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Gosh , Steve, that was 1975 so we were working on one of down periods for AMC. They teetered on bankruptcy many times. We studied several companies but AMC was our computer simulation.

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So your scenario was from 75 going forward? They were running out of options by then, having spent so much on the Pacer and Matador coupe. With 20/20 hindsight there were things they could have done around 72 that would have had them in a better position in the late 70s, but at the time, those other options would have been as big a gamble as the Pacer was.

Hi

Were it not for the addition of Jeep in 1970, the evergreen Hornet/Concord/Eagle platform and 'Franco-American' Motors episode, it likely AMC would have failed in the 1970's. To the extent it continued to until 1987 as independent is something of a miracle.

Steve

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Yup, the Pacer and Matador coupe burned the last of their money. People freaked when gas topped 50 cents/gallon in 74 and snapped up anything with a 5, including massive numbers of Gremlins and Hornets. iirc AMC was about busted when Renault came on the scene in the late 70s. Renault made several infusions of cash and an all new line to build the Alliance, plus the Brampton plant that Chrysler is still using.

Of course I can't find the pic on line, but, within the last few months, Hemmings ran an article about Pacer based concepts that AMC looked at. One was a Pacer wagon, with the Eagle AWD powertrain, and a squared off, more purposeful front clip. Absolutely brilliant.

It was also the financial benefits from the Renault cooperation that allowed AMC to develop the Jeep Cherokee. I had a 96 Classic 4WD model and just loved it and the torque of the 4-liter 6-cylinder engine. I wish I had it now.

(o[]o)