Re: 8.75 vs 2.1

Posted by Steve203 On 2014/11/18 12:54:16

These examples illuminate some of the problems and missed opportunity between the two after the mergers.

There were other cases. I have read that AMC approached S-P about buying Studebaker V8s to replace the ancient Nash 6 used in the intermediate models. Nance blew them off. Then Nance approached AMC about buying the 196 cube 6 to replace the even smaller Champion 6, and Romney replied that they would be selling so many Ramblers they would hot have any engines to spare.

Thing is, while Nance and Romney were busy throwing spitwads at eachother, both companies were going down. The Foster book about AMC reports that, in early 56, AMC was on the brink of bankruptcy. Romney met with the same people who had just turned down Nance's loan request. Romney didn't get all he wanted, but he got enough. After the meeting with the money people, where Romney was laying out his big plans, he confided to another AMC person that he was totally blowing smoke up the banker's butts, but he was desperate for the money.