The Life and Death of American Motors Corporation: RCR Car Stories
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- A look into the life of the American Motors Corporation, and the decisions that led to its death. What were the successes that defined AMC, and what were the tragedies that changed its path forever? What lessons can we learn from its demise? It's an all-new RCR Stories! The longest ever. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is entirely up to you.
Special thanks to AutoMoments for additional AMC footage!
Subscribe to AutoMoments: / thecarmeat
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1972 AMC Ambassador Brougham Sedan (Regular Car Reviews): • 1972 AMC Ambassador Br...
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A RUclips personality makes a video that last 10 minutes or less. A RUclips journalist makes a video that lasts 2 hours and is loaded with research on the subject.
This is a masterpiece in which you should be very proud.
A Narrator, whose impersonation of the late Jack Palance is the worst i have ever heard, believe it or not.
Agree. Yet you'll still get people complaining that it's too long because the stupid average person has no attention span these days. Sad
Ha ! What are you trying to date this guy's daughter or something?
@@Beaches_south_of_L.A. Already nailed her
Absolutely, a journalist masterpiece. Extremely well done.
My grandpa worked engineering out of Kenosha at AMC. He hand drew their illustrated parts breakdowns and jacking and tire stowage diagrams from about 1960 to 1975 and then after that he was involved with moving and installing assembly lines at different plants. If you look at the jacking and tire stowage on '60s and early 70s midsize and full size cars in the bottom right hand corner you can see the initials RW for Ralph Walentowski. He's ( and I) very proud of that claim to fame.
Edited because Google voice to text is not the best idea while driving in a loud clunky mail truck!
@@johnwalentowski133 Cheers to you and your grandpa, my good man.
I use those parts diagrams a number of times each week, and even today as a matter of fact. Beautiful work.
Thats awesome!!!
Outstanding!
My aunt and uncle worked at the Kenosha plant and lived just a couple blocks from there. My father was a definite advocate for AMC products being born and raised in Kenosha on 25th st. In 1976 my father pre-ordered our '76 AMC Matador wagon, it was yellow with wood assimilation, it was fully loaded with a 360 4brl with dual exhaust, power windows, Cruz, etc etc. It was car to be proud of living in Beverly Hills, California. In 79 we (mom, dad & 6 kids) moved to Haiku, Maui, HI and the wagon came with. In '83 we came state side on vacation (Dad, sister Marie, sister Mia and myself Matthew) while in Kenosha my father bought a '82 AMC Concord sedan limited edition, it was chairman of the board of AMC's car with 14,000 miles on it. It was so plush inside with all the bells and whistles air ride leveling suspension etc. My father passed in Oct. 30th 2017 and was the greatest man in the world at the age of 93. Thank you for your documentary it has brought back such awesome memories and I too wish AMC was still around.
p.s. my dad had owned other products starting with a nash metropolitan, ambassador station wagon and a Javelin
Bye,
Matthew V. Bonofiglio
Video length: 2h27.
Time to next meeting: 2h30.
Murray Walker: GO GO GO!
x2 speed.
@@wobblysauce Nah, gotta take it all in.
@@EmyrDerfel d vcd ve ve: ve: d CD v:d:dvdv:v:dd:dvddd
I wouldnt go beyond 1.25x, however this def deserves 1x speed
I was comfortable at 1.75x
Two and a half hour RCR Story, Roman's bringing out the big guns for this one.
2.5 hours? I have to go to work.
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RMT
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tmkmtmtmttmtmtmtmrmtmtmttmtmrmtmtmmtmrmttltmtmtmtmtmrmtmmtmtmrmtmtmmrmtmtmmtmrmtmmtmtjtmmtmtmtmtmtmtmtmtmtmtsmtmtmtmtmtmtmtmtmtmtmttl5le5i6k ent 6ell5e5eiletl5e5e65546 eery 5l6r
psych, its just RCR saying coooooooooock for 2 and a half hours
C&Rsenal... CRsenal... RCsenal... RCRsenal
@@asakuras01 good for you
This guy deserves some kind of an award for compiling all this info, and narrating it all in grand fashion. BRAVO
P❤
À😊😊
I love the "ya know what I mean?" It's so informal, as if this isn't a 2.5 hour documentary but a one sided conversation with a friend, it's the small things that get me, keep up the good work Roman
45:41 hours and still not strata see see
2 hours, 27 minutes and 5 seconds of an absolute masterpiece.
I think my comment was a ridiculous 500 words or something; your eleven words say absolutely everything that needed saying.
@@Studio44B Occam's razor..
I am 75 years old and watching your creation bought back so many wonderful memories as I owned many of the vehicles featured in you presentation! Thank you for bringing me back so many really great memories that I lived for so many years!
As a big AMC fan and a feverient defender of their rise and a realist as to why they fell, I appreciate a long form history about them. Thanks for not forgetting them ♥️
I love AMC, my dream car is the 1969 AMX and my guilty pleasure in the Gremlin. I used to go to the All AMC Drag Racing Day at Cecil County Dragstrip; you rarely see two AMC cars at a car show and at the Dragstrip over 75 AMCs were racing with another 50 in the show & shine in the parking lot...good times.
I had a Gremlin three speed on the floor. The dabdarn thing had like a 27 gallon gas tank.
AMC would be better than ford chev and dodge if the big three hadn't forced them out
They ended up buying Nash, Hudson, Willys just to name a few it's sad how they ended
@@edrose2772 hhhhhhhh
I'm a longtime AMC fan myself. We had several AMCs over the years and today I am the proud owner of a '69 AMX.
Nice
AMC had some pretty sharp cars . The Javelin was pretty popular car when I was a kid.
8avexp Youve got some great taste in cars, enjoy!.
69 max one of my fav
Had a 74 amc hornet,changed the oil every 3000 miles and the (soft camshaft) went at 95,000 miles. Made my mind up then to stay away from amc after that.
Not only epic, this 2.5 hour journey was more interesting than any other course on an auto make. Thanks for all your hard and great work.
QQ
Mark my words, this will be one of the most popular videos on this channel
Yeah I watched it was a good video but way too freaking long colossal waste my time he should make a shorter version because people don't have that kind of attention span
It’s understandable you don’t want to undertake a video with this length, but it’s awesome to see a whole ass feature length documentary on your channel. I can’t imagine how many hours this project took, but thank you so much and we look forward to the next one!
My very first car (which I was able to buy when my dad agreed to cosign the purchase agreement) was a Nash Rambler--perfect for a student who needed wheels to get to work and class (I had started college by then). When I got a pay increase from the company I was working for (the local electric company), I was able to trade the Nash in for an AMC Javelin--which to this day remains the best car I have ever owned. However, a few years later I married--and the birth of children meant the Javelin had to go since it really wasn't a "family" car. But I did purchase an AMC Hornet station wagon that served us for many years after that. And when the Gremlin came out, I gifted my wife with a surprise Christmas present that contained the keys to a special edition model in that year, the Levi's Gremlin that had a denim interior and a "denim blue" exterior. She loved it--and basically eventually drove it until it just couldn't go any more. Long story short--we were definitely an American Motors family. While I have driven other car models since then (mostly rental cars), none have had the feel, stability, or quality that American Motors vehicles did. Suffice it to say that I was saddened when American Motors shut down.
1:48:56
"Primarily a Passenger Car wearing an Indiana Jones hat"
Probably the best analogy I've heard all year.
Perfect, but at least the Eagle could manage a few Indy moves, so it wasn't a complete fraud.
Now I'm just imagining the Audi Quattro being the guy with the fancy swordsmanship in Temple of Doom and the AMC Eagle being Indy with the gun.
This is probably the longest RUclips video I've ever watched. I did have to pause it for pee breaks, smoke breaks, dinner, etc, but I did get through all of it. And I'm glad I watched this.
I learned to drive in the family's 1985 Eagle. We lived walking distance to my dad's job, but my mom needed to drive about 15 miles to her job as an OR nurse. The 4 wheel drive was the selling point as we lived in the sticks of upstate New York. My little sister was 3 when we got it, and it became her first car when she was old enough.
Thanks for putting this documentary together. It was very well done and enjoyable to watch.
Dumb Yankees trying to be good ole boys, should have gotten a bloody jeep mate!
Well I have to say that is a cool 1st car .
Here before RCR becomes a reference and source for future historians.
here before someone edits the wikipedia page with a transcription of the entire video
@jey don't tempt me
We're witnessing history in the making
Sans the 2020 Ford ranger having oil disillusions
@@jeyendeoso and
As a resident of Kenosha and a neighbor to two AMC owners. I can say that our town will always remember the days of AMC. There is an little shop down the road that is dedicated to working on them. I always see really pristine AMC cars rolling in and out. Car shows downtown are always chalk full of them. Ill never forget the day when I was 5 and my neighbor ripped a fat burnout down his driveway In his Rebel the Machine.
Currently 44 minutes in, feels like ten. So much incredible information, and depth of perception for the human elements of these companies and their founders. Amazing work!! Definitely one of the best documentaries I've ever seen, automotive or otherwise. Thank you for your hard work sir!
I like how he pauses and comments about the motorcycle sounds that he leaves in the video, like a respect for all things internal combustion.
Ditto for me as well, this guy is amazing! He must have hundreds of hours tied up in this video, maybe thousands.
For history nerds like me, RCR stories hit different. Roman, please never stop doing them. I'll wait months in between if I have to but don't stop.
This is great! My grandfather was an AMC/Jeep/Renault dealer in small-town PA in the 70s and 80s. Needless to say, my mother and her sisters had many models over the years: Rambler, Matador, Spirit, Pacer, Eagle, Jeep Cherokee, Renault 18i, Fuego Turbo - all the classics lol! We still have a photo of him with one of his birthday cakes sporting an AMC logo. When AMC folded, he switched to Pontiac, Buick, and Olds and we were riding high on a wave of Firenzas and Bonnevilles. Good times, man.
My family co-owned an eastern PA Nash/Rambler/American Motors/AMC dealership from 1956 or '57 until early in 1980, when the "Renault BS" was getting underway. We were a "Philly Zone Dealer", and did well mainly because we established ourselves as having the best service department of any new/used car dealership in the area.
where does Harley Davidson fit in/
We had two Ramblers when I was a kid in the '60's and my folks had a Renault Alliance in the mid-'80's. I owned a 1974 Oleg Cassini Matador from '79-'80, while I was living in LA. People in Beverly Hills and Hollywood had no idea what it was but it looked important and in that world people are so tuned into not missing out that it gave me a lot more status there than it should have. That $1000 car would cost me $11,000-$14,000 today. AMC was a big part of my youth and I'll sing their praises to anyone who will listen. Thanks for this tribute.
As an automotive historian, but having not researched AMC (to any great depth), I found your video to be the best in-depth on the subject. It is easy to listen to, and you did a great job of mapping the entire history. Thank you for your efforts, this video could (and should) be mandatory for any MBA program. All failed businesses follow a similar pattern.
Speaking as the holder of an MBA degree, I suspect this video will the draw attention of those like I am.
@@laurendoe168 Would an MBA say that the issue was undercapitalization which was due to its location far from the industrial center of the industry?
@@robertkeyes258 While those played roles, I personally would not place them in the Top 3. I'd say the biggest issue was a lack of consistent vision, followed by not understanding its target market. Marketing TO THEM also wasn't the best. So MANY classes could use this video as examples.
Pp
@@robertkeyes258 lmoo
Okm
I cannot thank you enough for such a fascinating automotive story. I never knew just how complex, unique, and truly weird and interesting AMC's history truly was.
My Dad got me into AMC as a little guy riding in a Nash Rambler. Mom ordered a '71 Gremlin. Pop sprung for the extra charge for the 258 in his Hornet. My love was a 69 AMX. I found your program to be informative and entertaining. Thanks for doing it!
Brother had gremlin with 383 crazy fast
My now ex brother in-law's family were big AMC fans. Apparently starting back in the Hudson days, they had an Ambassador in the 60s and early 70s. My brother in-law had a '68 AMX for a while. It was a great handling car and good looking.
My first new car was a 1961 Rambler! Push button transmission!
My grandfather used to sell AMCs at his father's dealership. They will always have a special place in my heart for that at very least
Where was the dealership?
My father was an electrical engineer for AMC. I remember sitting in our family car (a Matador Station Wagon) on Richards Street in Milwaukee and watching Semi Truck auto carriers full of Javelins, Gremlins, Matador's, etc... My Boy Scout derby car was taylored to look like a Javilin (my favorite AMC car) even the paint was acquired from the plant. My father grumbled that he was held back due to his Italian Accent but when AMC and Renault merged my Father who spoke fluent Italian and a Renault Engineer spoke Italian, the two translated meeting after meeting after meeting. When Renault got a foot hold into AMC, my Father's career got the shot in the arm he felt was long over due. Since I was a kid at the time and by the time I went off to college my dad was working as an engineer for a subsidiary of Chrysler and retired with over 40 years. This video gave me a glimpse into his world in the Automotive Industry. Thanks so much for your efforts. Well done. Mark Pieragostini, an AMC Brat😊.
As a '65 AMC Rambler Cross Country Classic owner- you, sir, just added some more lore to my AMC knowledge. You're such a good writer, and I love your scatologic sense of humor as usual. Thank you
After watching this, I just can't get over how far ahead of their time they were in design. Their interiors focused on ergonomics decades before anyone else, and that bold, basic print of their logo and other text items is everywhere today. Look at the lock screen in Windows or the keyboard on your phone. These guys were literally 40-50 years ahead of their time.
Thanks for the great video!
Eagle was very comfortable on a long trip...rode like a small Buick......
Perhaps the most enjoyable long form video ever. Humbly and honestly produced. The story of AMC has always brought a melancholy feeling of all that could have been, yet died too young. Great job!
Melancholy
Good word
I feel suprisingly emotional hearing a fan talk about them. Thank you.
I'm about 25 minutes into this and I've already cleared my morning for the rest. Outstanding work lads.
Just FYI ... I'm back for my THIRD viewing of this awesome documentary. I love AMC and its lineage, and this is the BEST video on the company. BRAVO!
Roman I gotta say, I've been watching RCR since like 2014, and these documentaries are quickly becoming my favorite part of the channel. It seems you've really hit your stride, and I can't wait for more!
I legitimately didn't realise this was 2 n a half hours long. Enjoyable as always Roman, thank you.
I’ve actually dosed off into a power nap watching and listening to this documentary but when I’ve woken, I’ve rewind it back to the section where I’ve remembered watching.
I worked for a Jeep/Eagle dealer back in the 80's. I remember the Sahara Edition Jeeps and how cool they looked. As a broke young man, I couldn't afford one but I sure did drive a lot of new ones! I really liked the Grand Wagoneer's too. They were so solidly built and the wood and stainless trim on the interiors was beautiful.
restored ones are going for a bundle these days....let mine go to a guy who said he planned to do that...
I Love RCR Stories, I've watched the VW Dieselgate and Daimler/Chrysler ones about 4 times now. I was about to watch the Daimler/Chrysler one again, then this popped up in my feed.
I discovered AMCs when I was 19 and had been running my shop for nearly 2 years. I will always consider them the best. I think they had some of the most creative & influential designs and features. Tailgate tents, factory car seats, automotive primer, car warranties, Eagle front suspension that other manufacturers now use their own versions of in many of their trucks. I've been lucky to have owned multiples over the years and only wish for more. Just in Matadors alone, so far I've had 13 4drs & 2 wagons. When people start talking about their favorite American auto manufacturer, AMC is still always my answer.
Without RCR, I'd have no idea its Monday whilst being stuck at home during Covid times. Thank you guys for helping me keep a bit sane!!
I mean, it may be heavy lifting to call it this, but I have to say this is the RCR manum opus. I was not expecting to see a 2 1/2 hour AMC eulogy video this morning, but here it is. Great Job.
Excellent documentary. I know nobody will care, but I can't resist listing the AMCs my family has owned. My father became an AMC guy after owning a Buick and a Ford and hating them both:
1960 Rambler Classic Wagon- kind of a dorky car, but the push-button automatic trans was very cool.
1965 Rambler Classic Wagon- a much better car than the 1960. When we drove it home from the dealer, we thought the engine had stalled a couple of times, but it hadn't. The engine, the 232 cu. in. inline six, was so smooth and quiet we couldn't tell it was running.
1968 Javelin- by far the best looking car AMC ever made IMO. Ours was in a beautiful gold color, and people would turn and stare at it when we drove down the street.
1970 Ambassador- its 343 cu. in. V-8 was outstanding.
1974 Gremlin- it had the "Levis Package" with "denim" seats. They weren't denim, but looked pretty good and were comfortable.
Thank you for such a well done documentary. We owned and Ambassador, a Matador Barcelona Coupe and two Pacers. I am still sorry to see them gone, and still would love to own another before my demise. RIP AMC, you are missed.
somebody around this town owns a really nice Marlin...seen it once or twice...
My drunk ass won't remember none of this but ill watch it again once I'm sober and pump those view numbers
The good old liquid time machine!
@@Aschmorr in that time machine now....payday friday.
@@wongtimefunguy 0
@@wongtimefunguy 000
I see the Eagle as the spiritual ancestor to my Crosstrek. I remember as a kid wanting my parents to get an Eagle in 1983 when they ended up buying an Impala. They almost opened their wallet for a Pontiac 6000, but it was too new at the time for their comfort. My brother and I played hockey and that involved travelling to towns and villages in eastern Ontario in the nastiest parts of winter. We had some scary moments in the big-ass sedans. They insisted on owning full-sized cars and a large compact/small mid-sized wagon was not going to cut if for them. It was a missed opportunity.
They were fools, some of the wagons were four wheel drive pal.
@@wildestcowboy2668 hahaha, this guy is trying to rub it in. What in the hell.....
@@TheGhjgjgjgjgjg He's probably a switch hitter.....
As a 47 year old car nut since I was a 11year old, ripping out car ads from the public library copies of Car and Driver, I seriously love and dig these RCR Stories. Please never stop!
So, that was YOU!?!
BAHAHAHAAH!!!
I thought I was the only one
Excellent. I've owned a number of AMCs over the years. Today my wife drives a 2016 Jeep Compass. The AMC DNA is still there in a small way. If you've forgotten, when AMC bought Jeep, they changed the logo to match the font used on the AMC logo. To this day, Jeeps still say 'Jeep' in the AMC font!
-__-
Wow what an a concise look at an old favorite car company! The work and time invested in research paid high dividends for this viewer, WELL DONE SIR.
The AMC eEagle is one of the first car I fell in love with. I used to walk past one on my way to school in fourth and fifth grade. I still check to see if it's there 20 years later...
I bought an ‘85 Eagle after GM screwed me over on an ‘81 Citation and it’s so-called “paint job”. It was a great car except that I couldn’t keep the rocker cover from leaking oil. Even with the $60 gasket they came out with! It anointed my driveway with a quart of oil every 4,000 miles! The paint didn’t fall off like the Chevy though. And that Eagle would go anywhere! I used to drive it in the snow and went past everyone else who got stuck, including 4WD pickups! I embarrassed Subaru owners! The high ground clearance allowed me to take it in rough country roads. Alas, the 255 engine started burning oil and I decided to trade it in. That was a mistake.
@@keithweiss7899 yeah,..a minor problem..all things considered...it's amazing how many people used to own one of these...it did set up a little high but that could be counteracted by getting the right tires...Goodyear Eagles always seemed to work pretty well.....
@@frankpienkosky5688 anyone remember those Kamm-tail eagles? Those really looked like gremlins on steroids xD
Worked for AMC body shop 1970- 1976
Those old Ramblers were just ahead of their time, I smile every time I see one
They were very popular from the late 50s through mid-60s. I spent many a car pool ride in a Rambler wagon. They were always the choice of people who valued thrifty practicality over style or luxury. Sort of the Subaru of their day (minus the AWD, of course).
It really speaks to the quality of this piece--and the quality of the audience--that it has 24,000 Likes and not a single Dislike.
I see 1300 dislikes now. Some people are crazy. How can you not respect the amount of time that went into this video!?
I'm a Javelin owner and I gotta say thank you for the video.
Also own a javelin. Aren't they just great?
I used to own a 1972 Javelin SST back in the day, fun to drive!
I got a buddy that has a 1969 Javelin in Big Bad Orange with a 343 and a automatic with the SST package. They are really nice looking cars.
I'm an AMX owner now!
You two have got to come out with a book. Roman, you're killing this all these historical accounts. Absolutely incredible.
Very interesting documentary and thank you so much for sharing it with us. Some years back I had a 1967 Rambler American 220 2 door Sport Sedan with the 232 inline 6. Everyone that seen this car was thrilled to death to have seen an AMC on the road again. Now I'm in the process of restoreing the last of the "true Hudson's", before Nash and Hudson merged, a 1953 Hudson Super Wasp 4 door with the 262 inline 6, 3 speed Borg Warner transmission with overdrive and with 62,000 original miles on her. It's kinda cool knowing I have had and now have automobiles linked together in American automobile history, AMC and Hudson.
This channel is an interesting paradox as it has low budget feel that makes it rather charming in contrast the documentaries are elegant and sophisticated. Great stuff Rest In Peace AMC
I almost never post on youtube videos, but just wanted to tell you guys that I absolutely love these. Great job, Roman!
Hiya mate - I've no idea who you are, or indeed what RCR is, but it was an impressive video to keep my attention almost continuously for 2.5 hours! . Great story, and great commentary (pleasant speed, tone, accent - and I love the few personal asides, that lighten the tone, and keep my interest.). . Thanks for educating AND entertaining me. Good on ya!
Thank you so much for bringing this very detailed history of AMC to those of us that are interested. This company obviously overcame many, many obstacles (some through no fault of their own) but had tremendous successes as well. Through all of these trials and tribulations, it still managed to survive for a very long time. For that reason, we must be grateful.
It was a great presentation. You added the human element into the story and made it very personal. My family almost bought an orange Gremlin X in 1977. It was between that, a VW Rabbit (1st year of production) and an Audi Fox. My dad chose the Audi, later to his chagrin. A friend of his ended up buying that orange Gremlin X and drove it for a few years before his daughter took over and drove it into the mid 80s, through her high school years.
I owned a Gremlin X, much to my sorrow. Be glad that your dad didn't buy one.
My autoplay has gotten to this video at least a couple dozen times while I'm asleep. I've woken up numerous times from weird dreams about Chrysler and AMC because of this episode. Despite my RUclips getting to it numerous times, it still somehow seems to land on it almost every single night.
Thanks for telling this story. 👍 My Uncle worked at the AMC plant in Kenosha so my brothers and I got his hand me down cars. My brothers got a Gremlin, Hornet wagon and a Concord and I was the proud owner of a 68 Rambler American and an 80 Concord. I loved my AMCs! ❤️
AMC is honored with this video & would be proud. Thank you.
❤
I’ve lost track of how many times this video has appeared in my suggested videos feed, but every time, I saw 2½ hour length and passed. Today I finally watched the entire video and I am so glad I did. My father was a huge AMC fan and over the years there have been many different AMC cars that I would like to have owned. Thank you for making this excellent video. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
You did a great job paying homage to AMC, Nick. Good job. This was well worth the listen.
I am and have been an amc fan for years. They fought hard and seemed to to be always one step behind. Always trying to balance the bottom line with what they had. Rip to those brave business men.
This was a riveting history. Great job, and thanks sincerely! I’ll be watching this video again!
My dad was a Mopar guy and always had a big Dodge/Plymouth/Chrysler, but he had a fondness and respect for American Motors too.
His first car back from the war was a new Hudson, followed by one more before. I think it was a woody. I was born in ‘54.
In ‘68, my older sister needed a car for college and work. Dad bought her a new Rambler American with the 232 six.
Three on the tree, squeeze bulb washer pump, no radio!
The rubber floor mats were luxurious.
At $1,800.00 it was a treasure. Later, got it as a temporary hand me down.
I loved this car!
This thing was used like a pickup on our cattle farm.
We hauled hay in the trunk and an occasional calf in the passenger seat! I couldn’t break it!
Also, my dad later bought an Eagle Premier that he drove until he passed away, and I eventually bought a new Eagle Vision in ‘93.
Oh yeah, my mother in law had a Pacer! What a trip that was!
This is approaching hardcore history levels of length. I love it.
2:27:05, I absolutely love these deep-dives by Roman. Good early morning from North Idaho...
Good early morning from Southwest Idaho.
@@gamershadow1 Hayden Lake, ID here...
@@embe9645 no way, same brother. I live near the country club. what a small world.
A perfect combination. Want a fun to listen 20 minute slot, listen to the normal NCR. Want something to keep you entertained with fun and knowledge while the mother-in-law is downstairs while trying to work out a database issue that no computer in a two county radius could handle, Roman is the King while I keep trying to understand why 128 GB of ram is not enough along with 24 cores....
@@jeffatturbofish you sure your mother-in-law isn't downstairs running exploits?
Well and very deeply researched. Thank you! I worked for a AMC dealership in the mid 80's and even bought a new J10 pickup truck. I've owned Jeeps and Ramblers over the years and loved them all. It's a crying shame they didn't survive.
I consider the official end of AMC when the 4.0 was put out to pasture in 2006 when the TJ Wrangler was succeeded by the JK Wrangler. Also god speed XJ Cherokee.
@@floydblandston108 what the fuck are you on about? The 4.0 was a excellent engine
@@floydblandston108 so are you contradicting yourself and saying the 4.0 was good or are you saying there was other amc motors they made until 2006, because the only other motor Chrysler retained from amc was the 2.5 l4, and that didn’t make it past 2002
@@floydblandston108 you need to put together a comprehensive argument, I can’t tell if your shitting on Chrysler for retaining the two amc motors or not
@@floydblandston108 No. You're just being too lazy to form a coherent argument one way or the other.
The real Jeep died when AMC bought the brand name from Kaiser/Willys Motor Corp....the last really good Jeep ever built is the Kaiser Cj5 Renegade I, and this is comin from someone who owns both a 1943 Ford GP (with a pumped up 289 K-Code, it's a scary fast) and a 1985 AMC Cj7....from the square headlight Wranglers on, in 1987, Jeeps have been garbage....
I never thought that I'd sit, riveted, to a two and a half hour long documentary of a car company that ceased to exist over thirty years ago, but here I am. Well done, sir.
Just came across this documentary. Never thought I would watch all of it either... I clicked on it because my sister worked at the American Motors Headquarters building (on Plymouth Road in Detroit) in 1974 until they moved the headquarters to Southfield in 75'. The first car she bought for herself was a brand new 1976 canary yellow AMC Pacer. My dad said it looked like a space ship and thought it was the ugliest thing on the road...LOL!
@@pallen1157 that's great. I can imagine back in the 70s people absolutely HATING the new economy car styling with a passion. That pacer is absolutely ugly, but it's still funny to hear your pops get mad over it's design too
There's no one that can do what you do on this completely impressive video. You're one of a kind. The knowledge and passion AND humor and the ammount of hours invested here... I watched it all through in one evening. Feeling I not only learned about it all but also got a clear view of historic events that occured around the world thanks to and because of that industry. Thank you so much.
A more complex story than the death of the Australian Ford Falcon. The nostalgic feelings of what could've been are always there at the bottom of my fifth pint.
Well, now I have something to listen to while I play Euro Truck Simulator when I get home from work. Thanks.
This just gave me a bright idea for later while I swap between ATS and ETS.
This was very, very excellent. I am an old man who remembers Hudson and Nash as separate auto manufacturers in the 1950's and have followed the industry since I was young. Well done, well done.
Good stuff. I’ve always been fascinated by AMC. They were the closest we had to a viable competitor against the big three, and it’s a shame they went the way all the other competitors went decades earlier.
I know this story but I'm still gonna watch it because I know this is the best version of it
I became an AMC fan way back in the mid '60's. My grandparents bought a brand new 1965 Rambler Classic, with a 287 cu. in V8 and no radio. I liked it because it was kinda different than other cars, and it had the coldest A/C of any car I had been in!
In the ensuing years, I've owned several AMC's:
A 1966 Rambler American, the most basic car ever made; no radio, no power nuthin', vacuum powered windshield wipers, 3-on-the-tree standard trans, 199 cu. in. inline 6. But, it kept on truckin'!
A 1961 Rambler Classic with push button automatic, 199 cu. in. aluminum 6 cylinder, and the front seat backs laid down to make the whole interior one big bed (just what a teenage kid needs, right guys?). It ran great, got about 20 miles to the gallon of gas, and 25 miles to a quart of oil! I called it the FuFu wagon, because it would leave a trail of white smoke wherever it went.
A '73 Hornet wagon, I think it was called the "SportAbout". It had either a 232 or 258, with auto trans. It was school bus yellow. It was reliable, even though it wasn't stylish.
A '67 Ambassodor with the 287 V8, bald tires, bad brakes, and smashed in left front fender. But, it ran like a bat outta hell! Every bit of 125 mph.
To steal a line from a VW ad, "It may be ugly, but it gets you there." That was AMC.
Wow. An incredible history for superfans like myself of the great little carmaker.
Roman! This was top notch! I can't wait until you cover the demise and in-house struggles of divisions like Pontiac and Oldsmobile. GM did them dirty for far too many years.
I grew up into my car driving age during the AMC era. Among my extended family, there always seemed to be a 3-way split of brand loyalty between Chevrolet - Ford - Chrysler but no one with AMC. I remember when the Pacer was first introduced and laughing at the design (being so different from the mainstream). Nonetheless, I recall a sense of loss when it was announced that AMC was no longer going to remain an automobile brand. Your extensive review and history fills in the blanks with reasons for the demise. Your captivating narrative held my interest to the end - thank you!
You have a solid talent as a narrator and script writer, tha has onnly grown over the years. This narration is worldclass. I can listen to you for literal hours in one sitting. Keep it up!
I would listen to many more 2+ hour rcr stories, they're easily my favorite content from you guys.
Thanks for the great video. It was a trip down memory lane. My Dad worked at AMC from 1958 to 1988, so practically had a front row seat from the Nash-Hudson merger to the light going out. American Motors put food on our table and kept a roof over our heads. In the early 70s, Dad worked at the Proving Grounds in Burlington, WI. Being a high schooler with my own car, a 67 Ambassador DPL two door hard top, and a last period study hall, it wasn't uncommon for me to show up in Burlington and watch the going ons.
I always like seeing AMC products at car shows and hope to find another 67 Ambassador DPL someday.
Thanks for the great video.
Growing up in the Milwaukee/Racine area I remember seeing ALOT of AMC cars, probably because of proximity to Kenowhere.
So it surprised me when the person in the video said their dream car was an AMC Eagle.
Those were EVERYWHERE back in the 80s and 90s, especially the wagons.
I can think of at least 3 of my friends parents that owned an AMC eagle wagon.
They were a great choice for winter driving.
The first car I can remember being in was an AMC Pacer my mom had in the early 80s.
The pregnant rollerskate is what she would call it.
I loved this. LOVED. Watched the WHOLE THING, and shared it, too.
Kudos on a very fine piece of work.
I owned an AMC Rebel and it was wonderful. The aluminum block engine gave it excellent power to weight ratio. The split bench front seats could be turned into a queen sized bed (my Dad teased me about how I used it). The one thing I didn't like was I had to replace the water pump every year, but it was easy to do
hahah dude when you mentioned seeing them on car lots all over PA in the 80's, you're not alone, i grew up in NEPA and i swear from 1982-86 AMC Eagles were everywhere, my neighbor owned one... I moved to Florida in 87 and I never saw an AMC eagle ever again.
I remember in 87 when AMC went down.
That was a very good way of putting all the facts in one story thanks.
When I was in high school, our next-door neighbor, Ed, bought a new AMC Eagle. Ed was in his 70s and was very proud of his car. The thing that he was most proud of was the fact that it was the first car he had ever owned where the clock kept accurate time. Times have changed. Btw, Ed also had a model A ford which he would put around in.
Amazing story! I have owned AMC products and never knew the history and significance of what I had. My Hornet was a warrior, lasting longer than I expected (or desired). My Alliance was also a complete surprise for how well it served me.
Outstanding job Roman! I've learned more about AMC than I ever thought I would. Chin up!
I ordered a 1985 Eagle. It was a fantastic 4WD! There weren’t many places I couldn’t take it. It was really funny to see the looks on peoples faces when I drove around them when they were stuck on icy hills! The biggest gripe I had was the plastic rocker arm cover on my 258. It always leaked oil, no matter what I did! I bought an expensive gasket for it and it leaked after 6K miles. And my 85 had the shift on the fly 4WD! Later on they tried to say it shouldn’t be shifted while driving, but that wasn’t true.
Fantastic documentary. Have been looking for a clear in depth history of AMC, the quirky underdog. At last I found it here! Well done!!!!
Thank you for a very well done AMC history video. Your research brought out so many poor decisions and marketing moves, which like you acknowledged, seemed right at the time. I was a young boy alive during the Hudson car years, and remember the Metro well. I have owned 3 Jeep’s, a 1955 Willys wagon, 1998 Cherokee driven from 1999-2019, and now a 2019 Wrangler unlimited S. The Eagle was so ahead of its time in concept, and it’s pretty much the forerunner of the Subaru Outback. A sad but inevitable ending to a very innovative company. Keep up the great work. It does give closure to the company story.
Eagle had better ground clearance than the Subaru...did affect the handling a little bit
My great uncle had an AMX 390, sold it back in the 80s I think, but before he did, he offered it to my father, and he would’ve taken it too, if he had the space. The car’s been gone for a long time now, and my great uncle passed a few years ago, and of all the things my father was able to get from my great aunt, it’s a pair of 390 badges that he’s promised to never let go of.
Just want to say thank you for spending the time to put this piece of work together. This has been really great to watch!