131-467: The pillars on a car with permanent roof body style (such as four-door sedans ) are the vertical or nearly vertical supports of its window area or greenhouse —designated respectively as the A, B, C and (in larger cars such as 4-door station wagons and sport utility vehicles ) D-pillar, moving from front to rear, in profile view. Car pillars are vertical or inclined components of an enclosed automobile's body that both support its roof and reinforce
262-536: 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
393-518: A facelift and a new name, the AMC Matadors were available in two-door hardtop , four-door sedan , and station wagon body styles. The Matador shared a modified platform with the full-size Ambassador line with a shorter wheelbase. Although related directly to the previous Rebel models, AMC began promoting the Matador as more than a change in name with a slight facelift to reposition the line in
524-457: A roof rack as well as a two-way tailgate so that with the rear window retracted, it could be opened downward using a center-mounted release handle engaging the bottom-mounted hinges, thus extending the load surface or swing open door-like when using the handle on the right side that engaged the hinges on the left side of the tailgate. The Matador came with a straight-6 or one of several available V8 engines . The Matador's transmissions included
655-401: A "handling package" that included heavy-duty springs, shocks, and rear sway bar. Dual exhaust was standard with the optional 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8, but was extra with the base 360 cu in (5.9 L) engine. A "Twin-Grip" differential was optional, but recommended with the performance package and required with the optional 3.91 rear end. Approximately fifty Matadors with
786-472: A 5-mile-per-hour (8 km/h) front and a 2.5-mile-per-hour (4 km/h) rear impacts without damage to the engine, lights, and safety equipment. Matadors gained stronger front and rear bumpers . The front bumper included self-restoring telescoping shock absorbers and more prominent vertical rubber guards. In contrast, the rear bumper gained vertical black rubber bumper guards that replaced a pair of similar and previously optional chrome bumper guards. Aside from
917-407: 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,
1048-601: A Matador" advertising campaign established a distinct marketing identity for the car. This self-disparaging marketing campaign "turned the styling of anonymity into an asset". Consumer-research polls conducted by AMC found it meant virility and excitement to consumers. American Motors ran into problems in Puerto Rico, where the term "matador" retained a bullfighting "killer" connotation. Station wagons offered optional rear-facing third-row bench seats, increasing seating from six to eight passengers. Standard equipment included
1179-437: 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
1310-407: A coupe, thus giving designers the freedom to style "rakishly as sheet metal could be made to look" and eliminating the limits of making sedans and station wagons with the same lines. The results of these efforts were introduced with the 1974 model year Matadors. Four-door sedans and station wagons featured significant front-end changes. The rear end on the four-door sedans was revised. In contrast,
1441-511: A fairly nondescript side view." Most conventional C-pillars are rearward sloping, but reverse-angled have been used to differentiate their designs. Because many modern cars are similar in side view, the designs of the C-pillar have "become an area for stylistic whimsy." Designs of the D-pillar typically found on station wagons and SUVs have also undergone a transition from function to more of
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#17327731762951572-417: A greater hood to windshield angle as well as achieving a bigger field of view for the driver, but at the disadvantage of encroaching on interior space. The center B-pillar on four-door sedans (also known as a "post") is typically a closed steel structure welded at the bottom to the car's rocker panel and floorpan , as well as on the top to the roof rail or panel. This pillar provides structural support for
1703-483: 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
1834-443: A manual transmission remained as the base drivetrain for the sedans. The 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 with an automatic transmission was standard on station wagons (optional on the sedan). A popular upgrade was the 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 with a two-barrel carburetor. A "Performance Option" 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 with a four-barrel carburetor and a dual exhaust system that included twin catalytic converters
1965-403: A new full-width grille featuring squared-off parking lights in the front and a new tail light lens assembly. An uplevel "Brougham" trim option became available for sedans and wagons starting with the 1975 model year. There were no further style changes to the body of the sedan and wagon for the remainder of the production run. A preview of the 1975 Matador models by the editors of Consumer Guide
2096-670: 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
2227-423: 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
2358-456: A redesign in 1974, in part to meet new U.S safety and crash requirements. The most significant change was to the two-door version. The hardtop was the slowest-selling body style in the Matador line. However, it was in a market segment where two-door models were typically the most popular and profitable for other automakers. As a result, the boxy two-door hardtop body design was replaced with a wholly different and sleeker coupe model "to contend with
2489-419: 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
2620-503: A sales tool that other brands did not offer, and the quality of the cars resulted in improved ownership satisfaction. Externally, the 1972 models were the same as the 1971 versions, retaining the same front end, but now with a simplified grille design. The chrome trunk lid strip and rear corner chrome found on the 1970 Rebels and 1971 Matadors were dropped. The 1972 model was given a new tail light lens assembly, each divided into nine recessed vertically rectangular lenses. The 1972 models saw
2751-467: 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
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#17327731762952882-544: 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
3013-638: A steel hoop above the headliner to prepare for increasingly stringent roof crush standards. It also featured a design that was praised by owners along with their complaints about its low roofline. The design of the Matador coupe has been described as "polarizing" as well as being "an evocative, swoopy coupe that perfectly captured the design ethos of the era". Factory-backed first-generation hardtops and second-generation coupes competed in NASCAR car racing from 1972 through 1975. Drivers included Mark Donohue and Bobby Allison , who won several races, including
3144-516: A styling element. As crossover vehicles look similar, "the D-pillar is the only opportunity for any distinction." 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
3275-579: 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
3406-493: A two-door hardtop prepared by Roger Penske on the road course at Riverside, California, on 21 January 1973, lapping the entire field to win this NASCAR Cup Series race. This was also Penske's first NASCAR victory at the Winston Western 500, with Donohue's Matador leading 138 out of the 191 laps. A comparison of 1973 Matador owners conducted by Popular Mechanics indicated increased satisfaction and fewer problems than
3537-429: 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
3668-673: 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
3799-429: Is a series of American automobiles that were manufactured and marketed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) across two generations, from 1971 through 1973 (mid-size) and 1974 until 1978 (full-size), in two-door hardtop (first generation) and coupe (second generation) versions, as well as in four-door sedan and station wagon body styles. The first generation Matador was focused on the "family" market segment. It
3930-477: Is also associated with bullfighter . Nevertheless, the marketing strategy involved developing a new identity for AMC's model in intermediate-sized segment that was then popular for middle-class American families. These cars had wheelbase between 118 and 118 inches (2,997 and 2,997 millimetres), weighed around 3,500 to 3,700 pounds (1,588 to 1,678 kilograms), and were most often equipped with V8 engines ranging from 300 to 360 cu in (4.9 to 5.9 L). With
4061-479: 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
Pillar (car) - Misplaced Pages Continue
4192-448: 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
4323-469: 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
4454-621: 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
4585-826: 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
4716-471: 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
4847-593: 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 ,
4978-601: The Borg-Warner sourced "Shift-Command" three-speed automatic, a column-shifted three-speed manual, and a floor-shifted four-speed manual. The traditional muscle car market segment sharply decreased in 1971, with ever-higher insurance rates and ever-more power-robbing changes required on engines forced to operate on lower octane, lead-free gasoline . Combined, it was enough to force AMC to discontinue its high-performance Rebel Machine model after just one year. Instead, an optional "Machine Go package" of performance enhancements
5109-639: 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
5240-467: The Mercury Montego (second-generation) with 400 cu in (6.6 L) two-barrel V8 engine with automatic transmission 13 mpg ‑US (18 L/100 km; 16 mpg ‑imp ) city and 17 mpg ‑US (14 L/100 km; 20 mpg ‑imp ) highway. When new, the "Matadors were considered great cars," but AMC could not "really market the car against
5371-679: 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
Pillar (car) - Misplaced Pages Continue
5502-520: 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
5633-409: 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
5764-657: The noted fashion designer ), positioning the coupe in the personal luxury segment. The Matador sedan was popular as a police car in the United States, and several television series during the 1970s featured Matadors in prominent roles. Abroad, Matadors were also marketed under the Rambler marque and were assembled under license in Costa Rica, Mexico, and Australia. Matadors were also sold in other overseas markets, including exports of right-hand drive versions to
5895-440: 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
6026-436: The "Machine Go" package were produced for the 1971 model year. The 1972 Matador was positioned as a "family car" and continued with a few changes in sedan, two-door hardtop, and a station wagon with two or three rows of seats. The 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 was standard on sedans and the hardtop with the wagon including the 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 engine as standard. A three-speed column manual transmission
6157-410: The "second generation" Matadors. New passenger car requirements set by NHTSA called for the front and rear passenger car bumpers to have uniform heights, take angle impacts, and sustain 5-mile-per-hour (8 km/h) impacts with no damage. All the 1974 Matadors accomplished this with massive front and rear bumpers mounted on energy-absorbing shocks. The sedans and station wagons had them integrated with
6288-703: 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. AMC Matador The AMC Matador
6419-533: 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
6550-487: 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
6681-425: The 1970 Rebel. The Rebel tail light lenses were replaced with three rounded-square lenses. The interior dash, instrument cluster, steering wheel, and armrests were carried over from the 1970 model as was the " Weather Eye " fan-heat control unit used since 1967. Advertising suggested the Matador was not just a name change and facelift. The new nameplate distanced the car from connotations of social unrest. The "What's
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#17327731762956812-460: The 1973 cars and summarized that "AMC actually has a very strong product line, but public awareness of it seems so feeble as to be negligible. ... The Matador became a typical intermediate, an exact counterpart of the Satellite / Coronet or Torino / Montego ", and ranked AMC's car as a "good buy". American Motors was facing many challenges in a dynamic marketplace. The strategy to redesign
6943-560: The 1975 Southern 500 at Darlington. The AMC Matador captured five first-place wins. Matadors in police livery were featured in television shows and movies during the 1970s. The Matador coupe was a featured car, and a scale model of it was used as a flying car in The Man with the Golden Gun , a James Bond film released in 1974. For 1971, Matadors received a revised front styling for all body styles. It shared its body design from
7074-812: 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
7205-498: The 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 two and four-barrel versions. These ratings were similar to those of the competitors such as the Dodge Coronet and Charger (fourth-generation) with 318 cu in (5.2 L) V8 engine with automatic transmission 11 mpg ‑US (21 L/100 km; 13 mpg ‑imp ) city and 17 mpg ‑US (14 L/100 km; 20 mpg ‑imp ) highway or
7336-561: 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
7467-412: The Matador for the 1974 model year was an example of the changes Gerald C. Meyers, vice president of product development, wanted for AMC's mid-sized product range. The intermediate-sized cars were best sellers in the U.S. and the two-door hardtops or coupe versions most popular with consumers. Because styling was most significant selling point, a decision was made to develop a new version of the Matador as
7598-746: The U.S. market dropped from 4.6% in 1975 to 2.8% in 1976 as consumer demand for small cars decreased. To help move unsold cars, AMC offered price cuts and rebates to buyers. A problem with emissions controls required a recall of almost all non-California Matadors, "which cost AMC more than $ 5 million and contributed to a net loss of $ 46.3 million for the fiscal year." All 1977 Matadors included enhanced comfort, trim, and convenience equipment as factory standard. Among them were automatic transmission, power steering, power disc brakes, full wheel covers as well as individually adjustable and reclining front seats. Standard were fully color-coordinated interiors with plaid patterned fabrics or full vinyl upholstery. Plush carpet
7729-614: 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
7860-635: 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
7991-475: The United Kingdom. The 1971 Matador replaced the AMC Rebel marketed since 1967. Amid the social upheaval in the United States during the late 1960s, AMC recognized that "Rebel" no longer aligned with the company's image into the 1970s. A rebranding effort involving market research led to the selection of "Matador," a name that resonated with consumers as exciting and powerful. However, the matador description
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#17327731762958122-457: The United States were introduced in phases starting in 2009 that require enclosed passenger cars to be able to support from 1.5-times to 3.0-times the vehicle's unloaded weight on its roof while maintaining headroom (survival space) for occupants. This has meant designing thicker roof pillars that not only provide sufficient strength, but that also incorporate padding and accommodate airbags . However, because thicker A-pillars can somewhat limit
8253-595: 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
8384-412: 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
8515-462: 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
8646-399: The bodywork using gap-concealing flexible filler panels. The four-door sedans and wagons had increased overall vehicle length, as well as new front and rear styling. A new front fascia with a hood and grille featured a prominent central protrusion that followed the front bumper shape. Matadors with this front end are sometimes nicknamed " coffin noses". The sedan's rear was redesigned, with
8777-564: 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
8908-469: The bull market for plush mid-size coupes that sprang up after the end of the muscle car era". Following the design introduced by General Motors for the 1973 Third-generation GM A platform vehicles known as the "Colonnade" style intermediates, the Matador coupe was no longer a two-door pillarless hardtop. The new coupe featured broad B-pillars, wide rear quarter windows, and a steeply sloping roofline flowing into flared rear fenders. The pillars included
9039-414: The car (except for tires). Owners were provided with a toll-free number to the company, as well as a complimentary loaner car if a warranty repair took overnight. The objective was to reduce warranty claims and achieve better public relations along with greater customer satisfaction and loyalty. AMC dealers evaluated this "revolutionary" coverage as successful in bringing buyers into the showroom, providing
9170-455: 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
9301-443: The center of the dash. The traditional steering wheel horn pad since the 1970 Rebel was replaced with a rectangular "soft feel horn bar". Second-generation sedans and station wagons continued with minor trim and equipment changes only, through to 1978. The base model sedans and wagons came with the 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 with the three-speed Torque-Command automatic transmission. The 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8
9432-471: The changes to the bumpers, the design of the 1973 model was identical to the 1972 model except for new tail light lens assemblies and a slightly different grille pattern. The dash and instrument cluster of the 1972 model were repeated in the 1973 model. However, the steering wheel horn pad no longer included a "bullseye" emblem, which had been used since the last year of the Rebel models. The full-width bench seat
9563-443: 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
9694-588: 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
9825-749: 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
9956-457: The driver's forward field of vision and thus create blind spots , some designs employ slimmer, chamfered A-pillars made of stronger alloy steel on each side of the windshield to help improve driver vision while still meeting safety standards and offering crash protection. One of the important design elements of modern cars is the A-pillar because its location and angle impact the shape of
10087-412: 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
10218-465: The firewall rearward with the Ambassador and the same platform. Revisions included a longer wheelbase and updated front styling, grille, and chrome trim. The new Matador was available in four-door sedan, two-door hardtop (no B pillar), and four-door station wagon body styles. The 1971 sedan and hardtop models retained the same rear bumper, trunk lid chrome strip, and rear-corner chrome garnishes as
10349-569: 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
10480-500: 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
10611-541: The five car lines offered by AMC. The advertising focus in 1973 for the intermediate-sized AMC car was based on the tagline of "What's a Matador?" in an effort to make this brand name more identifiable to consumers. The advertising campaign was successful in raising awareness. The Matador sedan and station wagon models "offered excellent value and were fairly popular" cars. Matadors were also offered to fleet buyers with various police, taxicab, and other heavy-duty packages. They outperformed most other cars and "was adopted as
10742-425: 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
10873-501: The front door window and windshield, and sometimes found in the rear, usually fixed) are not considered roof pillars. Body pillars are critical in providing strength to an automobile body. As the most costly body components to develop or re-tool, a vehicle's roof and door design are a major factor in meeting safety and crash standards. Before safety standards, pillars were typically thin. The design of body pillars has changed with regulations that provide roof crush protection. Standards in
11004-463: The front of the car and the overall shape of modern vehicles or what designers call "volume." For example, more forward positioned A-pillars provide for increased interior room and make for less angle and visual difference between the hood and windshield. This arrangement makes the side view of a car look aerodynamic. The A-pillars that are positioned further back on a vehicle are most often found on rear-wheel drive and SUV models. This arrangement provides
11135-489: The fuel filler door. A warning notice was added on the face of the fuel gauge , along with a restricted gas tank filler opening that allowed only the smaller pump nozzle that came on new pumps dispensing unleaded fuel. Steel-belted radial tires became standard equipment on all Matadors. The six-cylinder engine now became the 258 cu in (4.2 L) version and it was not available in California. The standard V8
11266-451: The highly competitive intermediate-car segment among consumers. Along with the new identity for AMC's intermediate-sized line was switch of advertising agencies in 1972. Cunningham & Walsh took over AMC's $ 15 million account for national passenger car advertising from Wells, Rich, Greene. The promotional strategy was "to create a more positive awareness about the quality of American Motors car lines" because not enough people can identify
11397-528: 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
11528-403: 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
11659-476: 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
11790-637: 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
11921-428: The late 1970s (1978 being the last year of pillarless hardtop cars in the U.S. domestic market), the full-size Chrysler Newport and New Yorker were the last designs with opening front and rear side windows and no B-pillar. The C-pillar is the rearmost on two- and four-door sedans and hatchbacks, and has served as an opportunity for automobile designers "to introduce a little 'design flair' to what would otherwise be
12052-460: The license plate was relocated above the number to the center of the rear panel with new, wider rectangular taillights. The station wagon had redesigned taillamps and a heavier, more robust bumper with a central rubber facing. The two-door hardtop Matador of the previous series was replaced with an all-new fast-back coupe for 1974, a wholly restyled model with no appearance similar to the new sedan and wagon. The interior of all body styles (including
12183-580: 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
12314-422: 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
12445-545: 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
12576-454: The market. Its performance ranks it in the first line of cars, yet it's reasonably priced." Changes for the 1975 model year were minor as AMC focused on developing and introducing its innovative Pacer . Matadors now included a standard "no maintenance" electronic ignition developed by Prestolite . All U.S. market Matadors featured catalytic converters that required unleaded regular-grade fuel. New "unleaded fuel only" decals were placed by
12707-426: 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,
12838-464: The official police car". Matadors became popular with government agencies and military units as well as police departments in the U.S., and the sedans and wagons were typically equipped with 360 cu in (5.9 L) or 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 engines. Matadors with heavy-duty police equipment were produced from 1971 through 1975. They continued to be in service longer than usual because of favorable field reports. The Matador received
12969-404: 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
13100-529: The other full-sizers" from the Big Three domestic automakers. The U.S. automobile marketplace underwent significant changes and adaptation. The "Big Three" domestic automakers still held 80% of the market while sales of foreign brands continued to expand. While the overall automobile market started recovering after the 1974 and 1975 slump following the 1973 oil crisis , sales of the large-sized Matador did not increase. The number four domestic automaker's share of
13231-593: The pillar-less designs with a rigid B-pillar such as the two-door AMC Matador line. To continue capitalizing on the popularity of the design, General Motors attempted to broaden the definition of "hardtop" during the early 1970s to include models with a B-pillar, with the false rationale, "up to then, everybody thought a hardtop was a car without a center pillar." The "Colonnade" mid-sized General Motors models were so named because of their pillared structure designed to meet new rollover protection standards, but marketers attempted to promote them as if they were true hardtops. By
13362-407: The radically different coupe) featured an all-new fully padded and safety-shaped dashboard with three squared pods for housing the instruments in front of the driver ( indicator lights , fuel gauge , and water temperature to the left, 120 mph (190 km/h) speedometer at the center, and an electric clock or fuel economy gauge on the right) as well as a new horizontal radio/sound system design in
13493-806: The return of the round instrument dials of earlier Ambassador and 1967 Rebel models. The steering wheel resembled the 1970 Rebel and 1971 Matador models. New for the 1972 model were slimmer door armrests and a bench seat without the fold-down center armrests. Individual reclining front seats were an option for all body styles, with optional front bucket seats and center armrests on the hardtops. Production of 1972 Matadors included 36,899 sedans, 10,448 station wagons, and 7,306 pillar-less hardtops. The Matador hardtop, sedan, and station wagon body styles came in only one trim model for 1973, with numerous appearance and comfort options. The 1973 model year brought new U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations that required all passenger cars to withstand
13624-472: 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
13755-425: The same. The "Brougham" trim option continued for sedans and station wagons in 1976. Included were individually adjustable reclining front seats with custom "Hyde Park" fabric for the sedan or "Soft Touch" vinyl for the station wagon, woodgrain trim on the dashboard and door panels with assist straps, full-length bodyside scuff moldings, and other exterior trim. The 258 cu in (4.2 L) six-cylinder with
13886-582: The second row of seating. Additional doors beyond four, such as on limousines , will create corresponding B-pillars, numbered by order B1, B2, etc.. Closed vehicles without a B-pillar are widely called hardtops and have been available in two- or four-door body styles, in sedan, coupe, and station wagon versions. Designs without a "B" pillar for roof support behind the front doors and rear side windows offer increased occupant visibility, while in turn requiring underbody strengthening to maintain structural rigidity. The need for stronger roof structures meant replacing
14017-638: The six-cylinder, which did not use a catalytic converter to meet emissions requirements. Cars with the I6 and manual transmission, as well as all V8 Matadors, included a catalytic converter. 13 mpg ‑US (18 L/100 km; 16 mpg ‑imp ) city and 16 mpg ‑US (15 L/100 km; 19 mpg ‑imp ) highway for the 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 engine. 12 mpg ‑US (20 L/100 km; 14 mpg ‑imp ) city and 16 mpg ‑US (15 L/100 km; 19 mpg ‑imp ) highway for
14148-482: The standard 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8). Red-white-blue striping as offered on the Rebel Machine was not available, nor was its standard factory-installed ram air hood scoop. No specific transmissions or shifters were included. Included with the "Machine Go" package were 15x7-inch "slot-style" wheels, L60x15 raised white lettered Goodyear Polyglas tires , a Space-Saver spare, power disc brakes, and
14279-405: 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,
14410-527: The torsional rigidity of the body. An alphabetical convention for designating a car's pillars has developed over time, used variously by the automotive press in describing and reviewing vehicles, insurance companies in identifying damaged components, and first-responder rescue teams to facilitate communication, as when using the jaws of life to cut their way into a wreck. The letters A, B, C, and D are used (in upper case): Posts for quarter windows (a smaller typically opening window on older vehicles between
14541-426: The two-door model became a separate and radically styled pillared coupe . All models included new interiors and paint colors. The previous hardtop body style design was discontinued, and the new two-door coupe no longer shared body parts with the sedan or wagon. The coupe's roofline was significantly lower, and its wheelbase was 4 inches (102 millimetres) shorter than the four-door Matadors. These are considered to be
14672-490: The vehicle's roof panel and is designed for latching the front door and mounting the hinges for the rear doors. As "perhaps the most complex of all the structures on the vehicle", the B-pillar may be a multi-layered assembly of various lengths and strengths. B-pillars also exist as integral elements of an automobile unibody on two-door sedans and hatchbacks, separating the front door from either fixed or movable glass of
14803-530: 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
14934-482: 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
15065-645: 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
15196-506: Was 304 cu in (5.0 L) and optional were two versions of the 360 cu in (5.9 L) with a two-barrel carburetor or a four-barrel with a dual exhaust system that AMC called "Power Package." The 401 cu in (6.6 L) was available only for police and fleet orders. From 1975 the 360 and 401 V8s were fitted with the upgraded four-barrel Autolite 4300 carburetor . Only V8-powered Matadors were available in California. The sedan and wagon exteriors were updated with
15327-545: Was also offered in performance versions, as highlighted in the NASCAR racing series with factory support from 1972 through 1975. With its second generation, the Matador became AMC's largest-size automobile after the Ambassador , which shared the same platform , was discontinued after the 1974 model year. Premium trim levels of the second generation Matador coupe were marketed as the Barcelona and Oleg Cassini (after
15458-457: Was available through 1976. The 2.87 rear axle ratio was standard with 3.15 and 3.54 optional. A floor-shifted automatic transmission was available on coupes equipped with a V8 engine, bucket seats, and center console. The fuel economy ratings with automatic transmission were: 16 mpg ‑US (15 L/100 km; 19 mpg ‑imp ) city and 19 mpg ‑US (12 L/100 km; 23 mpg ‑imp ) highway for
15589-407: 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
15720-1429: 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
15851-414: 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
15982-427: 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
16113-524: Was offered as an option, not a model designation, for the 1971 Matador two-door hardtop. It included many of those the Rebel Machine had had, with other options available individually; but without any specific "Machine" designation, badges, or marketing. The only engines available with the Go package were the 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 (an additional $ 373 option) and the newly introduced 401 cu in (6.6 L), AMC's largest engine ($ 461 extra over
16244-462: Was optional. A two-barrel or four-barrel 360 cu in (5.9 L) was optional as well as a 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 with dual exhausts. The 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 became a fleet-only option after 1974. A road test by automobile journalist Vincent Courtenay of the 1974 Matador station wagon "praised its performance, handling, and fuel economy considering its size and 360 CID engine." He described it as "a real sleeper on
16375-399: Was quite complimentary, especially of the sedan and wagon. For the 1976 model year, changes to the Matador sedan and station wagon were minimal. The only external upgrades were the addition of side bumper pads to the front and rear bumpers. The paddle-style inside door handles were changed for 1976, along with new armrests used in other AMC vehicles. Otherwise, all interior features remained
16506-466: Was replaced by the Chrysler -built TorqueFlite three-speed automatic that AMC marketed as "Torque-Command". The optional four-speed manual was discontinued. All engines were designed to use no lead, low-octane gasoline. New rocker arms and bearings provided quiet valve train operation. The 1972 model year introduced AMC's innovative "Buyer Protection Plan" to address increasing consumer demands. This
16637-466: Was standard with 50-50 individually adjustable and reclining seats were optional on all body styles. The station wagons came with "Uganda" vinyl upholstery, while the two-door hardtops offered optional front bucket seats. All V8-powered Matadors included a TorqueFlite 998 automatic transmission and a column-mounted shifter. The V8 Autolite 2100 carburetor was replaced with the modified Motorcraft 2150 carburetor . The 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6
16768-461: Was standard with the I6 engines. A total of five different horsepower versions of V8s - 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS), 175 bhp (130 kW; 177 PS), 195 bhp (145 kW; 198 PS), 220 bhp (164 kW; 223 PS), and 255 bhp (190 kW; 259 PS), were optional and available only with a column-mounted automatic transmission. The previous Borg-Warner sourced "Shift-Command" three-speed automatic transmission
16899-424: Was the automobile industry's first 12-month or 12,000-mile (19,312 km) bumper-to-bumper warranty . American Motors started with an emphasis on quality and durability by focusing on its component sourcing, improving production that included reducing the number of models, mechanical upgrades, and increasing standard equipment. This was followed by an innovative promise to its customers to repair anything wrong with
17030-410: Was the base engine with a column-mounted three-speed manual transmission, with a 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 optional, with which only the station wagon could be ordered with manual transmission because almost all six-cylinder powered Matadors came with TorqueFlite 904 automatics. Promotional and publicity efforts for the Matador included sponsorship at NASCAR racing events. Mark Donohue drove
17161-424: Was the case with the owners of the essentially similar 1970 AMC Rebel three years earlier. The intermediate-sized car market segment was growing to almost twenty percent of the total domestic automobile market by 1973. Still, the hardtop was the slowest-selling version in the Matador line "in a segment where two-door hardtops were customarily the most popular (and profitable) models." Automobile Quarterly reviewed
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