The Coolest Car Never Built Is For Sale

"Jonee" (Jonee) 10/08/2017 at 17:20 • Filed to: AMC, AM Van

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This AMC van concept has been wowing people since it was first shown. I think it would have sold like hotcakes had it been produced, but that’s a what if we’ll have to wait for wormholes to other universes to find the answer to. In the meantime, you can have this.

Mini Guy- Now has a 4Runner > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 17:29

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11/10 would daily. And take their kids to soccer practice

DutchieDC2R > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 17:34

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That does look like something HotWheels custom-ordered...very nice.

MM54 > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 17:42

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Oh man. I can even picture it with those headlights popping up C4-style. It’s perfect.

LongbowMkII > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 18:02

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My high school notebook would strongly disagree.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 18:54

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If this had gone into production, AMC might be around today and Chrysler could have died. It looks like something that would have seriously resonated with the era and would still be cool today.

Birddog > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 19:07

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Gosh I miss AMC.

They had talent and ability but never enough cash.

Hmm.. Sounds familiar.

ranwhenparked > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 19:16

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I always thought this would have been the second generation Pacer, if the first generation had sold well enough to warrant a second generation, and if American Motors had the money, and if Renault hadn’t decided to phase out the AMC brand.

ranwhenparked > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 10/08/2017 at 19:52

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Its essentially a compact monospace, the same genre as the PT Cruiser, HHR, Element, Soul, Cube, xA, xB, xD, 500L, and probably some others, except 25 years earlier.

Jonee > ranwhenparked 10/08/2017 at 19:53

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Yeah, it would have made a good follow up to the Pacer if America had wanted to embrace quirky fun. They also had this compact car concept that could have been a great Pacer or Gremlin for the 80's.

ranwhenparked > Birddog 10/08/2017 at 20:38

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And what cash they had was occasionally misspent. EG, Matador Coupe and Pacer. Interesting cars, sure, but probably not the best use of limited resources when the bread and butter models needed replacements.

coqui70 > Jonee 10/08/2017 at 23:11

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Of course - a crossover 25 years before they became cool. If they could have held on for 2 more years after the compact Cherokee came out they would have ridden that wave ... alternate Universe indeed!

Birddog > ranwhenparked 10/09/2017 at 00:46

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Always misspent or misdirected. AMC was an odd bird. Subtract Jeep and think about their lineup in 1983-84. It’s amazing that they kept on keeping on like they did.

Jobjoris > Jonee 10/09/2017 at 09:42

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Those wheels make any car cool as ice. But you could be right on this one. What drivetrain did AMC plan for this one?

Jonee > Jobjoris 10/09/2017 at 22:46

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That wheel-tire combo is top notch. It says “Turbo,” but AMC didn’t have a turbo, so it was just a fantasy, unfortunately. I don’t think they ever had a drivetrain in mind. But, people loved it. I bet they could have stuck it on the Jeep platform and had a winner. Like the Pacer, they would have had trouble fitting the 6 in that short nose, though. But, they were starting to buy Audi 1.9l 4 cylinders. They could have used that.

Jobjoris > Jonee 10/10/2017 at 04:40

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It says 4x4 as well so maybe your thoughts on a Jeep platform aren’t that far off. I’m just afraid 72k is a bit too expensive for a non running concept? It is glorious.

Jonee > Jobjoris 10/11/2017 at 01:04

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Man, it’s fantastic, isn’t it? I wonder if you could put that body on something running. I wonder how flimsy it is. That might be a little high for that particular prototype. If it was more historically important, I could see someone paying that kind of money. Like one of those Pacer styling exercises. ;-)

It’s got a certain similarity, actually.

Jobjoris > Jonee 10/11/2017 at 07:45

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Looking at this picture I’d be surprised if it was a unibody, look at that front suspension. Anyway: It will work!

We can use it as an impression for our Wanke r l MPV! Bring back the 3-doors!

Jonee > Jobjoris 10/12/2017 at 00:56

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Yeah, it does look mounted to some kind of frame. What front suspension? I see nothing but space back there.

It would make a terrific Wanke r l. I could totally see it as rotary powered. Plenty of room for a Dj booth in this one.

Jobjoris > Jonee 10/12/2017 at 04:59

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Haha, that’s what I meant!!!! THERE’S NO SUSPENSION! What kind of wizardry is this? French? Citroën?

Jonee > Jobjoris 10/12/2017 at 23:16

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I’m not sure if this one was built under Renault’s stewardship, but there is some kind of magic happening. We need to look into this. Invisible suspension is the future.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Jonee 10/12/2017 at 23:48

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I was going to say, “That looks like a Pacer!”

Jonee > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/13/2017 at 00:23

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It’s very Dick Teague.

Jobjoris > Jonee 10/13/2017 at 07:08

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“It’s floating. On air.” I should be in advertising.