Definitely!! My first car was a '75 Hornet D/L sedan with the 258. Would light up the tires from a standing start, ran 0-50 in 7 or 8 seconds, so it was fun to drive around town. Ran out of breath at higher speeds, but cruised nice and pulled strong up hillsides at highway speeds. This was the era of 55 mph speed limits, though, so performance over 60 mph was not important.
Finding the niche markets was what George Romney did so well in the late 50s/early 60s. This was all thrown away by his successor Ray Abernethy, much to AMC's detriment.
I've wondered so often how Governor Romney would've handled the sixties, when the Big Three all had their own cars in the AMC/Rambler market. Like JFK's possible handling of Vietnam it'll always just remain speculation...
Nonsense. That niche market was gone in '64... Chevy sold a "Rambler sized" Chevelle, and Ford had Mustang. Previous, all the compacts introduced in '60 cut into Rambler territory and competed directly with them. Abernathy tried, like James Nance tried with Packard in the mid-fifties. Romney got out when the going was good. He lucked out with the '58 recession, as buyers scrambled away from upper middle cars to economy cars. As a further note, the original Nash Rambler was introduced as an optioned "second car", not a cheap economy car.
I drove a 1980 or 81 Concord for work. It was a fleet car, not a DL. I went out every day to "work in the field" for the county tax office, so I was out driving the thing essentially for 6 or 7 hours a day. I thought it drove wonderfully and it was comfortable to be in all day. I thought it was great! Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Absolutely agree! - That Matador coupe should have died in the Bond Movie. - Great engine selection. - As you said, brilliant engineers. - Finally, what a perfect example of now & then... It's amazing what we considered 'Luxury' then, and yet NOW we can't get interiors color-matched to our exteriors unless it's a Rolls frickin' Royce!
I was waiting for my father to pick me up one day as a teenager in one of his Corvettes and he pulled up in one of THESE!! I was Soooo Pissed and Embaarassed. LOL!!
hornets and concords were possibly the best us small cars you could buy at their respective times. also the hornet wagon is honestly a downright trendsetting design, state of the art for the time i would say.
I just couldn't imagine walking into a dealership back then and saying, 'That's it baby, there she is, the car I've been dreaming about - an AMC Concord DS.'
I bought a '78 Concord DL wagon in 1980, used, (30K miles, paid a whopping $3K!) Very luxurious, great gas mileage. Loved it enough to keep it about 5 years, then passing it on to my brother in law who drove it another 5 years. Would buy again in a heartbeat.
The AMCs of that era had a bullet proof powertrain. Their 6 cyls and v8s were indestructible. And the Chrysler designed transmissions were the best transmissions of that time period. The modified Ford starters were reliable as well. The Hornet/Concord weren’t that refined. But they were solid transportation.
I've always liked AMC, they tended to go in a slightly different direction than all the other American automakers, and frequently did so much with comparatively few resources.
Just a couple notes. AMC was still making 360 and 401 V-8s, they just weren't available in the Concord. The bigger V-8s were in the Matador (only 360, IIRC) and full size Jeeps. The 401 was dropped after the 1979 model year in Jeeps, the 360 soldiered on through 1991 in the Grand Cherokee.
My father was an AMC man after be bought a slightly used 1965 Rambler American that gave him 120k miles of trouble free driving. He traded in Mom's 69 Javelin for a new 1979 Concord, chocolate brown woody wagon with the color matched hubcaps. Never seen another like it. Learned to drive and took my license test in that car.
My parents were always a two or three car family in the 1960-90s. Their large cars were big three cars and there was always an AMC in the driveway too. We had a 82 Concord wagon and an 83 Eagle. Never had any problems with them.
Had new in 1978. DL model. Brown exterior with a brown interior. AM FM radio, automatic transmission, air conditioning, rear window to defrost. Traded in 1981. DL White exterior with a blue interior. And FM radio, automatic transmission, air conditioning, rear window defroster. AMC made a good product.
I give all the credit in the world to AMC engineers in all they were able to achieve on a shoestring budget. I understand that many of these resourceful folks wound up joining Chrysler after the AMC acquisition.
I bought a 1978 Concord D/L coupe when I started my first job. Black, with black vinyl interior AC auto trans, tilt wheel and the 258 I6. Great car and I only wish I still had it. AMC Chief Stylist Dick Teague really knew how to get the best results from not a lot of money.
As much as I like some of Teague's work. He did some real distars IMO. The Matador coupe' for one. I think his absolute best work was either the 68 Javelin and AMX or the 73 hornet Hatchback.
I've never owned any AMCs, but I had friends who did and one of them had a Concord. He was quite happy with it and the one ride I had in it was quite comfortable and it had no issues keeping up with traffic on the highway either.
My uncle had a Concord with a 258 cu in 6 cyl and 4 speed transmission. He was an auto mechanic and was picky about what he drove. He didn’t put up with anything that was unreliable. I do remember the car having a nicely appointed, comfortable interior.
my mom had a 78 Concord D/L, I drove it often on road trips to her family in PA. The 258 6 was a great engine, smooth, quiet and dependable, the interior was comfortable and quiet. the faults I remember were it tended to wander, frequent steering wheel correction of 1" right and left was needed at highway speed, the windshield leaked which the dealer wasn't able to correct and a complete replacement was needed, covered by the warranty but it took a lawyer letter before it happened and it did begin to rust after several years. She traded it for an 86 Grand Prix and never looked back but I remember it fondly.
I bought a (2nd. generation) Concord DL, a 1981 model in 1984, it was a 3 year old used, like new car, 2 door coupe. It had the 258 6cyl. PS, PB, AC and a factory in dash AM-FM Stereo cassette with a factory power Booster amplifier. It had electric rear window defogger, and all the plush trim and seats. I loved everything about that car, it fit me well, and was so comfortable to drive and ride in. My sister called it: "The plush-mobile!" I wish I had another one like it, it was definitely one of the nicest and most comfortable cars that I have owned. It's only downfall was that it wasn't real good in snow, no matter the tires.
There were several luxury domestic compacts before the 78 AMC Concord as I was shopping for one of them back in the mid 70s... the 74-75 Plymouth Valiant Brougham and Dodge Dart SE, which were replaced by the 1976 Plymouth Volare Premier and the Dodge Aspen SE. Then Ford offered the Maverick and Mercury Comet with the LDO-Luxury Decor Option in 1972. In 1975 Ford introduced the Granada Ghia and the Mercury Monarch Ghia. Then GM introduced in 1975 the Buick Skylark S/R, the Olds Omega Brougham, the Chevy Nova LN and the Pontiac Ventura SJ. So many great choices back then with a variety of models, engines, options and colors compared to today, and they were affordable.
I bought my Silver 1983 Concord DL Wagon pre-owned from Town AMC , Union N.J. back in 1984 with 36K on the odometer. I enjoyed the comfort ,economy, value and luxury it gave for a friendly price.. As the family wagon we made many memorable trips on vacations and moved a lot of stuff with it. Me and my wife drove it daily way past it's usable life of 100K and a worn camshaft which the 258's were known for. Replaced parts like the rear end( Bad bearings) , leaky torque converter at 140K and the hatchback cast white metal hatchback hinges that snapped off very often when it reached older age. I would stock up on them at our local pick your own parts junkyard where they were plentiful.. Drove it to 183K with the original A/C in perfect cooling condition (never recharged or repaired)(Original starter,P.S. Pump Too) where the engine 's valve seats were worn and it puffed smoke at traffic lights. and finally traded it for a Chevy Astro Van in 1998. Served us very well.
You have to love the second customer proudly driving his smartness down the street with the Gear selector plainly in the Park position. All that film scenery rolling by the windows.
Always common laziness in production values, seen on tv and in movies. How much effort is really needed to put the shifter into neutral, set the parking brake, and put the wheels between each wheel?
We had a 1980 Concord with a 4cyl it got incredibly good gas mileage and was very reliable,on trips it seemed like the fuel Guage was stuck in one position, 300 mile trips on just about a half a tank,great car,another driver crashed into it,my wife took it hard,that car was her baby.
I remember the Concrod's little brother, the Spirit. One of my crazy friends stuffed a 401 into one of those on a bet--white knuckle terror and smoking brakes followed quickly. Learned that if a 304 fits, so does a 360 and 401. Really miss AMC, they could do so much with so little. Still wonder why they didn't have one of those AMC Hornet Sportabout wagons since the fictional Point Place, WI was just down the road from Kenosha, WI. Think That 70's Show really dropped the ball on that one. Maybe you could do a tell all about the Olds Vista Cruiser... Great information about the Concord....smart!
@@stanwatkins1877 make sure you have the correct front springs, a mistake I made years ago and paid for it with worn-out ball joints...the hard way! lol Good luck with it and hope to see it at a car show some day.
1964-'72 Vista Cruisers, along with their cousin, the Buick Sport Wagon, rode on a longer wheelbase than the standard F85/Cutlass and Special/Skylark wagons. It was a sort of A body special for wagons, with nada for Chevrolet and Pontiac. The extra length is in the rear doors from what I can tell. I assume that the Vista Cruiser's nameplate drew inspiration from the Scenic Cruiser Greyhound busses, with their raised Passenger section with the 'Vista Window' at its front, which steps down to the level of the roof in the front of the bus. I too would like to see a feature on the Vista Cruiser - my first car was a '77 Vista Cruiser.
I often see a nice 78 Concord DL 4-door, the original owner still driving it. Slightly faded Golden Ginger metallic with matching painted wheel covers, vinyl top with that little top bow of chrome. First year has such an eager, friendly looking face to it.
My parents bought an 83 DL model when I was a teenager in 1989. I took my drivers test in it and drove it to school my senior year. Thanks for sharing this.
We bought a new 1985 4WD Jeep Cherokee Chief...the second year of that revolutionary and seminal SUV that helped save American Motors and set up their sale a couple of years later to Chrysler. They were still suffering from financial problems in 1985 but I remember marveling at what they accomplished with the Jeep with the few resources they had (and their alliance with Renualt). It was very well made, reliable, never generated any squeaks or rattles, and the interior held together nicely. The 2.5 litre four-banger was bomb-proof albeit slow. Their designers WERE very resourceful. Great little company.
Many years ago I have friends that had these cars. Luxury small car is pushing it. More like nicer Hornet. The seats were very comfortable. The 258 6 cylinder still had the AMC 6 cylinder sticky lifters which clicked like crazy.
I think if I were the age I was right now in 1978 and had some extra cash and was looking for a new car, I'd have gotten a Concord. These are great looking cars and I'm glad to hear customers were overall happy with them.
It is something to consider that the standard equipment on almost any base model car sold in the last 15 years is better than many vehicles considered as luxury in the 1960's to Early 2000's.
I had the 1978 Concord D.L. No issues with this car mechanically at all. Had the 6 automatic. The only issue that I had was rust coming through on the top of the front fenders. Otherwise, a great car.
Grandmother had a 1978 AMC Concord DL. It was a comfortable & reliable ride for her. When she was no longer able to drive, we sold it off. Now I wish, we'd kept it. We were sort of prejudiced against AMC, & let that cloud our judgement.
As I recall the fit and finish on this car was quite a lot higher than most cars from the time. Even the steel sheeting was thicker than could be found in a Buick of the time. Something a neighbor of mine here in Massachusetts pointed out as his wife's early 80's Regal rusted away by the late 90's while his Concord was still holding together. They were both from mechanical families and kept cars for decades. Only buying a Kia Soul thanks its ease of entry and their failing hips.
Honest question, here. Why is the Soul “easy-entry”? I’ve never even ridden in one, but to me they look like an unattractive econobox. I must be missing something …
@@sking2173 they were designed for a pregnant mother to be able to get in and out of the door very easily. As such elderly people with mobility issues tend to like them because they are easy to get in and out of because of that. It's the second gen, which is Miles Ahead of the first and overall isn't a terrible car.
I was a poor college student when the Concord came out. I liked it--particularly that package shelf with those a/c vents--but it was too rich for my budget. I would've bought one.
I didn’t realize there were so many key differences between the Hornet and the Concord. It certainly made sense for the engineers to soften up the suspension and try to present a more upscale type of vehicle. Good old AMC didn’t have much to work with, an old vehicle platform with dated technology, and not enough money to engineer an alternative. But, considering what they had to work with I think they competed very well with the cars that GM, Ford and Chrysler were producing. It was Honda and Toyota who raised the bar with their very good, competitively priced midsized cars. But the Hornets, Gremlins, Concords and Eagles were tough little cars, and you saw a lot of them in driveways and on the roads. They fit the budget of a lot of American families, they were fun to drive and I wish AMC was still around! Who wouldn’t want to see a new 2023 AMC Hornet! Great video Adam, and thank you!
You have to give AMC credit - they took a plebian Hornet and tarted it up into a compact luxurious malaise cruiser. I really liked those especially when the front and rears were updated in the last versions. This did arrive 2 years after the Ford Granada hit that was luxurious in many forms.
Very nice car. The front and back ends look like they came from different planets, but somehow it all blends together well. Amazing that they called it "compact". It's almost as huge as today's VW Jetta.
The front and rear look like they came from different plants on the 1978, but look like they came from different galaxies on the 1979. Finally in 1980 they tied it together better with the more modern wrap around taillights.
Don't misjudge it's size based on styling. It's styled like the big cars as was the practice in those days. Today, even relatively large cars are styled like small cars so it's deceiving. Just look how large a Honda civic is compared to a 78 civic.
I knew a shipmate that had one of these. His was kinda bronze with a landau roof exactly like the one a 1:47. It was a very nice car for the price. Less than $5K..I think.. Thanks for posting.
One of my co-workers at the time had a G-body Monte Carlo and a Concord; I remember his wife saying that they had one good-looking car and one reliable one. I was shocked at how nice these cars were once you got inside and didn't have to look at the stubby, frumpy exterior. If they could just have made these cars look a little better and could name names with the standard-equipment comparisons VS. more expensive cars from GM and Ford (which they probably avoided to maintain their supplier relationships with these companies), I'll bet they'd have sold even more of these things. PS: You might want to do a piece on the Eagle Premier, aka. Canadian Renault 25, aka. father-of-the-LH-cars, if you can find one. That is one rare car these days, and was under-appreciated in its day for its refinement, quality of interior materials and roominess, though its early teething problems helped seal its fate.
In '81 our high school had a four door Concord that was used for Driver's Ed. I actually saw one at a Pick N Pull salvage yard last year. Other than that I couldn't tell you the last time I saw one on the road.
In March & April of this year, my brother had a gold-colored AMC Concord for which he traded a motorcycle. It was a sweet car. I drove it once. It was an absolute pleasure to drive. Now, I am a devotee of deluxe cars usually, but I really wouldn't mind having one of these. There's only one minor problem: I am rather tall, and the driver's seat went backward just barely enough to comfortably seat me. Yet, despite this fact, to ride and to drive the thing was absolutely wonderful, pleasurable and fun.
The title is misleading but this is a well done piece. Maverick LDO got there first. Ironic as the 1970 Hornet billed itself as The Little Rich Car. Valiant Brougham, Granada, Monarch, Nova Concours, Pontiac Ventura Phoenix, Aspen/Volare we're all selling the luxury compact package well before AMC. AMC was last to the game. Even Chrysler introduced the LeBaron and Dodge the Diplomat at about the same time. That red Concord looked edible and your information was great. The Audi 4 could only be marketed by AMC as the AMC 2.0. No alluding to it's origins per the contract. AMC was going to import the line and the tooling to build it here as their own. $30 million down the toilet when they abandoned it. Or Renault abandoned it.... Enjoyable video. Thanks
@@dmandman9 It was. And the Maverick with the LDO {Luxury Decor Option} was first in '72-'73. Hornet's SST couldn't even come close at the time. It featured body colored hubcaps well before the Concord as well.
@@DaveGreg100I remember other trim levels. But I didn't even know about that one. Thanks for the information. But I do remember that initially the Granada was supposed to replace the Maverick. But since the Granada was more upscale, Ford decided to continue the Maverick for a couple more years until the Fairmont came out. And you're right, I don't ever remember seeing anything near luxury on the hornet.
I worked at an AMC/Renault dealership in San Diego on summers home from college. The owner of the dealership (Tower Motors) had his "brass hat" car and I would kill to have it today. It was a 4-door Concord with every available option, including electric windows. It had a purple, yes, purple exterior and a very beautiful tan interior. I used to drive him to the bank to make deposits in it. As many others have said here, it was a complete joy to drive. I also had opportunities to drive Sevilles and Versailles at the time and this Concord could hold its own with them! Have always been an AMC fan... I miss them.
I love how AMC product planners managed to make such a successful product, dressing up an existing car and, while drastically boosting sales, I'm sure increasing product on each one sold. As a product it was fantastic, and as a car, I personally like the idea of building a comfy compact... Well, at least a compact by 70s standards.
Honestly, the current Civic is the same length as the ‘78 Concord (184”), with almost an identical wheelbase (108”). The Civic is also just about the same weight as the ‘78 Concord (3,000lbs). AMC’s compact was remarkably on the money in terms of size for what would become standard for the compact class decades into the future. Compare to the Granada, Nova, and Aspen, which were all marketed as compacts, while stretching about 200” long overall.
I was 12 . My dad bought the 79 wagon. First week we went to LaPuente mall. Came back to the car someone had used a Nail and went deep into the paint completely around the car. It was the 1st time I was afraid of dad as he wanted blood. After talking to useless security we got into it to go home. Dad backed up only to hear the tire pop from that Nail they used on the paint 😂 It was a great car ! Tons of miles drove it for years ! No problems !
Adam, always appreciate your videos...many/if not all are a walk down memory lane. Also, amazing car commercials of the day actually gave you information on features of the car.
Well. the car at 5:14 was mine. I restored it in 2015/6. It won a First Junior Award in Palm Springs with the Antique Automobile Club of America. It was a 232cu in inline 6 with a Warner 4 speed manual and A/C. I liked the car, but due to a move, I sold it to a friend in 2018. Thanks for showing it.
@@Paul1958R that is true , but the granada had a lot of structural upgrades over the falcon . It also had a better fuel tank , it wasn't part of the trunk floor like in the falcons and mavericks .
A chronic problem for AMC and for the other independents who had faded away earlier, was that few customers ever included them when shopping for a car. Some of them were quite good and some were not. True of every manufacturer in business for many years.
Not bad looking cars. AMC was one of those companies that was able to the best with what they had. And they have a unique vibe today. Classic car buffs will likely start looking at mid - 70's to mid - 80's AMC vehicles as 1950's and 60's era GM, Ford and Mopar classics in good condition stay obscenely priced.
I drove a 1978 Concord. I had a '75 Chevy Monza v-8. Just to small. That Concord was a surprisingly quiet and comfortable car. My dad was along with me. He Drove a 1974 Ford Thunderbird at the time. He said the same. Thanx Adam! You brought back some good memories for me.
In 1986 I was selling cars for a Chrysler Plymouth dealer, it was about October and was time to put my 1974 Delta 88 convertible away for the winter. In comes this older gentleman and he wants a new Fifth Ave, he wants to trade in his 78 Concord and we offered him $300 for the trade and I swear it looked as good as the ones in this video with approx 50k miles. He surprisingly agreed to this $300 but I offered him $400 if he takes it home and sells it to me outright. The car was now my little winter beater and he even gave me a set of studded snow tires that went with it and two years previous he replaced the front fenders with fiberglass fenders because all those AMC had a rotting issue on the top seams. The car was my baby for over two years, eventually I had full trust in that car to take on road trips which I couldn't have trusted the Olds to do those kind of miles. The car was kind of homely but I absolutely loved it, made me want a Eagle SX4 or Wagon but that never happened.
I've always thought of the 1975 Chevrolet Nova LN and Ford Granada Ghia to be the first luxurious compacts, although perhaps a slightly more European interpretation than the American Plush of the Concord.
My first car was a 1970 Hornet, which I customized with a landau vinyl roof (like the Concord), Western Cyclone Wheels, and BF Goodrich T/A Radials. I blacked out between the tail-lights and the rocker panel. It wasn't fast, but it looked good. The Concord was what I going for, but I never owned the coup. I had a Concord station wagon, though. Unlike my Hornet, the Concord seemed to sit high on the front suspension - I would have added spring compressors.
Hey Adam! Thanks for the video on the Kenosha Cadillac with a Chrysler transmission. At least the AMC Concord was good success and not a rushin' Concordski! HA!
My friend's parent's had a Concord that he drove when we were 17 and we pretended that center-eye vent was HALL 9000, I would say "What are you doing Dave?, I'm afraid", luckily his name was Dave.
Now, when I think about the ultimate Brougham, THIS is what comes to mind IMMEDIATELY, the venerable American Motors Corporation Concord. The DL & Limited had all of the plush trimmings that you would expect to find in a Cadillac or Lincoln, but even when fully loaded with every option imaginable, it STILL retailed for thousands less that any car from either of the aforementioned established luxury brands. We rented a brown Connie wagon on our first trip to Disney World, & I actually remember crying when we had to give it back. I had fallen that much in love with it. Here is an original MotorWeek road test of an '82 model. Anyone who calls this car ugly is COMPLETELY missing the point, in my view. Is it the most beautiful car in the world? Absolutely not. However, this car was not DESIGNED to be beautiful. It was designed to be durable, it was designed to be strong. It was designed to be sturdy. It was designed to be tough. th-cam.com/video/lg8BJuh42Nk/w-d-xo.html
This started with Maverick LDO & Chevrolet Nova Custom > Concours, then Ford Granada. Love my AMC's and as thorough as the Concord re-trimming was it wasn't the first & all the above, Concord included, came in very Base versions
When I first read the title of this video, I was reminded of other luxury compacts that had come before, such as the Ford Maverick "LDO" (Luxury Decor Option), the Plymouth Valiant Brougham and the Chevrolet Nova Concours. And, of course there were the Ford Granada and Mercury Monarch. Also, Chrysler offered upscale versions of their Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen compacts. AMC was sort of late to the party but I think they did a good job with what they had, extending the lifespan of a 1970 design into the early 1980's.
My parents had a 79 Concord Silver Anniversary addition. It commemorated the start of AMC. 1954 to 1979. It was silver and gray with maroon interior. It was a beautiful car. Still trying to find another.
Nice video! Perhaps some time in the future you could discuss The actual cost to build a particular car and what the dealers get them for, I've never believed the company line on such matters.
AMC was bought out by Chrysler in 1987. For a short time they offered cars under the Eagle name but Chrysler shut them down, and only kept Jeep. Now the Dodge and Chrysler divisions are in deep trouble. Chrysler is now down to only one vehicle. Many people miss AMC. AMC did not go under, they were forced to shut down by Chrysler. Now Chrysler could relaunch them, and many of the people who miss them could come back. It could help Chrysler and Dodge with their troubles too. The trouble with AMC after the Chrysler merger and the creation of the EAGLE brand was most of what they offered was a rebranded Renault product at the time. At the time Renault also did not have a very good brand perception in The United States.
The AMC inline sixes, particularly the 258, were delightfully smooth, torquey, and durable engines.
They just weren't very economical on fuel relative to their performance.
Best inline 6 cyl. ever.
Definitely!! My first car was a '75 Hornet D/L sedan with the 258. Would light up the tires from a standing start, ran 0-50 in 7 or 8 seconds, so it was fun to drive around town. Ran out of breath at higher speeds, but cruised nice and pulled strong up hillsides at highway speeds. This was the era of 55 mph speed limits, though, so performance over 60 mph was not important.
These videos make me want cars that are long gone
Not gone just hard to find bout to buy a 76 Concord in great condition for 3k
Dick Teague, Bob Nixon and the rest of the crew were magicians...
Finding the niche markets was what George Romney did so well in the late 50s/early 60s. This was all thrown away by his successor Ray Abernethy, much to AMC's detriment.
Excellent point.
I've wondered so often how Governor Romney would've handled the sixties, when the Big Three all had their own cars in the AMC/Rambler market. Like JFK's possible handling of Vietnam it'll always just remain speculation...
Gas crunch and safety standards didn't help the situation.
Nonsense. That niche market was gone in '64... Chevy sold a "Rambler sized" Chevelle, and Ford had Mustang. Previous, all the compacts introduced in '60 cut into Rambler territory and competed directly with them.
Abernathy tried, like James Nance tried with Packard in the mid-fifties.
Romney got out when the going was good. He lucked out with the '58 recession, as buyers scrambled away from upper middle cars to economy cars.
As a further note, the original Nash Rambler was introduced as an optioned "second car", not a cheap economy car.
@@VitoVeccia Agreed! The government not letting automakers collaborate on emission controls also hurt AMC.
I drove a 1980 or 81 Concord for work. It was a fleet car, not a DL. I went out every day to "work in the field" for the county tax office, so I was out driving the thing essentially for 6 or 7 hours a day. I thought it drove wonderfully and it was comfortable to be in all day. I thought it was great! Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
I was 14 when my parents bought a new two tone blue Concord. It was such a good car they bought my sister a used Gremlin with the same inline 6.
Absolutely agree!
- That Matador coupe should have died in the Bond Movie.
- Great engine selection.
- As you said, brilliant engineers.
- Finally, what a perfect example of now & then... It's amazing what we considered 'Luxury' then, and yet NOW we can't get interiors color-matched to our exteriors unless it's a Rolls frickin' Royce!
I was waiting for my father to pick me up one day as a teenager in one of his Corvettes and he pulled up in one of THESE!! I was Soooo Pissed and Embaarassed. LOL!!
hornets and concords were possibly the best us small cars you could buy at their respective times. also the hornet wagon is honestly a downright trendsetting design, state of the art for the time i would say.
I just couldn't imagine walking into a dealership back then and saying, 'That's it baby, there she is, the car I've been dreaming about - an AMC Concord DS.'
I bought a '78 Concord DL wagon in 1980, used, (30K miles, paid a whopping $3K!) Very luxurious, great gas mileage. Loved it enough to keep it about 5 years, then passing it on to my brother in law who drove it another 5 years. Would buy again in a heartbeat.
Kudos to Dick Teague and his team 👏
The AMCs of that era had a bullet proof powertrain. Their 6 cyls and v8s were indestructible. And the Chrysler designed transmissions were the best transmissions of that time period. The modified Ford starters were reliable as well. The Hornet/Concord weren’t that refined. But they were solid transportation.
I loved the 1978 Concord.
I've always liked AMC, they tended to go in a slightly different direction than all the other American automakers, and frequently did so much with comparatively few resources.
I subscribe to Rare Classic Cars & Automotive History. Smart!
Just a couple notes. AMC was still making 360 and 401 V-8s, they just weren't available in the Concord. The bigger V-8s were in the Matador (only 360, IIRC) and full size Jeeps. The 401 was dropped after the 1979 model year in Jeeps, the 360 soldiered on through 1991 in the Grand Cherokee.
Grand Wagoneer, not Grand Cherokee
401s until 74 in the Ambassador (last year for Ambassador as well) and Matadors
The 304 was available in the Gremlin and Hornet and I think they were offered for a bit in the Concord.
My father was an AMC man after be bought a slightly used 1965 Rambler American that gave him 120k miles of trouble free driving. He traded in Mom's 69 Javelin for a new 1979 Concord, chocolate brown woody wagon with the color matched hubcaps. Never seen another like it. Learned to drive and took my license test in that car.
My parents were always a two or three car family in the 1960-90s. Their large cars were big three cars and there was always an AMC in the driveway too. We had a 82 Concord wagon and an 83 Eagle. Never had any problems with them.
Had new in 1978. DL model. Brown exterior with a brown interior. AM FM radio, automatic transmission, air conditioning, rear window to defrost.
Traded in 1981.
DL White exterior with a blue interior. And FM radio, automatic transmission, air conditioning, rear window defroster.
AMC made a good product.
I had a Hornet back then, which I really loved, and when these Concords came out I wanted one soooo badly. Love my AMCs.
AMC advertising was top notch and always made their cars look better than they really were. Interesting that AMC videos are popping up all over YT.
I give all the credit in the world to AMC engineers in all they were able to achieve on a shoestring budget. I understand that many of these resourceful folks wound up joining Chrysler after the AMC acquisition.
It's been said that AMC wound up taking over Chrysler
It's really sad AMC didn't make it, they had some impressive innovations at times.
I bought a 1978 Concord D/L coupe when I started my first job. Black, with black vinyl interior AC auto trans, tilt wheel and the 258 I6. Great car and I only wish I still had it. AMC Chief Stylist Dick Teague really knew how to get the best results from not a lot of money.
As much as I like some of Teague's work. He did some real distars IMO. The Matador coupe' for one. I think his absolute best work was either the 68 Javelin and AMX or the 73 hornet Hatchback.
@@mpetersen6 Don't forget the '84 Jeep Cherokee XJ was one of his too!
Hey that was 'Ted Shackelford' from the Primetime Soap 'Knots Landing' at the end of this video.
Ur correct
I've never owned any AMCs, but I had friends who did and one of them had a Concord. He was quite happy with it and the one ride I had in it was quite comfortable and it had no issues keeping up with traffic on the highway either.
My uncle had a Concord with a 258 cu in 6 cyl and 4 speed transmission. He was an auto mechanic and was picky about what he drove. He didn’t put up with anything that was unreliable. I do remember the car having a nicely appointed, comfortable interior.
I had an 82 concorde only car i regret letting go of, best car i ever owned.
my mom had a 78 Concord D/L, I drove it often on road trips to her family in PA. The 258 6 was a great engine, smooth, quiet and dependable, the interior was comfortable and quiet. the faults I remember were it tended to wander, frequent steering wheel correction of 1" right and left was needed at highway speed, the windshield leaked which the dealer wasn't able to correct and a complete replacement was needed, covered by the warranty but it took a lawyer letter before it happened and it did begin to rust after several years. She traded it for an 86 Grand Prix and never looked back but I remember it fondly.
I bought a (2nd. generation) Concord DL, a 1981 model in 1984, it was a 3 year old used, like new car, 2 door coupe. It had the 258 6cyl. PS, PB, AC and a factory in dash AM-FM Stereo cassette with a factory power Booster amplifier. It had electric rear window defogger, and all the plush trim and seats. I loved everything about that car, it fit me well, and was so comfortable to drive and ride in. My sister called it: "The plush-mobile!" I wish I had another one like it, it was definitely one of the nicest and most comfortable cars that I have owned. It's only downfall was that it wasn't real good in snow, no matter the tires.
There were several luxury domestic compacts before the 78 AMC Concord as I was shopping for one of them back in the mid 70s... the 74-75 Plymouth Valiant Brougham and Dodge Dart SE, which were replaced by the 1976 Plymouth Volare Premier and the Dodge Aspen SE. Then Ford offered the Maverick and Mercury Comet with the LDO-Luxury Decor Option in 1972. In 1975 Ford introduced the Granada Ghia and the Mercury Monarch Ghia. Then GM introduced in 1975 the Buick Skylark S/R, the Olds Omega Brougham, the Chevy Nova LN and the Pontiac Ventura SJ. So many great choices back then with a variety of models, engines, options and colors compared to today, and they were affordable.
I bought my Silver 1983 Concord DL Wagon pre-owned from Town AMC , Union N.J. back in 1984 with 36K on the odometer. I enjoyed the comfort ,economy, value and luxury it gave for a friendly price.. As the family wagon we made many memorable trips on vacations and moved a lot of stuff with it. Me and my wife drove it daily way past it's usable life of 100K and a worn camshaft which the 258's were known for. Replaced parts like the rear end( Bad bearings) , leaky torque converter at 140K and the hatchback cast white metal hatchback hinges that snapped off very often when it reached older age. I would stock up on them at our local pick your own parts junkyard where they were plentiful.. Drove it to 183K with the original A/C in perfect cooling condition (never recharged or repaired)(Original starter,P.S. Pump Too) where the engine 's valve seats were worn and it puffed smoke at traffic lights. and finally traded it for a Chevy Astro Van in 1998. Served us very well.
You have to love the second customer proudly driving his smartness down the street with the Gear selector plainly in the Park position. All that film scenery rolling by the windows.
Always common laziness in production values, seen on tv and in movies. How much effort is really needed to put the shifter into neutral, set the parking brake, and put the wheels between each wheel?
I would say it's a 3-on-the-tree in second but I think manual Concords all had floor shifters.
We had a 1982 Accord Wagon in silver with wood grain. Took my driver's license test in it.
We had a 1980 Concord with a 4cyl it got incredibly good gas mileage and was very reliable,on trips it seemed like the fuel Guage was stuck in one position, 300 mile trips on just about a half a tank,great car,another driver crashed into it,my wife took it hard,that car was her baby.
-owned an '80 2Dr Concord; loved it
I remember the Concrod's little brother, the Spirit. One of my crazy friends stuffed a 401 into one of those on a bet--white knuckle terror and smoking brakes followed quickly. Learned that if a 304 fits, so does a 360 and 401. Really miss AMC, they could do so much with so little. Still wonder why they didn't have one of those AMC Hornet Sportabout wagons since the fictional Point Place, WI was just down the road from Kenosha, WI. Think That 70's Show really dropped the ball on that one. Maybe you could do a tell all about the Olds Vista Cruiser... Great information about the Concord....smart!
Preparing to stuff aa AMC 401 in my 79 spirit hatchback.. I look forward to some white knuckle fun.. 😃
@@stanwatkins1877 make sure you have the correct front springs, a mistake I made years ago and paid for it with worn-out ball joints...the hard way! lol Good luck with it and hope to see it at a car show some day.
@@stanwatkins1877 Might get some advice from Randall as they put 401s in new Gremlins. Yeehaw!
1964-'72 Vista Cruisers, along with their cousin, the Buick Sport Wagon, rode on a longer wheelbase than the standard F85/Cutlass and Special/Skylark wagons. It was a sort of A body special for wagons, with nada for Chevrolet and Pontiac. The extra length is in the rear doors from what I can tell.
I assume that the Vista Cruiser's nameplate drew inspiration from the Scenic Cruiser Greyhound busses, with their raised Passenger section with the 'Vista Window' at its front, which steps down to the level of the roof in the front of the bus. I too would like to see a feature on the Vista Cruiser - my first car was a '77 Vista Cruiser.
AMC only had one V8 block, so externally there is really nothing to tell them apart.
I often see a nice 78 Concord DL 4-door, the original owner still driving it. Slightly faded Golden Ginger metallic with matching painted wheel covers, vinyl top with that little top bow of chrome. First year has such an eager, friendly looking face to it.
I own a beautiful 1978 AMC Concord DL 2 door coupe in Color Code 7C Autumn Red Metallic. Very nice car
My parents bought an 83 DL model when I was a teenager in 1989. I took my drivers test in it and drove it to school my senior year. Thanks for sharing this.
The only *brand new car* my dad ever bought was a 1983 AMC Spirit GT with the 258ci inline 6. He sold it some time in the early 2000's.
Those GT Spirit's were a lot of car for the buck when new
We bought a new 1985 4WD Jeep Cherokee Chief...the second year of that revolutionary and seminal SUV that helped save American Motors and set up their sale a couple of years later to Chrysler. They were still suffering from financial problems in 1985 but I remember marveling at what they accomplished with the Jeep with the few resources they had (and their alliance with Renualt). It was very well made, reliable, never generated any squeaks or rattles, and the interior held together nicely. The 2.5 litre four-banger was bomb-proof albeit slow. Their designers WERE very resourceful. Great little company.
PROUDLY made in Kenosha, Wisconsin!!!
Many years ago I have friends that had these cars. Luxury small car is pushing it. More like nicer Hornet. The seats were very comfortable. The 258 6 cylinder still had the AMC 6 cylinder sticky lifters which clicked like crazy.
I think if I were the age I was right now in 1978 and had some extra cash and was looking for a new car, I'd have gotten a Concord. These are great looking cars and I'm glad to hear customers were overall happy with them.
It is something to consider that the standard equipment on almost any base model car sold in the last 15 years is better than many vehicles considered as luxury in the 1960's to Early 2000's.
I had the 1978 Concord D.L. No issues with this car mechanically at all. Had the 6 automatic. The only issue that I had was rust coming through on the top of the front fenders. Otherwise, a great car.
Very good thinking on AMC's part, I think. Comfort in a small car is still rare, in my opinion.
Grandmother had a 1978 AMC Concord DL. It was a comfortable & reliable ride for her. When she was no longer able to drive, we sold it off. Now I wish, we'd kept it. We were sort of prejudiced against AMC, & let that cloud our judgement.
*I always liked the wagon styling of the Hornet/Concorde, and it was much more practical
than the coupe and sedan versions*
As I recall the fit and finish on this car was quite a lot higher than most cars from the time. Even the steel sheeting was thicker than could be found in a Buick of the time. Something a neighbor of mine here in Massachusetts pointed out as his wife's early 80's Regal rusted away by the late 90's while his Concord was still holding together. They were both from mechanical families and kept cars for decades. Only buying a Kia Soul thanks its ease of entry and their failing hips.
Honest question, here. Why is the Soul “easy-entry”? I’ve never even ridden in one, but to me they look like an unattractive econobox. I must be missing something …
@@sking2173 they were designed for a pregnant mother to be able to get in and out of the door very easily. As such elderly people with mobility issues tend to like them because they are easy to get in and out of because of that. It's the second gen, which is Miles Ahead of the first and overall isn't a terrible car.
So Adam… Do you have one of these in your collection? If not, I’ll bet it’s on your future list!
I was a poor college student when the Concord came out. I liked it--particularly that package shelf with those a/c vents--but it was too rich for my budget. I would've bought one.
Great video on the Concord
I hope that, if you haven’t already done it, you’ll do a video the Spirit, the regenerated Gremlin…
I didn’t realize there were so many key differences between the Hornet and the Concord. It certainly made sense for the engineers to soften up the suspension and try to present a more upscale type of vehicle. Good old AMC didn’t have much to work with, an old vehicle platform with dated technology, and not enough money to engineer an alternative. But, considering what they had to work with I think they competed very well with the cars that GM, Ford and Chrysler were producing. It was Honda and Toyota who raised the bar with their very good, competitively priced midsized cars. But the Hornets, Gremlins, Concords and Eagles were tough little cars, and you saw a lot of them in driveways and on the roads. They fit the budget of a lot of American families, they were fun to drive and I wish AMC was still around! Who wouldn’t want to see a new 2023 AMC Hornet! Great video Adam, and thank you!
You have to give AMC credit - they took a plebian Hornet and tarted it up into a compact luxurious malaise cruiser. I really liked those especially when the front and rears were updated in the last versions. This did arrive 2 years after the Ford Granada hit that was luxurious in many forms.
They also took the Hornet, chopped off the back, and called it a Gremlin and it sold pretty well.
Very nice car. The front and back ends look like they came from different planets, but somehow it all blends together well.
Amazing that they called it "compact". It's almost as huge as today's VW Jetta.
The front and rear look like they came from different plants on the 1978, but look like they came from different galaxies on the 1979. Finally in 1980 they tied it together better with the more modern wrap around taillights.
Don't misjudge it's size based on styling. It's styled like the big cars as was the practice in those days. Today, even relatively large cars are styled like small cars so it's deceiving. Just look how large a Honda civic is compared to a 78 civic.
I knew a shipmate that had one of these. His was kinda bronze with a landau roof exactly like the one a 1:47. It was a very nice car for the price. Less than $5K..I think.. Thanks for posting.
One of my co-workers at the time had a G-body Monte Carlo and a Concord; I remember his wife saying that they had one good-looking car and one reliable one. I was shocked at how nice these cars were once you got inside and didn't have to look at the stubby, frumpy exterior. If they could just have made these cars look a little better and could name names with the standard-equipment comparisons VS. more expensive cars from GM and Ford (which they probably avoided to maintain their supplier relationships with these companies), I'll bet they'd have sold even more of these things.
PS: You might want to do a piece on the Eagle Premier, aka. Canadian Renault 25, aka. father-of-the-LH-cars, if you can find one. That is one rare car these days, and was under-appreciated in its day for its refinement, quality of interior materials and roominess, though its early teething problems helped seal its fate.
In '81 our high school had a four door Concord that was used for Driver's Ed. I actually saw one at a Pick N Pull salvage yard last year. Other than that I couldn't tell you the last time I saw one on the road.
Thank you, Adam, for so adroitly using the word, 'heretofore'.
Love the video intro.
I had a 1979, I loved that car, so comfy.
In March & April of this year, my brother had a gold-colored AMC Concord for which he traded a motorcycle. It was a sweet car. I drove it once. It was an absolute pleasure to drive. Now, I am a devotee of deluxe cars usually, but I really wouldn't mind having one of these. There's only one minor problem: I am rather tall, and the driver's seat went backward just barely enough to comfortably seat me. Yet, despite this fact, to ride and to drive the thing was absolutely wonderful, pleasurable and fun.
The title is misleading but this is a well done piece.
Maverick LDO got there first. Ironic as the 1970 Hornet billed itself as The Little Rich Car.
Valiant Brougham, Granada, Monarch, Nova Concours, Pontiac Ventura Phoenix, Aspen/Volare we're all selling the luxury compact package well before AMC.
AMC was last to the game.
Even Chrysler introduced the LeBaron and Dodge the Diplomat at about the same time.
That red Concord looked edible and your information was great.
The Audi 4 could only be marketed by AMC as the AMC 2.0. No alluding to it's origins per the contract.
AMC was going to import the line and the tooling to build it here as their own.
$30 million down the toilet when they abandoned it. Or Renault abandoned it....
Enjoyable video. Thanks
Wasn’t the 75-78 Granada Ghia considered a luxury compact?
@@dmandman9 It was. And the Maverick with the LDO {Luxury Decor Option} was first in '72-'73. Hornet's SST couldn't even come close at the time.
It featured body colored hubcaps well before the Concord as well.
@@DaveGreg100I remember other trim levels. But I didn't even know about that one. Thanks for the information. But I do remember that initially the Granada was supposed to replace the Maverick. But since the Granada was more upscale, Ford decided to continue the Maverick for a couple more years until the Fairmont came out. And you're right, I don't ever remember seeing anything near luxury on the hornet.
Incredible 4WD from AMC. Lots of room and comfy. A bit quirky but was a good car.
I worked at an AMC/Renault dealership in San Diego on summers home from college. The owner of the dealership (Tower Motors) had his "brass hat" car and I would kill to have it today. It was a 4-door Concord with every available option, including electric windows. It had a purple, yes, purple exterior and a very beautiful tan interior. I used to drive him to the bank to make deposits in it. As many others have said here, it was a complete joy to drive. I also had opportunities to drive Sevilles and Versailles at the time and this Concord could hold its own with them! Have always been an AMC fan... I miss them.
I love how AMC product planners managed to make such a successful product, dressing up an existing car and, while drastically boosting sales, I'm sure increasing product on each one sold. As a product it was fantastic, and as a car, I personally like the idea of building a comfy compact... Well, at least a compact by 70s standards.
Honestly, the current Civic is the same length as the ‘78 Concord (184”), with almost an identical wheelbase (108”). The Civic is also just about the same weight as the ‘78 Concord (3,000lbs).
AMC’s compact was remarkably on the money in terms of size for what would become standard for the compact class decades into the future.
Compare to the Granada, Nova, and Aspen, which were all marketed as compacts, while stretching about 200” long overall.
I was 12 . My dad bought the 79 wagon.
First week we went to LaPuente mall. Came back to the car someone had used a Nail and went deep into the paint completely around the car. It was the 1st time I was afraid of dad as he wanted blood.
After talking to useless security we got into it to go home. Dad backed up only to hear the tire pop from that Nail they used on the paint 😂
It was a great car ! Tons of miles drove it for years ! No problems !
🤣 That's inspired!
Adam, always appreciate your videos...many/if not all are a walk down memory lane. Also, amazing car commercials of the day actually gave you information on features of the car.
Well. the car at 5:14 was mine. I restored it in 2015/6. It won a First Junior Award in Palm Springs with the Antique Automobile Club of America. It was a 232cu in inline 6 with a Warner 4 speed manual and A/C. I liked the car, but due to a move, I sold it to a friend in 2018. Thanks for showing it.
That little wagon at 6:30 is an attractive package. Back in the day, I liked the Eagle wagon; it was ahead of its time …
That thick vertical vinyl in front of the rear side windows kind of takes away from an otherwise good design.
That is an arguable point, (I'm not sure I disagree) but it certainly made the car distinctive.
The Granada and Monrch were the first luxurious compacts . In top level ghia trim they were almost like a baby Lincoln .
I agree.
And on the (then) 15 year old Falcon platform to boot.
@@Paul1958R that is true , but the granada had a lot of structural upgrades over the falcon . It also had a better fuel tank , it wasn't part of the trunk floor like in the falcons and mavericks .
Wow, I'm impressed, I didn't realize that The Concord was so successful & so luxurious!!! ⛄🤶🎄
A chronic problem for AMC and for the other independents who had faded away earlier, was that few customers ever included them when shopping for a car. Some of them were quite good and some were not. True of every manufacturer in business for many years.
I have lost count of how many AMC's I have owned. Loved them all! Currently putting a 258 from an 81 concord 4 dr. into my 51 nash.
Not bad looking cars. AMC was one of those companies that was able to the best with what they had. And they have a unique vibe today. Classic car buffs will likely start looking at mid - 70's to mid - 80's AMC vehicles as 1950's and 60's era GM, Ford and Mopar classics in good condition stay obscenely priced.
The Eagle was where it was at!
I drove a 1978 Concord. I had a '75 Chevy Monza v-8. Just to small. That Concord was a surprisingly quiet and comfortable car. My dad was along with me. He Drove a 1974 Ford Thunderbird at the time. He said the same. Thanx Adam! You brought back some good memories for me.
In 1986 I was selling cars for a Chrysler Plymouth dealer, it was about October and was time to put my 1974 Delta 88 convertible away for the winter. In comes this older gentleman and he wants a new Fifth Ave, he wants to trade in his 78 Concord and we offered him $300 for the trade and I swear it looked as good as the ones in this video with approx 50k miles. He surprisingly agreed to this $300 but I offered him $400 if he takes it home and sells it to me outright. The car was now my little winter beater and he even gave me a set of studded snow tires that went with it and two years previous he replaced the front fenders with fiberglass fenders because all those AMC had a rotting issue on the top seams. The car was my baby for over two years, eventually I had full trust in that car to take on road trips which I couldn't have trusted the Olds to do those kind of miles. The car was kind of homely but I absolutely loved it, made me want a Eagle SX4 or Wagon but that never happened.
I learned to drive in an AMC Concord. Our high school Driver's Ed class had one.
I've always thought of the 1975 Chevrolet Nova LN and Ford Granada Ghia to be the first luxurious compacts, although perhaps a slightly more European interpretation than the American Plush of the Concord.
My first car was a 1970 Hornet, which I customized with a landau vinyl roof (like the Concord), Western Cyclone Wheels, and BF Goodrich T/A Radials. I blacked out between the tail-lights and the rocker panel. It wasn't fast, but it looked good. The Concord was what I going for, but I never owned the coup. I had a Concord station wagon, though. Unlike my Hornet, the Concord seemed to sit high on the front suspension - I would have added spring compressors.
Hey Adam! Thanks for the video on the Kenosha Cadillac with a Chrysler transmission. At least the AMC Concord was good success and not a rushin' Concordski! HA!
30 percent of owners had zero complaints, gotta say that is impressive.
My friend's parent's had a Concord that he drove when we were 17 and we pretended that center-eye vent was HALL 9000, I would say "What are you doing Dave?, I'm afraid", luckily his name was Dave.
I liked the wagons.
Same here, they are VERY stylish, and super practical, I bet if they sold these brand new today a LOT of people would still buy them!
Now, when I think about the ultimate Brougham, THIS is what comes to mind IMMEDIATELY, the venerable American Motors Corporation Concord. The DL & Limited had all of the plush trimmings that you would expect to find in a Cadillac or Lincoln, but even when fully loaded with every option imaginable, it STILL retailed for thousands less that any car from either of the aforementioned established luxury brands. We rented a brown Connie wagon on our first trip to Disney World, & I actually remember crying when we had to give it back. I had fallen that much in love with it. Here is an original MotorWeek road test of an '82 model. Anyone who calls this car ugly is COMPLETELY missing the point, in my view. Is it the most beautiful car in the world? Absolutely not. However, this car was not DESIGNED to be beautiful. It was designed to be durable, it was designed to be strong. It was designed to be sturdy. It was designed to be tough. th-cam.com/video/lg8BJuh42Nk/w-d-xo.html
In the early 80`s, the people across the street from my grandparents had two of these. A wagon and a sedan. Both shit brown.
This started with Maverick LDO & Chevrolet Nova Custom > Concours, then Ford Granada. Love my AMC's and as thorough as the Concord re-trimming was it wasn't the first & all the above, Concord included, came in very Base versions
Nice Scrambler. I have one in the garage waiting on me to get around to restoring it.
The wagon was actually a handsome looking car.
I knew a guy in high school (mid 80's) that had a car identical to the one at 3:57. His was a 4 cylinder with a 4 speed transmission.
Did anybody notice Ted Shackelford from Dallas and Knots Landing in that commercial at the end of the video?
Ha yea, crazy Lucy's dad!
When I first read the title of this video, I was reminded of other luxury compacts that had come before, such as the Ford Maverick "LDO" (Luxury Decor Option), the Plymouth Valiant Brougham and the Chevrolet Nova Concours. And, of course there were the Ford Granada and Mercury Monarch. Also, Chrysler offered upscale versions of their Plymouth Volare and Dodge Aspen compacts. AMC was sort of late to the party but I think they did a good job with what they had, extending the lifespan of a 1970 design into the early 1980's.
My parents had a 79 Concord Silver Anniversary addition. It commemorated the start of AMC. 1954 to 1979. It was silver and gray with maroon interior. It was a beautiful car. Still trying to find another.
Nice video!
Perhaps some time in the future you could discuss
The actual cost to build a particular car
and what the dealers get them for, I've never believed the company line on such matters.
The 2 door Concords D/L were quite good looking. The base and sedan versions were obviously Hornets. The interiors were quite nice.
I was sad to see AMC go under. But after owning a Gremlin with vacuum operated wipers I got over it
AMC was bought out by Chrysler in 1987. For a short time they offered cars under the Eagle name but Chrysler shut them down, and only kept Jeep. Now the Dodge and Chrysler divisions are in deep trouble. Chrysler is now down to only one vehicle. Many people miss AMC. AMC did not go under, they were forced to shut down by Chrysler. Now Chrysler could relaunch them, and many of the people who miss them could come back. It could help Chrysler and Dodge with their troubles too. The trouble with AMC after the Chrysler merger and the creation of the EAGLE brand was most of what they offered was a rebranded Renault product at the time. At the time Renault also did not have a very good brand perception in The United States.
Ted Shackleford from Knots Landing in that last commercial.