The Legend Of American Motors

American Motors was the little company that made a big impact. Maker of the Rambler family car, the Kenosha-based AMC offered an antidote to the excess of Detroit’s Big 3. But when America decided it wanted sporty, rather than econocars, AMC got groovy with the Javelin, AMX, Scrambler and Rebel Machine. American Motors was a proven performer in showrooms and on the track, with success in drag and road course racing. However, through it all came solid Rambler value, and a different approach from Detroit. An accent on consumer protection, along with brand label special editions. And when it came to blue sky thinking, AMC surpassed all with the Gremlin and Pacer small cars. Off road, Kenosha truly made Jeep ‘The One & Only,’ popularizing the brand and making it the sales success it is today. Beyond that, AMC created America’s first crossover, the Eagle. It all proved that America’s smallest ... was its biggest surprise!

"Patrick Foster's American Motors Corporation: The Rise and Fall of America's Last Independent Automaker is the definitive history of the AMC corporation. Featured vehicles include the Rambler, Javelin, and more, as Foster walks the reader through not only the history of an American classic, but a history of the automotive industry itself as it evolved through emissions restrictions and the gas guzzlers of the 80s and 90s"-Provided by publisher.

Though American Motors never approached the size of Detroit's Big Three, it produced a long series of successful cars that were distinctive, often innovative and in many cases influential. This history examines AMC's cars from the company's formation in 1954 through its absorption by Chrysler in 1987. The Gremlin, Pacer and Eagle vehicles are examined in detail, as are the AMC custom cars of George Barris and Carl Green. The text details AMC's 1980s involvement with the French firm Renault and the design legacy of that joint venture, which includes the Hummer. The evolution of Jeep is covered from the 1960s through the 2000s. Features include some 225 photographs; a listing of AMC / Rambler clubs, organizations and business entities, with contact details; tables of detailed specifications and performance data; data on technical devices, trim packages and all model variations; a comprehensive account of AMC / Rambler appearances in film, television and cartoons.

The story of American Motors: the little company that made a big impact.

Auto historians and readers interested in business history will enjoy Storied Independent Automakers.

Formed in 1954 by the merger of The Hudson Motor Car Company and Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, American Motors Corporation was no ordinary company. It was the last, and the very best, of the great independent automakers, producing such notables as the muscle-flexing AMX and Javelin, and the forward-designed, 4-wheel-drive Eagle. Highly regarded AMC historian and expert, Patrick Foster, gives us an in-depth look at AMC and its cars from its beginning in 1954 through its demise in 1987. Over 300 photos combined with informative captions show all of AMCs cars. A great reference for the AMC enthusiast!

American Auto Legends presents more than 50 remarkable American cars in a chronological fully illustrated book filled with historic photographs. It covers all eras of American automobiles, from the "horseless carriages" of the early 1900s to the sleek and ultra-efficient machines of the early twenty-first century. Concise descriptions highlight the key features of each vehicle, while stunning images by one of America's leading car photographers provide the reader with an unparalleled visual record. American Auto Legends features all the major US manufacturersâ??including Buick, Chevrolet, Ford, Lincoln, and Studebakerâ??this book is an essential and authoritative guide to the many legends of the American highway. Includes biographies of key figures in the US automobile industry, a full technical glossary, and details of where the cars may be seen. This lavishly illustrated book will appeal to classic car enthusiasts worldwide.