Autoblog

This is Mitt Romney

Dan Roth — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:01:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Government/Legal

That's right, the potential Republican Potentate is an AMC muscle car; according to the Secret Service, anyway. The Republican race for the presidential nomination is getting serious, and National Public Radio reports that the the Secret Service is stepping in to offer its protective services to the potential nominees. When this happens, code names are given to the protectees; for example, President Reagan was called "Rawhide" by those watching out for him. Mitt's new Secret Service handle? Javelin.

The candidates are presented with the list of potential security handles, and Romney apparently thought a nod to the car company his old man ran suited him just fine. Does it say something about the way he sees himself? Kenosha, Wisconsin-based American Motors Corporation was ever the cash-strapped scrapper; a bit of a contrast from Romney's well-funded election machine, but he won't be the first person to romanticize the last independent.

The biggest question we have is which one he thinks he is? A Javelin SST with the optional Go-Pack would indicate he thinks he's a serious performer, while a Pierre Cardin edition might match up more with the tastes of a man accustomed to the finer things. In any case, it will be hard to look at a Javelin from now on and not see Mitt's well-coiffed, perfect-teeth grin.

This is Mitt Romney originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pixar licenses Cars 2 AMC villains for a song thanks to Chrysler bankruptcy

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Chrysler, Celebrities, MISC

Joe Mantegna and Peter Jacobson from Pixar's CARS 2 - Click above for high-res gallery

Earlier this week, we spent the day at Pixar to get a sneak peak at Cars 2. And before you ask, here's what you want to know: The sequel is an order of magnitude more awesome than the original and chief creative honcho John Lasseter drives a Mercedes-Benz SL65. So with that out of the way...

While interviewing one of the feature's principles, we asked about vehicle licensing. When the flick hits theaters June 24, you'll see "Carified" (their term, not ours) versions of everything from Audi to Opel models, but the villains in the film are made up of what the Pixar team contends are the world's worst cars. So there's an assortment of unloved Eastern European metal mixed in with two main antagonists: an AMC Pacer ("Acer" - voiced by Peter Jacobson) and a Gremlin ("Grem" - voiced by Joe Mantegna).

Obviously, it would be a tough sell to go to an automaker and say "We need villains, and your cars are perfect representations for the most loathsome creations on wheels," but the Pixar people came to AMC's owners - Chrysler - at precisely the right time.

When Pixar approached the automaker about licensing the names and likenesses of two vehicles for the film, Chrysler was in the throes of bankruptcy, it was divorcing itself of Cerberus, and it wasn't sure who its next parent would be... if indeed it was to have one at all. Pixar - knowingly or otherwise - took advantage of the situation and managed to snag usage rights to the vehicles for the film just when the automaker was in turmoil and strapped for cash. The results are spectacular, but you'll have to wait for our full story and the animated feature to come to your local cineplex to find out why.

Gallery: CARS 2

Gallery: CARS 2 Characters

[Images: Pixar]

Pixar licenses Cars 2 AMC villains for a song thanks to Chrysler bankruptcy originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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eBay Find of the Day: Hydrogen-powered 1972 AMC Gremlin by George Barris

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Auctions, Etc., Technology, Hatchback

1972 hydrogen-powered AMC Gremlin - Click above for high-res image gallery

When one thinks of advanced technology, the AMC Gremlin rarely (if ever) pops to mind. In fact, these days, unless you happen to be watching re-runs of the first season of True Blood you likely wouldn't think of the Gremlin under any circumstances. Today's eBay Motors find is a very special hydrogen-powered Gremlin that we've never heard of before.

As the story goes, back in the early 1970s, 64 university teams built cars to compete in the Urban Vehicle Design Challenge, with this machine coming out of the labs at the University of California - Los Angeles. The Gremlin was donated to UCLA by American Motors and Ford provided a 351 Cleveland V8. The UCLA team worked with suppliers such as Hooker, Edelbrock, Union Carbide and none other than Kustom Kar King George Barris to get the supplies needed to convert the V8 to run on hydrogen and get the car competition ready. The Impco-provided hydrogen tanks in the back only gave the Gremlin a 68-mile range, but considering the lack of fuel injection and sophisticated electronics, that's not bad.

The wanton nostalgics among us aren't just drawn to the car's eccentric powertrain, but also to its period-appropriate mustard yellow paint, tire-tread bumpers, vintage Polyglas tires, and a couple of racing buckets that we'd like to mount on swivels and have in the Autoblog Living Room.

Incidentally, the Gremlin ultimately won the competition based on the fact that the steam emanating the from the tailpipe was cleaner than the air going into the carburetor. At this point, there are no bids on the car and it's not clear if it runs, but we'd stand we-hell back before firing it up for the first time.

Gallery: eBay find of the day: 1972 hydrogen AMC Gremlin

[Sources: eBay Motors, Wired]

eBay Find of the Day: Hydrogen-powered 1972 AMC Gremlin by George Barris originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Classic: Jeep XJ Cherokee

Dan Roth — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, SUV, Etc., Jeep

Jeep XJ Cherokee - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's easy to deride American Motors Corporation as mediocre to the point of failure. Legions of fans will argue vehemently that the last independent was a nimble innovator that consistently outflanked the competition with creative, clever products. In fact, the final vestiges of the company have just been worn away by the sands of the current decade, even though Chrysler hungrily swallowed up AMC for its Jeep property in 1987.

Jeep's value is undeniable. Just as it was the crown jewel in AMC's portfolio, it's likely the most valuable asset Chrysler has right now, too. There's been further depth to the Jeep line virtually since the beginning, with offerings like the Willys Jeep Wagon, Jeepster, Cherokee/Wagoneer, and J-series pickups expanding options for buyers. While those vehicles all trended toward larger, more deluxe offerings, one Jeep vehicle helped start a movement that's still with us.

Gallery: Jeep Cherokee Future Classic

Continue reading Future Classic: Jeep XJ Cherokee

Future Classic: Jeep XJ Cherokee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't let it eat after midnight - AMC Gremlin reimagined

Dan Roth — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Hatchback, Rendered Speculation

Click above for high-res image gallery of Jeff Teague's AMC Gremlin

Jeff Teague is the son of former AMC design chief Dick Teague, and his father's work at the scrappy independent automaker created some of the most memorable designs ever. Jeff Teague is a designer himself, and not too long ago his reimagining of the AMX musclecar caught our eye. That exercise left Teague so inspired that he fleshed out what a modern-day Gremlin might look like. Being fond of the original helps us like this new take on the car, even if it's pretty far removed looks-wise. We like that it's not blatantly retro; the only real concession to the past is the C-Pillar shape, and hey, the Infiniti FX already swiped that. The proportions and overall look bring to mind several current vehicles from other manufacturers, making us think that the Gremlin was about 35 years ahead of its time.

Gallery: AMC Gremlin by Jeff Teague

[Source: socalamc.com via Hemmings]

Don't let it eat after midnight - AMC Gremlin reimagined originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rendered Speculation: The return of the AMX

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Coupe, Performance, Rendered Speculation

Click above for more renderings of revived AMC models

American Motors may have lost its way towards the end of its life in the '80s, but the little car company that could created some very cool vintage American iron. When the muscle car era was still in full swing, AMC was a player with its Javelin, which went up against some stiff competition in the form of the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Trans Am. Later, the Mopar boys introduced the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda into the mix, muddying the waters that much more. Though AMC had some success with its pony car, the AMX was quite possibly AMC's coolest production vehicle. Based on a shortened version of the Javelin's platform, the AMX had just two seats and was all about performance. The car turned into something of an icon for the automaker, and the name was subsequently used for a series of concepts throughout the '70s... right up until American Motors died.

AMC devotees have speculated on a possible return of the AMX, and though it seems extremely unlikely, we have no problem indulging in the fantasy. So-Cal AMC Club members commissioned Jeff Teague, a designer who just so happens to be the son of classic AMC designer Dick Teague, to come up with his ideas of Javelin and AMX revivals... and what AMC discussion would be complete without a mention of the Gremlin. See all of the renderings in our gallery below.

Gallery: Teague AMX Renderings

[Source: Hemmings Auto Blogs]

Rendered Speculation: The return of the AMX originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What could have been - AMX/3

Dan Roth — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:29:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Classics, Etc., Supercars

UPDATE: It turns out there were actually some running and driving versions of this car, link in text below.

The fact that AMC never produced this car is probably part of the reason why they were able to hang on as the last independent automaker until the twilight of the 1980s. Looking at it now, though, makes us wish they'd gone after the mid-engined supercar segment with their iconoclastic flair. Sure, that'd mean an interior done up in noxious orange tartan, but look at that design! Richard Teague and crew managed to create a very muscular form evocative of what may have happened had a Toronado mated with Signor Miura. There were several development cars created, but no production version. What has recently surfaced is one of the "pushcars" used at events to show off the exterior styling. Pushcars were basically fiberglass bodies splashed from molds of the clay bucks. Underneath the exterior was a wooden framework and rudimentary axles front and rear.

Other pushcars from the same program have surfaced, one was even stuck atop a pole at a used car dealership before being rescued and restored (as a pushcar, that is.) The AMX/3, however, remained sealed away in Bruce Wayne's underground lair, it would seem, until earlier this year. The seller, second owner of the AMX/3, had intended on mounting the body to a Pantera chassis, but decided to sell it instead. New owner Tom Dulaney intends to restore the pushcar back to its original setup, but not before taking molds from the body to possibly create replica pieces. So, in the end, we may actually be able to own the sexiest AMC that never was, even if it is underpinned by a Fiero. Actually, there's no word on what would serve as a chassis, so let your imaginations run. We know what will be circling our heads as we fall asleep tonight.

[Source: Hemmings]

What could have been - AMX/3 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Oct 2007 19:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Future Classic: Eagle Premier

Dan Roth — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:59:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc., Daimler, Jeep, Renault

click image for more pics of the Eagle Premier

By the early 1980s, American Motors Corporation was on the ropes. Its car line was seriously geriatric - the Eagle, Concord, and Spirit models were derivatives of the Hornet developed in the Bronze Age. AMC had turned to Renault for an infusion of cash in return for an entré into the US market for the French brand. The Renault Alliance, Encore and Medallion were US versions of the French automaker's vehicles distributed by AMC/Jeep dealers, laying the groundwork for the Renault 25-derived Premier. Originally badged Renault Premier, and part of the AMC portfolio, the car became the Eagle Premier following Renault's desperate sale of its AMC stake to Chrysler. AMC had an established brand and operation, a brand new plant in Bramalea, Ontario, as well as the money-making Jeep division, which is what Chrysler really wanted. It's ironic that 20 years later, the Jeep brand is reprising its role as a jewel within a struggling automaker. It's also ironic that while Chrysler acquired AMC for the Jeep brand, the Premier ended up supporting the '90s renaissance at Auburn Hills.

Gallery: Eagle Premier

Continue reading Future Classic: Eagle Premier

Future Classic: Eagle Premier originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eulogy for the Pacer - a memorial tribute to organ-donating AMCs

Dan Roth — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:32:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Etc.

While it is perhaps not terribly far-fetched to think that there are folks who like the Pacer, this just seems like an unhealthy attachement. In the process of keeping his own very fine looking '76 alive, Curt Uhrin felt guilty about just stripping bits off those cars that gave their lives so that his may live on. Guilty enough, in fact, to create a website devoted to keeping their memories alive. Curt took pictures of the junkyard cars as they lay in state and wrote wistful descriptions that make us want to go cuddle their rounded little fenders and restore them to their AMC funk-shack glory daze.

While the Pacer wasn't a bad car, per se, it was really uniquely styled. This was probably the car's most off-putting feature, as the running gear was pretty solid stuff.. Enough time has passed to make this once hideous car look almost cool. Kind of like E.T. -- so homely it's cute. One thing is for sure, AMC lovers definitely have underdog complexes, and what better underdog to love than one that's not only quirky (all AMCs are quirky), but pug-faced, to boot?

[Source: Hemmings]

Eulogy for the Pacer - a memorial tribute to organ-donating AMCs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 10:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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