It's a toss-up as to whether I watch his videos for the comic relief or the car review, which in my opinion are the best on YT. Reviews cars you don't see on other channels.
Two things: (1) I simply love how even the slightest inconvenience is cause for consternation and exasperation for Bill. I feel that on a deep level. (2) The description of AMC and Citroen cars and how they were designed at 10:10 had me literally laughing and wiping away tears. Absolutely perfect.
Bill may not have millions of subs but everyone who does sub loves this guy.He knows his stuff.tells A great story & 1 of the 25 subs I have I never miss 1.
The model wearing the leopard skin in the Javelin promo pic @8:00 is Canadian Christine Demeter, who was murdered by her husband Peter in 1973 in Mississauga Ontario (for the insurance money). He was then convicted of conspiracy to kidnap a cousin while living in a halfway house in the mid '80's. He's still in jail, a real sweetheart...That whole thing had a real high profile here.
Correction. No V6, AMC used an inline 6. Either 232CI or 258CI. Edit: AMC also only had two engine block types, no little/big block variants like other manufacturers. Probably linked to limited funds. The 304, 360, and 401 were just changes in the bore/stroke of each.
New to your channel and it's great. Appreciate your knowledge, honesty and Whiskey drinking. I think you were a little harsh on the Audi. Understand why you would warn off a buyer for repair of a relatively cheap car, but you do get alot for your $. Depreciation of Audi's is due to supply (they are EVERYWHERE) not necessarily quality. Anyway, great job, keep it up.
I totally agree with you on this,I have always been attracted to these cars mentioned here,from day one,like when 1st seen the Citroen,didn't even know what it was called,I liked it,only since I been an adult did I find out the name,and,the Matador I knew the name,and,even the AMC Concord,but,most ppl thought they were ugly vehicles,I thought they were cool,and this one has wheels and a cool stance making it even cooler
well technically he's correct given the traction avant, DS and several other citroens were actually designed by a clasically schooled sculptur who before citroen had literally no experience with designing cars...but he made it work xD
One of Nash/AMC’s problems was their unfortunate “bathtub” styling that unfortunately persisted from 1949 until the 1963 “conventionally” styled AMC models finally came out, and of course those turned out to be huge sellers.
My 8 year old son watched this with me and he asked... Dad, what is that thing for on the door that he's turning? I said to open and close the windows,...he said, THAT'S SO COOL! 😀
A very accurate account of the AMC history. The Matador was designed by renowned Dick Teague. Looking at it from the rear quarters this car definitely gets its lines from the exotic AMX Concept III.
I thought, that the XJ was designed primarily by one of Renault's people? I remember, that, because the XJ was pretty reliable, so I was surprised, when I found out, that one of their guys took the lead on the XJ.
I had to rub my eyes in disbelief when I saw this one. The elusive AMC Matador. The fist model car kit that I ever got when I was a kid was an AMT 1/25 1975 Matador. Even brown like this one. Wow, just wow. Great and RARE find, Bill. My hats off to you.
Those wheels, dear god...See if you can find some factory mag-style rims for this oddly cool car, they really tie the look of the car together very nicely. My neighbor had the designer edition from their final production year with the factory slotted mag rims and the car looked great. I believe he had the Oleg Cassini edition. Also, I'd like you to know that seeing a new video from you pop up in my feed always makes my day. You are a true blue in-your-face kinda guy and I love your sense of humor! You put up some excellent cars from the '60s and '70s (my era) and the terrific GM 'B' bodies from the '80s (Olds Delta 88 Royale). God, it feels like only last week I was test driving a lot of the cars that you showcase, from the dealer lot when they were new ...jesus I'm getting old lol. Keep your videos coming Bill, I'm sure a lot of your viewers look forward to hearing what new insults come flying out of your mouth along with your seriously excellent sense of humor - great stuff!
This is just fantastic! A beautiful car created almost out of thin air. Bill, your review is excellent. You missed the one car that kept AMC afloat throughout the seventies, though. The Hornet.
Another fantastic video as always. Back in 1976 my dad bought a Matador station wagon. Red, 360cid, 4 barrel and duel exhaust. She was pretty fast and had a nice growl to her. In 1978 me my mom and dad and 2 sisters were heading to my aunt and uncles house. We got hit head on by a drunk in a 69 T-Bird coming off the garden state parkway in union twp nj. None of us were wearing a seatbelt. Aside from my mother and sister getting banged up we all survived. Unfortunately the Matador did not. Thank you AMC for saving our lives!!
My dad bought so many AMCs in the 70’s. 2 javelins. A javelin AMX. A hornet. And the sport matador coupe. Was silver. Cranberry top. Cranberry interior. Sport buckets. BShifter on the floor. God what a top heavy ugly beast. Think it had a 401. When I was a teenager I got that car close to 100 mph. Was so embarrassed to ride in it. Loved the Javelin AMX.
Bill, please do a 1971-73 Mercury Cougar XR7, Coupe, then a Convertible!! Really cool personal luxury/muscle Car with 351C power, and floor Shift, real leather, on the Mustang pan.
Some corrections (blame the whisky): The AMC 6-cylinders weren't V6's, they were inline-6's. Either 232 or 258. The V8 offerings in 74 were 304, 360 and 401 (you skipped the 360). The 401 was only offered with a 4-barrel, not a 2-bbl.
Bill you are the best! My high school buddy had a bright red one with a black vinyl top that was given to him from his grandma when she could no longer drive. On a snowy Ohio winter night he decided to try to give the neighbor a yard job, and it was so powerful that he lost control of the ass end and he ended up plastered up against the shrubs right next to the house. lol.
I got my driver's license driving my mom's 1981(?) AMC Spirit. And of course it was the only I was allowed to drive until I bought my own. It was a great little car and it's inline 6 gave me a distinct advantage over most of my friends driving 4 bangers. I've always had a soft spot for them ever since even though I've never owned one myself. Great Matador!
Those Premiers were pretty damn nice cars too. Giugiaro designed, roomy, comfortable and decent euro feel. Always thought way better and nicer than a Taurus.
Having owned brand new one of these 1974 AMC Matador Sport 2dr Hardtop with the 401 4 barrel w/ auto in red with white top and large side and trunk stripe. It was built on the Friday afternoon of the first week of production. It had a full trunk carpet that covered the entire floor. The bumpers were separated from the body because AMC was trying to keep the body sleek without the high plastic fillers that all the other manufacturers were using. This model shown is not the Sport model with front bucket seats. the Sport model had rear bucket seats also and a totally different interior. This is the vinyl topped gentleman's vehicle. This is one of their named Designer models by Oleg Cassini. Also you wouldn't want to leave the front bumper off if you wanted to insure it. If you had done your research on this car you would understand that this was a widened body from other AMC models. I got pulled over for speeded many times and the police would always compliment me on the car before giving me a ticket. The Matdor Coupe was in a James Bond movie, The Man With The Golden Gun.
Around the 39:36 mark you talk about the size and the relationship to the Ambassador. You are right. The Ambassador, the Matador, and even the Pacer (!) had the same width, a bit over 77 inches. They just made them longer or shorter depending on the size class they were aiming for.
One Michigan winter I did a 360 on a icy M151 and somehow didn’t put the ‘75 Oleg Cassini Matador in the ditch. Also avoided a butt kicking from my father. 😂😂
Just discovered this channel while home sick all weekend and into the week. Was born in 60’s Detroit and left in 81 to find a job (Marines). Love it, can’t stop watching, bringing back memories. My relatives worked for Ford, Chrysler corp, and AMC. KEEP IT UP!
Great video - flunked my first driving test because the power steering pump malfunctioned on my mother’s ‘71 Matador - she loved it because the ashtray was the size of a shoebox (she was a chain smoker RIP) - later I was on a business trip in Kenosha, WI & insisted we drive by the AMC plant - have to admit I got misty eyed lol
Great video! I owned an AMC Eagle for a number of years. Everyone laughed at me when I first bought it, but it will forever be the coolest car I ever owned. It was so unique and quirky, and it stuck out like a sore thumb everywhere I went. I miss it so much! I also briefly owned a rambler rebel, and I’m sorry to say, a Renault Alliance. LOL
Carpooled with a guy who owned a '75 Loaded Matador. It was surprisingly a very nice car, had plenty of power, was very comfortable, well built with decent fit and finish. Good review.
I owned a 77 Matador,YELLOW, chrome wheels,fat tires,we always sang the Banana Boat Song when cruising the streets of Queens NY in the early 80's,car was perfect for hauling drums and amps all over the city,great memories,cool video.I am still living in the 70's,kept a 71 Grand Prix I got in 87 after I sold the Banana Boat and now drive that around Long Island,life is good.
@@lacasa40 although I really dony connect with the style of the weekly car reviews, all the rcr stories are very high quality. Having grown up in Motown during the big 3s glory days it's great to watch them. Everyone I knew that had amc cars back in the day had excellent luck with them, better than the bigger names.
This car makes me feel very old. It's listed for $20k on the Autohaus website!!! My barber tried to sell their used Matador in the 1980's for $1k, maybe. And it took him forever to sell it. Nobody wanted the thing, demand was zero. This is a nice one and super rare today, but wow. Prices these days are insane.
Back in the day, I was sent to Kenosha, Wi for a week. I never saw so many Matadors in my life. They were everywhere and easily more of them than most others combined. Not to mention small bars and pizza places. Lastly on an Adam 12 episode, Milner buys a new car and it's a big deal and it's a Matador. A cream colored one with cream tweed type upholstery.
So ugly it's awesome. My college friend had a 1974 Oleg Cassini version we simply called "Oleg". It had a lot of character for $500, but I'm pretty sure we were the only 3 kids at UF who appreciated it.
My family drove AMC begiining to end. My mom had a 67 Marlin--beautiful car. My dad had 2 Ambassadors and 2 Matadors before AMC ended. I had a Gremlin--crude but really reliable and really fast--232 six in a small car--topped our at 115 mph
Great video as always. Love the car, hate those wheels on it. My very first car was a 79 AMC Cherokee Chief with the 360 in it. It was big, green, white decals with Indian head medallions on the side. What blew me away was that the AC still worked in 1994 when I got it. Not very good, but it blew some cold air out. Man I had some great times in that monster. It was great for the beach. We also had one of the 80s XJs when I was a kid, my dad treated that thing like his baby, understandably. One of my dream cars is an 83 Eagle Sport SX/4. I'll have considered my life fulfilled if I ever score one of those.
I'm a Canadian and I've seen about 20 of your videos. I've always wondered where that "Canadians in the back seat" quote came from. I've finally found out where it comes from. LOL 😁
My dad had a 76 Matador wagon with the V8 304 ci., It had more of a squarish shape to it, anything over 55 miles an hour and the back of the hood would lift up 2 inches, it wasn’t a bad car, I would take it to keg parties in the woods when he was laid up in the hospital with a brain tumor. Lotta memories with that car
I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed your coverage of AMC history! One of my frat brothers had a Gremlin, another one had an AMX and another one’s parents a shiny new Pacer. Thanks for this video 👍
Kaiser Jeep bought the 225 CI V6 from Buick in 68. Kaiser had used them in Jeeps since 1966. GM bought the tooling back in 1974 from AMC. The V6 engine bore was increased to match the 350 Buick V8 piston size of 3.8" and continued to be refined
As a kid I always loved seeing a Matador! I like the futuristic smooth styling, like the Pacer, which was too small. Matador stretched out the shape for much better proportions and looked big and comfortable and luxurious and futuristic at the same time!
My Dad used to work for an AMC dealer in the 70's, so we had all those cars at our house at one point or another. My grandfather had one of these Matador coupes too, so I have lots of memories of these cars. BTW: 100% correct at 25:04
Gotta say Bill, that bit of rambling about newscasters speaking Spanish words in Spanish accents was a weird observation I thought was uniquely mine. I feel validated so thank you! Say an Irish guy's name in an Irish accent, LOL!
Really liked your story on the '74 Matador. That switch is for a rear window defogger. At least that's what it does on my '73 Coupe. I've had mine for almost 20 years. Funny thing, it really turns heads.
Love it! My 77 Matador caught fire in the Taco Bell drive thru. My dad bought it for $600 and commuted an hour everyday for years back in the early 90s.
Mine nearly did. The carb flooded while driving and ran gasoline all over the engine. Biggest piece of junk car that I ever had, and it was my very first new car. Right off the show room floor. Mine was in the garage more than it was out.
I don't care what anyone says, AMC cars were nothing if not pretty, at least most of them. AMC was unique and edgy in their designs which I've always loved. I think of the 65-67 Marlin as one of the prettiest cars ever made, I think the Rebel was easily the most underrated and badass looking muscle cars of its day.
That car really has some nice, clean lines, especially that broad, cursive pinstripe along the sides. And the low-profile wheels make all the difference.
Great Video! I worked at AMC Jeep Renault dealership in 1982 North Vancouver British Columbia 🇨🇦 Thank you for history on company! Side story I was fired 3 times for my driving! 😂 I eventually rolled a Renault Le Car Sport up Grouse Mountain back road! M e & my two friends wearing plastic baseball helmets pretending we were rally driving with me doing English commentator voice! Tire blew on hairpin turn it rolled into a ditch! Next day at work all the mechanics knew then they towed car into the lot 10 mechanics all stopped work to look I hid! My French boss sales manager loved me took a picture of me with the smashed up car! Some low life’s completely destroyed car while I went to get help! Great Picture someone smashed headlight shoved a glass coke bottle in headlight! Car looked rough they even bent door open! Your video brought up some great memories!
Great one, Bill. My mom bought a blue and white ‘75 and I am like you, loved the car at first sight just as a kid. (It had a 360 and I thought you were wrong by omitting that from your engine list. But I should’ve known you were right. The 360 wasn’t offered until 75. My mom and the car are long gone now, but your video brought me back. That dash is the same dash I looked at as I was just discovering the magic of cars at age 9. She traded it in for a brand new 78 Black on Red Mustang hatchback with the V8. It is today regarded by most as the low point for Mustangs and her car definitely aged poorly, but I tell you I can still remember vividly that first ride home and how excited I was that we had the coolest new car.
You're wrong Winkat. I ordered a new 74 Matador X with a trailer towing package and a 360 V8 with 4brl and dual exhaust. It had a 3.54 rear end, and the car screamed. Ran a 15.15 sec. 1/4 mile. I kept the car for 17 years and finally sold it to a collector, who still has it. It's funny how everybody now says how ugly they were. When I owned mine I never heard a discouraging word about it. Only from the guys that couldn't beat me, but that wasn't about how it looked.
@@jamesmoneypenny1856 I didn,t care much for these when they were new.My dad even sold them forAMC.It sure is a nice looking car to me now.I bought a 73 amx Javelin from him.Be nice to have it now.
"Pinto on steroids" is a perfect description of the Matador. It is much like a collage of interesting design elements that are stitched together in a less than harmonious manner. Regarding engine choices, there were not many V-6 engines in the 70s. AMC did have some good straight sixes, which lived on in the 4.0 l Jeep Cherokee.
that 258 straight six was a pretty darned great engine - a neighbor had one in a hornet - very smooth and could spin that TorqueFlite tranny quite well - i wonder what a modern fuel injection system would do?
see, this is what I like. An honest man talking about cars. Not all that overly patriotic "we're blind for the mistakes or shortcomings of the car" kind of guy, but someone who shows both their love and knowledge by pointing out not just the good, but also the bad things about a car. Again, nice video and god I love that Matador's styling
Those foot bumpers. That's what we called them in the day. Truly an example of 1970's design. Thanks again for showing us cars we do not see in Canada. I'm not sitting in the back seat, I'll drive thankyou.
Door panel pockets, that rear seat dome light, and the carry-over door latches all carry a whiff of desperation for AMC. But I love this thing... always have from when the first stories made the rounds in the magazines. And like any proper vintage car, it has period-correct colors... now if I could only find one in orange with a brown cloth interior.
All AMC designed models from the mid-late 60s used that same "paddle" style outer door handle. Even the AMC owned Jeeps used the same handles. These style outer handles were still used up until 1995 with the end of the first generation, AMC designed YJ Wrangler.
Bill, thanks for getting an AMC, especially the Matador, I was excited as you were. My brother and I wrecked our ‘66 Buick LeSabre in a snowstorm in 1975. My mother bought a new Ford Maverick (my family overdosed in Fords in particular Pintos!). A few years later she said she had seriously considered a Matador which I thought was way out of character for her because of the radical but cool styling and that it was a coupe and an AMC. My life as a teenager would have been different with it, just like finding out your parents considered having another child after you were born!
We had a 59 rambler wagon, my mother came home one day and to my dad “ Charles it feels like the front wheel is going to fall off” dad said he check in in the morning. Well the next morning dad got up to go take a look. Low and behold the front righthand wheel was laying on the ground. Broken spindle. Later on during a road trip to DC from Lexington Ky the Three speed shift on the column (3 on the tree) fell off in third gear somewhere near Charlottesville Va. my mother fucking hated that car.
Yes ,many I have driven felt like they came out of a giant Cracker Jack Box (* " P0PCORN * "PEANUTS & A PRIZE *" That's what you get from Cracker Jacks! ")
An AMC Matador Coup very similar to the one in this video was the first car I ever remember riding in that had a 3 on the tree manual transmission. I was about 8 or 9 at the time. Great video, thank you.
These were beautiful cars, but just imagine if Teague didn't have all of the laws to follow when designing them... Thinner bumpers, similar to those used on the 70 Camaro, less conspicuous side marker lights, actual wire wheels... This could have been an absolutely gorgeous car. I would love to see Dick Teague's original concept drawings! Had I the money and wherewithal to do one, I'd love to see one in all red, minus the vinyl top... Borrani wire wheels wearing fat-ish black wall tires, a tan all leather interior. Sort of like a giant Ferrari.
great car, remember it debuting at the autoshow when i was a kid and i loved it then. great shape this is in and the 304 really wasnt bad. i owned one and it can be tweeked for more power.
10 seconds and already a complaint about the shitty weather in Florida. A sign of a good episode.
"Oh for the love of god!"
"Hot as balls!" LMFAO
I love the story about Tracy. "Pinto on steroids."
Bill says 'shitty' with a certain bit of panache. So attractive.
It's a toss-up as to whether I watch his videos for the comic relief or the car review, which in my opinion are the best on YT. Reviews cars you don't see on other channels.
@@138152930 Oh yeah. I don't care about cars made after 1990 but I still watch for Bill's insight and personality.
A lot of people consider the matador ugly, but I simply love it. It's so unique.
It would be cool if Bill would film one of his road trips buying cars.
100%
UA-cam would probably remove it....
LoL.
Yes could be fun watching
Agreed it would be interesting and fun
@@my1vice
BAHAHAHA
This channel is criminaly underrated
That’s very true!
So true!
Truly! It would be cool if he had some 3rd person video clips like Leno!!
Two things: (1) I simply love how even the slightest inconvenience is cause for consternation and exasperation for Bill. I feel that on a deep level. (2) The description of AMC and Citroen cars and how they were designed at 10:10 had me literally laughing and wiping away tears. Absolutely perfect.
Very good!
It was brilliant 😂
Bill is the best.
I just love the intros to these videos, always bitching about the humidity or the wildlife looking sideways at him. Cheers Bill, don't ever change.
Bill may not have millions of subs but everyone who does sub loves this guy.He knows his stuff.tells A great story & 1 of the 25 subs I have I never miss 1.
My wife has no interest in cars whatsoever, but always stays long enough to catch the Florida weather rant.
So unprofessional
The killer goats....LOL
@@Tahoe95 If I wanted" professional" I wouldn't be watching u tube??
Epic video, covering AMC history, mergers, and the the car itself. Incredible work Bill, your work is appreciated!
The model wearing the leopard skin in the Javelin promo pic @8:00 is Canadian Christine Demeter, who was murdered by her husband Peter in 1973 in Mississauga Ontario (for the insurance money). He was then convicted of conspiracy to kidnap a cousin while living in a halfway house in the mid '80's. He's still in jail, a real sweetheart...That whole thing had a real high profile here.
Correction. No V6, AMC used an inline 6. Either 232CI or 258CI.
Edit: AMC also only had two engine block types, no little/big block variants like other manufacturers. Probably linked to limited funds. The 304, 360, and 401 were just changes in the bore/stroke of each.
I always like your vids..they are funny , entertaining and educational. great job Bill ! :)
The Citroen analogy was great, the off-beat styling always strangely attracted me to both AMC and Citroen alike.
New to your channel and it's great. Appreciate your knowledge, honesty and Whiskey drinking. I think you were a little harsh on the Audi. Understand why you would warn off a buyer for repair of a relatively cheap car, but you do get alot for your $. Depreciation of Audi's is due to supply (they are EVERYWHERE) not necessarily quality. Anyway, great job, keep it up.
I love the car history that you provide in every video, but honestly my favorite part is always the intro... makes my day every time! 😂😂😂👍👍👍.
I totally agree with you on this,I have always been attracted to these cars mentioned here,from day one,like when 1st seen the Citroen,didn't even know what it was called,I liked it,only since I been an adult did I find out the name,and,the Matador I knew the name,and,even the AMC Concord,but,most ppl thought they were ugly vehicles,I thought they were cool,and this one has wheels and a cool stance making it even cooler
well technically he's correct given the traction avant, DS and several other citroens were actually designed by a clasically schooled sculptur who before citroen had literally no experience with designing cars...but he made it work xD
One of Nash/AMC’s problems was their unfortunate “bathtub” styling that unfortunately persisted from 1949 until the 1963 “conventionally” styled AMC models finally came out, and of course those turned out to be huge sellers.
My 8 year old son watched this with me and he asked... Dad, what is that thing for on the door that he's turning? I said to open and close the windows,...he said, THAT'S SO COOL! 😀
Bill attracts more birds than Tippi Hedren.
Pinto on steroids is pretty good. I can just imagine the pre coitus banter with Bill and Tracy.
Honey not today it's way too muggy let's wait till october
@@V8_screw_electric_cars "Hot as balls!" Lol
A very accurate account of the AMC history. The Matador was designed by renowned Dick Teague. Looking at it from the rear quarters this car definitely gets its lines from the exotic AMX Concept III.
I thought, that the XJ was designed primarily by one of Renault's people? I remember, that, because the XJ was pretty reliable, so I was surprised, when I found out, that one of their guys took the lead on the XJ.
Horrendous attempt at a vehicle
indeed...wish dick teagues prototype "AMX 197x" would have made it to production...
@@PnwOnTour not if you owned one. They were actually a very nice car. Then again I guess there are still AMC haters 50 years later...
great looking and most likely great running Matador!
Just what we needed on this miserable, muggy, crappy Tuesday! Cheers n'at! 🥃
I had to rub my eyes in disbelief when I saw this one. The elusive AMC Matador. The fist model car kit that I ever got when I was a kid was an AMT 1/25 1975 Matador. Even brown like this one. Wow, just wow. Great and RARE find, Bill. My hats off to you.
Funny you should say that, mine was a 73 , gremlin. Took me years to figure it out. After that I was hook on scale model.
My cousin had a bright red Matador in '74. I remember the 8 track with Aqualung blasting on the 4 speaker stereo.
My cousin had a red 1974 also.Biggest piece of shit he ever owned.The ugliest also
Such unusual styling cues, and distinctly 70s. Neat car. Thanks again, Bill.
Those wheels, dear god...See if you can find some factory mag-style rims for this oddly cool car, they really tie the look of the car together very nicely. My neighbor had the designer edition from their final production year with the factory slotted mag rims and the car looked great. I believe he had the Oleg Cassini edition. Also, I'd like you to know that seeing a new video from you pop up in my feed always makes my day. You are a true blue in-your-face kinda guy and I love your sense of humor! You put up some excellent cars from the '60s and '70s (my era) and the terrific GM 'B' bodies from the '80s (Olds Delta 88 Royale). God, it feels like only last week I was test driving a lot of the cars that you showcase, from the dealer lot when they were new ...jesus I'm getting old lol. Keep your videos coming Bill, I'm sure a lot of your viewers look forward to hearing what new insults come flying out of your mouth along with your seriously excellent sense of humor - great stuff!
They look nice.
More wheel than tire never looks nice.....stock rallies!!!
@@5jr.racing982 if they had this size when it was new it would have had them. Besides no one says ooh that's a nice sidewall.
Today's Weather;
Shitty with a chance of shittier, slowly devolving into partly shitty in the evening.
This is just fantastic! A beautiful car created almost out of thin air. Bill, your review is excellent. You missed the one car that kept AMC afloat throughout the seventies, though. The Hornet.
Don't forget the Pacer's relatively brief appearance. It also helped the AMC coffers for a hot minute or two!
The hornet and the gremlin both kept AMC alive through out the 70's .
We even got Hornets in Australia
@@jayartz8562
No shit?
I never knew that!
@@HowardJrFord
That’s probably true.
Another fantastic video as always.
Back in 1976 my dad bought a Matador station wagon. Red, 360cid, 4 barrel and duel exhaust. She was pretty fast and had a nice growl to her. In 1978 me my mom and dad and 2 sisters were heading to my aunt and uncles house. We got hit head on by a drunk in a 69 T-Bird coming off the garden state parkway in union twp nj. None of us were wearing a seatbelt. Aside from my mother and sister getting banged up we all survived.
Unfortunately the Matador did not.
Thank you AMC for saving our lives!!
My dad bought so many AMCs in the 70’s. 2 javelins. A javelin AMX. A hornet. And the sport matador coupe. Was silver. Cranberry top. Cranberry interior. Sport buckets. BShifter on the floor. God what a top heavy ugly beast. Think it had a 401. When I was a teenager I got that car close to 100 mph. Was so embarrassed to ride in it. Loved the Javelin AMX.
Bill, please do a 1971-73 Mercury Cougar XR7, Coupe, then a Convertible!! Really cool personal luxury/muscle Car with 351C power, and floor Shift, real leather, on the Mustang pan.
Some corrections (blame the whisky): The AMC 6-cylinders weren't V6's, they were inline-6's. Either 232 or 258. The V8 offerings in 74 were 304, 360 and 401 (you skipped the 360). The 401 was only offered with a 4-barrel, not a 2-bbl.
Do you know what the mystery switch is for?
Bill you are the best! My high school buddy had a bright red one with a black vinyl top that was given to him from his grandma when she could no longer drive. On a snowy Ohio winter night he decided to try to give the neighbor a yard job, and it was so powerful that he lost control of the ass end and he ended up plastered up against the shrubs right next to the house. lol.
Fascinating story of AMC thanks Bill , you are a very gifted story teller
"It won't do for me to go "rambling" on about the weather." Har har! AMC pun!
Good Evening Bill great timing 22:04 UK time. Hope you've been drinking the covid whiskey and taking the snowflake repellent.
You're frickin, flippin hilarious dude ! Your down to Earth persona and delivery is the best !!
Thank you. I'm an AMC fan. My first car was a 65 Rambler. I always loved the Javilin/AMX and my first new car was a 79 Spirit.
I got my driver's license driving my mom's 1981(?) AMC Spirit. And of course it was the only I was allowed to drive until I bought my own. It was a great little car and it's inline 6 gave me a distinct advantage over most of my friends driving 4 bangers. I've always had a soft spot for them ever since even though I've never owned one myself.
Great Matador!
Fun fact: the Renault developed Eagle Premier platform became the basis for the Chrysler LH series of cars.
Those Premiers were pretty damn nice cars too. Giugiaro designed, roomy, comfortable and decent euro feel. Always thought way better and nicer than a Taurus.
And the lh cars were the basis for the lx cars so
I actually laughed out loud a few times. I never saw a review of a Matador. Very informative and incredibly entertaining video.
Having owned brand new one of these 1974 AMC Matador Sport 2dr Hardtop with the 401 4 barrel w/ auto in red with white top and large side and trunk stripe.
It was built on the Friday afternoon of the first week of production.
It had a full trunk carpet that covered the entire floor.
The bumpers were separated from the body because AMC was trying to keep the body sleek without the high plastic fillers that all the other manufacturers were using.
This model shown is not the Sport model with front bucket seats. the Sport model had rear bucket seats also and a totally different interior.
This is the vinyl topped gentleman's vehicle. This is one of their named Designer models by Oleg Cassini.
Also you wouldn't want to leave the front bumper off if you wanted to insure it.
If you had done your research on this car you would understand that this was a widened body from other AMC models.
I got pulled over for speeded many times and the police would always compliment me on the car before giving me a ticket.
The Matdor Coupe was in a James Bond movie, The Man With The Golden Gun.
Around the 39:36 mark you talk about the size and the relationship to the Ambassador. You are right. The Ambassador, the Matador, and even the Pacer (!) had the same width, a bit over 77 inches. They just made them longer or shorter depending on the size class they were aiming for.
Whoever put those wheels on there has good eyes for that. I actually can't believe how well those fit that car's body
One Michigan winter I did a 360 on a icy M151 and somehow didn’t put the ‘75 Oleg Cassini Matador in the ditch. Also avoided a butt kicking from my father. 😂😂
Just discovered this channel while home sick all weekend and into the week. Was born in 60’s Detroit and left in 81 to find a job (Marines). Love it, can’t stop watching, bringing back memories. My relatives worked for Ford, Chrysler corp, and AMC. KEEP IT UP!
That's the first mention of Speedy Gonzalez I've heard in 40 years! These videos are gems-- for many reasons aside from the interesting car histories.
Great video - flunked my first driving test because the power steering pump malfunctioned on my mother’s ‘71 Matador - she loved it because the ashtray was the size of a shoebox (she was a chain smoker RIP) - later I was on a business trip in Kenosha, WI & insisted we drive by the AMC plant - have to admit I got misty eyed lol
Great video! I owned an AMC Eagle for a number of years. Everyone laughed at me when I first bought it, but it will forever be the coolest car I ever owned. It was so unique and quirky, and it stuck out like a sore thumb everywhere I went. I miss it so much!
I also briefly owned a rambler rebel, and I’m sorry to say, a Renault Alliance. LOL
Carpooled with a guy who owned a '75 Loaded Matador. It was surprisingly a very nice car, had plenty of power, was very comfortable, well built with decent fit and finish. Good review.
My older brother bought a new Ambassador Coupe Oleg Cassini Edition back in 74. I was in love. Odd? Yes. Image-builder? Debatable.
I owned a 77 Matador,YELLOW, chrome wheels,fat tires,we always sang the Banana Boat Song when cruising the streets of Queens NY in the early 80's,car was perfect for hauling drums and amps all over the city,great memories,cool video.I am still living in the 70's,kept a 71 Grand Prix I got in 87 after I sold the Banana Boat and now drive that around Long Island,life is good.
The matador without front bumper looks a bit like the Chrysler Turbine Car. Yes great accurate history of AMC! Good job!
Exactly what I was about to say. It's a fairly striking resemblance, noticeable even with the bumper attached.
If you look up regular cars on UA-cam there is a 2 plus hour long history on amc. It's worth the time an a crazy story.
@@stratcat4450 Yes I watched it, it is excellent and very well documented
@@lacasa40 although I really dony connect with the style of the weekly car reviews, all the rcr stories are very high quality. Having grown up in Motown during the big 3s glory days it's great to watch them. Everyone I knew that had amc cars back in the day had excellent luck with them, better than the bigger names.
This is a car that totally grows on you. Looks brand new.
I seem to recall that there’s a guy in Colorado that has a large stash of AMC Eagles. Thanks, again, for the history lesson!
Makes sense he'd be in Colorado, I grew up there and those things were everywhere back in the day.
Called Rambler Ranch - went to high school with Greg Kissinger who funded the place - fascinating story - check it out
Gotta love Bill! 56 in a 45 and still accelerating, switching lanes in the middle of an intersection, and he posts it all! Long live Bill!
Love the review side note the sixes were inline’s 232 and 258
Count your blessings Bill. It’s 8 here in NNY.
Hi Bill, it's 10-05 pm here in a cold Ireland, I can see my breath.
I’m jealous. Honestly.
"Hot as balls!"
This car makes me feel very old. It's listed for $20k on the Autohaus website!!! My barber tried to sell their used Matador in the 1980's for $1k, maybe. And it took him forever to sell it. Nobody wanted the thing, demand was zero.
This is a nice one and super rare today, but wow. Prices these days are insane.
22:50 I think we all have at least one "Tracey" in our lives. Stay chuffed! Great car and great video. Your videos always make my day better. Thanks!
Back in the day, I was sent to Kenosha, Wi for a week. I never saw so many Matadors in my life. They were everywhere and easily more of them than most others combined. Not to mention small bars and pizza places. Lastly on an Adam 12 episode, Milner buys a new car and it's a big deal and it's a Matador. A cream colored one with cream tweed type upholstery.
So ugly it's awesome. My college friend had a 1974 Oleg Cassini version we simply called "Oleg". It had a lot of character for $500, but I'm pretty sure we were the only 3 kids at UF who appreciated it.
That's the way I felt about Dodges in the 60s and 70s but I like them now
My family drove AMC begiining to end. My mom had a 67 Marlin--beautiful car. My dad had 2 Ambassadors and 2 Matadors before AMC ended. I had a Gremlin--crude but really reliable and really fast--232 six in a small car--topped our at 115 mph
Good evening Bill from Ron in a cool Manchester UK. Sorry the weather is muggy we have heavy rain for the next few days. Fantastic review of an AMC
I think we should make Bill an honourary Englishman, he moans about the weather so much!
@@Tmuk2 I agree
Great video as always. Love the car, hate those wheels on it. My very first car was a 79 AMC Cherokee Chief with the 360 in it. It was big, green, white decals with Indian head medallions on the side. What blew me away was that the AC still worked in 1994 when I got it. Not very good, but it blew some cold air out. Man I had some great times in that monster. It was great for the beach. We also had one of the 80s XJs when I was a kid, my dad treated that thing like his baby, understandably. One of my dream cars is an 83 Eagle Sport SX/4. I'll have considered my life fulfilled if I ever score one of those.
" on another muggy, shitty day " lmao. " I was absolutely chuffed "
I'm a Canadian and I've seen about 20 of your videos. I've always wondered where that "Canadians in the back seat" quote came from. I've finally found out where it comes from. LOL 😁
This was a brilliant overview of AMC and this Matador. Well done, Bill.
My dad had a 76 Matador wagon with the V8 304 ci., It had more of a squarish shape to it, anything over 55 miles an hour and the back of the hood would lift up 2 inches, it wasn’t a bad car, I would take it to keg parties in the woods when he was laid up in the hospital with a brain tumor. Lotta memories with that car
One of your best Bill. Thank you for sharing
I thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed your coverage of AMC history! One of my frat brothers had a Gremlin, another one had an AMX and another one’s parents a shiny new Pacer. Thanks for this video 👍
This car is absolutely impeccable throughout...and btw... AMC did not make V6's. Inline only 232/258 cid.
That was Bill's second faux pas. The first was ignoring the 1960's AMC Marlin...very unique car series
Kaiser Jeep bought the 225 CI V6 from Buick in 68. Kaiser had used them in Jeeps since 1966. GM bought the tooling back in 1974 from AMC. The V6 engine bore was increased to match the 350 Buick V8 piston size of 3.8" and continued to be refined
"I've just got this vague brown lump in the viewfinder". Yeah, its a Matador.
The wheels on this are not original. With the original wheels, this was an extremely nice riding automobile. My late sister had one.
Hands-down the best 18 second intro on UA-cam!
As a kid I always loved seeing a Matador!
I like the futuristic smooth styling, like the Pacer, which was too small. Matador stretched out the shape for much better proportions and looked big and comfortable and luxurious and futuristic at the same time!
My Dad used to work for an AMC dealer in the 70's, so we had all those cars at our house at one point or another. My grandfather had one of these Matador coupes too, so I have lots of memories of these cars.
BTW: 100% correct at 25:04
Gotta say Bill, that bit of rambling about newscasters speaking Spanish words in Spanish accents was a weird observation I thought was uniquely mine. I feel validated so thank you! Say an Irish guy's name in an Irish accent, LOL!
Really liked your story on the '74 Matador. That switch is for a rear window defogger. At least that's what it does on my '73 Coupe. I've had mine for almost 20 years. Funny thing, it really turns heads.
Thank you, I I was waiting for Bill to break out the owners manuel to tell us. o_0
Love it! My 77 Matador caught fire in the Taco Bell drive thru. My dad bought it for $600 and commuted an hour everyday for years back in the early 90s.
Mine nearly did. The carb flooded while driving and ran gasoline all over the engine. Biggest piece of junk car that I ever had, and it was my very first new car. Right off the show room floor. Mine was in the garage more than it was out.
I don't care what anyone says, AMC cars were nothing if not pretty, at least most of them. AMC was unique and edgy in their designs which I've always loved.
I think of the 65-67 Marlin as one of the prettiest cars ever made, I think the Rebel was easily the most underrated and badass looking muscle cars of its day.
Absolutely stunning!
Thank you Bill for the laughter and joy you brought me with your rant on newscasters.
That car really has some nice, clean lines, especially that broad, cursive pinstripe along the sides. And the low-profile wheels make all the difference.
Great Video! I worked at AMC Jeep Renault dealership in 1982 North Vancouver British Columbia 🇨🇦 Thank you for history on company! Side story I was fired 3 times for my driving! 😂 I eventually rolled a Renault Le Car Sport up Grouse Mountain back road! M e & my two friends wearing plastic baseball helmets pretending we were rally driving with me doing English commentator voice! Tire blew on hairpin turn it rolled into a ditch! Next day at work all the mechanics knew then they towed car into the lot 10 mechanics all stopped work to look I hid! My French boss sales manager loved me took a picture of me with the smashed up car! Some low life’s completely destroyed car while I went to get help! Great Picture someone smashed headlight shoved a glass coke bottle in headlight! Car looked rough they even bent door open! Your video brought up some great memories!
Those birds that Bill complains about sound like jaybird‘s or Blue Jays as some people say one of my favorite birds. Intelligent. 😹
Great one, Bill.
My mom bought a blue and white ‘75 and I am like you, loved the car at first sight just as a kid. (It had a 360 and I thought you were wrong by omitting that from your engine list. But I should’ve known you were right. The 360 wasn’t offered until 75.
My mom and the car are long gone now, but your video brought me back. That dash is the same dash I looked at as I was just discovering the magic of cars at age 9. She traded it in for a brand new 78 Black on Red Mustang hatchback with the V8. It is today regarded by most as the low point for Mustangs and her car definitely aged poorly, but I tell you I can still remember vividly that first ride home and how excited I was that we had the coolest new car.
You're wrong Winkat. I ordered a new 74 Matador X with a trailer towing package and a 360 V8 with 4brl and dual exhaust. It had a 3.54 rear end, and the car screamed. Ran a 15.15 sec. 1/4 mile. I kept the car for 17 years and finally sold it to a collector, who still has it. It's funny how everybody now says how ugly they were. When I owned mine I never heard a discouraging word about it. Only from the guys that couldn't beat me, but that wasn't about how it looked.
@@jamesmoneypenny1856Thanks. I stand corrected. I was almost certain that my mom’s was a 74 so that makes sense.
@@jamesmoneypenny1856 I didn,t care much for these when they were new.My dad even sold them forAMC.It sure is a nice looking car to me now.I bought a 73 amx Javelin from him.Be nice to have it now.
"Pinto on steroids" is a perfect description of the Matador. It is much like a collage of interesting design elements that are stitched together in a less than harmonious manner.
Regarding engine choices, there were not many V-6 engines in the 70s. AMC did have some good straight sixes, which lived on in the 4.0 l Jeep Cherokee.
that 258 straight six was a pretty darned great engine - a neighbor had one in a hornet - very smooth and could spin that TorqueFlite tranny quite well - i wonder what a modern fuel injection system would do?
@@billgee02 my brother had a Cherokee from the early 90s with the inline 6. It was a bullet proof drive train.
Yeah, these were straight sixes. My parents picked out a 74 Matador Wagon with the 258.
see, this is what I like. An honest man talking about cars. Not all that overly patriotic "we're blind for the mistakes or shortcomings of the car" kind of guy, but someone who shows both their love and knowledge by pointing out not just the good, but also the bad things about a car. Again, nice video and god I love that Matador's styling
WHen the engineers were designing the Matador, someone actually stood back from the drawing board and said: "BEAUTIFUL!"
Oh no they did not they said oh shit we’re going to get fired
I always rather liked the design. Still do.
Those foot bumpers. That's what we called them in the day. Truly an example of 1970's design. Thanks again for showing us cars we do not see in Canada. I'm not sitting in the back seat, I'll drive thankyou.
Keep up the good work Bill, I enjoy the hell out of this channels content.....weather included.
I absolutely Love American Motors cars, if you think about it , it looks a lot like the AMX 3 just larger.
Door panel pockets, that rear seat dome light, and the carry-over door latches all carry a whiff of desperation for AMC. But I love this thing... always have from when the first stories made the rounds in the magazines. And like any proper vintage car, it has period-correct colors... now if I could only find one in orange with a brown cloth interior.
They still used those sideways doorhandles on my 1981 AMC Concord!
All AMC designed models from the mid-late 60s used that same "paddle" style outer door handle. Even the AMC owned Jeeps used the same handles. These style outer handles were still used up until 1995 with the end of the first generation, AMC designed YJ Wrangler.
Beautiful ride, thank you for sharing.
In the 50s, after Hudson and Nash merged, they started making cars that had both companies' influence. They were nicknamed "Hashes"
Bill, thanks for getting an AMC, especially the Matador, I was excited as you were. My brother and I wrecked our ‘66 Buick LeSabre in a snowstorm in 1975. My mother bought a new Ford Maverick (my family overdosed in Fords in particular Pintos!). A few years later she said she had seriously considered a Matador which I thought was way out of character for her because of the radical but cool styling and that it was a coupe and an AMC. My life as a teenager would have been different with it, just like finding out your parents considered having another child after you were born!
We had a 59 rambler wagon, my mother came home one day and to my dad “ Charles it feels like the front wheel is going to fall off” dad said he check in in the morning. Well the next morning dad got up to go take a look. Low and behold the front righthand wheel was laying on the ground. Broken spindle. Later on during a road trip to DC from Lexington Ky the Three speed shift on the column (3 on the tree) fell off in third gear somewhere near Charlottesville Va. my mother fucking hated that car.
Yes ,many I have driven felt like they came out of a giant Cracker Jack Box (* " P0PCORN * "PEANUTS & A PRIZE *" That's what you get from Cracker Jacks! ")
The Matador X has aged well. Looks better today than when it was new. They sold these in Australia as well.
Completely ignored the AMC Marlin! One of my favorite cars of the 1960s
Which became the Dodge Charger.
@@Hottub12555 Which actually derived from AMC's fastback "Tarpon" Concept Car that debuted before the Barracuda and Mustang.
An AMC Matador Coup very similar to the one in this video was the first car I ever remember riding in that had a 3 on the tree manual transmission. I was about 8 or 9 at the time. Great video, thank you.
These were beautiful cars, but just imagine if Teague didn't have all of the laws to follow when designing them...
Thinner bumpers, similar to those used on the 70 Camaro, less conspicuous side marker lights, actual wire wheels... This could have been an absolutely gorgeous car.
I would love to see Dick Teague's original concept drawings!
Had I the money and wherewithal to do one, I'd love to see one in all red, minus the vinyl top... Borrani wire wheels wearing fat-ish black wall tires, a tan all leather interior.
Sort of like a giant Ferrari.
great car, remember it debuting at the autoshow when i was a kid and i loved it then. great shape this is in and the 304 really wasnt bad. i owned one and it can be tweeked for more power.
I love how, out of nowhere, you just go bat-sh*t crazy on random things like birds making noises. It’s hilarious! 🤣😂🤣
The nature-phobia is right off the scale.
Without doubt the best car reviewer on You Tube. Thank you. I'd buy any of your cars sight unseen.
Wheels have to go on that. Period 15” Ansens or Torque Thrust-D would be cool.
True story here. I gotta 75 Pacer and a 401 4 speed brown javelin in my garage here in Cleveland. Love them both
Shout out to Cleveland! im here too
@@rorybellamy2533 Where you located and what you got?