American Motors

On January 14th, 1954 the American Motors Corporation was formed by the merger of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and the Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history, valued at $198 million. Had AMC survived, they would have been celebrating their 55th anniversary this month. But it was not ment to be!

While the "Big Three" introduced ever larger cars, AMC followed a "dinosaur-fighter" strategy by focusing on the compact car, a fuel efficient vehicle twenty years before there was a real need for them. And a refusal to participate in the Big Three's restyling race policy helped Rambler develop a reputation as solid economy cars.

So let's take a look back at some of the car designs that AMC inherited, in photos and advertisments provided by Charles D. Test at Chuck's Toyland. A website of wonderful and historic "STUFF".

1952 Nash Ambassador Super 5265.

1952 Nash Healey photograph in living color.

1952 Nash Pinin Farina Ambassador Custom.

1953 Rambler Custom Convertible.

1954 The Saturday Evening Post advertisement.

1955 Indianapolis Nash Rambler dealership.