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103-583: The car was available as a sports-oriented two-door hatchback AMX model without any "Concord" badges or identification for the 1978 model year, as well as the Concord Sundancer convertible during 1981 and 1982, an authorized conversion sold through AMC dealers. Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) assembled and marketed modified Concord versions in Mexico as the VAM American , including

206-447: A convertible top. Often the driver is separated from the rear passengers with a partition, as per a limousine . In the second half of the 20th century, landaulets were used by public figures (such as heads of state) in formal processions. They are now rarely used, for fear of terrorist attacks. Victoria-Cabriolet: reminiscent of the victoria carriage style , a three-position convertible. No rear side windows and equipped with

309-470: A serpentine belt system. Consolidation of the Concord lineup continued for the 1983 model year. The slow-selling GM-sourced 151 cu in (2.5 L) I4 engine was no longer available. The two-door body style and the top-of-the-line Limited sedan model were dropped. The Concord range now included the base and DL four-door sedans as well as the base, DL, and Limited wagons. All 1983 Concords came with

412-401: A "quicker erosion" problem compared to the other automakers. To help mitigate this, AMC increased its 1981 advertising budget by 15% to $ 51 million. It used TV as the major medium on behalf of its cars, Renaults, and Jeeps. All AMC cars were marketed as the "Tough Americans" in print and television advertisements, indicating the presence of fully galvanized steel bodies, aluminized exhausts, and

515-480: A "well-proven power plant" compared to the newly standard four-cylinder engine. The Concord that was comparison road tested had the 258 cu in (4.2 L) engine, and the car achieved better acceleration compared to the considerably smaller-engined Dodge Aries , Chevrolet Citation , and Mercury Zephyr . Three trim levels were offered: base, DL, and Limited in three body styles. There were four road wheel designs. The full "custom" wheel covers were standard on

618-681: A convertible body style in its 1982 lines that was based on the K-Car . These models were the LeBaron , produced under Chrysler, and the 400 , manufactured under Dodge . Ford reintroduced a convertible Mustang for 1983, while American Motors Corporation (AMC) added a convertible version of the Renault Alliance in 1984. In 1989, Mazda released the first generation Mazda MX-5 (called "Miata" in North America), which has become

721-425: A four-speed manual, but did not really suit the car's character. This was the result "of those fuel-economy-obsessed years." Most popular was the carbureted I6 which was rated at 110 hp (82 kW; 112 PS). However, this engine had "enough torque available at low revs to pull a small house." Fuel economy figures for the 49 state versions in 1981 were: Popular Science magazine highly recommended AMC's I6 as

824-611: A half-vinyl roof to differentiate it from the base model hatchback. The 1979 model year also introduced the "Limited" model, available in the coupe, sedan, and station wagon models. It included leather upholstery, thick carpeting, full courtesy lighting, body-colored wheel covers, and a standard AM radio. The Concord Limited was well equipped for a compact car at the time. Special-order versions of Concords were built to contracts and fleet customers that had minimal trim and options as well as rear-seat delete and rear doors with non-opening windows and no interior door handles. The Sport package

927-490: A heating duct to the neck area of the seat, which is often called an "Air Scarf". Examples of cars with this feature include Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class , Mercedes-Benz SL-Class , and Audi A5 / S5 . Modern safety features specifically for convertibles include: Convertibles have offered numerous iterations that fall between the first mechanically simple fabric tops to complex retractable roofs made from hard materials: Roadster: A roadster (also called spider or spyder )

1030-475: A higher level of appointments and features as well as a greater emphasis on workmanship and quality that was prompted by the growing success of cars imported from Japan . The transformation of the old Hornet into the new 1978 Concord included positioning the new model as an upscale luxury compact with a competitive starting price in the mid- US$ 4,000 range (adjusted only for inflation equivalent to US$ 18,686 in 2023 dollars). The U.S. automobile industry has had

1133-460: A level equal in appearance to expensive American luxury cars. Even without the top-line "Limited" upgrade, the Concord "was trimmed in first-class fashion". Interiors were available in "deluxe grain" vinyl in black, blue, beige, and nutmeg. Sculptured "Rochelle velour" fabric came in black, blue, wine, beige, and nutmeg. Leather was available only in nutmeg. Station wagons were available with simulated woodgrain lower body side trim. American Motors had

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1236-531: A lower stack height offer a smoother silhouette for the car with the top down while concealed side rails allow room for three passengers in the back seat such as on the 1967 Rambler Rebel convertible. Rigid removable hardtops, many of which can be stored in a car's trunk/boot, have been available at least since the 1950s. These usually provide greater weatherproofing, soundproofing, and durability compared to fabric-based tops; some are available with integrated rear-window defrosters and windscreens. Examples include

1339-424: A model year up to two years before the date that the vehicle was manufactured. In other countries, it is more common to identify specific vehicles by their year and month of production, and cars of a particular type by their generation, using terms such as "Mark III" or by the manufacturer's code for that kind of car (such as "BL" being the code for a Mazda 3 built between November 2008 and June 2013). In Europe,

1442-491: A new model being coordinated with the launch of the new television season in late September, because of the heavy dependence between television to offer products from automakers to advertise, and the car companies to launch their new models at a high-profile time of year. Imported cars use the model year convention in the U.S. and Canada, even when this system is not used for the same cars when sold in other countries. The concept of yearly styling updates (a practice adopted from

1545-544: A one-year-only as the AMX model was moved to the sub-compact Spirit platform for the 1979 model year. The 232 cu in (3.8 L) AMC Straight-6 engine was standard, with the 258 cu in (4.2 L) six-cylinder and a 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 being optional on the D/L models. Transmission options included a three-speed manual , a three-speed automatic , or a floor-shifted manual four-speed. A Concord with

1648-549: A place "for a small company deft enough to exploit special market segments left untended by the giants" and under the leadership of " Gerald C. Meyers , AMC transformed the austere old Hornet into the more handsome Concord." Dick Teague , AMC's top car designer, utilized the facelifted 1977 Gremlin's front fenders with a new hood over a chrome six-section egg-crate grille incorporating white rectangular parking lights, as well as new rectangular headlights, bumpers, fiberglass rear fender end caps, rectangular tri-color taillights, and

1751-507: A separate series for 1978. The distinction included the VIN, with the sixth digit being 7 on Concords and 9 on the AMX models. The cars did not have Concord badges or identification, but the two-door hatchback was said to represent "the performance expression of the Concord line" by automotive journalists. Rather than just an option package as on the 1977 Hornet hatchback model, AMC emphasized the distinction between its new luxury-oriented Concords and

1854-530: A smoother appearance. The sedan versions of the D/L and Limited now included full vinyl roofs with nearly triangular opera windows embedded in the C-pillars; the coupe versions received squared-off opera windows and revised chrome opera window trim with vertical strakes occupying the space between the window itself and the outer piece of trim. Limited wagons received blackout paint and chrome trim surrounding their rear quarter windows. Base sedans and coupes retained

1957-409: A soft top that can be raised partway, leaving the area above the front seats folded back. This body style had a short period of popularity, mainly in the 1930s. Other names include Cabriolet/Coupé Milord (or just Milord), Calash (from Calèche ), Folding Head DHC, three-position Drop-head Coupé, or Cabriolet toit de 3 positions . Model year The model year (sometimes abbreviated as MY )

2060-482: A solution. Rear windows are often part of the roof assembly. Traditionally, the rear window in a soft-top was made from plastic; however, more recently some convertibles have used glass for the rear window. A windblocker or wind deflector minimizes noise and rushing air reaching the occupants. According to the engineer responsible for the 2008 Chrysler Sebring , its windblocker reduces wind noise by approximately 11 to 12 dB . Several convertibles are available with

2163-418: A stand-up hood ornament with a new Concord emblem. On cars with the optional D/L package, the roof featured an outlined quarter- vinyl cover in matching or contrasting colors. The new model featured increased sound insulation and suspension upgrades to isolate the interior from vibration and noise. The new compact car's luxury ride - "aiming at a virtually noiseless boulevard ride" was engineered by isolating

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2266-420: A three-speed automatic. A factory 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 with a four-speed manual could have been a special order example. The AMX included performance DR78×14 black sidewall steel-belted radial tires, front sway bar, "rally gauges" with tachometer and full instrumentation, a center floor console, brushed aluminum instrument panel overlays, black "soft-feel" sports steering wheel, and unique trim on

2369-414: A top layer made of PVC, which has a specific structure depending on the vehicle model, and a lower layer made of fabric (usually cotton). The collapsible textile roof section over an articulated folding frame may include linings such as a sound-deadening layer and/or an interior cosmetic lining, to hide the frame. The folded convertible mechanism with the top is called the stack. Designs that fold down to

2472-411: A unique VAM Lerma model. A battery electric (BEV) conversion of the Concord station wagon was sold independently from AMC by Solargen during 1979 and 1980. American Motors did not have the financial resources required to develop an entirely new car to replace its successful, but aging, Hornet . The competition was expected from the new Ford Fox platform (also introduced for the 1978 model year as

2575-540: A unique beige interior with orange and brown accents on the seat upholstery, door panels, dash trim, and exterior bodyside molding. The carpeting was extra thick (24 oz.), and the steering wheel was wrapped in beige leather. The D/L wagon's exterior wood trim was unavailable with this package. The exterior colors of the Touring Wagon were limited to Alpine White, Sand Tan, Golden Ginger, and Mocha Brown. The full-wheel covers had matching painted trim. A "Sport" package

2678-417: Is a passenger car that can be driven with or without a roof in place. The methods of retracting and storing the roof vary across eras and manufacturers. A convertible car's design allows an open-air driving experience, with the ability to provide a roof when required. A potential drawback of convertibles is their reduced structural rigidity (requiring significant engineering and modification to counteract

2781-468: Is a method of describing the version of a product which has been produced over multiple years. The model year may or may not be the same as the calendar year in which the product was manufactured. Automobiles in the United States and Canada are identified and regulated by model year, whereas other markets use production date (month/year) to identify specific vehicles, and model codes in place of

2884-422: Is an open two-seat car with emphasis on sporting appearance or character. Initially, an American term for a two-seat car with no weather protection, usage has spread internationally and has evolved to include two-seat convertibles. Cabrio coach: A cabrio coach (also called semi-convertible ) has a retractable textile roof, similar to a traditional convertible. The difference is that a convertible often has

2987-572: Is rare. The term cabriolet originated from a carriage cabriolet : "a light, two-wheeled, one-horse carriage with a folding top, capable of seating two persons"; however, the term is also used to describe other convertibles. In the United Kingdom, the historical term for a two-door convertible is drophead coupé, and a four-door convertible was called an all-weather tourer . Most of the early automobiles were open-air vehicles without any roof or sides. As car engines became more powerful by

3090-459: The B-pillar , C-pillar and other bodywork removed. However, the cabrio-coach retains all bodywork to the top of the door frames and just replaces the roof skin with a retractable fabric panel. An advantage of a cabrio coach is that retaining more of the car's original structure means that structural rigidity is higher (or the vehicle weight is lower) than traditional cabriolets. An example of

3193-702: The Ford Model A began production in October 1927 and the 1955 model year of the Ford Thunderbird began production in September 1954. Model year followed with calendar year until the mid 1930s until then president Franklin D. Roosevelt signed an executive order to release vehicle model years in the fall of the preceding year in order to standardize employment in the automotive industry. The practice of beginning production of next year's model before

AMC Concord - Misplaced Pages Continue

3296-410: The Ford Thunderbird (1st-generation and 11th-generation), Mercedes SL (2nd-generation and 3rd-generation), Porsche Boxster , Jeep Wrangler , Ford Mustang Cobra (1995 Only), and Mazda MX-5 . During the 1950s and 1960s, detachable hard-material roofs were offered for various convertible sports cars and roadsters , including the 1955–1957 Ford Thunderbird and Chevrolet Corvette , as well as

3399-667: The Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Peugeot presented a concept four-door retractable hardtop convertible, the Peugeot 407 Macarena in 2006. Produced by French coachbuilding specialist Heuliez , the Macarena's top can be folded in 60 seconds, with a steel reinforcing beam behind the front seats incorporating LCD screens for the rear passengers into the crossmember. Off-road: Several off-road vehicles have been produced with removable soft tops. Examples include

3502-537: The Jeep Wrangler , Suzuki Vitara , Suzuki Jimny , Ford Bronco , Land Rover Defender , Mercedes-Benz G-Class as well as early models of the Toyota Land Cruiser and Land Rover Defender . Typically, the soft tops attach to the roll cage or to the installation points on the vehicle's body. Landaulet: A landaulet (also known as landaulette ) is where the rear passengers are covered by

3605-630: The Nissan Figaro (1991), the Jaguar XJ-S C (1983) as well as the 1957 Fiat 500 and its 2007 Fiat 500 successor. The 1984 Heuliez-designed Citroën Visa Décapotable used elements of a fixed-profile convertible. Four-door: Most convertibles have two doors. However, four-door convertibles have been mass-produced. Examples include the 1940-41 Cadillac Series 62 , 1931 Chrysler Imperial Dual Cowl Phaeton and 1961-67 Lincoln Continental . Current production four-door convertibles include

3708-478: The Packard Caribbean , Oldsmobile 98 , and Imperial by Chrysler. Automakers often included a convertible body style as an available body style in a model range. Convertibles in the U.S. market peaked in sales around 1965, and fell in popularity over the next five years. Optional air conditioning was gradually becoming more popular, and the availability of sunroofs and T-tops limited the appeal of

3811-591: The Targa top versions of the AMC Concord and Eagle "Sundancer" as well as the Toyota Celica "Sunchaser" as specialty models. American Sunroof Company (ASC), which was responsible for popularizing the sunroof option for regular body styles, converted a Buick Riviera into a full convertible that compelled General Motors to market it as part of the 1982 Buick models. Chrysler Corporation also introduced

3914-550: The "year" (model year) in the North American make-model-year identifier. In technical documents generated within the auto industry and its regulating agencies such as the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and United States Environmental Protection Agency and Transport Canada and Environment Canada , the letters MY often precede the year (as in MY2019 or MY93 ). Even without this prefix, however, in

4017-399: The 1963–1971 Mercedes-Benz W113 series of two-seaters. Because the convertible top mechanism is itself expensive, the hard roof was customarily offered as an additional, extra-cost option. On early Thunderbirds (and Corvettes through 1967), buyers could choose between a detachable hardtop and a folding canvas top at no additional cost, but paid extra for both. The metal-framed " Carson top "

4120-512: The 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 engine, and the cars included more standard equipment for their final model year. Sales slowed in the wake of the introduction of the Renault Alliance , which were more modern, space-efficient, fuel-efficient four-cylinder, front-wheel-drive cars compared to the rear-drive Concord with its aging platform. The imported Renault 18 -based 18i sedan Sportwagon sold by AMC/Jeep/Renault dealers were also more efficient replacements. The future for AMC's Concord series

4223-724: The Base model, full styled wheel covers (stainless steel) were standard on Concord DL, simulated wire wheel covers were standard on Limited models, and the 14×7 inch "Turbocast II" aluminum wheels were optional on all 1981 models. A total of 15 exterior paint colors were available: Olympic white, classic black, quick silver metallic, steel gray metallic, medium blue metallic, moonlight blue, autumn gold, Sherwood green metallic, cameo tan, copper brown metallic, medium brown metallic, dark brown metallic, Oriental red, vintage red metallic, and deep maroon metallic. The AMC Concord offered interiors that looked expensive and were comfortable and finished to

AMC Concord - Misplaced Pages Continue

4326-473: The Concord hatchback, the AMX version included a different front fascia with single round headlights, a flush grille, round amber parking lights, and a "power bulge" hood from the Gremlin line. Engines included the standard 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 with a four-speed manual or optional three-speed automatic floor shifted transmission or the optional 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 available only with

4429-440: The D/L version with AMC's sales brochure dedicated exclusively to describing the elegant appointments and comfort features with no extra charge for all the luxury. The base model sedan Concords retained the previous Hornet's two-door and four-door sedan rooflines. It incorporated the new front and rear-end styling, as well as numerous mechanical improvements. AMC targeted this model for fleet buyers. The D/L models featured many of

4532-668: The Fairmont and Zephyr). The rear-wheel drive GM A platform (RWD) intermediates, such as the Chevrolet Malibu, were to be downsized to the same 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase as the Hornet for the 1978 model year as well, following the previous shrinking of full-size GM models. Therefore, the smallest domestic American automaker needed something fresh to continue competing in a class that had long been their core market segment . The 1978 Concord offered slightly revised styling,

4635-656: The Minx Series IIIA, IIIB and IIIC) to distinguish what were mostly cosmetic updates rather than mechanical or structural improvements. As in America, the British motor industry did generally announce new models (or updates to existing ones) in September. However this was the norm long before it became practice in the US and did not originate with the television season. Instead it began because the long-established practice in

4738-738: The NFL Super Bowl in February. A notable example of an early model year launch would be the Ford Mustang , introduced as an early 1965 model (informally referred to as "1964 1 ⁄ 2 ") in April 1964 at the World's Fair , several months before the usual start of the 1965 model year in August 1964. For recreational vehicles , the U.S. Federal Trade Commission allows a manufacturer to use

4841-468: The North American context it is usually the model year rather than the vehicle's calendar year of production that is being referred to. The new model year typically begins in August to September of the preceding calendar year, though can be as early as February, such being the case for the fourth generation 2022 Acura MDX , which started production in January 2021. This was partly due to the advertising of

4944-534: The Porsche version was fitted with Bosch fuel injection instead of the carburetors on the AMC models. This engine provided improved economy, but was not as powerful as the standard six-cylinder engine. Because of the expense of acquiring the rights to the new 2.0 L engine, AMC did not offer this I4 as standard equipment. American Motors marketed the Concord as a more economical alternative to larger luxury cars. At

5047-525: The U.S. automakers discontinued the body style from their lineups. American Motors stopped making convertibles after the 1968 model year, Chrysler after 1971, Ford after 1973, and most divisions of General Motors after 1975. Cadillac held out until 1976, when they made about 14,000. The last 200 had a red, white, and blue motif and a dashboard plaque. The very last was offered to the Smithsonian Institution, whose trustees turned it down as it

5150-617: The United States at that time. These roadsters included the MG Midget and Triumph Roadster . The convertible design was incorporated into the mass market unibody by Hudson in 1948. United States automakers manufactured a broad range of convertible models during the 1950s and 1960s – from economical compact-sized models such as the Rambler American and the Studebaker Lark , to the more expensive models, such as

5253-526: The V8 engine was tested by Car and Driver magazine and recorded acceleration from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 10.4 seconds and had a top speed of 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). American Motors also introduced an optional Volkswagen/Audi-designed 2.0 L (122 cu in) I4 engine that was also available in the sub-compact Gremlin. The engine was the same as used in the Porsche 924 , although

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5356-562: The aging and heavy Hornet design was its body stiffness and safety performance. Crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) showed the probability of injury in a struck vehicle to range from a low of nine percent for the four-door AMC Concord to a high of 97 percent for the two-door Nissan Sentra . American Motors was increasingly turning to the rapidly growing four-wheel-drive market. Nevertheless, most of

5459-464: The available choices. All AMCs were treated with Ziebart Factory Rust Protection for 1980. Changes included the use of aluminized trim screws, plastic inner fender liners, galvanized steel in every exterior body panel, and a deep-dip (up to the window line) bath in epoxy-based primer . AMC backed up the rust protection of the Concords with a new five-year "No Rust Thru" transferable warranty . This

5562-581: The best acceleration and fuel economy figures (compared to Chevrolet Malibu , Chrysler LeBaron , and Ford Fairmont ). The test and driving report summarized that for many customers, the versatile six-cylinder automobiles like the AMC Concord wagon, were excellent substitutes for full-size cars. Journalists described the 1981 Concord as "the most luxurious of all the U.S. compacts". A new grille treatment consisted of chrome horizontal bars spaced further apart than in 1980 and added three vertical bars, one in

5665-557: The best-selling convertible with over 1 million cars sold. Also in 1989, Toyota released the Toyota Soarer Aerocabin, which uses an electrically operated retractable hardtop roof. A total of 500 were produced. Models dedicated to the convertible body style include the Mazda MX-5 , Porsche Boxster , and Opel Cascada . A "soft top" is made from a flexible textile material: Other materials are also used in

5768-425: The bodyside ahead of the rear wheel openings, silver slot-styled steel wheels, as well as body-color painted bumpers with black rubber guards and scuff moldings. Exterior colors were limited to Alpine White, Firecracker Red, Sunshine Yellow, Quick Silver Metallic, or Classic Black. Only the cars finished in black included gold body side stripes that continued up and over the roof band, as well as gold paint accents for

5871-407: The cabrio coach is the 2003-10 C3 Pluriel , which has a roof with five possible configurations. Fixed-profile: In contrast to convertibles where the entire bodywork above the beltline (doors, roof, side pillars, side bodywork) is replaced with a folding or retractable roof, the fixed profile convertible retains portions of fixed bodywork including the doors, side pillars, and side elements of

5974-475: The center and two were outboard thus dividing the two halves into quarters. Noryl wheel covers embodying a pseudo-starfish pattern were new to the options list. The opera window on two-door sedans was slightly redesigned. The most significant change for the 1981 Concord was the availability of a four-cylinder engine, the 151 cu in (2.5 L) Iron Duke engine supplied by General Motors. The new I4 engine achieved top fuel efficiency when combined with

6077-453: The comprehensive Ziebart rust protection processes included from the factory. Revenue for AMC in 1981 increased, but unit sales of both cars and Jeeps decreased. Sales of Concords for 1981 in the U.S. market totaled 59,838. Overseas markets saw a sales increase for cars as well as Jeeps. Changes for the 1982 model year were minor. Popular Mechanics noted that it is difficult to distinguish the 1982 cars from their 1981 counterparts because, for

6180-420: The convertible top. By 1955, the most popular materials were latex and butyl rubber fabrics that each accounted for around 35% of the convertible top's weight, with others included vinyl (12%), jute (8%), along with rayon and acrylic fibers (Orlon), amounting to about 1% each in the compositions. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material was used for many convertible tops. The material consists of two layers:

6283-406: The dealerships ready for sale. Therefore, car models intended for sale during, say, 1960, would be announced and displayed in the third quarter of 1959, with sales beginning before the end of the year, and any improvements intended for 1961 would be announced in September 1960 and displayed at the 1960 Motor Show in October. This convention was not absolute; for instance the original Vauxhall Victor

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6386-604: The door panels with map pockets. The standard interior color selection was limited to black, blue, or beige, with "soft-feel vinyl bucket seats with optional upholstery featuring the " Levi's " Trim Package in the same three colors. The exterior featured a blacked-out grille, headlight bezels, rear window molding, door and quarter window frames, rear license plate depression, wiper arms, a black front air dam , black front and rear fender flares, dual flat black rear-view mirrors, black rear window louvers, black body side scuff moldings, silver " targa " roof band, contrasting "AMX" decals on

6489-445: The driver has a fixed roof and the passenger compartment has a folding roof. Less expensive cars, such as the runabouts , sporting roadsters , or sturdy touring cars , remained either completely open air or were fitted with a rudimentary folding top and detachable clear side curtains. In the 1920s, when steel bodies began to be mass-produced, closed cars became available to the average buyer, and fully open cars began to disappear from

6592-407: The end of the 19th century, folding textile or leather roofs (as had been used on victoria or landau carriages) began to appear on cars. Examples of early cars with roofs include the phaeton (a two-seat car with a temporary roof), the brougham or a coupé de ville , having an enclosed passenger compartment at the rear, while the driver sat in front either in the open, or the landaulet , where

6695-424: The end of the year has become a long-standing tradition in America. For purposes such as VINs and emissions control , regulations allow cars of a given model year to be sold starting on January 2 of the previous calendar year. For example, a 2019 model year vehicle can legally go on sale starting January 2, 2018. This has resulted in a few cars in the following model year being introduced in advertisements during

6798-463: The event. The limited production models received a two-tone silver metallic finish, silver vinyl roof, wire wheel covers, commemorative badges, and the interior upholstered in black or russet "Caberfae" corduroy . A Popular Science road test of three traditional compact cars (AMC Concord, Ford Fairmont , and Plymouth Volaré ) facing the challenge of GM's new front-wheel drive "X cars" ( Chevrolet Citation and Oldsmobile Omega ) summarized that AMC

6901-415: The extra quiet insulation package. Bucket seats in soft-feel vinyl were included, with individual reclining seats in vinyl or velveteen crush fabric optional in sedans and wagon models. A unique AMX model was available only on the liftback body style and featured unique trim as well as performance enhancements. The AMX was featured as a separate model in AMC's full-line brochure. This version turned out to be

7004-406: The fashion industry) was introduced to General Motors' range of cars by Alfred P. Sloan in the 1920s. This was an early form of planned obsolescence in the car industry, where yearly styling changes meant consumers could easily discern a car's newness, or lack of it. Other major changes to the model range usually coincided with the launch of the new model year., for example the 1928 model year of

7107-664: The first time in history, AMC has not made appearance changes. The DL and Limited coupes saw the removal of the vertical strakes on their Landau vinyl roofs. A new five-speed manual transmission made the options list, allowing a 151 cu in (2.5 L) Concord to achieve up to 37 mpg ‑US (6.4 L/100 km; 44 mpg ‑imp ) on the highway, according to United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates. The Chrysler -designed three-speed automatic transmission received wider ratios, and low-drag disc brakes were added as fuel economy measures. The 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 engine now featured

7210-576: The front suspension and rear axle from the structure of the car. All Concord models included special insulation in the dashboard and front floor, as well as sound-deadening coatings to all areas where plastic components joined. Top models also came with molded fiberglass acoustical headlining and sound absorption pads behind all interior panels. The Concord also came with numerous standard comfort and upscale features, gaining an inch (25.4 mm) of rear-seat headroom, as well as two additional inches (50.8 mm) of rear passenger legroom. An advantage of using

7313-527: The highway, while the standard I6 was rated 18 mpg ‑US (13 L/100 km; 22 mpg ‑imp ) in the city and 26 mpg ‑US (9.0 L/100 km; 31 mpg ‑imp ) or better on the highway (depending on driving habits and transmission). On 1 May 1979, AMC celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Nash-Hudson merger and released a limited number of specially appointed "Silver Anniversary" AMC Concords to commemorate

7416-480: The in-roads made to the British market by car makers from other countries and the decline in market share by British firms finally led to the tradition of new models being introduced in September being abandoned, although the British Motor Show continued to be held in October. The standardized format of the vehicle identification number (VIN) used in the United States and Canada includes the model year of

7519-774: The lesser use of model years as a descriptor is partly because since the 1980s many vehicles are introduced at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Frankfurt Motor Show in September or the Paris Motor Show in September. New models have increasingly been launched in June or July. As with the rest of Europe, the motor industry in the United Kingdom did not regularly make use of model years in

7622-443: The luxury cues that were popular on cars in the 1970s. These included a "landau" vinyl roof with opera windows (coupe only), color-keyed wheel covers, reclining seats covered in velveteen cloth, and woodgrain instrument panel overlays. The D/L wagon also featured exterior simulated woodgrain trim and reclining seats in a leather-like perforated vinyl. A "Touring Wagon" package was available exclusively on D/L wagons. It included

7725-495: The mainstream market. By the mid 1930s, the remaining small number of convertibles sold were high-priced luxury models. In 1939, Plymouth introduced the first mechanically operated convertible roof powered by two vacuum cylinders. Demand for convertibles increased as a result of American soldiers in France and the United Kingdom during World War II familiarizing themselves with small roadster cars, which were not available in

7828-484: The manufacturing industries of the English Midlands , especially Coventry and Birmingham where the British car industry developed out of the established bicycle and machine tool trades, was to close factories and give workers a two-week holiday in August or September. This was used as a chance to renew tooling in the factory and was an ideal time to introduce new products which would begin production when

7931-412: The mark" at car buyers switching to smaller cars. The AMC Concord earned "top honors for trim level" with its luxury, reclining seats covered in velvet-like fabric "front seats that would do a Cadillac proud", as well as its "in-line six is similar to a V8 in a number of respects, including smoothness, power, and noise levels." High-quality materials and attractive dash design "would have you thinking this

8034-406: The new AMX had "noticeably tighter shocks and gives a firm and comfortable ride"; "corner[s] with the very best" with little lean, as well as the standard six-cylinder engine that combines good performance with fuel economy, and the four-speed "gearbox that's fun to use and has long, long gears." The automaker's marketing campaign for the new AMX included a separate dealer promotional video focusing on

8137-437: The open body style. Noise, leaks, and repairs associated with fabric tops also contributed to issues that many customers had. The popularity of convertibles was reduced by the increased travel speeds on roads (resulting in more wind and noise for occupants) and the emergence of more comprehensive vehicle crash safety standards in the United States. The market share of convertibles fell to two or three percent of total sales and

8240-461: The press coverage for the 1978 model year "was focused on AMC's new Concord luxury compact car, which was a sign that even then reporters still considered automobiles more important than Jeeps." The new Concord was popular with consumers by outselling all the other AMC car lines combined during its 1978 inaugural year. In its initial model year , the Concord models were available in base and the top-line D/L in four body styles. The marketing focused on

8343-530: The record of all the 17 automobiles surveyed by the magazine in 1977 by a wide margin - including the Honda Accord (with only an 18.9% "no complaints" rate). The 1979 model year saw moderate upgrades to the Concord. Front-end styling changed appreciably with a "waterfall" grille with a delicate chrome vertical bar treatment, quad rectangular headlights atop slim, wide clear parking and signal lights, and lighter aluminum bumpers were new for 1979. The D/L sedan

8446-446: The roof — while a center fabric portion slides back and accordions at the rear. As an example, Citroën 's 1948 Citroën 2CV featured rigid bodysides and two doors on each side, along with a sunroof that rolled back on itself and extended to the rear bumper in place of a separate trunk lid. Other fixed-profile convertibles include the 1957 Autobianchi Bianchina Trasformabile , 1957 Vespa 400 , 1950 Nash Rambler Landau Convertible Coupe,

8549-425: The same official weight or significant to buyers as they did in America. During the 1960s British car makers began giving journalists access to upcoming models earlier in the year to get announcements out ahead of their rivals and clear of the busy September period. This developed into increasingly lavish and sophisticated media and marketing events happening earlier and earlier in the year. Changes to working practices,

8652-399: The same rooflines and treatment seen on Hornets since 1970. Taillights were modified and given a wraparound treatment. All Concords received a new horizontal bar grille, with the Concord name in script to the driver's side, and a new, squared-off hood ornament bearing the AMC tri-color logo. New convenience options such as power windows and seats were made available. The hatchback body style

8755-651: The side effects of almost completely removing a car's roof). The majority of convertible roofs are of a folding construction framework with the actual top made from cloth or other fabric. Other types of convertible roofs include retractable hardtops (often constructed from metal or plastic) and detachable hardtops (where a metal or plastic roof is manually removed and often stored in the trunk ). Other terms for convertibles include cabriolet, cabrio, drop top, drophead coupé, open two-seater, open top, rag top, soft top, spider, and spyder, although companies use many of these terms interchangeably. Thus, nomenclatural consistency

8858-529: The sports car image of the new AMX by separating the models in its 1978 sales literature. Two pages illustrated and described the main features in a section titled "AMC AMX Hatchback" emphasizing the model's "bold design transforms everyday driving into an exciting experience" while the Concord-based hatchback focused on the full-width rear hatch and flip down rear seat for hauling gear along with lots of room up front for driver and passenger. In contrast to

8961-593: The standard slot-styled wheels. The windshield reveal moldings were also blacked out with the Classic Black exterior paint color selection. The rear quarter windows opened "flipper-type" with belt moldings on the door and quarter windows. The rear lights featured tri-colored lenses. A carryover 1977 Hornet AMX decal was optional for the rear deck and hood, available in either gold with orange or black with gold. Polished forged aluminum five-spoke road wheels were optional. According to automotive journalist Michael Lamm,

9064-469: The time of Concord's introduction, the advertising tagline touted the car as "The luxury America wants, the size America needs." The most popular body style was the two-door coupe, accounting for almost half of total Concord production in 1978. The Concord outsold AMC's other passenger models ( Pacer , Matador , and Gremlin ) combined in its first year in the marketplace. A Popular Science comparison of four new compact sedans concluded that AMC's aim "hit

9167-798: The vehicle when not in use, requiring a garage or other storage facility. Some open cars continue to offer it as an option. For example, the Mazda MX-5 has an accessory hardtop, which is compulsory for some auto racing series. A retractable hardtop — also known as "coupé convertible" or "coupé cabriolet" — is a car with an automatically operated, self-storing hardtop (as opposed to the textile-based roof used by traditional convertibles). The benefits of improved climate control and security are traded off against increased mechanical complexity, cost, weight, and often reduced luggage capacity. Folding textile convertible tops often fail to completely hide their internal mechanism or can expose their vulnerable underside to sun exposure and fading. A tonneau cover provides

9270-626: The way common in the US, since cars were not as regularly updated or altered. Some exceptions existed; for instance in the 1950s and 1960s the Rootes Group deliberately copied American practice and performed annual small alterations to its key models such as the Hillman Minx and the Humber Super Snipe . However these were still not identified by model years but by Series numbers, sometimes with alphabetical designations (such as

9373-471: The workers returned and the factory restarted. Thus the working year in the car industry ran from September to September. New or improved models would be announced in the summer and would be displayed at the British Motor Show which was held in October. Here they would be seen by the wider industry and buying public for the first time, just as the cars produced in the previous weeks began reaching

9476-523: The youthfulness and fun to drive characteristics. Product placement of the 1978 AMX included the Wonder Woman TV series. Approximately 2,500 AMXs were built for the 1978 model year. The 198 AMX's "great styling combined with over-the-top graphics and competent handling" make them "bone fide collectible" cars today, despite a lack of "serious muscle." Convertible A convertible or cabriolet ( / ˌ k æ b r i oʊ ˈ l eɪ / )

9579-417: Was a popular addition for the 1930s Ford convertibles or roadsters because it turned these models into an almost instant hardtop. The design mimicked a convertible top, but lacking the bulky folding mechanisms enabled the removable hardtop to have a much lower and more rakish profile. Improvements in canvas tops have rendered the detachable hard roof less common in part because the top cannot be stored inside

9682-669: Was an expensive car were it for one thing: poor quality control." Compared to the Ford Fairmont , Plymouth Volaré , and Pontiac Phoenix , the 1978 compact cars offer more variety and "especially the Concord, are more refined than ever and make lots of sense as family cars." Owners in a nationwide survey conducted by Popular Mechanics magazine responded that they liked their AMC Concords based on their combined 1,127,000 miles (1,813,731 km) of driving. Drivers reported "few and rather minor gripes". When asked to name their complaints, 30% of AMC Concord owners wrote none , thus beating

9785-419: Was available on all models when equipped with the optional 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 or the 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 engine. This package included slot-style road wheels, wide rocker panel moldings, and bodyside tape stripes on the lower half of the vehicle that went up around the wheel fender flares. The interior featured brushed aluminum instrument panel overlays, custom door trim panels, and

9888-428: Was committed to serve market segments not served by the other domestic automakers, and concluded that "Concord is the best-looking inside, and offers the plush feel of a big, expensive sedan." The Concord line sales totaled more than 100,000 units during a year when the imported Japanese were gaining market share and new competing domestic models were changing to front-wheel drive. The 1980 model year Concord featured

9991-484: Was discontinued for the 1980 model year. The three-speed manual transmission was no longer available with the 1980 model year. General Motors ' Iron Duke I4 engine replaced the rarely ordered VW/Audi four. Both the largest 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 and the smallest 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 engines were discontinued for 1980, leaving only the outsourced 151 cu in (2.5 L) I4 and AMC's durable 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 engines as

10094-482: Was dropped for 1979, as was the AMX version that became available in the new AMC Spirit liftback body. The three-speed manual transmission was a "downgrade" option for Concord in 1979. The 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 engine was available, but not popular. The V8 with automatic transmission delivered 15 mpg ‑US (16 L/100 km; 18 mpg ‑imp ) in the city and 21 mpg ‑US (11 L/100 km; 25 mpg ‑imp ) on

10197-430: Was given a new vinyl roof design which extended only over the rear passenger compartment. It was complemented by chrome trim that overlaid the B-pillar and wrapped over the vinyl roof at its leading edge. A thin trim piece at the roof's edge simulated a convertible's fold-down hinge point. The D/L package, now the middle trim level, was extended to the hatchback, which was given a brushed aluminum Targa-like roof band and

10300-411: Was in addition to the comprehensive "buyer protection plan", a twelve-month/12,000-mile (19,000 km) warranty with a loaner car and trip interruption protection that AMC introduced in 1972, covering everything on the car except the tires. Although it was the oldest design and equipped with the biggest engine in a group of station wagons that Popular Science magazine road tested, the Concord recorded

10403-554: Was not at that moment a historic artifact, "Though it might well be in three generations ... or at the Tricentennial." After the last Cadillac Eldorado convertible was made in 1976, the only factory convertibles sold in the United States were imported. Making convertibles on the assembly line was both expensive and time-consuming, thus not worth the problems needed to sell the limited number of cars. Specialized coachbuilders were contracted to make dealer-available cars such as

10506-611: Was officially announced in February 1957 with sales beginning later the same month, and subsequent additions and updates to the Victor range were all introduced in February - notably Vauxhall's factory was outside the traditional centre of the industry, being in Luton , and so did not follow the common working calendar. Being owned by General Motors , Vauxhall also generally made minor changes to its cars year by year, even referring to 'model years' in some of its literature, but these did not have

10609-415: Was sealed for the 1980s as front-drive models replaced rear-drive cars. Concord production ceased at the end of the 1983 model year. Production Figures: Reviving a name that was associated with the performance two-seat AMC AMX sports car that was introduced ten years earlier, AMC fielded a new model in the youth and performance market segment . Based on the Concord hatchback model, the new AMX became

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