RIP AMC..what I would give for a new Wagoneer! We had one when I was a kiddo and it could go anywhere. Loved AMC's quirkiness and refusal to go with the flow.
I hate it when reviewers say the car is "aging." I don't CARE about styling! If it still works, why change it? All a car really needs is to keep up with technology; but who cares about style? There was nothing wrong with the latest AMC Concord or Grand Wagoneer.
Isn't it a real comment on our current values regarding trucks that the bed length of the "compact" Comanche is longer than that of today's full size four door trucks?
It’s almost 2 foot longer. Because back then people actually used the vehicles and beds as a truck not a station wagon with a open trunk. A 8 bed was the most common and almost exclusively used on work trucks. A 6.5 “ bed was a Sport Truck.
The Comanche pickup is considered a midsize pickup, just like the Dodge Dakota. Unfortunately, It lacked an extended cab version that would have been very popular.
I've been fascinated by the AMC Eagle since childhood and still would love to have one as a winter car... and to answer your question, the only time I ever rode in the back of a pickup was in my buddy's old F-150.
If you have an Eagle you do not want it as a winter car. These days you want to preserve it and only bring it out on dry sunny days. Trust me they will be worth a fortune. Just like people never thought a Pacer would become a valuable collector car.
AMC was just months from throwing in the towel and letting Chrysler come to the rescue(as it was). Damn shame as if AMC had just made it another 5-10 years they would have dominated the market that Subaru now owns, plus the Wagoneer and Jeep full sized pickups were KOOL, and the CJs were just the shit.
I love AMC, but they were never going to dominate any market. The build quality wasn't great and the pricing wasn't as competitive as it needed to be. The Eagle was never going to outsell the WRX, no matter what type of upgrades AMC threw into it. The CJ/Wrangler was losing ground to the Bronco and Blazer, which were losing ground to the Suzuki Samurai/Geo Tracker. The Chrysler buyout was probably the best thing that could've happened, even though it was explicitly clear that all they were interested in was the Jeep brand (just as it was only Jeep that Daimler-Benz was interested in).
@@RockandrollNegro 86 was only about 2 years from the SUV explosion and If AMC had the cash reserves and a little luck I stand on my claim. In the Midwest Jeeps are everywhere, Subaru is almost at AMC levels here as far as sales and most of those are Outbacks and Forresters. Samurai/Trackers were a flash in the pan and if AMC had the sales and profits they would have put some of that money back into R&D and quality control; nothing would have happend in a vacum. If anything it would have forced Chrysler to come to AMC as more a merger of equals. Dodge might have lost the truck division and Jeep would have been the SUV/truck/van brand. Chrysler/Plymouth would have continued as the car brands. It's just a shame that Studebaker/Packard didn't get merged into AMC when the chance came. It would have changed the car industry.
I can't remember, did Chrysler build Comanches for 87 or were they a one year only? Dakotas came out for 87 and they were basically the same truck. I bought a 87 Dakota 4X4 in 96 and put almost 100K on i( had almost 200K when it died), for a first year model it ran good and didn't nickle and dime me to death, it just rusted into the earth.
I dad bought a 86 Comanche new, the sad thing was it was a michigan car. The damn thing is soo Rusty and the thing finally gave up after 33 years and now he might have to scrap it :( love that thing to death
The Comanche was made 86-91. As for the Cherokee getting scarce, it's about 20 years old now at the newest and most were bought as the kid moving SUV back in the day and because most of them were 4x4 they got used in the snow so they have rusted away like most unibody vehicles. Here in California they are still pretty common although in the last year or to the price has went up on them although there is still plenty of deals out there.
cjhawk67 there is a Comanche with 18000 miles bucket seats, 4.0l straight 6, 5 speed, short bed for sale in Phoenix for 22,000 dollars. Everything, and I mean everything it's in perfect condition. Never restored, all original garage kept from day 1.
I had an 83 J10 with the 360 v8 Decent truck, but AMC built the truck beds in two pieces. There was a huge parting line the entire length of the bed. Guess where it rusted.
We had it made for sure up here in the Great White....and also Jeep had something really good going on...coming to be later for the 90's the Dakota and the ever popular Ram....we sure needed ( still do ) for our winters here lol
Motorweek: Do you have any retro reviews done on the updated 86 Grand Wagoneer? Or the J series trucks? I have seen the 83 Limited Wagoneer review but other than that only small clips during the AMC full line reviews. Please please please if you have anything related to these in the archive post them:)
When I met my wife her dad owned a 1972 AMC Matador 4 door dark brown with lighter brown interior. Remember the first time I drove it, I could not believe how smooth it drove. And for a 304 cu. in. V8 it really picked up speed well. Couple of years later we bought a 1977 Matador for ourselves. Great road trip car.
I had an Encore back then as well . My first new auto. Took it in while still very new for repair of the fog lights and asked why they would not be working when the car was so new. The mechanic said to me It's because you bought a Renault.
I think the seats in the Alliance 2 door were used in the Cherokee. I'd love to have a J truck, Eagle, Grand Eagoneer, Cherokee and Comanche! Not rusty ones.
I will never understand why Chrysler Corp., circa 1980 warranted a bailout from the American taxpayer through the U.S. Govt., but AMC did not. I miss little AMC and their economy-minded cars and many other automotive innovations.
I do as well. My dad was a mechanic for many years at a local Rambler later AMC dealer. We always had a Rambler Then when they started calling themselves AMC we had a number of those as well. These days when I see young people butcher them with stupid mods, I get so mad, because they deserve to be restored and preserved in original condition for future generations to see.They were such wonderful cars.
I'd love to get an AMC Eagle 4x4 Wagon, and a Jeep Comanche Long Bed 4x4...Cherokees are pretty easy to find, they're all over the place (sadly many have been grossly modified) finding one in original condition is getting harder, at least in original condition and not beat to crap LOL.
They were produced in such small numbers so these days even fewer are left. As I say if you want to modify a car pick a Chevrolet because they were produced in huge numbers each year. They always said GM lost more cars through the cracks than AMC produced. There needs to be a national campaign to save them.
@@TheLucidLuxray I love led zeppelin, like sabbath, have no clue who rainbow is... but yea 70's music was kinda shit. also despite that I love zeppelin they did steal several of their biggest songs unfortunately, and the original writer only wanted acknowledged and they still told him to fuck off. So, they are kinda shitty... like the 70's. Pretty much full of high hippies as far as I am concerned lolol. No disrespect... just sayin similar shit that is thrown at millennials daily so seems fair.
It’s too bad that AMC didn’t commit any funding to freshen the Concord and Eagle designs after 1981. With the popularity of traditional RWD cars returning after gas prices cratered & the economy recovered in ‘83, AMC would have likely reeled in higher sales of both models if they’d updated the fascias, trim, bumpers, and interiors for a few more years until the Medallion and Premier debuted. Instead, I think AMC was a bit insecure about selling such old designs by the mid ‘80s. Thing is Volvo (140/240 Series), Saab (99/900), Jaguar (XJ6/12), Porsche (911), and Alfa Romeo (Spider) all had even older designs than the Hornet/Concord/Eagle on the market in the ‘80s that they kept refining and updating, and selling well at very high prices, all well into the ‘90s. AMC history is full of missed opportunities. The languishing of the Concord and Eagle lines in the ‘80s is one of them.
The problem was always the same for AMC. They could not sell in numbers that would give them money to update their products. There wasn't anything wrong with them just they got no respect. It was all about how they were perceived. Remember their slogan, If you had to compete with the three largest car companies in America what would you do. They used that for years. There are video's on You Tube of the presenter saying it. Look up 1970 AMC Ambassador commercial.
Back then he’d have never believed that someday the Washington redskins and Cleveland Indians would eventually change their names due to political correctness.
Wow. Imagine getting a french built , obscure even there i would imagine , diesel serviced in America today as a Jeep customer ( as opposed to someone buying an actual French vehicle they would have a better idea what they were getting into at least)
The French saved AMC for a time. Without them, AMC would have collapsed by 1982. AMC lost over $400M in the 1980-82 period alone. There was no way they could have survived without Renault at the time. And competing with Ford for Crown Vic fleet sales would have killed them even faster in that era. In fact, LTD Crown Vic sales were worse from 80-82 than AMC Concord/Spirit/Eagle sales. LTD Crown Vic sales were so poor, Ford nearly canceled the line after ‘83, which is why they restyled the Granada in ‘83 and named it LTD. It was supposed to replace the Panther... until gas prices eased, the economy recovered, and Crown Vic sales recovered with it.
In truth, Renault’s inability to understand the American market, and its inability to design a reliable car, did end up hurting AMC after the Alliance debuted. The 18i flopped. The Fuego was hot until electrical issues gave it a bad reputation. Alliance/Encore sales were hot until the economy started to prosper as bigger, more powerful cars replaced demand for econoboxes just as the Alliance/Encore’s reliability problems became widely known. The Medallion launched about 3-4 years too late, looked dated, and was imported. The Premier launched 3-4 years too late and looked dated next to the Taurus. And both of those cars ended up having reliability problems of their own. But in that initial 1980-83 period, Renault ensured the company’s survival until Chrysler could buy them out.
They still are. They are called Nissan's now. Renault bought Nissan a few years ago. So now they are a combo of Renault/engines and Nissan other parts.
Exactly. I have had 12 of them thru the years. A 75 Hornet #13 and current one. The best one I had was a 65 Classic 770 with a 287. Smoothest engine ever. The most beautiful one I had was a 67 Ambassador DPL...Most reliable was a 71 Gremlin..and 70 Hornet. My first was a 62 American with a flathead. I tried to kill it, but failed...The 74 Matador Brougham coup, was a dog... I miss AMC. Chrysler should come back with the Comanche..
"The Comanche just might scalp the competition"? WTF man? 4:00 I know, I lived through those times. The style of the time I always say. But funny nonetheless! Especially airing on the PBS!
I read somewhere a few years ago that Besse had big plans for AMC, including a new lineup featuring many of the all-wheel drive models and then he was killed RIP.
My fantasy is somebody will bring back the low priced small pickup. Colorado? PPPPFFFFFFFTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! What a POS! Almost the price of a 1/2 ton and the build quality of a Yugo. The S Series/Comanche/Dakota/Ranger market is underserved and eleventy million of them were made from the early 80's to 2000's. Chicken Tax or whatever be damned, make a reliable, cheap, 4X4 small truck with some engine/drivetrain options (maybe I-6 turbo gas/diesel) and hell I might even buy one!
Without Renault, AMC would have folded sooner. AMC had no cash by 1979, the government wasn't going to give the smallest automobile corporation loans to bail it out, GM didn't want to waste money on a potential buyout on AMC, and Chrysler was also circling the toilet at this time. Renault prolonged the inevitable, though good on them to give AMC another chance with a huge cash infusion to help it's car line up. Jeep during the late 70's and early 80's weren't selling well, once a cash cow for AMC, Jeep was barely keeping the lights on for the parent company. AMC was wrong to put money into Jeep in the early 80's, Jeep would have survived anyways, AMC desperately needed a newer smaller car to compete with the big three. You couldn't have the Cherokee without Renault, and you couldn't have gotten the incredibly long lasting 4.0 straight six engine without Renault. The floor pan of the Dodge Intrepid was all Renault until it's end of production. AMC was a company that came close to death more times than even Chrysler Corp. The fault of AMC's demise was AMC itself for not following any market trends, and relied on aging models that was no longer innovative, and wasted much needed funding on concept cars and failed models (Pacer and Matador coupe) that they knew were half baked. Frankly, AMC might have done more damage to Renault than Renault has done to AMC.
Would have loved to be able to walk into an AMC dealer in the summer of 86!
It's strange to think that the cars in this video are older now than that Nash at the beginning was when this video was made.
RIP AMC..what I would give for a new Wagoneer! We had one when I was a kiddo and it could go anywhere. Loved AMC's quirkiness and refusal to go with the flow.
James Walsh I want a gremlin
I had a AMC Eagle, should have never sold it.
Now they have a new wagoneer
Word Are Powerful! You Spoke It Into Existence!
I hate it when reviewers say the car is "aging." I don't CARE about styling! If it still works, why change it? All a car really needs is to keep up with technology; but who cares about style? There was nothing wrong with the latest AMC Concord or Grand Wagoneer.
Isn't it a real comment on our current values regarding trucks that the bed length of the "compact" Comanche is longer than that of today's full size four door trucks?
Andrew Taylor Indeed.
Mostly the new trucks are obese family hauling devices. The cargo is inside the Cabin.
It’s almost 2 foot longer. Because back then people actually used the vehicles and beds as a truck not a station wagon with a open trunk. A 8 bed was the most common and almost exclusively used on work trucks. A 6.5 “ bed was a Sport Truck.
And still significantly smaller and more fuel efficient!
The Comanche pickup is considered a midsize pickup, just like the Dodge Dakota. Unfortunately, It lacked an extended cab version that would have been very popular.
This is depressing in a way because I clearly remember this AMC lineup from my undergrad days. The Eagle was a sweet ride back in the day.
I've been fascinated by the AMC Eagle since childhood and still would love to have one as a winter car... and to answer your question, the only time I ever rode in the back of a pickup was in my buddy's old F-150.
If you have an Eagle you do not want it as a winter car. These days you want to preserve it and only bring it out on dry sunny days. Trust me they will be worth a fortune. Just like people never thought a Pacer would become a valuable collector car.
"it just might scalp the competition" has not aged well
It definitely scalped political correctness.
i noe rite?
AMC was just months from throwing in the towel and letting Chrysler come to the rescue(as it was). Damn shame as if AMC had just made it another 5-10 years they would have dominated the market that Subaru now owns, plus the Wagoneer and Jeep full sized pickups were KOOL, and the CJs were just the shit.
I love AMC, but they were never going to dominate any market. The build quality wasn't great and the pricing wasn't as competitive as it needed to be. The Eagle was never going to outsell the WRX, no matter what type of upgrades AMC threw into it. The CJ/Wrangler was losing ground to the Bronco and Blazer, which were losing ground to the Suzuki Samurai/Geo Tracker. The Chrysler buyout was probably the best thing that could've happened, even though it was explicitly clear that all they were interested in was the Jeep brand (just as it was only Jeep that Daimler-Benz was interested in).
@@RockandrollNegro 86 was only about 2 years from the SUV explosion and If AMC had the cash reserves and a little luck I stand on my claim. In the Midwest Jeeps are everywhere, Subaru is almost at AMC levels here as far as sales and most of those are Outbacks and Forresters. Samurai/Trackers were a flash in the pan and if AMC had the sales and profits they would have put some of that money back into R&D and quality control; nothing would have happend in a vacum. If anything it would have forced Chrysler to come to AMC as more a merger of equals. Dodge might have lost the truck division and Jeep would have been the SUV/truck/van brand.
Chrysler/Plymouth would have continued as the car brands.
It's just a shame that Studebaker/Packard didn't get merged into AMC when the chance came. It would have changed the car industry.
They did not make enough Comanches. They are nearly impossible to find today. Cherokees are starting to become scarce.
I can't remember, did Chrysler build Comanches for 87 or were they a one year only? Dakotas came out for 87 and they were basically the same truck. I bought a 87 Dakota 4X4 in 96 and put almost 100K on i( had almost 200K when it died), for a first year model it ran good and didn't nickle and dime me to death, it just rusted into the earth.
Seth Thomas they made them for a few years
There was over 2.8 million Cherokees made. But considering the last one was made in 2001, most Cherokees have suffered from a rusting death.
I dad bought a 86 Comanche new, the sad thing was it was a michigan car. The damn thing is soo Rusty and the thing finally gave up after 33 years and now he might have to scrap it :( love that thing to death
The Comanche was made 86-91.
As for the Cherokee getting scarce, it's about 20 years old now at the newest and most were bought as the kid moving SUV back in the day and because most of them were 4x4 they got used in the snow so they have rusted away like most unibody vehicles. Here in California they are still pretty common although in the last year or to the price has went up on them although there is still plenty of deals out there.
The Comanche might 'scalp the competition.' Christ, MotorWeek!!
Lol!
That comment will turn some people's skin red with envy.
That is not Party Approved Correct Speech.
Ol’ John was a bit on the racist side.
AMC invented the "Crossover" with the AMC Eagle they had no idea what they created at the time.
Oh man what I would do to buy a comanche or j-10 like these new from the factory now days.
cjhawk67 there is a Comanche with 18000 miles bucket seats, 4.0l straight 6, 5 speed, short bed for sale in Phoenix for 22,000 dollars. Everything, and I mean everything it's in perfect condition. Never restored, all original garage kept from day 1.
You should see a J10 Lifted with nice big tire and wheel combo, they really look sweet.
Back when Jeep's weren't junk
Indiana Jones Yeah, my 2012 JK has 220,000 miles without any repairs. Such junk, lol.
Or unibodies
231mac You got lucky, count your blessings and don’t be arrogant.
Drew G no he didn’t. Newer Jeeps are great. Especially the JLs and new Grand Cherokees
Right. Now their rebadged Fiat's. And Jeep stands for JUST EMPTY EVERY POCKET.
Out of all of those vehicles I would still pick the CJ-7 Jeep. Man how I miss those! I'd also like the big J10 in the back too!
I had an 83 J10 with the 360 v8
Decent truck, but AMC built the truck beds in two pieces.
There was a huge parting line the entire length of the bed.
Guess where it rusted.
Jeeps still look the same, they haven’t changed a bit.
I'd sell my soul to the devil for a brand new turbo diesel comanche.
Gotta love the Commanche trucks!
I’ve read that if AMC had survived, the Eagle would have eventually been re-branded as a Jeep.
never rode in the back of a Comanche, but have fond memories of my fathers J10 golden eagle..
We had it made for sure up here in the Great White....and also Jeep had something really good going on...coming to be later for the 90's the Dakota and the ever popular Ram....we sure needed ( still do ) for our winters here lol
"You're welcome." -Pat
Motorweek: Do you have any retro reviews done on the updated 86 Grand Wagoneer? Or the J series trucks?
I have seen the 83 Limited Wagoneer review but other than that only small clips during the AMC full line reviews.
Please please please if you have anything related to these in the archive post them:)
I long for the days of Ambassador, Matador, Hornet, Gremlin and Javelin!
Hell no!
When I met my wife her dad owned a 1972 AMC Matador 4 door dark brown with lighter brown interior. Remember the first time I drove it, I could not believe how smooth it drove. And for a 304 cu. in. V8 it really picked up speed well. Couple of years later we bought a 1977 Matador for ourselves. Great road trip car.
I had an Encore back in 2000. What a pain in the ass to get parts for!
I had an Encore back then as well . My first new auto. Took it in while still very new for repair of the fog lights and asked why they would not be working when the car was so new. The mechanic said to me It's because you bought a Renault.
I think the seats in the Alliance 2 door were used in the Cherokee.
I'd love to have a J truck, Eagle, Grand Eagoneer, Cherokee and Comanche! Not rusty ones.
Mike Miller it's a toss up between the Jeep trucks....and the Eagle for me......hmm mmmm....ok Eagle 😉
An eagle would be an awesome car to have!
+Mike Miller one of my best friends had an Eagle SX4 when we were in high school... that car was awesome!
Wtf is an eagonear?
Look up Jeep J10 Honcho Or Cherokee Chief Golden Eagle.
I will never understand why Chrysler Corp., circa 1980 warranted a bailout from the American taxpayer through the U.S. Govt., but AMC did not. I miss little AMC and their economy-minded cars and many other automotive innovations.
I do as well. My dad was a mechanic for many years at a local Rambler later AMC dealer. We always had a Rambler Then when they started calling themselves AMC we had a number of those as well. These days when I see young people butcher them with stupid mods, I get so mad, because they deserve to be restored and preserved in original condition for future generations to see.They were such wonderful cars.
I have a 91 Comanche, love it! Also had an 88 I sold last year.
A high school friend of mine had a Comache with the 4.0L I6 and a 5spd. Damn that thing was quick.
Good old AMC
I'd love to get an AMC Eagle 4x4 Wagon, and a Jeep Comanche Long Bed 4x4...Cherokees are pretty easy to find, they're all over the place (sadly many have been grossly modified) finding one in original condition is getting harder, at least in original condition and not beat to crap LOL.
They were produced in such small numbers so these days even fewer are left. As I say if you want to modify a car pick a Chevrolet because they were produced in huge numbers each year. They always said GM lost more cars through the cracks than AMC produced. There needs to be a national campaign to save them.
I miss the '70s & '80s when America was bright and optimism ruled.
From what my parents tell me the '70's sucked
FiatDuster Black Sabbath? Led Zeppelin? Rainbow? Horrible?
@@TheLucidLuxray I love led zeppelin, like sabbath, have no clue who rainbow is... but yea 70's music was kinda shit. also despite that I love zeppelin they did steal several of their biggest songs unfortunately, and the original writer only wanted acknowledged and they still told him to fuck off. So, they are kinda shitty... like the 70's. Pretty much full of high hippies as far as I am concerned lolol. No disrespect... just sayin similar shit that is thrown at millennials daily so seems fair.
I do not think so I was there. I am now 70 years old. I was 16 in 1969 so I remember them well. It is now 2023 by the way.@@OlafoWaffle
I love how the Renault Sportwagon got about 3.8 seconds of that segment’s time.
"... and the SportWagonexists TOO! Moving on..."
Long live the CJ7.
in 1986 my Father bought a brand new Jeep Comanche . Hi used his for daily commute and as a news paper delivery truck.
I find it funny how "The bread and butter" was the little sedans and not the Jeep SUV lineup back then.
Thanks, Pat.
You're welcome...
wow, how many diesel Comanches were sold, didn't know that they even made them.
just heard 500 from a guy who sold me one
Seats used to be so much more comfortable.
Some were, some not so much...
The scalp the competition joke was hilarious
Never ridden in the back of a Comanche, but I would given the opportunity haha
I grew up riding in the bed of a pick up. Actually was in 2 accidents while in the bed of a pick up. No lie lol
3:59 Jesus Christ things were a little different back then.
Interesting AMC (besides the Eagle) turned into a Kaiser-Jeep kinda company before it!
AMC relying on Jeep for its survival!
Yes I have ! It rode like a tank but overall was fun when I was 8 or so
It was next to last or final year for AMC before Chrysler buyout.
It’s too bad that AMC didn’t commit any funding to freshen the Concord and Eagle designs after 1981. With the popularity of traditional RWD cars returning after gas prices cratered & the economy recovered in ‘83, AMC would have likely reeled in higher sales of both models if they’d updated the fascias, trim, bumpers, and interiors for a few more years until the Medallion and Premier debuted. Instead, I think AMC was a bit insecure about selling such old designs by the mid ‘80s. Thing is Volvo (140/240 Series), Saab (99/900), Jaguar (XJ6/12), Porsche (911), and Alfa Romeo (Spider) all had even older designs than the Hornet/Concord/Eagle on the market in the ‘80s that they kept refining and updating, and selling well at very high prices, all well into the ‘90s. AMC history is full of missed opportunities. The languishing of the Concord and Eagle lines in the ‘80s is one of them.
The problem was always the same for AMC. They could not sell in numbers that would give them money to update their products. There wasn't anything wrong with them just they got no respect. It was all about how they were perceived. Remember their slogan, If you had to compete with the three largest car companies in America what would you do. They used that for years. There are video's on You Tube of the presenter saying it. Look up 1970 AMC Ambassador commercial.
My 85 wagoneer lasted nearly 20 Minnesota winters. Great vehicle, excepting the 2.8 v6 and it's pathetic 115 or so hp.
Yea that GM V6 wasn't so good. Had to get an 1987 or newer for the 4.0 liter AMC straight six.
The Renaults during the AMC merger days were just throwaway cars.
Like modern day dodges and Chryslers.
Is it just me or does the background music sound similar to the theme song of the show "Three's Company"?
Doobie1975 sounds like the 80's restaurant music...like at Bonaza 😂😁
+Ithinkiwill66 you mean...Ponderosa?
Exactly...
hendo337 - I miss Ponderosa... The sautéed beef tips were THE best thing on the menu! As I recall, Bonanza had the soft ice cream machine!
I had a new 86 Comanche in Garnet red with the same color bucket seats.
Did he just say that the Commanche mght just scalp the competition..... he was pretty casual about it on national television back then.
Try that line in 2021. John would be looking for a new job.
Back then he’d have never believed that someday the Washington redskins and Cleveland Indians would eventually change their names due to political correctness.
We had 2 new 86s a Comanche and an alliance conv.
Wow. Imagine getting a french built , obscure even there i would imagine , diesel serviced in America today as a Jeep customer ( as opposed to someone buying an actual French vehicle they would have a better idea what they were getting into at least)
1 ton towing capacity? My double jet ski trailer weighs 2500lbs.
I really need a Motorweek TShirt.
MrNuggetface mpt-shop.myshopify.com/collections/motorweek
AMC should have tried to stick around as a company that made only four wheel drive auto's. Some luxury some very tough
i love 80's amcs, but those renault are so crappy...
TommyVercettiKing quit insulting crap
I kind of like the Alliance convertibles, TBH. I'd take one in GTA trim, if you could find one that wasn't a complete mess.
Why Chrysler never made the Comanche? Just Cherokas.
Because they had the Dakota.
Curse the damn French for ruining AMC!
In all honesty if AMC wanted to survive they shoulda made fleet cars to compete with the Crown Vics.
The Matador was doing that but they couldn't compete with Ford...
Very slim profits selling to fleets
The French saved AMC for a time. Without them, AMC would have collapsed by 1982. AMC lost over $400M in the 1980-82 period alone. There was no way they could have survived without Renault at the time. And competing with Ford for Crown Vic fleet sales would have killed them even faster in that era. In fact, LTD Crown Vic sales were worse from 80-82 than AMC Concord/Spirit/Eagle sales. LTD Crown Vic sales were so poor, Ford nearly canceled the line after ‘83, which is why they restyled the Granada in ‘83 and named it LTD. It was supposed to replace the Panther... until gas prices eased, the economy recovered, and Crown Vic sales recovered with it.
In truth, Renault’s inability to understand the American market, and its inability to design a reliable car, did end up hurting AMC after the Alliance debuted. The 18i flopped. The Fuego was hot until electrical issues gave it a bad reputation. Alliance/Encore sales were hot until the economy started to prosper as bigger, more powerful cars replaced demand for econoboxes just as the Alliance/Encore’s reliability problems became widely known. The Medallion launched about 3-4 years too late, looked dated, and was imported. The Premier launched 3-4 years too late and looked dated next to the Taurus. And both of those cars ended up having reliability problems of their own.
But in that initial 1980-83 period, Renault ensured the company’s survival until Chrysler could buy them out.
To answer the question... I have not rode in the back of a Comanche.
Did not know renault was in the US.
They still are. They are called Nissan's now. Renault bought Nissan a few years ago. So now they are a combo of Renault/engines and Nissan other parts.
I remember when MotorWeek was actually good.
poor AMC...
Exactly. I have had 12 of them thru the years. A 75 Hornet #13 and current one.
The best one I had was a 65 Classic 770 with a 287. Smoothest engine ever.
The most beautiful one I had was a 67 Ambassador DPL...Most reliable was a 71 Gremlin..and 70 Hornet. My first was a 62 American with a flathead. I tried to kill it, but failed...The 74 Matador Brougham coup, was a dog...
I miss AMC. Chrysler should come back with the Comanche..
Its a heartbreaking story really . Glad my pops has held on to his 71 javelin sst
AMC... should we add Bose as our premium sound system....? Nah, Jensen will do
Franco-American Motors?
"The Comanche just might scalp the competition"? WTF man? 4:00 I know, I lived through those times. The style of the time I always say. But funny nonetheless! Especially airing on the PBS!
I wonder if Chrysler would still buy AMC even if then-Renault CEO Georges Besse wasn't assassinatd.
I read somewhere a few years ago that Besse had big plans for AMC, including a new lineup featuring many of the all-wheel drive models and then he was killed RIP.
They only bought it for Jeep. They did not care about the rest. Sad thing is they destroyed a huge number of AMC parts and all historical AMC records.
My fantasy is somebody will bring back the low priced small pickup. Colorado? PPPPFFFFFFFTTTTTT!!!!!!!!! What a POS! Almost the price of a 1/2 ton and the build quality of a Yugo. The S Series/Comanche/Dakota/Ranger market is underserved and eleventy million of them were made from the early 80's to 2000's. Chicken Tax or whatever be damned, make a reliable, cheap, 4X4 small truck with some engine/drivetrain options (maybe I-6 turbo gas/diesel) and hell I might even buy one!
rip amc
Now there are only the Big two.
Yup, ford and chrysler.
NO Ford and GM.@@LrulestheworldM8
I kept waiting for the fuego =/
Or as John Davis called it, the "Foo-Way-go".
"It [the Comanche] just might scalp the competition" That's kinda racy....
Brendon Hedrick Are we really gonna get offended?
+Brendon Hedrick Oh for fuck's sake
+Brendon Hedrick It was the 80's, no one cared. Besides that's a funny joke, put your PC away.
Pussies gonna pussy
RacIST, not racY, Brendon.
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm AMC straight six
Cherokee and Comanche were great, the rest was either outdated (Eagle) or plain junk (Renault’s) that is why they went bankrupt !
Without Renault, AMC would have folded sooner. AMC had no cash by 1979, the government wasn't going to give the smallest automobile corporation loans to bail it out, GM didn't want to waste money on a potential buyout on AMC, and Chrysler was also circling the toilet at this time. Renault prolonged the inevitable, though good on them to give AMC another chance with a huge cash infusion to help it's car line up. Jeep during the late 70's and early 80's weren't selling well, once a cash cow for AMC, Jeep was barely keeping the lights on for the parent company. AMC was wrong to put money into Jeep in the early 80's, Jeep would have survived anyways, AMC desperately needed a newer smaller car to compete with the big three.
You couldn't have the Cherokee without Renault, and you couldn't have gotten the incredibly long lasting 4.0 straight six engine without Renault. The floor pan of the Dodge Intrepid was all Renault until it's end of production.
AMC was a company that came close to death more times than even Chrysler Corp. The fault of AMC's demise was AMC itself for not following any market trends, and relied on aging models that was no longer innovative, and wasted much needed funding on concept cars and failed models (Pacer and Matador coupe) that they knew were half baked.
Frankly, AMC might have done more damage to Renault than Renault has done to AMC.
Renault did to AMC what Fiat is doing to Chrysler. Rebadging their products and trying to sell them to us as a product we will buy.