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Get an inside look at the American automaker that rose from the decline of a once-thriving independent auto industry to put up a valiant fight against Detroit’s Big Three automakers.In
The Complete Book of AMC Cars: American Motors Corporation 1954-1988, authors Patrick Foster and Tom Glatch provide a thorough and fully illustrated review of all the production cars offered by AMC from its founding in 1954 to its demise in 1988, including:
- Rambler
- Metropolitan
- Ambassador
- Rebel
- Marlin
- Gremlin
- Hornet
- Matador
- AMX/Javelin
- Pacer
- Eagle
- Jeep
Born from the ashes of Hudson and Nash, AMC represented a last attempt at survival for an independent automobile company. Thanks to the capable leadership of CEO George Romney, the company not only survived but thrived, riding on the success of the firm’s small, economical cars like the Rambler. As the market began to shift more toward performance and luxury cars in the 1960s, AMC found itself challenged to compete with the output from Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors.
The fuel crisis of the 1970s positioned AMC’s smaller cars to refill corporate coffers. The firm’s purchase of the Jeep brand also generated profits, but ultimately it was too little, too late. Even a partnership with French automaker Renault and the introduction of the all-wheel-drive Eagle couldn’t save AMC. In 1987, Chrysler Corporation purchased AMC and the story of the last independent automaker came to an end.
Foster and Glatch’s engaging book covers all of the AMC models, as well as racing exploits, from its inception to its ultimate demise. Whether you are an AMC enthusiast or are simply intrigued by cars and the stories behind them, this volume is a must-have for your bookshelf.
List of contents
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Vince Geraci
Introduction
Chapter 1 1954–1957: In the Beginning
Chapter 2 1958–1963: The Great Rambler Years
Chapter 3 1964–1969: Rambler’s Decline and AMC’s Rise
Chapter 4 1970–1974: The New Generation Cars
Chapter 5 1975–1979: The Difficult 1970s
Chapter 6 1980–1983: The Cars of the Early 1980s
Chapter 7 1984–1988: The Eagle Years
Chapter 8 On Track, AMC in Competition
Epilogue: American Motors Today
About the Author
Index
About the author
Patrick R Foster (oldemilfordpress.com) has spent more than 30 years studying the automotive industry. The leading authority on AMC and its predecessors, Pat has written several books on that subject and others, including Jeep, Studebaker, Hudson, Kaiser-Frazer, and Metropolitan. His popular columns appear in Hemmings Classic Car and Old Cars Weekly, and he has won awards for his books and articles from the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) and SAH (Society of Automotive Historians). In 2011, he was honored with the Lee Iacocca Award—one of the most coveted awards in automotive writing.Since 1983, Tom Glatch has contributed hundreds of stories and photographs to major collector, Corvette, Mustang, muscle car, and Mopar magazines. Tom grew up during the muscle car era, and his first car was a very quick 1970 Plymouth Duster 340. Tom and his wife, Kelly, have contributed photographs to books by other Motorbooks authors, as well as Motorbooks' Corvette calendars. When not pursuing old muscle cars, Tom works for a Fortune 500 corporation as a data and systems analyst and developer. He lives in southeastern Wisconsin.
Summary
The Complete Book of AMC Cars is a thorough reference covering all of the production cars offered by American Motors Corporation from its founding in 1954 to its demise in 1988.
