The Eagle was a good car for winter but not a great car otherwise. Nothing ever really went wrong but the car just never seemed right. The A/C was just adequate, the transmission seemed vague, etc. Thanks as always - learned some things as usual.

[@OLDS98]

Thank you Adam. I appreciate the information and information and studio information about American Motors. Those designs look like GM cars especially the sedan. They were working hard on a budget and they did what they could with what they had. This was quite good to watch. You ran through the history quite effectively in this video. I recall the Eagle products and how things changed.

[@byronpink9061]

Great AMC history, Adam! Please do one on the AMC Rebels, and Javs.... they were cool cars as were the Grimalins. Thanks

[@Atomwaffen-y3s]

A "Grimalin"< eh? Heard it hear first on social media, people.

[@SirOsisofLiver]

I had an '89 Premier ES. Basically a Renault 25 with a Renault 21 rear suspension and a sedan facelift. It was comfortable and very roomy for the time. The PRV 3.0L V6 engine was no fireball, but was okay. The electrics were dodgy and the brakes/suspensions seemed to need a fair bit of repairs. In the end, I didn't keep it for very long. A missed opportunity, but it did form the basis for Chrysler's LX cars. The Alpine GTA was also supposed to be federalized and sold in NA, but that plan was scrapped with the Chrysler takeover. Twenty one pre-production cars were built with pop-up headlights, but never imported and sold off in France.

[@mrspandel5737]

The pop-up headlights of the US-Spec GTA later reappeared on the 1991 A610, because the weight of the pop-up mechanism helped improve the weight distribution of the rear engined platform.

[@gabrielv.4358]

Hello, You hit the spot there. Renaults are known to be unreliable with electrics and suspenion

[@Greatdome99]

As I recall, AMC already marketed a Renault-based Eagle vehicle before Chrysler purchased it. Part of the bargain was that the Eagle nameplate had to continue for some years, the last of which was a thinly disguised "cab forward" Dodge Interpid. AMC (all by itself. . .) designed and sold Jeep Cherokees in 1984 before the Chrysler purchase. I had one. Your photo showed the 2nd gen.

[@pyrexmaniac]

The Eagle/Renault/AMC/Chrysler model was the Medallion, available in sedan and wagon body styles. There was a larger car, too....sedan only known as the Premier.

[@gabrielv.4358]

The renault vehicles of the american market were very reliable units. unlike the renaults of the 90 and 2000's

[@kroge007]

There was a “New Process Gear”plant in Syracuse, NY

[@hendo337]

Real shame that was closed down.

[@57WillysCJ]

The worst mistake AMC made in the 1970s was to sell the 225 V6 back to GM. First GM wanted to by engines from AMC but AMC wanted to much money. So GM offered to buy the tooling back that they had sold to Kaiser. The cash flow even for a lower price engine out put would have produced cash flow but when they were in need of a better 6 cylinder engine they would have it in house like when the rotory fell through from GM. Although I like the 258 all of the improvements made to the 225 which led to the GM 3.8 could have been with the V6. All of the engines that their cars needed for fuel economy would have come better with that engine especially when they had to buy the Iron Duke motors and even worse the GM 2.8. The Renault thing might have worked if the guy in charge and interested in AMC hadn't been assasinated as well.

[@horseathalt7308]

Wow I almost forgot about that executive from Renault being moordoored back in 1986 by a supposed French based terriorist group. DA. I frankly don't believe it was so cut and dry. I almost wonder if it was investors putting out a contract on him that were enraged by Georges Besse dumping untold millions into AMC at the expense of Renault itself.

[@57WillysCJ]

@@horseathalt7308 At the time it was understood that many were angry and that's why he was killed.

[@horseathalt7308]

@rafaelfiallo4123 worthless post.

[@57WillysCJ]

@rafaelfiallo4123 It's what happens with poor leadership. Nance at Packard Studebaker didn't like Mason at AMC so he took his ship down. Romney was good at AMC, Abernathy was not. Good leadership will make things happen. Poor leadership destroys. Ford hated Iacocca and he took Chrysler from despair to solid footing and in doing so took the minivan from Ford. Iacocca retired and Chrysler only made it a little past him. It's been on the ropes since.

[@david78212]

I had an 82(?) Eagle wagon and it was a monster in the snow and muddy roads. I pulled a 4x4 truck out of a ditch it was stuck in and never even squealed a tire. Other than being extremely plain, it was an extremely capable vehicle and reliable as could be and not very hard to work on. I would have loved to have a two door version but couldn’t seem to find any for sale, saw plenty on the road, just none for sale.

[@flatheadV8]

The Jenson Interceptor FF was developed with the help of Harry Ferguson Research Ltd., and proceeded the Eagle by about 12 years. KZbin have several videos on 'Ferguson Research'

[@61rampy65]

In the 60s, FF also built a prototype 4wd 66 Mustang, but that project was a one-off.

[@dazaspc]

Lund had the mustang built, they also had the first 1/2 decent ABS brakes developed by Dunlop. 4 cycles a second LOL.

[@61rampy65]

@@dazaspc Was that called the Maxaret system?

[@dazaspc]

@@61rampy65 The name doesnt ring a bell.

[@flatheadV8]

@@61rampy65 The Maxaret system was developed for use in aircraft. A version called Dunlop Maxaret was used by Jensen on the FF.

The Eagle Talons were fantastic little sports cars.

[@EricResnick]

AMC is my favorite auto manufacturer. Wish I could have a modernized one to drive daily today. The SUV craze was started by the Jeep XJ, and the XJ is still the standard for serious SUVs today 40 years later. I would have liked to see the Concord/Eagle prototype produced. I think it would have been a sales success. The Eagle Premiere paved the way for the Chrysler LH cars. A future video for you could include the long history of AMC and Renault, which goes back to the 1960s when Renault assembled Ramblers out of boxes for sales in Europe. It was a fairy successful partnership for a long time before the evolution of it produced the Alliance.

[@walterbatman7949]

Premier Every time I see that trim logo on any vehicle it reminds me of my dads 76 Volare Premier wagon. What a lemon

[@Pisti846]

The Rambler American was a great, small car. More interior room, more trunk room, a real station wagon that was far better than the sporty-styled Hornet that replaced it. AMC would have been better off keeping the Rambler American and developing a sub-compact Rambler from the ground up instead of the sawed-off Gremlin. A family-friendly subcompact similar to the offerings from Toyota and Datsun would have had a domestic niche all to itself since Cheverolet and Ford only built sporty two-door subcompacts.

[@jamesthompson8008]

@Pisti846 That may very well be true, but they just didn't have capital to spend.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Adam, Did you call it the SUV craze? I call it the SUV blight. 😛🤢

[@garysarratt1]

Just another historical era.

[@Johnnycdrums]

In the 00's, 10's, 20's, 30's, and 40's cars were designed with similar ride heights to that of todays four wheelers. The trend has come full circle. The public, then and now, care not for low ride height, apparently. Even in the Sixties, Bronco's and Scouts were hugely popular, even without the luxury of today. The Jeep Grand Wagoneer (even before the downsizing), was hugely succesfull in ski country. It was (for the time) a luxury four wheeler station wagon, worked perfecrly fine as a daily driver, and looked good doing it.

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@garysarratt1 I am anxiously waiting for it to be put into the history books.

[@bryantint1339]

Exactly. Big cars kick big SUVs in the ass.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Crossovers are to try and wean us from the big tubs. So hop in a jelly bean and cruise on down the road 😂 I swear I've been riding along and seeing like 5 jelly beans in a line, all of similar colors and have no clue of the brand unless I see a badge. And I could care less ,who gets excited about jelly beans except the Easter Bunny?

[@KevinD_33x150]

My dad had a 1964 Rambler Classic 660, with the 327ci & auto with overdrive, from mid-1973 to early 1980. It was a freak, special order vehicle for Victoria Police. Not long after came the first of two 1974 Javelin's. We had one each. Dad's 360ci auto, mine a 401ci 4 speed. Then I found myself with another... a 1978 Matador X, 360ci auto. They were all sold in the late 80's for way more than we paid for them. In 1992, I bought a 1976 Matador wagon, 360 ci auto, 8 seats, dual swing tailgate. What a beast! Perfect for lugging the kids & their gear for the holidays! (Griswold family vacation memes... before memes were a thing! 🤣🤣) I sold it in 1998 for a few hundred dollars more than I paid for it. All but the wagon are still registered & running. They were all assembled here in Victoria, Australia. Sadly, I never had the opportunity to own either a Gremlin or a Pacer. Both would have been fun!

[@UCm0i6w5lBlRthCtZEoj99tg]

I always thought "new process" was an internal Chrysler term for some process improvement or something when it came to their transfer cases and had no idea it was the name of some 100+ year old company haha sent me on a bit of a wiki tangent love the vids

[@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we]

Yeah, when I learned the part number of my dad's old chevy 4WD transfer case, and others, then read magazine articles or whatever about New Process, I was like "oh, NP20* and all the others, okay"

[@frederickbooth7970]

@@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we I once worked for a GM parts dept. as an asst. mgr. When we did not have the NP transfer case parts readily in stock we used to get them from our local Ford dealership. In turn when they needed those same parts & did not have them in stock they ask us if we had them & we would supply them. We always worked together in the small lumber mill / dairy based town we all worked & lived in. Great seeing this video about AMC. Have worked on a Matador coupe. They were an interesting car to work on. AMC had so many interesting & dare I say revolutionary designs. Too bad they could not have stayed operating.

[@hendo337]

No New Process was a company that built manual transmissions, transfer cases and rear axles in Syracuse, NY. They were partially Chrysler owned but they sold parts to GM and Ford over the years.

[@gabrielv.4358]

LMAO i thought the same

[@fleetwoodpup8328]

That had me thinking "New Venture" for half a second.:-)

[@Sheisthedevilyouknowwho-ft9we]

I'm 1 min in, im dying to see this. 49 y.o., I definitely remember print & TV ads a lot for the Eagle, thought the idea of a AWD car was great, but the Eagle was kind of funny looking, at least to me , probably, to my eyes, because of it's stance

[@CharlesWiningham]

The problem with AMC was that they walked away from the medium priced field and the potential profits for the brand. If they had kept the Matador wheelbase and size and renamed it Ambassador they would have had something to compete with the downsized full sized GM cars. They could have gone back to the original Rebel wheelbase for a midsize cars. They were dependent on compact cars with low profit margins.

[@777jones]

Selec-Trac! Great innovation

[@HighSierra1500]

New Process 229 transfer case.

[@hotpuppy1]

AMC did not have bad cars. If they would have had better capitalization, they would have been more competitive. Chrysler buying AMC killed a good thing. If they had kept the Eagle AWD, they would have been ahead of the market. Now look at Chrysler today.

[@OldIron2188]

If you're implying discontinuing the eagle is the reason that 35 odd years later Chrysler is struggling, I need to know what you're on.

[@MikeekiM-vh5se]

Chrysler bought AMC from Reanualt...AMC was dead when Chrysler bought it.

[@MikeekiM-vh5se]

Chrysler today isnt because of Chrysler. 1980's-1999 Chrysler Corporation was the most profitable car company around..more than GM more than Toyota,Chrysler was the best! The c.e.o Bob Eaton swindled Chrysler shareholders into merging Daimler Benz with Chrysler...Mercedes car brand was failing and was in debt in the 1990's..They used Chrysler's cash and propped up Mercedes. Sad Chrysler wa son their own again but the financial crisis made the U.S government forced them to merge with Fiat...Fiat then sold to the new company Stellantis and still Chrysler/Dodge/RAM/Jeep is what is making that company profits!!! They are screwing new Chrysler/Dodge/RAM/Jeep models now..they need to be saved by someone who isnt going to sell or merge them,they can be very profitable and on their own again.

[@carlsaganlives6086]

@@MikeekiM-vh5se The Le Shoe was a classic design inspired by the Pacer - surprisingly slow despite it's svelte profile.

[@strongereveryday2302]

Clueless eurotrash ownership is why Chrysler is where it is today. They bought AMC when they were a dead mark to get Jeep. If they hadn't, jeep would not exist today.

[@loumontcalm3500]

I'd say that formal sedan roofline design in American cars harkens back to the '58 Thunderbird, Adam. Thanks for these vids!

[@saywhat2014]

I had an AMC Eagle SX4 and loved it.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

My great aunt had a baby blue Pacer. It was before Wayne's World came out so it was just another car. I loved riding in it. Lots of room. My cousin's grandmother had an Eagle wagon. She used it for her rural mail delivery route. I remember being confused about her driving from the passenger side. She drove that thing in some pretty good snow storms and never had a problem

[@aaroncone6778]

The name Pathfinder, was a company that was based out of New England, that did 4wd conversions for Dodge & Plymouth full size vans (and mini vans) in the 70's & 80's. Hope this helps...

[@TerribleTim9692]

I loved my Eagle! Got it's wings broken by a guy he ran a step sign. Great car! 😢

[@falcon664]

The 1974 Matador sedan and wagon update was planned when competing intermediates were getting bigger. The "coffin nose" was designed to increase total length on the usual AMC budget. A new hood, grille and mandated bumper, (the stamping shared with Ambassador), were created. The fenders, though, dated to 1971.

[@VB-bk1lh]

I started out working for an AMC/Jeep dealer almost right out of high school. Their vehicles were pretty much rock solid but when they added the Renault vehicles things went downhill fast. They were problematic from the start and when the Renault tech started to get used in the American built vehicles things got worse fast. Driveability issues were common with the Jeep Fuel Feedback system, which used a Renault based control system and a complicated, hard to use diagnostic system compared to what GM and Ford were using at the time. I had various vehicles back then from AMC, the best were my 1979 Cherokee Chief (258ci I6 2dr model with a three speed manual transmission), and a 1984 4x4 Eagle wagon, to which we retrofitted a two speed transfer case. The Eagle was a really tough car. We had one wrecked on a test drive back in 1983, a basic hatch back model with 4x4. It was hit from behind at a stop light and pushed into another vehicle. They totaled it knowing it could never be sold as 'new'. It sat around the back lot for a couple of years and when the dealership changed hands I ended up with it for basically scrap weight. My main reason for buying it was to put the power train into an older Jeep I had bought with a bad motor. Before stripping down the wrecked car, we used it for a few months around the farm as a field beater. After taking its motor for the Jeep, I eventually found an older used engine which I put back into the wrecked car so it could still be used around the farm. I watched two guys take that car one day and run wide open in reverse into a tree with it, While it damaged the car bad enough to blow out the rear window, it also hit hard enough to shear off both front seats launching both front passengers out the shattered rear window. Being completely drunk they didn't feel a thing and basically crawled back into the car and drove away. The car suffered only fairly minor damage for as hard as it hit that tree. Seeing that made me feel a lot better about the wagon I was driving daily then The downside to the Eagle wagon was MPG. I don't think it ever broke the 14 mpg mark. Which was pretty much what made me sell it in the end. Without an overdrive, it was getting expensive to drive even back then. My Cherokee got the same or better mileage I do feel that if AMC had never gotten involved with Renault they may have survived if they could have modernized just a bit back then. The 1984 Cherokee, the Grand Wagoneer, and the Wrangler were all good vehicles that today are classics. Their engines were rock solid, they had strong structural integrity overall on all their models and they had an established dealer network. I often wondered what would have happened if they would have sold off Jeep, and gone on without Renault. It was Jeep that caused the money issues divesting itself of Jeep would have saved the brand and they very likely could have later developed their own 4x4 and brand. They had other vehicle designs in the works, and we had heard talk that they were possibly looking to become a strickly 'commercial vehicle' line building strictly government vehicles, taxis, and corporate fleet vehicles. There were plans for a full size car to replace the Matador, and various renditions of the Concord. Even Chrysler toyed with the idea of keeping the Eagle Concord alive, which I think maybe where the prototype drawings here came from, The store we were told was that it was going to be a morph between the concord and Aries K, using what was an early rear wheel drive platform of the Aries K that never made it to market. I think Chrysler took the the easier road and since they were bound to Renault for several years, they just released the Premier and Monaco instead and shelved the Concord/Eagle project. The Grand Cherokee was not just an AMC deveolpment, it was a Renault project which is what lead to all the delays in its release. We were shown pictures of the prototype years before Chrysler ever came into the picture. Infighting between Renault and AMC and various issues with the model and engine choices, and likely lack of funds is what delayed its release Those of us who saw the prototypes hoped it would be scrapped early on knowing it was going to be another warranty and service nightmare to deal with. By the time Chrysler released the Grand Cherokee I had already seen the writing on the wall and got out. Chrysler did not have the same commitment to training, service, or quality that AMC demanded and even less loyalty to their employees. One of the first moves that Chrysler made was to start closing down tech training facilities and ending plans for any new locations. The idea was that dealer techs could train on their own time at home using VHS tapes and booklets rather than spending a week or two each year at new model training. The dealers loved this too as it eliminated an expense. It did wonders for employee morale and most techs simply refused to train at home unpaid. So the level of trained techs dropped quickly, with many just refusing to work on the new models. Under AMC, it was a great company to work for, but Chrysler was far from that. While they continued to train the regional reps and trainers, the number of techs at dealers who received full training dropped fast. They also looked down on those who had come over from AMC. Refusing to work for free most who had come from AMC looked elsewhere and either left the business or went to the competition.

[@RareClassicCars]

Wow, that was quite a ride! Thanks for sharing your story!

[@stevenhagebusch9561]

make station wagons great again 😂

[@patrickcoughlin-qj9uk]

I miss my wagon . Loaded mercury . Big block 460 could not pass a gas station .

[@Atomwaffen-y3s]

They stopped making them because NOBODY BUYS THEM.

[@stevenhagebusch9561]

@@Atomwaffen-y3s idk.....i mean a suv is just a bigger confused version of one.....not sure if it wants to be a truck or a wagon.....

[@jalsr.2375]

I loved my 91 olds custom cruiser wagon.

[@stevenhagebusch9561]

@jalsr.2375 i have a 63 pontiac catalina wagon ....absolutely love it

[@arevee9429]

Concorde and Eagle were the Just the Hornet, but not as nice looking due to giant bumpers and a bad warm-over resstyle. The original Hornet was quite pleasant - especially in wagon form. That Grand Cherokee certainly was a smashing success. And yes, too bad AMC couldn't have hung on a bit longer.

[@maxr4448]

For what little money AMC had to produce knew product, they did wonders. The had a GREAT V-8 and Great straight 6. I miss the Javelin, AMX, The Machine, and S/Crambler. Awesome cars.

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

If AMC had the money. I'm convinced that they would've been a real contender and possibly outsold Ford and GM. They had the drive and the talent. They just didn't have the money to bring their ideas to reality

[@jeffmiller3150]

They didn't have any money because their vehicles didn't sell very well. Their vehicles didn't sell very well because they were klunky, outdated, obsolete junk compared to other manufacturers at the time.

[@bobjoe1593]

​​@@jeffmiller3150 clunky outdated and obsolete makes sense for an also-ran car company that doesn't have massive funding to pour into developing new tech. They existed (much like Mopar did) by buying up the struggling companies with good designs and incorporating what they could, and stretching that shoestring budget to the max. They definitely had some great, revolutionary ideas that allowed them to score some hits while being realistic about the bounds of what is possible for a "second tier" car company. The funny thing is, now you see so many people wishing that they could find a company making what would likely be considered by the automotive media and mass public as an outdated and obsolete car.

[@gabrielv.4358]

yes

[@alexanderspenser4960]

Thanks Adam for the Foster reference. Never understood how AMC Matador was honored with a design award in 73-4. Have it on a C&D cover.

[@EricResnick]

Because it was designed in partnership with Roger Penske to be aerodynamically optimized for the race track. It was also quite spacious inside and a study of interior space efficiency. It basically had the interior space of a full sized car at the time on a 114 inch wheelbase. When GM downsized their full sized cars, the interior benchmarks across the line was the AMC Matador.

[@patk8417]

Hey Adam, those tail lights on your opening photo of the "guess what?"look amazingly like a Ford Fairmont and without looking at the rest of the car I would have almost guessed that that's what it was.

[@richardmeyersmeyers8123]

I was thinking the same thing

[@br.martindallyosb1147]

I always thought the Matador coupe was a lovely design (as long as it did not have a vinyl roof). There's a cleanness of line, in the same way the Lincolns had in the 60s, with that whole less is more thinking.

[@nickolaslewis1560]

That is a good looking car! I think it would have sold.

[@kennethsouthard6042]

Not if it was just a refresh of the old Hornet platform going against the newer platforms of Ford GM and Chrysler at the time.

[@willythewave]

It`s been 40 years so I don`t remember much but when I worked at AAMCO transmissions the mid 80`s Jeep Cherokee transfer cases about drove us batty because the transmission fluid in the transfer cases would foam up and cause slippage and chattering. Jeep ended up making an anti foaming agent that came in a 1 or 2oz bottle (cant remember) as a quick fix.

[@ScarletSwordfish]

Thanks for sharing these mockup pictures. They're interesting, but prefer the sloped rear windows that the production models had. They may have looked dated at the time, but I find them more attractive nowadays compared all the boxy formal roofline designs of the 80s.

[@davevan8864]

I currently own 2 AMC's....a 73 Javelin and 74 Matador coupe. For their time both are ahead of their time. I also own the Ford version of these cars. The Mustang is very similar to Javelin with Javelin build Q a tiny bit better. The Matador coupe drives like a 90's era sedan/coupe by Ford or GM and it too has a great build Q....mine has 36K on it.....great car. Thanks

[@emjayay]

All the AWD Eagles and proposed new versions were basically Hornets, which came out in 1970. The proposed version added a new rear clip to the existing Concorde front clip. AMC usually included some mistakes in their designs, like the Sportabout (?) semi-station wagon having a fastback rear that killed what load capacity it added (but is now a common thing with many sort-of SUV designs). Or the Pacer being really wide (thus heavy) but having a narrow rear seat between the rear wheel wells and buckets in front, so getting nothing from all the extra width and weight.

[@MarinCipollina]

Interesting that Chrysler had an LH car named Eagle, and they imported the Concord name as a Chrysler LH model. Thanks for this one, Adam.

[@shnorth888]

The Eagle LH was called the Vision. They were nice cars.

[@randolfo1265]

"Warmed over Hornet" I was literally thinking that as you were saying it.

[@4b131]

I miss AMC

[@fleetwoodpup8328]

I too, miss AMC, along with Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Packard, Studebaker, DeSoto, Nash....the list is so long!

[@dbird29]

Oh man that hood trim not lining up is killing me

[@jeffmiller3150]

Nothing on Ramblers ever lined up!! Just one part of their down fall!

[@misters2837]

​@jeffmiller3150 I don't know what you are taking about... or the other guy either.

[@marktoken6052]

​@@misters2837 look at the chrome trim going across the hood and over the headlight bezels.

[@carlsaganlives6086]

That's part of the passive aero system, optioned along with the special order handling package.

[@misters2837]

@marktoken6052 On which of the like 10 cars shown in video?

[@rpsmith2990]

The first thought is that there was a bit more to the Eagle Premier than you might think. First off, even if the Medallion was a warmed over Renault 21 (shame we didn't get the turbo), there was nothing quite like the Premier in the French Renault lineup. While it was based on 21 or 25 components (I've read both), it was at least partly designed by Giugiaro on the outside, and while he competed for the interior as well, that was done by AMC designers. A station wagon was also planned, as was a coupe called Allure, which was a lot like a Cutlass Supreme of the time, but in some ways a bit less subtle. Believe it or not, in some quarters of the motoring press, Jeep was not necessarily the asset that Chrysler bought AMC for, but perhaps this. Or, really, the manufacturing plants, maybe. I can say that the time I considered owning an Eagle Premier, it was the deal, not the car, that caused me to say no. It was a lovely car to drive. But I'm glad that they didn't build this formal roofed AMC Eagle. The formal roof trend was under fire in the '80s, at least from our motoring press, and the Taurus and Sable were held up as shining examples of why that was so.

[@horseathalt7308]

The Renault 25 was actually a five door hatchback body style. I liked the Premier but AMC should have just slightly altered the French interior for the American market vs create their own. The French design of the interior just looked a whole lot nicer and coherent with lots of style too. I actually was able to drive the Medallion and Premier because our dealer took over selling the Eagle brand when AMC was closed down. I actually thought the Medallion was a good drive and had a lot of style, character and class too, it was a very good car unaltered much from the Renault R21. The Premier had potential but I don't agree that the changes to the Renault R25 worked that well.

[@johnplovanich9564]

Another awesome review Adam.Poor AMC at this point they were just dog paddling.Had they hung on a bit longer the Grand Cherokee may have saved them,but probably not.Most mechanicals in this AMC era car were outsourced from the big three and they had no money for R&D.What might have been.Ad always cheers from Eulethra. 😊

[@skip123davis]

i had a (i think) 72 amc matador. best car i ever owned. you could not kill that thing.

[@normbittner3762]

Looks very Dodge Diplomat or Chevy Caprice-ish and larger than the Concord. I took my driver's test when I was 16 in our Concord Wagon complete with wood vinyl.

[@douglasb.1203]

AMC's designs had odd styling ques. The C pillar to wheelbase ratio wasn't cohesive (much like the '86 Eldo, Toronado, and Riviera) proportionally. Seeing the leaf springs drooping while on jack-stands for a vehicle designed at this time is archaic. Great channel. Joe Ligo might be the king of all things AMC.

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

7:09 that side profile giving of strong K car vibes.

[@johnverlautz6025]

I find it interesting that Jack stands were used to add the appearance of raised ground clearance. Nowadays there are so many easy ways to create a lifted car.

[@PearComputingDevices]

That Chrysler Madalian served as the basis for the LH series cars, that later was re engineered for the LX series Cara. Chrysler in buying AMC actually got a lot from it that most don't know, or notice. The 4th gen Chrysler minivans had gotten the AMC designer touch. Next time you see one look at them fat wheel wells, that was an AMC thing and they brought that signature to their minivans! Long live AMC!

[@tkewrestler2662]

If you think about it, the AMC Eagle really seems was targeting the market where Subaru would later find success.

[@2A3A66]

My grandmother owned a mid '70's Hornet Wagon. It was a great car for her, but I think she bought it more to haul my brothers, sister and cousins around on our annual road trips. She traded it for a Chevette and she hated that car. I own a somewhat removed cousin of the AMC's, an AM General M818 5-ton military tractor.

[@gabrielv.4358]

its bizarre. in brazil the chevette is loved

[@CSltz]

I think it was the Matador (the brown one at the beginning.) They always reminded me of a cross between a Pinto in the front and a Vega in the back. With the round taillights.

[@mikebarnes2746]

In 72 I worked on the pipeline . Most all their pickups were Ford 4x4 . Quite a few Dodge 4x4 as gin pole and service utility welder’s etc . I had the job in the yard and also got to drive the spread bosses around in their 72 Grand Cheerokes . I got to drive theses old boys up the route of the pipeline likely they were drinking ,and as a18 year old just out of high school I never forget those moments.those trunks were really good I did get stuck a few times but they were total luxury and great 4x4 s

[@misterhipster9509]

Maroon sedan @ 9.30, had one identical, wonderful car.

[@mpetersen6]

Look at the 74 Matador Coupe. Then look at the AMX/3. See any similarities in the body lines in side profile. I do. Specifically the roof line and side body line. One reason car bodies have body lines instead of just flat panels is the character lines stiffen up the body panels a lot. Take a piece of paper and hold it by one edge. Flops right over. Put a couple of folds in it. Now how much stiffer is it.

[@jeffmiller3150]

A co-worker, who was an off-road enthusiast, always referred to Eagles as "gum band four wheel drive"!!😂

[@215rwg]

7:00 Pathfinder - in the late 70s there was a 4wd van conversion company named Pathfinder which did Chrysler OEM authorized packages sold as VanCharger. Maybe a coincidence, maybe a marketing hassle.

[@VanWinger]

The first generation grand cherokee c pillar strakes are renault-esque

[@McRocket]

Very interesting, thank you. Personally, I think AMC's biggest problem was their styling was just too weird until late in their history. Though I thought the Spirit and Concord were solid-looking vehicles. I thought the Spirit AMX was a very handsome car. Their cars in the 1960s and 70s were generally rather odd in appearance. ☮

[@ManiaMusicChannel]

The eagle logo on the pillar of the coupe was used on the Imperial sedan from the 90s

[@christhompson2006]

That's so crazy. The Matador coupe is so much better looking than the Matador sedan.

[@JPIndustrie]

The 2 door Eagle concept is really very interesting; 2 door “personal luxury coupe” to compete with the likes of Mercury Cougar, t-Birds and Monte Carlos … but with 4WD for the snow belt customers … if only we were in a different universe 😂

[@universalassociates6857]

Bring back the Javelin. I might just consider buying one if it looks anything close to the original!