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HomeMatador

Matador

1972 Ford Gran Torino 2-door hardtop
Links

All-new 1972 Ford Torino didn’t rank well against older intermediates

February 5, 2024 Steve 3

The 1972 Ford Torino was a particularly big deal. The automaker had bestowed upon its mid-sized offerings the first all-new platform since they were introduced in 1962. Ford ditched unit-body construction and increased exterior dimensions […]

1976 AMC Pacer and Chevy Nova
Media Analysis

Automotive News treats Gerald C. Meyers’ tenure at AMC with kid gloves

June 28, 2023 Steve 10

Automotive News’ obituary of Gerald C. Meyer treated his tenure at American Motors with kid gloves. Meyers died on June 19 at the age of 94. Presenting a largely upbeat narrative would make sense if […]

1974 AMC Matador and Richard Teague
Satire

The untold story of how Dick Teague designed the 1974 AMC Matador coupe

October 4, 2021 Steve 3

Dick Teague nervously checked his fly and centered his tie as he heard the entourage of AMC executives march down the hallway toward his design studio. He’d made many presentations over two decades but had […]

1976 AMC Pacer rear
Media Analysis

The downside of auto historians writing about their friends

September 1, 2021 Steve 0

(EXPANDED FROM 7/17/2020) One of the hazards of any kind of writing is that you can get too close to your subjects. In anthropology this has been called “going native.” Because we are human, we […]

1966 AMC Marlin
Fake Design

1965-66 AMC Marlin: How to fix beginner’s mistakes

October 30, 2020 Steve 5

The first-generation Marlin gets no respect, particularly compared to the two-seater AMX. The Marlin tends to be treated as one of American Motors’ biggest flops. Meanwhile, the AMX has been lauded as a valuable halo […]

1974 AMC Matador should have been named the Javelin
Ad Nauseam

1974 AMC Javelin: You wouldn’t believe what a big deal this is

August 14, 2020 Steve 0
Readings

Revealing photos of AMC Javelins that didn’t make it

August 14, 2020 Steve 0

The most poignant part of Javelin Photo Archive is a set of proposals for a lovely Gremlin-based hatchback intended for introduction in 1973 or 1974. The designs look like they could have sold quite well. […]

George Romney made eight big mistakes at AMC
History

George Romney made eight big mistakes at AMC

July 10, 2020 Steve 8

George Romney may have been one of the U.S. auto industry’s best post-war leaders, but he made eight big mistakes while leading AMC from 1954-62. Some of his bad moves were costly enough to almost […]

Posts pagination

« 1 2
  • 1972 Lincoln Continental Mark IV
    Is David Kiley right that Ford should replace Lincoln with a new brand?
    September 2, 2026 16
  • 1972 Buick Skylark Custom grille
    1972 Buick Skylark Custom represented the end of an era
    September 1, 2026 5
  • 1959 Ford Thunderbird
    1959 Ford Thunderbird was a gimmicky but hugely important car
    August 26, 2026 11
  • Compact cars became the neglected stepchildren of U.S. automakers
    August 21, 2026 21
  • 1980 AMC brochure cover with picture of American Center building
    AMC’s Roy D. Chapin Jr. succumbed to the illusion of bigness
    August 19, 2026 2
  • 1980 Ford Thunderbird and 1956 model
    Ford’s design talent in the 1970s wasn’t enough to halt a dramatic slide in sales
    August 14, 2026 13
  • 1973 Buick Riviera
    Why wasn’t the 1971 ‘boat-tail’ Buick Riviera shrunk to compact size?
    August 14, 2026 24
  • Internet problems reminded me of U.S. automakers in the 1970s
    May 2, 2026 1
  • 1956 Buick hood scoop
    Readers brainstorm ideas for future Indie Auto stories
    October 14, 2022 141
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