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145-841: The AMC Hornet is a compact automobile manufactured and marketed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) and made from 1970 through 1977—in two- and four-door sedan, station wagon, and hatchback coupe configurations. The Hornet replaced the compact Rambler American line, marking the end of the Rambler marque in the American and Canadian markets. Hornets were marketed in foreign markets and were assembled under license agreements between AMC and local manufacturers—for example, with Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM), Australian Motor Industries (AMI), and Toyota S.A. Ltd. in South Africa . The Hornet became significant for AMC in not only being

290-536: A Flemish member of a Jesuit mission in China around 1672. It was a 65-centimetre-long (26 in) scale-model toy for the Kangxi Emperor that was unable to carry a driver or a passenger. It is not known with certainty if Verbiest's model was successfully built or run. Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot is widely credited with building the first full-scale, self-propelled mechanical vehicle in about 1769; he created

435-556: A "Sportabout" emblem at the rear of the bodysides. The two- and four-door sedans were carryovers. The 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 engine was now standard across the range. A marketing promotion in the Spring made available a new fabric folding sunroof on specially equipped Hornets, as well as on the Gremlin. The opening roof feature was included with the purchase of whitewall tires, custom wheel covers, pinstripes or rally stripes,

580-407: A Fiat vehicle. Toyota , Nissan , Suzuki , Mazda , and Honda began as companies producing non-automotive products before the war, switching to car production during the 1950s. Kiichiro Toyoda's decision to take Toyoda Loom Works into automobile manufacturing would create what would eventually become Toyota Motor Corporation , the largest automobile manufacturer in the world. Subaru , meanwhile,

725-422: A V-shaped grille, a slightly recessed and longer hood, and longer peaked front fenders. The facelift incorporated a new stronger and larger energy-absorbing recoverable front bumper system with a horizontal rubber strip that met the new no-damage at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h) NHTSA safety legislation. The rear also received a new 2.5 miles per hour (4.0 km/h) bumper with twin vertical rubber guards, but

870-520: A bright trim for the roof, wheel fender openings, rocker panel, and insert between the taillights, as well as a custom steering wheel, locking glove box, full-width under-dash parcel shelf, day/night rearview mirror, and functional items. The SST was available with two-tone paint, a black, white, or blue vinyl covered roof, as well as individually adjustable reclining front seats in upholstered in custom fabric with matching side trim and door panels. The 199 cu in (3.3 L) straight-6 engine with

1015-438: A choice of four exterior colors: Snow White; Hunter Green; Grasshopper Green, and Yuca Tan. The Gucci model proved to be a success, with 2,583 produced in 1972 (and 2,252 more for 1973) Sportabouts that were so equipped. American Motors also produced a one-off Sportabout for Gucci's personal use. The car included the 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 engine with three-speed automatic transmission. The interior featured leather on

1160-437: A combination of the use of feet and hands, and occasionally by voice on 21st-century cars. These controls include a steering wheel , pedals for operating the brakes and controlling the car's speed (and, in a manual transmission car, a clutch pedal), a shift lever or stick for changing gears, and a number of buttons and dials for turning on lights, ventilation, and other functions. Modern cars' controls are now standardised, such as

1305-477: A drunk driver. While attending grade school in Los Angeles during the 1930s, Teague built model airplanes before turning to hot rods , since his schoolmates included Ed Iskenderian , a hot-rodder and later automotive entrepreneur, and land speed racer Stuart Hilborn , as well as other car enthusiasts. He participated in time trials on a dry lake northeast of Los Angeles and was fond of saying that he "had

1450-413: A focus on quality in sourcing and production. Production quality was increased as well as pre-delivery preparation by the dealer that includes "230 inspections and the road test each car ... to find any problems before the car is delivered, so the customer will not have to come back later." American Motors promoted the 1972 Hornet as "a Tough Little Car". The automaker promised to repair anything wrong with

1595-614: A light group, and a special visibility group. The SC/360 was added for the 1971 model year as a compact 2-door muscle car that was intended as a follow-up to the 1969 SC Rambler. The tire pressure sticker on the initial production of 1970 models hinted at the availability of the 360 V8 engine. The standard engine for the SC/360 was AMC's 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8. The SC/360 was distinguished by styled wheels, body striping, individual fully reclining front seats as well as other performance and appearance upgrades. In standard form, with

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1740-539: A little gasoline in his blood." Teague was exempt from service in the armed forces during World War II because of his visual impairment. After graduating from Susan Miller Dorsey High School in 1942, he worked as an aircraft technical illustrator for Northrop Corporation . His boss, Paul Browne, was a former designer at General Motors who suggested that Teague take night classes at the ArtCenter College of Design . After World War II , Teague proposed

1885-483: A long-established wagon and coach manufacturer, started to build cars in 1897 and commenced sales of electric vehicles in 1902 and petrol vehicles in 1904. In Britain, there had been several attempts to build steam cars with varying degrees of success, with Thomas Rickett even attempting a production run in 1860. Santler from Malvern is recognised by the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain as having made

2030-535: A management change at AMC, Teague worked under Roy D. Chapin Jr. , who was also a sports car enthusiast. Teague developed production models that featured "excitement," such as the Javelin . This design evolved from two AMX prototypes that were part of the "Project IV" concept cars during the 1966 automobile show circuit. Other top executives, such as Robert B. Evans , wanted Teague's two-seat AMX design to be brought to

2175-417: A member of Edmund E. Anderson 's design team in 1959, and became principal designer when Anderson left in 1961. Teague's first assignment, according to designer James W. (Jim) Alexander, was to re-do the front sheet metal on the 1961 Ambassador . The first cars influenced by Teague's styling were the 1963 Rambler Classic and Ambassador, AMC's first all-new models since 1956. With the ascendancy of Teague in

2320-403: A motorsport legend that was later immortalized in movies, but also because it was a "game changer" for AMC as the compact-size Hornet platform became the base for new market segments. The rights to the "Hornet" nameplate were then passed to Chrysler with that company's acquisition of AMC in 1987. The nameplate has been through several unrealized uses by Chrysler since then. The Hornet nameplate

2465-670: A new model DMG car was produced and the model was named Mercedes after the Maybach engine, which generated 35 hp. Maybach quit DMG shortly thereafter and opened a business of his own. Rights to the Daimler brand name were sold to other manufacturers. In 1890, Émile Levassor and Armand Peugeot of France began producing vehicles with Daimler engines, and so laid the foundation of the automotive industry in France . In 1891, Auguste Doriot and his Peugeot colleague Louis Rigoulot completed

2610-419: A one-barrel carburetor rated at 128 hp (95 kW; 130 PS) at 4400 rpm and 182 pound force-feet (247 N⋅m) of torque at 1600 rpm was standard on base trim models. The SST versions included the one-barrel 232 cu in (3.8 L) engine producing 145 hp (108 kW; 147 PS) at 4300 rpm and 215 pound force-feet (292 N⋅m) of torque at 1600 rpm. A two-barrel version of this engine

2755-801: A pre- Henry J economy car design for Kaiser Motors . In 1947, he joined the General Motors design studios headed by Edmund Anderson, starting as an apprentice stylist and eventually moving up to the Cadillac advanced design group. He also worked on the 1950 Oldsmobile Rocket . The 1950s "saw some of the most beautiful and some of the most outlandish vehicles," and the head of the design department at General Motors liked chrome on cars. Teague described how GM stylists made two sets of overlay designs for Harley Earl to choose from. Both chrome trim sets had been put on one Oldsmobile prototype by mistake. Earl saw it and ordered it produced that way, although

2900-423: A quarter of world oil production as of 2019 . Both petrol and diesel cars pollute more than electric cars. Cars and vans caused 8% of direct carbon dioxide emissions in 2021. As of 2021 , due to greenhouse gases emitted during battery production, electric cars must be driven tens of thousands of kilometres before their lifecycle carbon emissions are less than fossil fuel cars; however this varies considerably and

3045-545: A reasonable cost, but upcoming U.S. bumper regulations and other issues would have inflated its price beyond volume viability. Teague was responsible for the Jeep Cherokee (XJ) that was launched in the United States in 1983. He described the practical and utilitarian appearance of the new SUV: "We didn't want to lose the flavor of the older Jeeps ... We wanted it to look like something you'd want to take into

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3190-411: A rejet and recurve of the carb and distributor." The authors also praised the car's handling and braking by summarizing: "Unbelievable. I think it's some great little car!" Car Craft magazine testers bolted on better tires, headers , and traction bars to run the 1/4 mile in 13.78 seconds at 101.92 mph (164.02 km/h). The muscle car market segment reached the height of popularity in 1970, but

3335-419: A result, Ford's cars came off the line in 15-minute intervals, much faster than previous methods, increasing productivity eightfold, while using less manpower (from 12.5 manhours to 1 hour 33 minutes). It was so successful, paint became a bottleneck. Only Japan black would dry fast enough, forcing the company to drop the variety of colours available before 1913, until fast-drying Duco lacquer

3480-497: A station wagon as it is a sporty car with cargo space" and that the Sportabout is in a class by itself because it "combines fun with function." A unique SC/360 model was added for the 1971 model year. Available only as a two-door sedan, it included AMC's 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 engine as standard, making it a compact-sized muscle car . For the 1973 model year, a semi-fastback hatchback coupe with fold-down rear seats

3625-467: A steam-powered road vehicle. It was unable to maintain sufficient steam pressure for long periods and was of little practical use. The development of external combustion (steam) engines is detailed as part of the history of the car but often treated separately from the development of true cars. A variety of steam-powered road vehicles were used during the first part of the 19th century, including steam cars , steam buses , phaetons , and steam rollers . In

3770-544: A steam-powered tricycle. He also constructed two steam tractors for the French Army, one of which is preserved in the French National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts . His inventions were limited by problems with water supply and maintaining steam pressure. In 1801, Richard Trevithick built and demonstrated his Puffing Devil road locomotive, believed by many to be the first demonstration of

3915-579: A three-wheeled car powered by electricity at the International Exposition of Electricity . Although several other German engineers (including Gottlieb Daimler , Wilhelm Maybach , and Siegfried Marcus ) were working on cars at about the same time, the year 1886 is regarded as the birth year of the modern car—a practical, marketable automobile for everyday use—when the German Carl Benz patented his Benz Patent-Motorwagen ; he

4060-484: A top seller during its production, but also a car platform serving the company in varying forms through the 1988 model year. Introduced late-1969, AMC quickly earned a high rate return for its development investment for the Hornet. The platform became the basis for AMC's subcompact Gremlin , luxury compact Concord , liftback and sedan Spirit , and the innovative all-wheel drive AMC Eagle . Its design would also outlast

4205-497: A truncated kammback tail, which was then used on the 1970 Gremlin. Teague also designed the "Concept 80" series of show cars, built on variations of existing AMC platforms as ideas for possible future models. Perhaps Teague's most substantial effort ever was the "handsome design" of the 1970 AMX/3 that AMC developed with help on the chassis from Italian sports-car engineer Giotto Bizzarrini and road testing and development from BMW . Before he and his team of designers settled on

4350-424: A truncated rear section with a window hatchback. A four-door station wagon variant named the "Sportabout" was added to the 1971 lineup. It featured a steeply raked hatchback rather than a conventional station wagon design with a rear window retracting into a drop-down tailgate. American Motors was careful not to describe the new body style as a traditional station wagon. Advertising emphasized that "it's not so much

4495-526: A two-barrel carburetor, the 360 produced 245 hp (183 kW; 248 PS) (gross) and the car was priced at just US$ 2,663 (about $ 40 below the 1971 Plymouth Duster 340). This combination was offered by AMC to achieve a 12.5:1 weight-to-horsepower ratio for insurance rate calculations. With the addition of the $ 199 "Go" package's four-barrel carburetor and ram-air induction , the SC's power increased to 285 hp (213 kW; 289 PS). Optional in place of

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4640-478: A vanity mirror that was also mounted on a flexible stem. The backs of the front seats included compartments as on airlines. The one on the right side opened as a snack table or provided a flat surface for playing games. The compartment behind the driver concealed a miniature liquor cabinet, complete with four sterling silver tumbles and two decanters—all decorated with red and green enamel stripes. American Motors followed this designer influence in successive years with

4785-429: A variety of lamps . Over the decades, additional features and controls have been added to vehicles, making them progressively more complex. These include rear-reversing cameras , air conditioning , navigation systems , and in-car entertainment . Most cars in use in the early 2020s are propelled by an internal combustion engine , fueled by the combustion of fossil fuels . Electric cars , which were invented early in

4930-673: A way to head off on unchaperoned dates, plus they had a private space to snuggle up close at the end of the night." Similarly the costs to society of car use may include; maintaining roads , land use , air pollution , noise pollution , road congestion , public health , health care, and of disposing of the vehicle at the end of its life; and can be balanced against the value of the benefits to society that car use generates. Societal benefits may include: economy benefits, such as job and wealth creation, of car production and maintenance, transportation provision, society wellbeing derived from leisure and travel opportunities, and revenue generation from

5075-479: Is called " Fordism " and was copied by most major industries. The efficiency gains from the assembly line also coincided with the economic rise of the US. The assembly line forced workers to work at a certain pace with very repetitive motions which led to more output per worker while other countries were using less productive methods. In the automotive industry, its success was dominating, and quickly spread worldwide seeing

5220-510: Is dead – long live the Hornet!" The authors not only compared the new Hornet with the outgoing Rambler American, but also with its primary competition, the Ford Maverick and finding the Hornet better to Ford's new model in several factors that are significant to consumers, as well as "certainly superior among economy cars" in ride-and-handling and "way ahead" in performance. Popular Mechanics magazine road-tested an SST trim version with

5365-448: Is expected to improve in future due to lower carbon electricity , and longer lasting batteries produced in larger factories. Many governments use fiscal policies, such as road tax , to discourage the purchase and use of more polluting cars; and many cities are doing the same with low-emission zones . Fuel taxes may act as an incentive for the production of more efficient, hence less polluting, car designs (e.g., hybrid vehicles ) and

5510-469: Is generally acknowledged as the inventor of the car. In 1879, Benz was granted a patent for his first engine, which had been designed in 1878. Many of his other inventions made the use of the internal combustion engine feasible for powering a vehicle. His first Motorwagen was built in 1885 in Mannheim , Germany. He was awarded the patent for its invention as of his application on 29 January 1886 (under

5655-621: Is that cars can use lighter batteries. Most cars are designed to carry multiple occupants, often with four or five seats. Cars with five seats typically seat two passengers in the front and three in the rear. Full-size cars and large sport utility vehicles can often carry six, seven, or more occupants depending on the arrangement of the seats. On the other hand, sports cars are most often designed with only two seats. Utility vehicles like pickup trucks , combine seating with extra cargo or utility functionality. The differing needs for passenger capacity and their luggage or cargo space has resulted in

5800-826: Is the replacement of physical knobs and switches by secondary controls with touchscreen controls such as BMW 's iDrive and Ford 's MyFord Touch . Another change is that while early cars' pedals were physically linked to the brake mechanism and throttle, in the early 2020s, cars have increasingly replaced these physical linkages with electronic controls. Cars are typically equipped with interior lighting which can be toggled manually or be set to light up automatically with doors open, an entertainment system which originated from car radios , sideways windows which can be lowered or raised electrically (manually on earlier cars), and one or multiple auxiliary power outlets for supplying portable appliances such as mobile phones , portable fridges, power inverters , and electrical air pumps from

5945-471: Is the usual formal term in British English . "Autocar", a variant likewise attested from 1895 and literally meaning " self-propelled car", is now considered archaic. " Horseless carriage " is attested from 1895. "Automobile", a classical compound derived from Ancient Greek autós ( αὐτός ) "self" and Latin mobilis "movable", entered English from French and was first adopted by

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6090-593: The Automobile Club of Great Britain in 1897. It fell out of favour in Britain and is now used chiefly in North America , where the abbreviated form "auto" commonly appears as an adjective in compound formations like " auto industry " and " auto mechanic ". In 1649, Hans Hautsch of Nuremberg built a clockwork-driven carriage. The first steam-powered vehicle was designed by Ferdinand Verbiest ,

6235-604: The Concord , Spirit , and Eagle models. Teague was also responsible for many concept cars and lobbied for the production of several, including the compact Tarpon that ultimately led to the large Marlin . He also lobbied company excecutives to continue the two-seat AMX models after the 1970 model year. The 1968 AMX GT was one of the Teague-designed concept cars with some design elements incorporated into production models. For this short-wheelbase coupe, he styled

6380-639: The Great Depression , by 1940, only 17 of those were left. In Europe, much the same would happen. Morris set up its production line at Cowley in 1924, and soon outsold Ford, while beginning in 1923 to follow Ford's practice of vertical integration , buying Hotchkiss' British subsidiary (engines), Wrigley (gearboxes), and Osberton (radiators), for instance, as well as competitors, such as Wolseley : in 1925, Morris had 41 per cent of total British car production. Most British small-car assemblers, from Abbey to Xtra , had gone under. Citroën did

6525-755: The Packard Executive , many AMC models, such as the Pacer , Gremlin , and Hornet , as well as the Jeep Cherokee XJ . After Chrysler bought American Motors in 1987, he also designed or assisted in styling later automobiles, such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ and the Neon . Teague's mother worked in the motion picture industry during the silent movie era. At five years of age, Teague appeared in five episodes of Our Gang , playing

6670-679: The Portsmouth Block Mills , England, in 1802. The assembly line style of mass production and interchangeable parts had been pioneered in the US by Thomas Blanchard in 1821, at the Springfield Armory in Springfield, Massachusetts . This concept was greatly expanded by Henry Ford , beginning in 1913 with the world's first moving assembly line for cars at the Highland Park Ford Plant . As

6815-503: The Rambler American became "a car that could hardly have hit the market more squarely." The objective of AMC was to target buyers who wanted economy in a car with style, performance, and "fun to drive." The Hornet, as well as the Ford Maverick , was considered a response by the domestic automakers to battle with the imports. Development of the new model took AMC three years, a million person-hours, and US$ 40 million. The Hornet

6960-520: The Wankel engine has had more than very limited success. All in all, it is estimated that over 100,000 patents created the modern automobile and motorcycle. Large-scale, production-line manufacturing of affordable cars was started by Ransom Olds in 1901 at his Oldsmobile factory in Lansing, Michigan , and based upon stationary assembly line techniques pioneered by Marc Isambard Brunel at

7105-409: The history of the car , became commercially available in the 2000s and are predicted to cost less to buy than petrol-driven cars before 2025. The transition from fossil fuel-powered cars to electric cars features prominently in most climate change mitigation scenarios , such as Project Drawdown 's 100 actionable solutions for climate change. There are costs and benefits to car use . The costs to

7250-440: The tax opportunities. The ability of humans to move flexibly from place to place has far-reaching implications for the nature of societies. Cars are a major cause of urban air pollution , with all types of cars producing dust from brakes, tyres, and road wear , although these may be limited by vehicle emission standards . While there are different ways to power cars, most rely on petrol or diesel , and they consume almost

7395-614: The "Hornet" name during the Automobile Manufacturers Association (AMA) resolution on factory-supported racing from 1957 until 1962. This was initiated by the AMA to limit the auto industry's horsepower race and corporate sponsorship of racing to glamorize speed and performance. Thus, the Hornet was dormant from 1958 until 1969 when AMC introduced a new compact car line for the 1970 model year. The Hornet name has since become steeped in history, not only for being

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7540-763: The 1.8% annual average reduction between 2010 and 2015. Given slow progress to date, the IEA estimates fuel consumption will have to decrease by 4.3% per year on average from 2019 to 2030. The increase in sales of SUVs is bad for fuel economy. Many cities in Europe have banned older fossil fuel cars and all fossil fuel vehicles will be banned in Amsterdam from 2030. Many Chinese cities limit licensing of fossil fuel cars, and many countries plan to stop selling them between 2025 and 2050. Dick Teague Teague designed several notable show cars and production vehicles, including

7685-440: The 1/4-mile dragstrip in 16.8 seconds at 82 mph (132 km/h). These were virtually equal to the 350 cu in (5.7 L) V8 Chevrolet Nova that was tested in the same issue. The 1972 model year Hornet was one of the first American cars to offer a special luxury trim package created by a renowned fashion designer . The "special interiors were stylish and unlike anything the industry had seen before, helping secure

7830-533: The 1908 Ford Model T , both American cars, are widely considered the first mass-produced and mass-affordable cars, respectively. Cars were rapidly adopted in the US, where they replaced horse-drawn carriages . In Europe and other parts of the world, demand for automobiles did not increase until after World War II . In the 21st century, car usage is still increasing rapidly, especially in China, India, and other newly industrialised countries . Cars have controls for driving , parking , passenger comfort, and

7975-491: The 1930s. According to the authors of the book, Yesterday's Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future , Teague was one of the people that "helped to transport us into the future." While serving as the chief stylist, Teague was called by Popular Mechanics to predict the design trends for automobiles in the 1960s. Together with Brooks Stevens , Teague presented ideas about future cars and vehicle technologies at

8120-487: The 1950s, Chevrolet shared bonnet, doors, roof, and windows with Pontiac ; by the 1990s, corporate powertrains and shared platforms (with interchangeable brakes , suspension, and other parts) were common. Even so, only major makers could afford high costs, and even companies with decades of production, such as Apperson , Cole , Dorris , Haynes , or Premier, could not manage: of some two hundred American car makers in existence in 1920, only 43 survived in 1930, and with

8265-470: The 1955 Request, whose principal designer was Dick Macadam. The restyled Packard line for 1955 showed Teague's keen eye for detail and ability to produce significant changes based on limited budgets. However, the company was not doing well following the purchase of the struggling Studebaker Corporation in 1954. The last Teague design for Packard was the Executive , introduced in mid-1956 and derived from

8410-463: The 1963 SAE congress in Detroit. Teague, "who is generally considered to have been a bit of a maverick" predicted an evolutionary process for automobiles that turned out to be correct. Teague foretold improvements in conventional gasoline engines, while cars "would have greater variety of style now that glass could be shaped, and better suspension systems" In contrast to Stevens, Teague believed that

8555-492: The 1965 models were reskinned and rode on a longer wheelbase, Teague "came through handsomely with crisp, angular lines" that helped the Ambassador achieve record sales. The 1967 model year brought even more significant changes that were in line with Roy Abernethy's longtime aim of matching Big Three models on almost every front, including an all-new Ambassador that "emerged as one of the decade's unsung good-lookers." After

8700-487: The 1972 model year was the "X" package that attempted to replicate the success AMC had had with this trim option on the 1971 Gremlin. The Hornet X trim package was available on the two-door sedan and the new Sportabout. It could be ordered with any of the available I6 and V8 engines and included rally stripes, "X" emblems, a three-spoke sports steering wheel, and 14 x 6-inch slot-style steel road wheels with C78 x 14 Polyglas blackwall tires. A performance-oriented "Rallye" package

8845-812: The 20th and 21st centuries because there are more cars; the 1980s oil glut even fuelled the sales of low-economy vehicles in OECD countries. The BRIC countries are adding to this consumption. As of 2023 few production cars use wheel hub motors . In almost all hybrid (even mild hybrid ) and pure electric cars regenerative braking recovers and returns to a battery some energy which would otherwise be wasted by friction brakes getting hot. Although all cars must have friction brakes (front disc brakes and either disc or drum rear brakes ) for emergency stops, regenerative braking improves efficiency, particularly in city driving. Cars are equipped with controls used for driving, passenger comfort, and safety, normally operated by

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8990-416: The 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 or 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 engine. Production was limited to 300 of this special model. The biggest visible changes among all AMC automobiles for the 1973 model year were to the Hornet line and its new model, a two-door hatchback . Car and Driver magazine called it "the styling coup of 1973". Other changes included a new front-end design and bodywork with

9135-474: The 5 mph unit (matching the front) was optional. The overall length of the Hornet was increased by 6 inches (152 mm). Car A car , or an automobile , is a motor vehicle with wheels . Most definitions of cars state that they run primarily on roads , seat one to eight people, have four wheels , and mainly transport people over cargo . There are around one billion cars in use worldwide. The French inventor Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot built

9280-561: The Benz car to his line of products. Because France was more open to the early cars, initially more were built and sold in France through Roger than Benz sold in Germany. In August 1888, Bertha Benz , the wife and business partner of Carl Benz, undertook the first road trip by car, to prove the road-worthiness of her husband's invention. In 1896, Benz designed and patented the first internal-combustion flat engine , called boxermotor . During

9425-591: The Cardin Javelin in 1973 and the Cassini Matador in 1974, but there were no new signature designer versions after those. This trim package concept inspired other automakers – including Ford 's luxury marque, Lincoln in 1976 – to offer packages styled by other famous fashion designers. In 1972, AMC's Canadian Brampton Assembly plant produced a two-door Hornet that was marketed only in Canada as

9570-693: The Clipper Custom, launched just as sales of the luxury Packard line collapsed. Teague also designed the last Packard show car, the Predictor, plus a new Packard and Clipper lineup for 1957 that would have followed the general lines of the Predictor. The design was stillborn when, in mid-1956, the merged automaker shut down the Detroit Packard operations. Lacking funds for all-new models, Studebaker-Packard had to use existing and more economical Studebaker designs. Working with little time and money,

9715-664: The Golden Gun . Hudson introduced the first Hornet in 1951 as a performance model featuring the Hudson's new "H-145" engine. The automaker formed a stock car racing team centered on the car, and the " Fabulous Hudson Hornet " soon became famous for its wins and stock-car title sweeps between 1951 and 1954. Hornets "dominated stock car racing in the early-1950s, when stock car racers actually drove regular production stock cars." The Hudson Hornet car inspired Paul Newman's Doc Hudson movie character. American Motors retained rights to

9860-496: The Maverick were designed to stem the tide of imported cars that had captured 10% of the total U.S. market, with 80% of them retailing under $ 2,000. The domestic cars got bigger, heavier, consumed more gasoline, had more options, and generated more profits for the manufactures, but sales of economical foreign cars increased. Of the original eleven compact car nameplates, only four still qualified as compact-sized by 1969, and only one,

10005-658: The Rambler American, was priced under $ 2,000. The Hornet was initially available in a choice of two economical straight-six engines or a 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8. When equipped with the V8 engine, the Hornet was in the compact performance market segment (along with the 302 cu in (4.9 L) Ford Maverick, 327 cu in (5.4 L) Chevrolet Nova, and 340 cu in (5.6 L) Mopars for buyers who "wanted to drive something fun" without increasingly expensive to operate muscle cars. The Hornet

10150-559: The SC combined respectable quickness ( 0 to 60 mph in 6.7 seconds) and the quarter mile (1320 feet, 402 m) dragstrip in 14.9 at 95 mph (153 km/h) with a taut suspension, big tires, and modest size; thus Motor Trend magazine described it as "just a plain gas to drive ... it handles like a dream." Hot Rod magazine ran the 1/4 mile an SC/360 with automatic transmission weighing 3,200 lb (1,451 kg) in 14.80 seconds at 94.63 mph in "bone-stock form" and predicted that high 13s could be achieved "with little more than

10295-472: The SC/360 compact muscle car, but the two-barrel version of the 360 cu in (5.9 L) remained optional in addition to the 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 engine. For those desiring more performance, a four-barrel carburetor was a dealer-installed option on the 360 V8. Automatic transmissions were now the TorqueFlites sourced from Chrysler , and AMC called it the "Torque-Command". New for

10440-433: The Sportabout station wagon, offered more items standard than the previous year's base model at about the same price. Electric windshield wipers and washers replaced the standard vacuum-operated units. With no stripped-down basic models, all Hornets now came with comfort and convenience items that most consumers expected. For the first time, an AM/FM monaural radio was added to the options list. Other changes included dropping

10585-614: The US's first pedestrian car casualties in 1899 in New York City. There are now standard tests for safety in new cars, such as the Euro and US NCAP tests, and insurance-industry-backed tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, not all such tests consider the safety of people outside the car, such as drivers of other cars, pedestrians and cyclists. The costs of car usage, which may include

10730-635: The United Kingdom, sentiment against them led to the Locomotive Acts of 1865. In 1807, Nicéphore Niépce and his brother Claude created what was probably the world's first internal combustion engine (which they called a Pyréolophore ), but installed it in a boat on the river Saone in France. Coincidentally, in 1807, the Swiss inventor François Isaac de Rivaz designed his own " de Rivaz internal combustion engine ", and used it to develop

10875-595: The United States. His patent was challenged by Henry Ford and others, and overturned in 1911. In 1893, the first running, petrol-driven American car was built and road-tested by the Duryea brothers of Springfield, Massachusetts . The first public run of the Duryea Motor Wagon took place on 21 September 1893, on Taylor Street in Metro Center Springfield. Studebaker , subsidiary of

11020-446: The V8 engine and automatic transmission and summarized the findings in the article's sub-title: "It has a lot of good things in a not-too-small package." Popular Science magazine conducted a comparison road test of four of the lowest-priced U.S. cars (AMC Hornet, Ford Maverick , Plymouth Duster , and Chevrolet Nova ), describing the 1970 Hornet as offering more interior and trunk room, excellent visibility in all directions, achieving

11165-412: The auspices of his major company, Benz & Cie. , which was founded in 1883). Benz began promotion of the vehicle on 3 July 1886, and about 25 Benz vehicles were sold between 1888 and 1893, when his first four-wheeler was introduced along with a cheaper model. They also were powered with four-stroke engines of his own design. Emile Roger of France, already producing Benz engines under license, now added

11310-566: The automobiles of 1970 would still be built to provide basic transportation, and not be "a home on wheels" powered by an advanced power plant “the size of a breadbox.” During the early 1960s, Teague's styling team began developing an entirely new concept for AMC—a sporty fastback design. Teague knew that the automaker was just not willing to spend the millions of dollars needed for all-new tooling, his design team made imaginative use of existing tooling and devised spin-offs from existing products. The results were proposals for which Teague selected

11455-462: The availability of a large variety of body styles to meet individual consumer requirements that include, among others, the sedan/saloon , hatchback , station wagon/estate , coupe , and minivan . Traffic collisions are the largest cause of injury-related deaths worldwide. Mary Ward became one of the first documented car fatalities in 1869 in Parsonstown , Ireland, and Henry Bliss one of

11600-415: The best SUV shape of all time, it is the paradigmatic model to which other designers have since aspired." Starting in 1982, Teague worked on the first large cars sold by AMC since 1978, the front-drive sedan code-named X-58, for introduction in late 1986. and a companion code-named X-59, that was to debut for the 1988 model year. He achieved a roomy interior in an aerodynamic design. The two-door version

11745-564: The brand name Daimler . It was a horse-drawn stagecoach built by another manufacturer, which they retrofitted with an engine of their design. By 1895, about 30 vehicles had been built by Daimler and Maybach, either at the Daimler works or in the Hotel Hermann, where they set up shop after disputes with their backers. Benz, Maybach, and the Daimler team seem to have been unaware of each other's early work. They never worked together; by

11890-424: The car (except for the tires ), and owners were provided with a toll-free telephone number to the company as well as a free loaner car if a warranty repair took overnight. To consolidate AMC's product offering, reduce production costs, and offer more value to consumers, the base models were dropped and all 1972 Hornets were designated as "SST" trim. The single SST version of the 2-door and 4-door sedans, as well as

12035-455: The car visible to other users, so that the vehicle can be used at night; in some jurisdictions, daytime running lights ; red brake lights to indicate when the brakes are applied; amber turn signal lights to indicate the turn intentions of the driver; white-coloured reverse lights to illuminate the area behind the car (and indicate that the driver will be or is reversing); and on some vehicles, additional lights (e.g., side marker lights) to increase

12180-445: The combination of rising fuel and insurance prices along with emerging emissions reductions meant the end of an era. American Motors originally planned to build as many as 10,000 of the cars, but high insurance premiums killed the SC/360 after a single year's production of just 784 examples. A total of 304 were built with the now-preferred combination of a four-speed manual transmission and a four-barrel carburetor. The Sportabout version

12325-491: The compact platforms the domestic competitors used, including the Chevrolet Nova , Ford Maverick , and Plymouth Valiant . The AMC Hornet also served as an experimental platform for alternative fuel and other automotive technologies. Hornets were campaigned in various motorsports events with some corporate support. A hatchback model also starred in an exceptional stunt jump in the 1974 James Bond film The Man with

12470-509: The company for the 1970s. The platform evolved into the four-wheel-drive Eagle that was produced through 1988. With its manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $ 1,994 for the base two-door model, the Hornet was a low-priced, economical small family car providing "cut-above interior appointments. The basic 1970 Ford Maverick was listed at $ 1 more while the Chevrolet Nova and Plymouth Duster were priced 10% higher. The Hornet and

12615-505: The company's reputation as a design leader." Developed in conjunction with Italian fashion designer Dr. Aldo Gucci , the Gucci package was offered only on the Sportabout, the four-door wagon with a single sloping hatch replacing the then-traditional window/tailgate door. The Gucci option included special beige-colored upholstery fabrics on thickly padded seats and inside door panels (with red and green striping) along with Gucci logo emblems and

12760-443: The cost of: acquiring the vehicle, repairs and auto maintenance , fuel, depreciation , driving time, parking fees , taxes, and insurance, are weighed against the cost of the alternatives, and the value of the benefits—perceived and real—of vehicle usage. The benefits may include on-demand transportation, mobility, independence, and convenience, and emergency power . During the 1920s, cars had another benefit: "[c]ouples finally had

12905-423: The design of the 1975 AMC Pacer, the first car with a cab forward design. It was also the first 'wide-small' automobile that "gave drivers the impression they were driving a conventional large American." Its "styling was different and appealing in an offbeat sort of way" featuring large amounts of glass. The Pacer's low beltline prevented the side door window from lowering entirely out of sight, so Teague designed

13050-588: The development of alternative fuels . High fuel taxes or cultural change may provide a strong incentive for consumers to purchase lighter, smaller, more fuel-efficient cars, or to not drive . The lifetime of a car built in the 2020s is expected to be about 16 years, or about 2 millionkm (1.2 millionmiles) if driven a lot. According to the International Energy Agency the average rated fuel consumption of new light-duty vehicles fell by only 0.9% between 2017 and 2019, far smaller than

13195-404: The door panels, cargo area as well as special front and rear center armrests. The doors and custom-designed bucket seats received red and green striped inserts. The instrument panel was given a centrally located, pull-out writing desk, graced with a scribbler and a sterling silver bamboo pen. A map light at the end of a flexible arm extended from the right side of the desk while the left side carried

13340-749: The driver from a crash perspective, but more dangerous for other vehicles and road users. The weight of a car influences fuel consumption and performance, with more weight resulting in increased fuel consumption and decreased performance. The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV , a typical city car , weighs about 700 kilograms (1,500 lb). Heavier cars include SUVs and extended-length SUVs like the Suburban . Cars have also become wider. Some places tax heavier cars more: as well as improving pedestrian safety this can encourage manufacturers to use materials such as recycled aluminium instead of steel. It has been suggested that one benefit of subsidising charging infrastructure

13485-536: The early 1960s, "AMC Styling began to be written in a more positive manner" within the industry and automotive press. Teague was Vice President at the automaker from 1964 until he retired from AMC in 1983. At his retirement, he joked that the only Detroit auto company he had not worked for was Ford . Although he worked within tight budget restrictions at AMC, Teague sometimes referred to his times there as " Camelot ". Designing several different cars from existing AMC stampings, he worked "relative miracles" compared to

13630-412: The end of that year there were more than 16 million electric cars on the world's roads. Despite rapid growth, less than two per cent of cars on the world's roads were fully electric and plug-in hybrid cars by the end of 2021. Cars for racing or speed records have sometimes employed jet or rocket engines, but these are impractical for common use. Oil consumption has increased rapidly in

13775-460: The final design, a fiberglass push-mobile was made with the molds taken from the final clay mockup. The AMX/3 is one of the most unusual cars to come out of Detroit in the late 1960s featuring an internationally sourced components, a top speed of 160 mph (260 km/h), and potentially the Ford Pantera as its closest competitor. Teague was instrumental in moving the car to production at

13920-569: The first petrol-driven car in the country in 1894, followed by Frederick William Lanchester in 1895, but these were both one-offs. The first production vehicles in Great Britain came from the Daimler Company , a company founded by Harry J. Lawson in 1896, after purchasing the right to use the name of the engines. Lawson's company made its first car in 1897, and they bore the name Daimler. In 1892, German engineer Rudolf Diesel

14065-500: The first steam-powered road vehicle in 1769, while the Swiss inventor François Isaac de Rivaz designed and constructed the first internal combustion-powered automobile in 1808. The modern car—a practical, marketable automobile for everyday use—was invented in 1886, when the German inventor Carl Benz patented his Benz Patent-Motorwagen . Commercial cars became widely available during the 20th century. The 1901 Oldsmobile Curved Dash and

14210-425: The founding of Ford France and Ford Britain in 1911, Ford Denmark 1923, Ford Germany 1925; in 1921, Citroën was the first native European manufacturer to adopt the production method. Soon, companies had to have assembly lines, or risk going broke; by 1930, 250 companies which did not, had disappeared. Development of automotive technology was rapid, due in part to the hundreds of small manufacturers competing to gain

14355-567: The highest fuel economy, needed the optional disk brakes, and the authors concluded that it was the "practical family car ... better value than any of the others". The 1971 model year was the introduction of the Sportabout , a 4-door wagon using a steeply sloped back design with a single liftgate-type hatch. The styling was well-executed to appear muscular and purposeful while the liftgate-type station wagon appeared revolutionary in an era of traditional and upright rear tailgates. All featured

14500-528: The idea of different makes of cars produced by one company, called the General Motors Companion Make Program , so that buyers could "move up" as their fortunes improved. Reflecting the rapid pace of change, makes shared parts with one another so larger production volume resulted in lower costs for each price range. For example, in the 1930s, LaSalles , sold by Cadillac , used cheaper mechanical parts made by Oldsmobile ; in

14645-403: The individual include acquiring the vehicle, interest payments (if the car is financed), repairs and maintenance , fuel, depreciation , driving time, parking fees, taxes, and insurance . The costs to society include maintaining roads, land-use , road congestion , air pollution , noise pollution , public health , and disposing of the vehicle at the end of its life . Traffic collisions are

14790-649: The inner door panels with large bolsters." Anatole Lapine , the designer of the Porsche 928 body, was inspired by the Pacer. British automotive writer Nick Georgano devotes a chapter to Teague in the book titled The Art of the American Automobile: the Greatest Stylists and Their Work , describing individuals whose creative talents made a difference in production and custom automobiles since

14935-476: The largest cause of injury-related deaths worldwide. Personal benefits include on-demand transportation, mobility, independence, and convenience. Societal benefits include economic benefits, such as job and wealth creation from the automotive industry , transportation provision, societal well-being from leisure and travel opportunities, and the generation of revenue from taxation. People's ability to move flexibly from place to place has far-reaching implications for

15080-637: The last years of the 19th century, Benz was the largest car company in the world with 572 units produced in 1899 and, because of its size, Benz & Cie., became a joint-stock company . The first motor car in central Europe and one of the first factory-made cars in the world, was produced by Czech company Nesselsdorfer Wagenbau (later renamed to Tatra ) in 1897, the Präsident automobil. Daimler and Maybach founded Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG) in Cannstatt in 1890, and sold their first car in 1892 under

15225-423: The limited edition Green Hornet to "cash in on the popular Green Hornet hero." In addition to being painted green, the model included a "Baja" grain vinyl-covered roof and came standard with sport-styled wheel covers, and whitewall tires. The 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 engine was standard along with a three-speed Torque-Command automatic transmission. Options included bucket seats, body side stripes, and

15370-580: The location for the accelerator and brake, but this was not always the case. Controls are evolving in response to new technologies, for example, the electric car and the integration of mobile communications. Some of the original controls are no longer required. For example, all cars once had controls for the choke valve, clutch, ignition timing , and a crank instead of an electric starter . However, new controls have also been added to vehicles, making them more complex. These include air conditioning , navigation systems , and in-car entertainment . Another trend

15515-422: The longest trip by a petrol-driven vehicle when their self-designed and built Daimler powered Peugeot Type 3 completed 2,100 kilometres (1,300 mi) from Valentigney to Paris and Brest and back again. They were attached to the first Paris–Brest–Paris bicycle race, but finished six days after the winning cyclist, Charles Terront . The first design for an American car with a petrol internal combustion engine

15660-416: The market "very quickly." Teague originated a non-running show car in late 1965, and since he was a “two-seater kind of guy, the production American Motors AMX was his car." The new models' offerings reflected AMC's strategy to shed its "economy car" image and appeal to a more youthful, performance-oriented market. During the 1970s, "only a handful of cars had real personalities, and many of those came from

15805-545: The market. In Japan, car production was very limited before World War II. Only a handful of companies were producing vehicles in limited numbers, and these were small, three-wheeled for commercial uses, like Daihatsu , or were the result of partnering with European companies, like Isuzu building the Wolseley A-9 in 1922. Mitsubishi was also partnered with Fiat and built the Mitsubishi Model A based on

15950-555: The names for both: the Tarpon show car and the production Marlin. Although promoting the smaller version, Teague recalled that "Abernethy had decided that instead of a 2+2 we would build a 3+3 sports-type car." Teague was responsible for designing several AMC and Jeep vehicles. He developed the Gremlin , Pacer , Matador coupe , Rambler American, AMC Javelin , and AMX and Hornet . Subsequently, he adapted AMC's compact platform for

16095-426: The nature of societies . The English word car is believed to originate from Latin carrus / carrum "wheeled vehicle" or (via Old North French ) Middle English carre "two-wheeled cart", both of which in turn derive from Gaulish karros " chariot ". It originally referred to any wheeled horse-drawn vehicle , such as a cart , carriage , or wagon . "Motor car", attested from 1895,

16240-412: The new line of sedans to be an American-designed small car that did not automatically stand for "cheap" by including features and conveniences that were optional to not available on competing brands, as well as making the Hornet wider on a longer wheelbase and with more body weight giving extra stability, increased ride comfort, better handling, interior room, trunk space, and enhanced security. The Hornet

16385-404: The on-board electrical system. More costly upper-class and luxury cars are equipped with features earlier such as massage seats and collision avoidance systems . Dedicated automotive fuses and circuit breakers prevent damage from electrical overload . Cars are typically fitted with multiple types of lights. These include headlights , which are used to illuminate the way ahead and make

16530-507: The panels for doors, hood, and deck lid all interchanged. The automobile platforms designed by Teague featured numerous interchangeable door skins, glass, and more. For example, the front and rear bumpers on the 1970 AMC Hornet were made from the same stamping. This design talent yielded significant cost savings for the company. Teague's work on the 1967 through 1969 AMC Ambassador proved that he "could do more with less than most any other car designer around—usually because he had to." While

16675-422: The role of Dixie Duval, a girl. When he was six, he was seriously injured in a car accident near Pasadena, California , which a drunk driver caused. He lost several teeth and suffered a broken jaw, as well as sight in his right eye (leaving him without depth perception or stereoscopic vision), while his mother was left an invalid. A year later, his father was killed in another automobile accident, also caused by

16820-488: The rough country." The design was unchanged and remained in production through 2001 and in China to 2005. The Cherokee XJ was described by one automotive magazine in 2009 as "possibly the best SUV shape of all time", and was the last Teague design to go into production. Automotive journalist Robert Cumberford , writing for Automobile , called the Jeep XJ one of the 20 greatest cars of all time—for its design, and "possibly

16965-472: The same in France, coming to cars in 1919; between them and other cheap cars in reply such as Renault 's 10CV and Peugeot 's 5CV , they produced 550,000 cars in 1925, and Mors , Hurtu , and others could not compete. Germany's first mass-manufactured car, the Opel 4PS Laubfrosch (Tree Frog), came off the line at Rüsselsheim in 1924, soon making Opel the top car builder in Germany, with 37.5 per cent of

17110-400: The smallest U.S. producer, American Motors" under the direction of Teague. When the automobile market was changing to a greater focus on quality and fuel efficiency, Teague characterized the work by his design team at AMC as "We still want to make cars with charisma; cars that stand out from the pack ... the future means the large look inside, away from the claustrophobic." Teague worked on

17255-499: The spending norms in this industry. With little money to work with, he reconfigured the existing cars and parts in new ways. For example, he incorporated the doors from AMC's large-sized automobiles into his design for the new 1964 compact Rambler American . The AMC Cavalier was one of the "Project IV" concept cars in the mid-1960s that demonstrated advanced techniques of interchangeable body panels and design symmetry . The right front and left rear fenders were identical, as well as

17400-467: The standard three-speed was a Hurst-shifted GM Borg-Warner Super T10 four-speed or an automatic transmission. Goodyear Polyglas D70x14 blackwall tires were standard, with upgrades including white lettered tires, a heavy-duty suspension package, and the Spicer "Twin-Grip" limited slip differential with 3.54:1 or 3.90:1 gears. Although the SC/360 could not compete with the holdover big-engined muscle cars,

17545-640: The stopgap 1957 Studebaker-based Packard models became known as "Packardbakers." The 1957 Packard Clipper, popularly derided as "a Studebaker wearing Packard makeup", was designed mainly by Teague, and was intended as a temporary stopgap to keep the brand going until the company's fortunes improved and a "real" Packard model could again be made. By 1957, the entire Packard styling team had moved to Chrysler Corporation , and Teague became Chief Stylist. After leaving due to management conflicts, he went to work for an independent design firm on non-automotive assignments. Teague joined American Motors Corporation (AMC) as

17690-590: The stylists were horrified. Teague was dismissed from General Motors in 1952, and joined the Packard Motor Car Company as Chief Stylist, following John Reinhart's resignation. His first work there was a minor facelift on the Packard line for 1953. This was when the Packard management under James J. Nance decided to re-launch the Clipper brand as a stand-alone make, separate from Packard. It

17835-405: The time of the merger of the two companies, Daimler and Maybach were no longer part of DMG. Daimler died in 1900 and later that year, Maybach designed an engine named Daimler-Mercedes that was placed in a specially ordered model built to specifications set by Emil Jellinek . This was a production of a small number of vehicles for Jellinek to race and market in his country. Two years later, in 1902,

17980-530: The visibility of the car. Interior lights on the ceiling of the car are usually fitted for the driver and passengers. Some vehicles also have a boot light and, more rarely, an engine compartment light. During the late 20th and early 21st century, cars increased in weight due to batteries, modern steel safety cages, anti-lock brakes, airbags, and "more-powerful—if more efficient—engines" and, as of 2019 , typically weigh between 1 and 3 tonnes (1.1 and 3.3 short tons; 0.98 and 2.95 long tons). Heavier cars are safer for

18125-482: The world's attention. Key developments included electric ignition and the electric self-starter (both by Charles Kettering , for the Cadillac Motor Company in 1910–1911), independent suspension , and four-wheel brakes. Since the 1920s, nearly all cars have been mass-produced to meet market needs, so marketing plans often have heavily influenced car design. It was Alfred P. Sloan who established

18270-645: The world's first vehicle to be powered by such an engine. The Niépces' Pyréolophore was fuelled by a mixture of Lycopodium powder (dried spores of the Lycopodium plant), finely crushed coal dust and resin that were mixed with oil, whereas de Rivaz used a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen . Neither design was successful, as was the case with others, such as Samuel Brown , Samuel Morey , and Etienne Lenoir , who each built vehicles (usually adapted carriages or carts) powered by internal combustion engines. In November 1881, French inventor Gustave Trouvé demonstrated

18415-415: Was Teague who achieved the visual distinction between the two models. He also designed several Packard show cars . These included the 1953 Balboa (whose canopied reverse-slant and lowering for ventilation rear window later appeared on the 1957 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser , 1958–1960 Lincoln Continental , and several Mercury models), and the 1954 Packard Panther ,. Teague contributed with William Schmidt to

18560-552: Was a four-wheel-drive enthusiast even before AMC bought Jeep. He owned several World War II models. At retirement, he mentioned that he had owned "400 or 500" cars. Teague's collection included a rare AMX/3 . It was donated to the San Diego Automotive Museum along with most of his papers. Teague married his wife Marian A. Rose (1927–) in 1950. He had three children: Richard B. ("Rick", 1953–2002), Jeff (1956–2016), and daughter Lisa (Scarpelli). Jeff Teague

18705-463: Was also added to the lineup. In 1973, a Levi's Jeans trim package was added based on the famous jeans manufacturer. The Levi's trim package was popular and was available for several years. The Hornet station wagon version was offered for two model years with a luxury trim package designed by Italian fashion designer Dr. Aldo Gucci . It is notable for being one of the first American cars to offer an upscale fashion "designer" trim level. The Hornet

18850-580: Was also introduced. It included among other items: special lower body stripes, a full-synchromesh three-speed manual gearbox with floor shift, bucket seats, handling package, front disc brakes, 20.1 quick-ratio manual steering box, and a sports steering wheel. It was possible to order both the Rallye and the X-package. Motor Trend magazine tested a 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 Hornet in 1972, measuring performance from 0 to 60 mph in 9 seconds flat and

18995-633: Was an all-new design. An all-new front suspension with anti-brake dive was developed for AMC's large-sized "senior" 1970 models, and instead of developing lighter components for the new compact-size platform, the same parts were incorporated into the Hornet. The chassis and sheet metal were entirely new, with the conventional front-engine rear-drive drivetrain carried over from the previous Rambler American. The Hornet's 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase platform (two inches or 5.08 centimeters longer than its predecessor. The design incorporated AMC's numerous innovative features and groundbreaking ideas. The AMC Hornet

19140-430: Was an industry-first that included providing a loaner car as well as trip-interruption protection, all at a time when most automakers offered only a limited six-month warranty on their new cars. During that time, "long-term accountability was something that automakers on any continent attempted to avoid." The 1972 AMC Buyer Protection Plan was possible due to numerous mechanical upgrades to increase durability, as well as

19285-407: Was developed in 1926. This is the source of Ford's apocryphal remark, "any color as long as it's black". In 1914, an assembly line worker could buy a Model T with four months' pay. Ford's complex safety procedures—especially assigning each worker to a specific location instead of allowing them to roam about—dramatically reduced the rate of injury. The combination of high wages and high efficiency

19430-1429: Was formed from a conglomerate of six companies who banded together as Fuji Heavy Industries , as a result of having been broken up under keiretsu legislation. The transport sector is a major contributor to air pollution , noise pollution and climate change . Most cars in use in the early 2020s run on petrol burnt in an internal combustion engine (ICE). The International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers says that, in countries that mandate low sulphur motor spirit, petrol-fuelled cars built to late 2010s standards (such as Euro-6) emit very little local air pollution. Some cities ban older petrol-driven cars and some countries plan to ban sales in future. However, some environmental groups say this phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles must be brought forwards to limit climate change. Production of petrol-fuelled cars peaked in 2017. Other hydrocarbon fossil fuels also burnt by deflagration (rather than detonation ) in ICE cars include diesel , autogas , and CNG . Removal of fossil fuel subsidies , concerns about oil dependence , tightening environmental laws and restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions are propelling work on alternative power systems for cars. This includes hybrid vehicles , plug-in electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles . Out of all cars sold in 2021, nine per cent were electric, and by

19575-414: Was granted a patent for a "New Rational Combustion Engine". In 1897, he built the first diesel engine . Steam-, electric-, and petrol-driven vehicles competed for a few decades, with petrol internal combustion engines achieving dominance in the 1910s. Although various pistonless rotary engine designs have attempted to compete with the conventional piston and crankshaft design, only Mazda 's version of

19720-427: Was made in 1877 by George Selden of Rochester, New York . Selden applied for a patent for a car in 1879, but the patent application expired because the vehicle was never built. After a delay of 16 years and a series of attachments to his application, on 5 November 1895, Selden was granted a US patent ( U.S. patent 549,160 ) for a two-stroke car engine, which hindered, more than encouraged , development of cars in

19865-411: Was offered as a two-door and four-door notchback sedan in its introductory year. The station wagon and hardtop (no "B" pillar ) coupe body styles were not continued from the predecessor Rambler American line. In April 1970, a mid-model year introduction used the Hornet as the basis for the 96-inch (2,438 mm) wheelbase AMC Gremlin , which utilized the front half of the two-door Hornet's body and

20010-415: Was only offered together with the automatic transmission and included a standard front suspension sway bar, larger 11-inch drum brakes, and optional power-assisted front disk brakes as well as up-sized fiberglass-belted tires that included C or D78x14 black or twin-stripe whitewalls and D70x14 red lines. The annual new car issue of Popular Science introduced the 1970 model by entitling its article: "Rambler

20155-562: Was optional on both models increasing output by 10 hp (7 kW; 10 PS) and 7 pound force-feet (9.5 N⋅m). The standard transmission was the column-shifted three-speed manual with the one-barrel I-6 engines. Optional was the three-speed automatic and required with the two-barrel 232 cu in (3.8 L). The SST models were available with a 304 cu in (5.0 L) two-barrel V8 engine rated at 210 hp (157 kW; 213 PS) at 4400 rpm and 305 pound force-feet (414 N⋅m) of torque at 2800 rpm. The V8 option

20300-647: Was phased out after the 1977 model year. The platform transformed into a new "luxury compact" line of automobiles, the AMC Concord . The Hornet's rear-wheel drive platform also served as the basis of the innovative "crossover" all-wheel drive line of models, the AMC Eagle that was introduced in 1979. Introduced in September 1969, the first-year Hornets came in "base" and higher trim SST models, in two- and four-door sedan body styles. American Motors positioned

20445-437: Was promoted as "the little rich car" with room for five passengers. The base model two-door sedan was $ 1,994, with the four-door an additional $ 78. The base Hornets "were nicely trimmed for the price" with standard armrests, ashtrays, interior lights, glove box, cigarette lighter, coat hooks, and an integrated dash ventilation system. The SST trim models were priced at $ 150 additional to the base two- or four-door versions and added

20590-574: Was reintroduced for the 2023 model year as a compact SUV marketed under the Dodge brand. A pair of 1966 show cars, the AMC Cavalier four-door sedan and the Vixen coupe, foreshadowed the Hornet's styling. These designs showed that "AMC's stylists had a very good grasp of the direction the industry as a whole would take as 1970 began." Introduced in 1969 for the 1970 model year , AMC's replacement for

20735-475: Was the first U.S.-made automobile to feature guardrail beam doors to protect occupants in the event of a side impact. The compact-sized Hornet continued AMC's role as a "niche" marketer specializing in small cars. It became one of AMC's best sellers. The Hornet was the first car in a line of new models that AMC would introduce over the following three years. It set the tone for what designer Dick Teague and chief executive officer Roy D. Chapin Jr. had in mind for

20880-418: Was the most popular model by far, outselling all other Hornet models combined in its debut year. For most of its production, it was the only American-made station wagon in its size class. American Motors established a new focus on quality with the 1972 model year. The "Buyer Protection Plan", was the industry's innovative 12-month or 12,000-mile (19,312 km) comprehensive, bumper-to-bumper warranty . This

21025-519: Was to have featured hidden headlamps, but the coupe was never produced. Giorgetto Giugiaro penned the sharper-edged exterior design for the four-door sedan that went into production as the Eagle Premier . Teague was a noted automobile historian who collected classic and rare vehicles and other auto memorabilia. He restored old cars as a hobby, including a 1904 Packard, one of the first produced, and had already owned 285 vehicles by 1970. Teague

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