The Life and Death of American Motors Corporation: RCR Car Stories
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- 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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A CZcams personality makes a video that last 10 minutes or less. A CZcams 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
This guy deserves some kind of an award for compiling all this info, and narrating it all in grand fashion. BRAVO
P❤
À😊😊
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
I was a test driver for AMC from 1977-80. I drove all those models, including the Eagle. It was a pretty fun job.
How the heck did you become a test driver? Sounds awesome.
@@beyond_the_infinite2098 Believe it or not, I saw an ad in the newspaper and I just went over and applied. AMC leased Michigan International Speedway for their testing purposes at that time, so it was a lot of fun driving the cars around the steeply-banked oval at high speed for endurance testing.
What did you think of the cars at the time? What was the best & worst cars you got to drive?
Did you keep test driving cars?
Hey man ,was a bodyman at a AMC / JEEP dlr Conway, N.H. [76 - 78].. Who designed the doors on the Pacer?? Like 180lbs..Hinge recall and did LOTS of door offs..Ah,a day in the life..
that must of been a GREAT JOB!! I'd love a position like that 🤗😁
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!
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
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.
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.
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 .
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.
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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psych, its just RCR saying coooooooooock for 2 and a half hours
C&Rsenal... CRsenal... RCsenal... RCRsenal
@@asakuras01 good for you
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
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.
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
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
This is probably the longest CZcams 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 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.....
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
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..
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
Great video! Yes, I made it to the end. Here's what I have to say, I owned a Gremlin and sometimes I had to give my kids a ride to school, but they were so embarrassed to be seen inside that car! So, they either hid bellow the windows or they were dropped off a block away from school! Before that, I owned a 1970 Hornet that I bought for 50 dollars in Chicago and in 1979 I drove it to California (my new home) without any problems!! There, a man offered me 300 dollars for it even though it was not for sale. He was desperate, who knows what that car meant to him. I refused. He kept coming back and he finally offered me $500! He was begging! I felt sorry for him. Sold!
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!
-__-
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.
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.
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!?
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/
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.
What a nice job and a fascinating story. Well done! I would love to see your take on the International Harvester corporation.
i'd like tosee that, too, at least the passenger vehicle division;
i'm mainly interested in what drove the company to create the Scout in the first place. they were absolute beasts in the 4wd consumer vehicles. class.
@@kristophergalland8358 Their (IH) pickups were pretty awesome too. I remember a friend of my father had one in the early '70's, and that thing was extremely well-built and durable.
@@kristophergalland8358 I've read that it was to fill a whole in very rural America like rural enough to where the tractor dealership was there and the Ford dealership wasn't
@@kristophergalland8358the runaway success of the Bronco coupled in with a baked in dealer network across the Midwest made them take the shot, when ford sold a million farm trucks i e the Bronco they jumped.
@@BriteFrogtruly agricultural running gear.
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.
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
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!
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!
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.
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!
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...
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.
My first Car was a 1968 Rambler Ambassador. It had a V-8, 4 doors A/C and two full bench seats, which converted into a travel bed. It was very comfortable and I liked the styling. AMC made good cars for the money, and I still miss that Car, and the times I had in it. Thanks for this video on AMC history.
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
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 parents had an 82 Concord. AMC holds a special place in my heart. I owned 2 Concords between 1996 and 2000.
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.
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.
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......
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!
When I was about 13, my single mother bought a 1965 Rambler "American" station wagon. A red one, with "three on the tree." That is where I learned to love using a clutch. So I have a place in my heart for AM.
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?
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
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!
A friend's family had an AMC dealership. He absolutely hated the Renaults. The interior panels and trim were always falling apart. It was his afterschool job to fix them so they could be delivered to customers. The Eagle was ahead of its time. It was the first crossover way ahead of its time.
I'm about 25 minutes into this and I've already cleared my morning for the rest. Outstanding work lads.
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! ❤️
Great documentary. Worked for a Pontiac/AMC dealer in the mid 80's. We all know how those turned out but thankfully Chrysler saved our bacon. I do miss so much of AMC'S product line though. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
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.
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).
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....
Thank You've bringing back my childhood. My grandpa worked for AMC. My parents got to buy a 2 of a kind AMX the other one was a pace car. They gave us a picture of it. That's what i learned to drive in. V8, 5 speed, 4 knuckle wood gear shit, Flaming eagle on the black hood. Thank you for this
One thing you didn't mention: When Romney left, GM and to a lesser extent Ford, took advantage of the perceived instability in the AMC hierarchy, and approached AMC dealers to convince them that AMC was dying and that the dealer should change brands. GM has played no holes bared business since day one and always sparing no expense to destroy other companies, especially start-ups. (Tucker)
“No holes bared”, hahahahaha!
GM is now headed to death by killing its own EV!
capitalism...that's how it works...
"No holds barred" means that no regulations, rules or restrictions are applied to a situation or contest - it is literally a free-for-all where no judges or referees are needed. Famous examples: wrestling, boxing, etc.
@@jamescrane4050 Its also the title of the Classic Wrasslin' movie where the Hulkster fights Deebo
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!
AMC is honored with this video & would be proud. Thank you.
❤
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!
Thank you! One of my uncles drove Nash, and later AMC products all of his life.
It was nothing short of amazing that AMC lasted 33 years, given their scanty resources.
Dick Teague deserves a lot of credit for crafting new models from existing bodies and parts.
It's a great story.
I feel suprisingly emotional hearing a fan talk about them. Thank you.
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 have friends whose parents worked at AMC. We referred to the cars as Kenosha Cadillacs. I have a buddy, who was an AMC brat, like I was a Johnson Outboard brat, that owns a 70 AMC that he's had since high school. He graduated in 1983 and he did a full restoration of the car. He goes to these AMC events all the time as he lives in Kenosha.
Great video! One of the few (long) CZcams videos I've watched in entirety. I currently own a 1968 AMX with the 390 and Go Pack options. The Eagle was also a favorite of mine, I owned one for a few years and put 60,000 miles a year on it. I'm just a little disappointed that you didn't mention the 2 door and 4 door Eagle sedan models, although the station wagon was, by far, the most popular.
Congratulations on owning one of the most sexy cars ever built!
mines a sedan...dark blue bottom...light blue vinyl roof...my old man bought it for me in '82...still haven't turned the clock on it...it was my daily driver for quite awhile...especially in the wintertime
My dad is looking for a decent amx know of any?
I legitimately didn't realise this was 2 n a half hours long. Enjoyable as always Roman, thank you.
My brother's first car was a 67 Rambler American, which he drove to college. 3 on the tree, man.
Mine was a 66 Rambler American Convertible . My dad bought it for 400 bucks for me when I got my drivers back in 78 . It was white with a red interior. I miss it deeply.
Hi, I just started watching this busy working from home and just happened to watch this video. Always wondered what happened to AMC. After all, they did make some wonderful cars and 4x4s.
Thank you for this almost 2.5-hour video on the rise and fall of a truly American car.
Recently I came across a 1966 Rebal fully restored. Damn, I left my phone at home.
It's getting rare now to see any car more than 20 years old in my city.
My car (Not from the classic era) is 33 years old (Modern Classic) and has been in my family 29 of those 33 years. I think you would call it a survivor or a time capsule as it is a late 1980s design. It's been kept in the cosmetic condition it was when my dad brought the car.
It's had minor work done to make it safe to drive in the 21st century road conditions. Only safety devices are seat belts.
I love the car, but its now too rare to drive it to much and it spends most of its days locked in a shed with a car cover over it. Everything is still factory and numbers matching.
Thank you for doing the research that was required to produce such an in-depth and accurate history of an automaker who; while being iconic as it is, has been all but forgotten. This video solidifies AMC's place in american motor history where it should be, while insuring that the story of AMC may never be forgotten. I feel you have done a great justice with this video. I also feel as though there is no way that you could have compressed this story in a way that would have done justice to the AMC brand, or the amount of time it took to mass the information you sourced. Well done!
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...
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.
An excellent piece, that I listened to all the way through, more than I watched. I've always been fascinated by the rise and fall of corporate empires and you narrated this story well. My family had a 58 Rambler wagon back in the early 70's and while I was ashamed to be seen in it as a kid then, I dearly wish we had kept it. My best friend in high school had a Javelin Supreme which he called the Havelina Suprema in a mock Spanish accent. Ironically that same friend would go on to sell Jeeps and AMCs during the 80's and would manage a Jeep dealership after the fall of AMC.
I’m a Mopar guy with of course a passing interest in AMC stuff being family n all. You sir have created something quite wonderful, the longer I watched and listened the more I want you to do this treatment to my beloved Dodge and Plymouth. I’ve listened and watched now 3 times. Your a very talented man.
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.
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!!
This was a great piece of work. Thank you. I learned how to drive a standard shift car in a 1972 Gremlin, and my grandparents lived next door to a guy who worked at a local AMC dealership and he always drove the latest AMC cars home in the 1970s.
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 CZcams getting to it numerous times, it still somehow seems to land on it almost every single night.
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.
I almost never post on youtube videos, but just wanted to tell you guys that I absolutely love these. Great job, Roman!
Very well done.
My father worked as an electrician at the Kenosha plant when I was born in the mid-1960s. I remember him saying that anti-import sentiment was so strong there at the time, if a foreign car was spotted in the employee parking lot, it would usually receive a large sticker that read "Buy American". This was often placed on the windshield, in front of the driver's seat. Different times.
Our family, unsurprisingly, owned several AMC cars. An Ambassador, a Gremlin, and a Javelin. In the early '80s, when I got my first car, it was a Rambler American wagon, that was 1 year younger than me. 😄 I loved how easy it was to work on, although, it never needed a lot of work.
Needless to say, a lot of fond memories include AMC vehicles.
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😊.
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
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?
This was a very well presented history of AMC! I liked the Rebel and Javelin. They were great cars! I think the Gremlin and Pacer were mistakes that ultimately gave the brand a bad direction. I was a mechanic back then and worked on many AMC cars. One thing I noticed was that both Gremlin and Pacer had typical body issues such as driver door hinges wearing out quickly. Not only that, many people considered the Pacer to be ugly, but the Gremlin was sort of the template for North East Modified racing cars (at least the body was). I really regret that AMC did not survive. The Javelin had so much potential and so many people my age (born in the 1950s) wanted that car.
I worked in Motown with the Big 3 from 1997-03 and saw the ghosts and shadows of AMC in the area. Thanks for explaining who they were and what they did. Javelins and Gremlins are recognisably iconic at first glance. The diversity of strategy and thought that AMC had has been largely lost in the US. I think the industry there is poorer for it - Competition improves the Breed.
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.
You two have got to come out with a book. Roman, you're killing this all these historical accounts. Absolutely incredible.
My first car was a POS Vega. It started rusting after 6 months, and burned oil after 18 months. My second car was an AMC spirit. Bright red, with a black interior. It had 100% galvanized steel, so I knew it would never rust. I had it for 10 years, and except for a problem with the AC, nothing went wrong with it. It just ran. I sold it for $1000 (I paid about $3500 for it), and the guy who bought it didn't even want a test drive. All he did was listen to the engine. He said "Why a test drive, it's an AMC, so I know it will work." I actually met the buyer a year later, and he thanked me multiple times for selling him the car. He loved it just like I did.
Well done research my Friend. Thank you for your insight and patience to document the transitions from 1909 to 1990+
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
I know this story but I'm still gonna watch it because I know this is the best version of it
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
This was a great in depth reporting on AMC. I was surprised to find out AMC lasted so long. But I love the Gremlin the Javelin and the Eagle talon. I wish I could have gotten my hands on the AMX. Thank you!