@@judgegixxer The majority of channels utilizing an AI voice, use AI to generate the content as well. A lot of the thumbnails are AI renderings of "cars", often with a picture of Jay Leno pasted on, and capped off by a clickbait-y title... From that, I've gotten where I can usually spot stuff that's been crapped out by a robot and avoid clicking on it (or only do so long enough to hit the dislike button).
I've made this comment before.. I was sorry to see AMC go. They were the scrappy underdog, and accomplished much with their limited resources. They did well to hang in there as long as they did.
My parents bought an 83 Concord in 1989 when I was a teenager. I took my drivers test in it in 1992. I remember being so embarrassed when the state trooper was with me 😂. Anyways , thanks for sharing this.
THey made 'good enough ' cars of each type. The AMX originally competed with Corvettes, the Javelins with the Mustangs/Camaros/Barracudas, the Matadors with the Torinos, Chevelles, and Coronetes. Only the full size cars fell short of the competition. The Jeep lineup was always well competitive with the competition, but buying many parts from the Big 3.
AMC had some truly great ideas and managed to do a lot with a small budget. Nothing but respect for their designers, engineers, and especially product planners.
In the '80s I worked for the County tax office, doing assessments of personal property around the County. Our office had two AMC Concord fleet cars and I drove one of them all day every day in my work. The car was very comfortable and very reliable, and I enjoyed driving it. Thanks for showing this car and bringing back those memories.
That is a gorgeous car! AMC really made some great cars. Even the "ugly" ones were good, solid, reliable vehicles. It's just so unfortunate that AMC didn't have the money to compete with the Big 3.
My grandfather was an AMC man. Probably because he served in WWII with the local AMC dealership owner located In Lebanon Virginia. He had a Gremlin, Pacer, and an Eagle. Great cars growing up.
We had a ‘76 Hornet wagon, and my dad worked at a couple of AMC dealers in the late 70s. The “re-skin” was really more of a “re-grilled,” but they were fantastic cars before and after.
We had a 76 Hornet wagon too! My parents purchased it from Scott Allen (I think) AMC in Chicago. It was a gutless wonder, but I still liked the car... the Sportabout to be precise.
You're preaching to the choir. As I've said before, I bought a 1978 Concord D/L new from the dealer and remember the hodge podge of equipment under the hood. It was a nice riding decent looking car.
@6:00 the reclining seats, from it's Nash lineage. I liked the styling of Concord and the Hornet. The Hornet name from it's Hudson lineage. That OHV inline six was also a Nash lineage, Such a good engine that Chrysler continued with it for years after the merger/acquisition.
Adam, have a little correction to your video. My first new car was a 79 Concord and I was working at the AMC dealership at the time. The quad headlights were first introduced on the 79 model year and the new taillights came in the 80 model year. Loved the car. My friends used to call it a baby limo.
My mom bought a 78 D/L new with the 258. I'd just gotten my drivers license and thought it was a great little car. The 258 was a good engine, very quiet and smooth and moved this heavyish car quite well. If it were made today I'd buy one.
We had one and it was sluggish and had poor acceleration. We found out it was due to the way the carburetor was set per manufacturer's specs in order to meet emissions standards.
Thanks for this one, Adam ! I had one of those as a rental for a week in Fort Lauderdale in Spring of 1979.. (It was the same week Three Mile Island atomic plant had a meltdown or blew up..) Anyway, the car was serviceable, it was well equipped and only had 29 miles on the odometer.
In 1978 I was taking driver training in high school. We had two cars, a 78 AMC Concord (two tone beige) and the redesigned 78 Chevy Malibu (blue with blue interior). I was principally driving the AMC, but one day I had the Malibu. I didn't realize how much I liked the AMC until I drove the Chevy. The Malibu had a flat bench seat, very touchy/jerky brakes, and soft floaty handing. I much preferred the AMC. My dad was always drove Buicks, so I was used to a GM car, but the AMC was a much better driver, especially for a newbie.
We’re building a 76 hornet for my son. Mild cammed 304 4bbl and 3 speed. It’ll be an awesome car for him. The concord was a glorified hornet, and a great car.
You can overbore a 304 .125" which gives you 325 CID. The bigger bore also allows 360 Heads with bigger valves. The 1/8th over bore brings the bore up to 3.875. same as the 4.0 liter.
We had a burgundy Concord wagon. I was detailing cars at the time. I had the cleanest and shinyest one around. Drove 30 miles to get to work after 18 inches of snow once, have no idea how i made it. What a great car that was.
Our 1st new car was a 1978 AMC Concord 4DR Sedan. We ordered it through the PX in Germany. It was a base model but we added some things to it. Heavy duty suspension, bumper guard, bumper strips, AM Radio, automatic transmission, Green paint, black interior and (since i wanted the Concord AMX Hatchback) I asked for the AMX Dashboard (for $25 it was worth it, no blank spot where the DL’s digital clock would have been and gauges in the center below the radio and heater. We waited in Germany for it through the Blizzard of 78 and finally got it in April. Loved the car. Only issue we had was the water pump on the 232 died and the couldn’t get a replacement. AMC replaced it with a HD water pump meant for a Jeep. We only messed up on one thing, we didn’t get AC and found we needed that when the Army sent us to Ft. Stewart, GA. I’d love to see if it was still running but it’s probably now just scrap metal.
While working as the at a Pontiac dealership, in 1978 my dealer acquired the local AMC/Jeep franchise. In time I became somewhat fond of the Concords. For the most part the Jeeps too. Except for those leaky plastic 6 cylinder valve covers. Had a 1981 Concord DL sedan for a demo as well as an Eagle. Both drove pretty well and fit, finish, and paint was better than the Pontiac line. Overall, power trains were durable. Only grievance I had was we had to sell and service those Renault Le Cars when AMC acquired the brand. Still have nightmares remembring dealing with some owners and not being able to tell them they bought a cheap throw away car.
Ohhh yes sir you're right. I'd forgot about those Renault's. Just awful they were. I can't seem to decide which one was worse than the other, the Renault's or the K cars (The Dodge Aires). Both were just terrible as far as I'm concerned.
To me it still looks like these AMCs were designed with crayons rather than a pen or sharp pencil. My best friend’s grandparents had a first year Eagle station wagon and I loved how the doors were easy to open with gloves on; an important feature to 13-year-old-me in Colorado during winter. Another great video, thanks for sharing with the world.
They sold the hell out of Spirit derivatives of Concord too, liftback being the prettiest American compact ever (Spirit GT). Once you got rid of the emissions junk and some timing in them the 258 had no problems at all running next to anyone else's smogged v8 (AMC included, except AMX's those cars could run)
I loved both of my 72 and 75 AMC Gremlin's ! Saw the package tray under the dash that the Gremlin's also had. Had fun with these cars, but was very young and drove the wheels off of these cars!
In college, I had a 1981 AMC Concord DL that the previous owner bought brand new and oddly had the radio delete option! For the first 2 or 3 months that I had that car, I had no radio until I could afford to have one installed. I have very fond memories of this car - probably the most comfortable car I've owned. The A/C could absolutely freeze you out in the summer.
I was an AMC fan throughout my teen years and was just out of college when the Concord came out. I would have bought one but money was a little tight. I have to say, even today I prefer the front end styling of the ‘78 over quad headlights of the redesign.
Same here. The refreshed model with the quads is still good looking to me, but the original seemed more unique. Now if I could have the 1980 taillamps with the 1978 front end, then it would be perfect!
I had a dream once that I owned an AMC Concorde, and it's how I realised I like them. I had a similar experience with the Infiniti J30. It's not everyone's cup of water, but AMC created a "handsome" vehicle indeed.
I owned new 1978 Tan in color. It was pure luxury. Air conditioner. Loved the car. AMC made a great car. In 1981 I bought new a four door White with blue interior. I never tried to worry of gas mileage. 👍
Love this channel. Thought I had a broad knowledge of cars of the 60s thru 80s having been a car crazy kid then. Now i know better. Every episode is a font of information. Incredible Mother bought a 77 Gremlin X Most boring beige color I had ever seen. It didnt last 3 years because of salt on the roads ( even though it was undercoated). Concord was beautiful. This example is a perfect combo Thanks for this.....
Tailights stayed the same for 1979, then updated for 1980. Grille and Quad headlights were new for 1979. I have a 1981 concord wagon with six, And 4 speed manual, power steering,manual brakes, and no AC.
I would take this over anything for sale today. And it could be had for probably 15 grand tops with no crazy electronics, nanny aides, comfort equipment, etc, etc.
I came close to buying one that was the same color on the outside back in 1978. It had the painted wheel covers and red velour interior with a manual transmission with the gear shift on the floor! We, the dealer and I couldn’t come to terms on price, so I had to pass on it. I really liked it though. 😊
My aunt drove a late 70s red 4-door Concord DL that she absolutely loved. I think part of the appeal was she had traded her early 70s station wagon and the Concord was so much easier to drive.
AMC gets a lot of respect from me. They did a lot with very little. Seems like they lasted longer than one might think they should have been able to. There are many AMC vehicles I wish I had. More than I can count off the top of my head. I wish they could have found a way to be more successful and still be here today.
thanks for an excellent overview of a car I will never see, but am still fascinated by. It's like the Holden Torana's had an american cousin from the same time, but more humble and homely. If they were reliable, and knowing what I've heard of pre-renault AMC they were; I would still happily daily one.
Very enjoyable video Adam!! Nice trip back down memory lane. My first 2 cars were Hornets. 1'st was a '75 Hornet D/L with 75,000 original miles. Being a D/L, it was like a Concord, with velour seats, tilt wheel factory am/fm stereo, and working A/C!! 258 under hood, easy to work on. Had a smooth purr, and nice torque off of the line, could light up the back tires from a stop. Not too much gusto at higher speeds, but this was the later 80's, speed limit was still 55. The best part? I bought this car for $500.00 from an older Gent, and drove it for 6 years!!
I remember thinking of this car as just a tarted-up Hornet, with tell-tale hints of late-1960s AMC awkwardness in the angular rear fenders, license-plate surround and worst of all in those awful door handles. Then, a few years later, I actually got to ride in one and was shocked at how easily the dowdy exterior was forgotten once you sunk into those plush seats. Maybe AMC should have pushed these as discount rentals with a well-advertised option to buy. It's definitely easier to appreciate them from the inside.
I love the ‘78 Concord! I’ve had a couple and still drive one. That front end was a one-year only (went to quad headlights in ‘79) but the tail end continued until 1980. I also had a ‘79 Concord wagon for awhile and I can say the overall quality of the ‘78 was definitely higher…the Carter carburetor in ‘78 was pretty good (Carter BBD) and my ‘79 had a Holly with a plastic idle stop that broke off so the car couldn’t idle until I replaced the carburetor 😂
My first new car was a 1979 Concord DL hatchback with the 258 automatic, power steering and power brakes. It had the cloth seats and they were very comfortable. I was looking at a Ford Fairmont Futura at the same time and picked the Concord because the 258 six was so much more powerful than the 200 six in the Fairmont. IIRC the Concord was about $300 more than the Fairmont. I had the car five years and replaced it with a 1984 Thunderbird. I sold the Concord to one of my brothers who then sold it to my other brother who sold it to my sister. My sister sold it when it was about 10 years old. Still running great but badly rusted. A couple of corrections, the 79s had the quad headlights but with the 78 style tail lights. The new tail lights came in 80. Also, the 304 V8 was available in 79 as I also looked at a two door sedan with the 304.
A friend of my wife landed a great job. She wanted her first car which would be used to visit her parent's on the odd weekend. She had lots of money and just wanted something nice. I thought for a moment, and then told her that she was the ideal candidate for a '63 Sport Roadster Thunderbird. I told her it would use lots of gas and would need tuneups and maintenance at least once a year, but, if she did that, she would never lose a penny. She bought a Concord D/L. Over the years, she had a number of cars, but nothing special. I saw her at a party 40 years on and reminded her that a '63 Sport Roadster Thunderbird had indeed kept its value and would still be a fun car to own. Instead of losing thousands (she had just given up on a CLS Mercedes), she could have had it all.
I test drove (but didn’t buy) a 1978 Concord in 1986. It was surprisingly refined - really very solid. Definitely better than the Chevy Novas and compact Fords of the period. Oddly, it had power steering but no vacuum booster for the brakes. I bought an Olds Delta 88, but the Concord left a good impression.
I knew a guy in high school who had a 78 Concord with the 2.0L engine and a 4spd transmission. It was maroon with that half vinyl roof and color keyed wheel covers. This was in the mid 80's and I haven't seen one since.
I have one sitting in my shed for the last 15 years . 2 door D/L with the v8 304 motor . 2 bbl motorcraft carb .Blue on blue . I took the vinyl top off and the molding . Optional fm/ am cb radio
I think power windows were an option. I remember the AMC Concord DL extremely well, and I thought they actually came standard with features like a crushed velour cloth interior and an LED electronic digital clock, from what I remember! I was surprised that the Concord featured here, despite being a Concord DL, did not have those things, and had a vinyl interior!
These cars were all over the place - but you hardly ever saw the base Concord. I guess people liked the more luxurious D/L versions. They really were nice cars for the time, and looked very nice. Heck, I even think the landau roof looks nice. I live about an hour from the Classic Auto Mall so I just may go take a ride there to see this car in person! Love that place !!!
Dang I shoulda kept my off white 78 DL 4dr. It was plush! The 258 gave pretty good MPG thanks to the super tall rear end ratio. Very reliable too. Mysteriously the tail light lenses disappeared 1 after the other and were impossible to find in 1999 when I sold it.
224.00 $ for a AM-FM stereo with push-button !!!! It doesn't say with 2 or 4 speakers. In today's money, this is almost 5 times more.... so more than a 1000.00$ !!! That was a lot of money!
Now, when I think about the ultimate Brougham, THIS is what comes to mind IMMEDIATELY, the venerable American Motors Corporation Concord. This one has all of the plush trimmings that you would expect to find in a Cadillac or Lincoln, but even when fully loaded with every option imaginable, it STILL retailed for thousands less that any car from either of the aforementioned established luxury brands. We actually rented a brown Connie wagon on our first trip to Disney World, & I do remember crying when we had to give it back. I had fallen that much in love with it. Anyone who calls this car ugly is COMPLETELY missing the point, in my view. Is it the most beautiful car in the world? Absolutely not. However, this car was not DESIGNED to be beautiful. It was designed to be durable, it was designed to be strong. It was designed to be sturdy. It was designed to be tough.
A number of years ago I read an interview with George Romney in an old car magazine. The final question was, "What do you drive these days?". Romney answered, "I drive an AMC Concord. I've been loyal to the company.".
Adam. I have either driven, or ridden in a few AMC’s that had the 258cid in them. My ex-wife, back in the mid 90’s had a 1975 Hornet 4-door and it was pretty peppy. My best friend had a 1979 Concord wagon back in the mid 80’s that leaked oil around the valve cover like a sieve.
It was far better made than a 1978 Dodge Aspen or Plymouth Volare or Ford Granada or Mercury Monarch. The Ford Fairmont was much better than the Granada but the AMC Concord was well built and didn't rust any worse than a GM or Ford in the day.
When I was a kid in 1978 I thought this car looked cheap because of how the bumpers fit. No plastic bumper fillers. Flash forward 50 years and who would have guessed that all of the plastic bumper fillers would have rotted out and, all of the sudden, the American Motor bumpers look better?
My Grandmother traded in her 1972 Hornet Sportabout for a 1978 Concord D/L 2 door like the one in the video. Hers was s chocolate brown color with cloth seats. Very nice car, always enjoyed riding in it. She was still driving it in January 1987 when left for Okinawa. When I came home for leave in May 1988 the Concord was gone. Not sure what happened with it. Was driving a Chevy Citation that was rusting away before our eyes.
The cars at the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, Pa. are all on consignment. That's one of the main reason they're a bit salty. I've been there quite a few times as that is near a turnpike exit I get off at when on my way to visit family and old high school friends.
I always thought those cars had feminine styling to attract women buyers. Lots of women had them when I was young in the late 70's and 80's. I had a 79'4 door base model sedan for a while in the 90's, it was good. Even worn out, it still started and drove every time with no breakdowns. I sold it to a girl for a first car, she was happy with it but I think her friends thought it was dorky (: That car is beautiful. Thanks good video.
I always thought the more squared off front wheel opening looked a little odd compared to the rounder rear opening from the original Hornet. Obviously, it was cheaper to retool just the front fender (the Gremlin also had it). It would be interesting to know what the designers thought, did they also want to change the rear quarter panel and got overruled by the cost cutters?
The outsourced parts were not only an advantage to AM, but to the customer, as well. They were quality parts, readily available and at a low price. Those seats had coil springs (like a bed) something only the most expensive cars had, at that time. The original idea for American Motors was to offer the consumer higher quality at a lower price than the big three. Formed out of two respected but ailing car companies, their original intent was to keep tooling costs low by keeping the basic shell on the market for a longer period over a broad range of models and gradually add value to it year after year to end up with a superior product, something the Japanese found out was a good idea. Those plans were dumped in favor of a sales strategy that copied other makers when George Romney (the first active CEO) went into politics. They did continue to emphasize quality in the later years although they reportedly spent their money too fast revamping their entire line trying to keep up with GM. Still my favorite auto maker that nonetheless produced attractive, competitive cars under nearly impossible conditions.
Thank you so much for NOT using an AI voice over! It makes a huge difference in which videos I will watch.
Agreed - I've unsubscribed from a couple of channels already due to their decision to use AI voices.
65% of why I watch this channel is Adam himself. He is good people.
Yes Adam’s great. I can’t stand voice automations. Most of those channels have no clue about what their “talking” about anyway.
@@judgegixxer The majority of channels utilizing an AI voice, use AI to generate the content as well. A lot of the thumbnails are AI renderings of "cars", often with a picture of Jay Leno pasted on, and capped off by a clickbait-y title... From that, I've gotten where I can usually spot stuff that's been crapped out by a robot and avoid clicking on it (or only do so long enough to hit the dislike button).
100% agree- Adam is good people and I love the unhurried cadence and relaxed feel of his videos 😊
I've made this comment before.. I was sorry to see AMC go. They were the scrappy underdog, and accomplished much with their limited resources. They did well to hang in there as long as they did.
My parents bought an 83 Concord in 1989 when I was a teenager. I took my drivers test in it in 1992. I remember being so embarrassed when the state trooper was with me 😂. Anyways , thanks for sharing this.
FACT
THey made 'good enough ' cars of each type. The AMX originally competed with Corvettes, the Javelins with the Mustangs/Camaros/Barracudas, the Matadors with the Torinos, Chevelles, and Coronetes. Only the full size cars fell short of the competition.
The Jeep lineup was always well competitive with the competition, but buying many parts from the Big 3.
They are still the most valuable part of Stellantis to this day. I think AMC tended to be very maintainable because of their basic, proven parts.
AMC had some truly great ideas and managed to do a lot with a small budget. Nothing but respect for their designers, engineers, and especially product planners.
Here, here!!
In the '80s I worked for the County tax office, doing assessments of personal property around the County. Our office had two AMC Concord fleet cars and I drove one of them all day every day in my work. The car was very comfortable and very reliable, and I enjoyed driving it. Thanks for showing this car and bringing back those memories.
You lucky you never got tarred and feathered
Those seats look really comfortable! 👍🏻
yes they seem very thickly padded!
They're very good-looking, too.. I thought they might've even been leather...
They were not, we had one. The back seat especially was uncomfortable due to short bottom and lack of legroom.
That is a gorgeous car! AMC really made some great cars. Even the "ugly" ones were good, solid, reliable vehicles. It's just so unfortunate that AMC didn't have the money to compete with the Big 3.
Once increased government safety and emissions standards came along it was only a matter of time.
My grandfather was an AMC man. Probably because he served in WWII with the local AMC dealership owner located In Lebanon Virginia. He had a Gremlin, Pacer, and an Eagle. Great cars growing up.
My parents bought a new loaded 1980 Concord.Two tone blue with blue interior. Very reliable. Learned to drive in that car. Thanks.
We had a ‘76 Hornet wagon, and my dad worked at a couple of AMC dealers in the late 70s. The “re-skin” was really more of a “re-grilled,” but they were fantastic cars before and after.
Yeah, and new tail-lights. Pretty much the same body in between!
We had a 76 Hornet wagon too! My parents purchased it from Scott Allen (I think) AMC in Chicago. It was a gutless wonder, but I still liked the car... the Sportabout to be precise.
You're preaching to the choir. As I've said before, I bought a 1978 Concord D/L new from the dealer and remember the hodge podge of equipment under the hood. It was a nice riding decent looking car.
@6:00 the reclining seats, from it's Nash lineage. I liked the styling of Concord and the Hornet. The Hornet name from it's Hudson lineage. That OHV inline six was also a Nash lineage, Such a good engine that Chrysler continued with it for years after the merger/acquisition.
Adam, have a little correction to your video. My first new car was a 79 Concord and I was working at the AMC dealership at the time. The quad headlights were first introduced on the 79 model year and the new taillights came in the 80 model year. Loved the car. My friends used to call it a baby limo.
You’re right. I mixed up the 79/80 styling
One other thing that I forgot is that in 79 there was a new 4 spoke steering wheel as well.
My mom bought a 78 D/L new with the 258. I'd just gotten my drivers license and thought it was a great little car. The 258 was a good engine, very quiet and smooth and moved this heavyish car quite well. If it were made today I'd buy one.
We had one and it was sluggish and had poor acceleration. We found out it was due to the way the carburetor was set per manufacturer's specs in order to meet emissions standards.
I had a Concord station wagon, 6 cylinder with a four speed. Great car.
Straight 6's have an ideal layout since, if engineered correctly, are a very balanced motor and will outlast many 4- and 8-cylinders.
Thanks for this one, Adam ! I had one of those as a rental for a week in Fort Lauderdale in Spring of 1979.. (It was the same week Three Mile Island atomic plant had a meltdown or blew up..) Anyway, the car was serviceable, it was well equipped and only had 29 miles on the odometer.
In 1978 I was taking driver training in high school. We had two cars, a 78 AMC Concord (two tone beige) and the redesigned 78 Chevy Malibu (blue with blue interior). I was principally driving the AMC, but one day I had the Malibu. I didn't realize how much I liked the AMC until I drove the Chevy. The Malibu had a flat bench seat, very touchy/jerky brakes, and soft floaty handing. I much preferred the AMC. My dad was always drove Buicks, so I was used to a GM car, but the AMC was a much better driver, especially for a newbie.
The stering colom and ignition keys were unmistakably GM 😂 I do mis this quirky little car company 😕I remember all of thore cars you mentioned 🥰
We’re building a 76 hornet for my son. Mild cammed 304 4bbl and 3 speed. It’ll be an awesome car for him. The concord was a glorified hornet, and a great car.
You can overbore a 304 .125" which gives you 325 CID. The bigger bore also allows 360 Heads with bigger valves. The 1/8th over bore brings the bore up to 3.875. same as the 4.0 liter.
We had a burgundy Concord wagon. I was detailing cars at the time. I had the cleanest and shinyest one around. Drove 30 miles to get to work after 18 inches of snow once, have no idea how i made it. What a great car that was.
What a beautiful car!
Our 1st new car was a 1978 AMC Concord 4DR Sedan. We ordered it through the PX in Germany. It was a base model but we added some things to it. Heavy duty suspension, bumper guard, bumper strips, AM Radio, automatic transmission, Green paint, black interior and (since i wanted the Concord AMX Hatchback) I asked for the AMX Dashboard (for $25 it was worth it, no blank spot where the DL’s digital clock would have been and gauges in the center below the radio and heater. We waited in Germany for it through the Blizzard of 78 and finally got it in April. Loved the car. Only issue we had was the water pump on the 232 died and the couldn’t get a replacement. AMC replaced it with a HD water pump meant for a Jeep. We only messed up on one thing, we didn’t get AC and found we needed that when the Army sent us to Ft. Stewart, GA. I’d love to see if it was still running but it’s probably now just scrap metal.
you ADDED am radio?? man.....those days were way different. nowadays it kinda pkg A, B, or C.
@@garywalters3007No packages back then, it was the best deal compared to Chevy, Ford, Plymouth and Dodge.
Back when you could get exactly what you wanted, or didn't want, on your new car. Note what he said about the instrument panel. @@garywalters3007
Ahh, back in the day when people routinely ordered cars.
While working as the
at a Pontiac dealership, in 1978 my dealer acquired the local AMC/Jeep franchise.
In time I became somewhat fond of the Concords. For the most part the Jeeps too. Except for those leaky plastic 6 cylinder valve covers.
Had a 1981 Concord DL sedan for a demo as well as an Eagle. Both drove pretty well and fit, finish, and paint was better than the Pontiac line. Overall, power trains were durable.
Only grievance I had was we had to sell and service those Renault Le Cars when AMC acquired the brand. Still have nightmares remembring dealing with some owners and not being able to tell them they bought a cheap throw away car.
AMC was absorbed by Renault, not the other way around
Correct sir
Ohhh yes sir you're right. I'd forgot about those Renault's. Just awful they were. I can't seem to decide which one was worse than the other, the Renault's or the K cars (The Dodge Aires). Both were just terrible as far as I'm concerned.
To me it still looks like these AMCs were designed with crayons rather than a pen or sharp pencil. My best friend’s grandparents had a first year Eagle station wagon and I loved how the doors were easy to open with gloves on; an important feature to 13-year-old-me in Colorado during winter. Another great video, thanks for sharing with the world.
They sold the hell out of Spirit derivatives of Concord too, liftback being the prettiest American compact ever (Spirit GT). Once you got rid of the emissions junk and some timing in them the 258 had no problems at all running next to anyone else's smogged v8 (AMC included, except AMX's those cars could run)
I think the Concord is my favorite car of the 70s. It’s the one I would buy today.
I think that's a great looking car, especially the interior. Good job AMC.
Those seats look comfy
I loved both of my 72 and 75 AMC Gremlin's ! Saw the package tray under the dash that the Gremlin's also had.
Had fun with these cars, but was very young and drove the wheels off of these cars!
I remember seeing these things everywhere 😄
I really like the styling, particularly this car with this paint scheme.
In college, I had a 1981 AMC Concord DL that the previous owner bought brand new and oddly had the radio delete option! For the first 2 or 3 months that I had that car, I had no radio until I could afford to have one installed. I have very fond memories of this car - probably the most comfortable car I've owned. The A/C could absolutely freeze you out in the summer.
The AMC Concords are among my all time favorites, and 1978 was a great year.
we had a 77 Hornet Wagon with the 258. With the exception of the AC always breaking down, it was a wonderful car. Great for long highway journeys!
Beautiful little car. That platform belongs in the top tier of all time great ones!
Excellent presentation. I wish cars like this were still made today.
Any car that survives decades in this shape is a cool car regardless of its cool status when it was new.
I was an AMC fan throughout my teen years and was just out of college when the Concord came out. I would have bought one but money was a little tight. I have to say, even today I prefer the front end styling of the ‘78 over quad headlights of the redesign.
Same here. The refreshed model with the quads is still good looking to me, but the original seemed more unique. Now if I could have the 1980 taillamps with the 1978 front end, then it would be perfect!
When i first saw the AMC Concord i liked it but more i watched the video i really loved the car. Great video 😊👍
I was always amused that the side rear window on the coupe looked like the AMC logo.
I had a dream once that I owned an AMC Concorde, and it's how I realised I like them. I had a similar experience with the Infiniti J30. It's not everyone's cup of water, but AMC created a "handsome" vehicle indeed.
I owned new 1978 Tan in color. It was pure luxury. Air conditioner. Loved the car. AMC made a great car. In 1981 I bought new a four door White with blue interior. I never tried to worry of gas mileage. 👍
I know at heart it's just a Hornet with a flossier grille and a landau top, but that little Concord is one handsome car.
Oh man, I would buy that car in a heartbeat if it was more reasonably priced... thanks for sharing Adam with your always interesting tidbits!
Love this channel. Thought I had a broad knowledge of cars of the 60s thru 80s having been a car crazy kid then. Now i know better. Every episode is a font of information. Incredible Mother bought a 77 Gremlin X Most boring beige color I had ever seen. It didnt last 3 years because of salt on the roads ( even though it was undercoated). Concord was beautiful. This example is a perfect combo Thanks for this.....
Tailights stayed the same for 1979, then updated for 1980. Grille and Quad headlights were new for 1979. I have a 1981 concord wagon with six, And 4 speed manual, power steering,manual brakes, and no AC.
Loved those cars. Too bad they are gone.
Even though I was born about this same time, I wish I could go back and buy AMC and help support them. Their stuff wasnt terrible.
I would take this over anything for sale today. And it could be had for probably 15 grand tops with no crazy electronics, nanny aides, comfort equipment, etc, etc.
I remember when these were new. Concords, Pacers, 4X4 Eagles, they were all on the roads in the 1970s and into the 80s.
I came close to buying one that was the same color on the outside back in 1978. It had the painted wheel covers and red velour interior with a manual transmission with the gear shift on the floor! We, the dealer and I couldn’t come to terms on price, so I had to pass on it. I really liked it though. 😊
Those cars were nothing short of very RELIABLE cars. They were just as reliable as the straight six Jeeps and straight 6 offerings from the big 3.
My aunt drove a late 70s red 4-door Concord DL that she absolutely loved. I think part of the appeal was she had traded her early 70s station wagon and the Concord was so much easier to drive.
My mom had two hornets. A sedan, and a hatchback. The hatchback looked really good!
I would love to have it. Even a well used example would be fine with me
AMC really got their money's worth out of those metal molds to make that car.
AMC gets a lot of respect from me. They did a lot with very little. Seems like they lasted longer than one might think they should have been able to. There are many AMC vehicles I wish I had. More than I can count off the top of my head. I wish they could have found a way to be more successful and still be here today.
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thanks for an excellent overview of a car I will never see, but am still fascinated by. It's like the Holden Torana's had an american cousin from the same time, but more humble and homely. If they were reliable, and knowing what I've heard of pre-renault AMC they were; I would still happily daily one.
Very enjoyable video Adam!! Nice trip back down memory lane. My first 2 cars were Hornets. 1'st was a '75 Hornet D/L with 75,000 original miles. Being a D/L, it was like a Concord, with velour seats, tilt wheel factory am/fm stereo, and working A/C!! 258 under hood, easy to work on. Had a smooth purr, and nice torque off of the line, could light up the back tires from a stop. Not too much gusto at higher speeds, but this was the later 80's, speed limit was still 55. The best part? I bought this car for $500.00 from an older Gent, and drove it for 6 years!!
Yes, that is definitely a GM-sourced Air Injection Reaction Pump.
I remember thinking of this car as just a tarted-up Hornet, with tell-tale hints of late-1960s AMC awkwardness in the angular rear fenders, license-plate surround and worst of all in those awful door handles. Then, a few years later, I actually got to ride in one and was shocked at how easily the dowdy exterior was forgotten once you sunk into those plush seats. Maybe AMC should have pushed these as discount rentals with a well-advertised option to buy. It's definitely easier to appreciate them from the inside.
I love the ‘78 Concord! I’ve had a couple and still drive one. That front end was a one-year only (went to quad headlights in ‘79) but the tail end continued until 1980. I also had a ‘79 Concord wagon for awhile and I can say the overall quality of the ‘78 was definitely higher…the Carter carburetor in ‘78 was pretty good (Carter BBD) and my ‘79 had a Holly with a plastic idle stop that broke off so the car couldn’t idle until I replaced the carburetor 😂
awesome
Kenosha Cadillac!
My first new car was a 1979 Concord DL hatchback with the 258 automatic, power steering and power brakes. It had the cloth seats and they were very comfortable. I was looking at a Ford Fairmont Futura at the same time and picked the Concord because the 258 six was so much more powerful than the 200 six in the Fairmont. IIRC the Concord was about $300 more than the Fairmont. I had the car five years and replaced it with a 1984 Thunderbird. I sold the Concord to one of my brothers who then sold it to my other brother who sold it to my sister. My sister sold it when it was about 10 years old. Still running great but badly rusted. A couple of corrections, the 79s had the quad headlights but with the 78 style tail lights. The new tail lights came in 80. Also, the 304 V8 was available in 79 as I also looked at a two door sedan with the 304.
Where ahead of its time, wish I would have looked for a used one in the 80s
A friend of my wife landed a great job. She wanted her first car which would be used to visit her parent's on the odd weekend. She had lots of money and just wanted something nice. I thought for a moment, and then told her that she was the ideal candidate for a '63 Sport Roadster Thunderbird. I told her it would use lots of gas and would need tuneups and maintenance at least once a year, but, if she did that, she would never lose a penny. She bought a Concord D/L. Over the years, she had a number of cars, but nothing special. I saw her at a party 40 years on and reminded her that a '63 Sport Roadster Thunderbird had indeed kept its value and would still be a fun car to own. Instead of losing thousands (she had just given up on a CLS Mercedes), she could have had it all.
I test drove (but didn’t buy) a 1978 Concord in 1986. It was surprisingly refined - really very solid. Definitely better than the Chevy Novas and compact Fords of the period. Oddly, it had power steering but no vacuum booster for the brakes. I bought an Olds Delta 88, but the Concord left a good impression.
I knew a guy in high school who had a 78 Concord with the 2.0L engine and a 4spd transmission. It was maroon with that half vinyl roof and color keyed wheel covers. This was in the mid 80's and I haven't seen one since.
I have one sitting in my shed for the last 15 years . 2 door D/L with the v8 304 motor . 2 bbl motorcraft carb .Blue on blue . I took the vinyl top off and the molding . Optional fm/ am cb radio
I remember the TV commercial asked " why drag two extra Wheels behind?"
Were power windows an option? If so, I'm surprised this car is not equipped with them.
I think power windows were an option. I remember the AMC Concord DL extremely well, and I thought they actually came standard with features like a crushed velour cloth interior and an LED electronic digital clock, from what I remember! I was surprised that the Concord featured here, despite being a Concord DL, did not have those things, and had a vinyl interior!
These cars were all over the place - but you hardly ever saw the base Concord. I guess people liked the more luxurious D/L versions. They really were nice cars for the time, and looked very nice. Heck, I even think the landau roof looks nice. I live about an hour from the Classic Auto Mall so I just may go take a ride there to see this car in person! Love that place !!!
Dang I shoulda kept my off white 78 DL 4dr. It was plush! The 258 gave pretty good MPG thanks to the super tall rear end ratio. Very reliable too. Mysteriously the tail light lenses disappeared 1 after the other and were impossible to find in 1999 when I sold it.
That car is awesome
224.00 $ for a AM-FM stereo with push-button !!!! It doesn't say with 2 or 4 speakers. In today's money, this is almost 5 times more.... so more than a 1000.00$ !!! That was a lot of money!
7:23 Tires! They transform a car don’t they? Do you have a preferred type or brand? Would love a video on rare classic cars and all things tires.
Now, when I think about the ultimate Brougham, THIS is what comes to mind IMMEDIATELY, the venerable American Motors Corporation Concord. This one has all of the plush trimmings that you would expect to find in a Cadillac or Lincoln, but even when fully loaded with every option imaginable, it STILL retailed for thousands less that any car from either of the aforementioned established luxury brands. We actually rented a brown Connie wagon on our first trip to Disney World, & I do remember crying when we had to give it back. I had fallen that much in love with it. Anyone who calls this car ugly is COMPLETELY missing the point, in my view. Is it the most beautiful car in the world? Absolutely not. However, this car was not DESIGNED to be beautiful. It was designed to be durable, it was designed to be strong. It was designed to be sturdy. It was designed to be tough.
Tough can be beautiful. (If you know, you know😉)
There was a very clean 79 with the 4 cyl for sale in Knoxville a couple of years ago. $2500 iirc.
Love the AMCs 👍😀
I just put the price with all of the options on the window sticker into the CPI inflation calculator and the price in 2024 dollars is $28,589.26.
Dick Teague could design more cars from the same chassis than any car designer at the big three. I don’t recall this particular model.
Makes a great companion for the 1977 Oldsmobile Delta 88.
A number of years ago I read an interview with George Romney in an old car magazine. The final question was, "What do you drive these days?". Romney answered, "I drive an AMC Concord. I've been loyal to the company.".
Thank for this
Nice 2 tone treatment. It's not all over the place, just on the bodyside to highlight the contouring.
It is a very good looking car. It s a shade above the Eagle. It's a lovely sibling. It needs a home.
Adam. I have either driven, or ridden in a few AMC’s that had the 258cid in them. My ex-wife, back in the mid 90’s had a 1975 Hornet 4-door and it was pretty peppy. My best friend had a 1979 Concord wagon back in the mid 80’s that leaked oil around the valve cover like a sieve.
Amazing how much AMC did with so little.
The Concord was a very dependable car. Their main problem was that they rusted out very quickly in the north.
Drive lines were very reliable.
It was far better made than a 1978 Dodge Aspen or Plymouth Volare or Ford Granada or Mercury Monarch. The Ford Fairmont was much better than the Granada but the AMC Concord was well built and didn't rust any worse than a GM or Ford in the day.
When I was a kid in 1978 I thought this car looked cheap because of how the bumpers fit. No plastic bumper fillers. Flash forward 50 years and who would have guessed that all of the plastic bumper fillers would have rotted out and, all of the sudden, the American Motor bumpers look better?
oh you should have used the 79 25th aniversary edition, bucket list car. that was luxurious red velvet interior.
My Grandmother traded in her 1972 Hornet Sportabout for a 1978 Concord D/L 2 door like the one in the video. Hers was s chocolate brown color with cloth seats. Very nice car, always enjoyed riding in it. She was still driving it in January 1987 when left for Okinawa. When I came home for leave in May 1988 the Concord was gone. Not sure what happened with it. Was driving a Chevy Citation that was rusting away before our eyes.
Many consumers didnt order air conditioner with their cars due to it was so expensive
The cars at the Classic Auto Mall in Morgantown, Pa. are all on consignment. That's one of the main reason they're a bit salty. I've been there quite a few times as that is near a turnpike exit I get off at when on my way to visit family and old high school friends.
I always thought those cars had feminine styling to attract women buyers. Lots of women had them when I was young in the late 70's and 80's. I had a 79'4 door base model sedan for a while in the 90's, it was good. Even worn out, it still started and drove every time with no breakdowns. I sold it to a girl for a first car, she was happy with it but I think her friends thought it was dorky (: That car is beautiful. Thanks good video.
That is actually one of the better looking cars AMC made
I always thought the more squared off front wheel opening looked a little odd compared to the rounder rear opening from the original Hornet. Obviously, it was cheaper to retool just the front fender (the Gremlin also had it). It would be interesting to know what the designers thought, did they also want to change the rear quarter panel and got overruled by the cost cutters?
Classic Auto Mall does tend to be pricey, but so are most dealers.
Crazy that the radio cost more than the engine upgrade!
The outsourced parts were not only an advantage to AM, but to the customer, as well. They were quality parts, readily available and at a low price. Those seats had coil springs (like a bed) something only the most expensive cars had, at that time.
The original idea for American Motors was to offer the consumer higher quality at a lower price than the big three. Formed out of two respected but ailing car companies, their original intent was to keep tooling costs low by keeping the basic shell on the market for a longer period over a broad range of models and gradually add value to it year after year to end up with a superior product, something the Japanese found out was a good idea.
Those plans were dumped in favor of a sales strategy that copied other makers when George Romney (the first active CEO) went into politics. They did continue to emphasize quality in the later years although they reportedly spent their money too fast revamping their entire line trying to keep up with GM. Still my favorite auto maker that nonetheless produced attractive, competitive cars under nearly impossible conditions.