Title: Why American Motors Failed: The Full Story | TheThings
Headings: Why American Motors Failed: The Full Story
Why American Motors Failed: The Full Story
13 Compact Cars At The Wrong Time
12 1965 AMC Marlin Problems
11 Foreign Competition
10 Inefficient Manufacturing
9 AMX Did Not Sell
8 Renault Partnership
7 Poor Reliability Perception
6 Jeep Ownership
5 AMC Pacer Expenses
4 Design Issues
3 Lack of Partnerships
2 Ford and GM Competition
1 Lackluster Advertising
Next: 15 Facts About AMC And Their Beloved Muscle Cars

Content: 9 AMX Did Not Sell
Via Mecum
The AMX was released in 1968 and was actually an innovative and stylish two-seat sports car with some power. It was based on the Javelin, which had been mildly successful. However, by the late ‘60s, American Motors had a reputation as a stodgy manufacturer of economic cars, and consumers were not ready to buy an AMX over a Camaro, Firebird, or Corvette. 8 Renault Partnership
Via AutoEvolutions
Bt the mid 1970s, American Motors was hemorrhaging cash and was desperately looking for a partner to bail them out. French manufacturer Renault came to the rescue, however, it did not work out in the end. Renault itself was having financial issues and was under pressure from the French government to get rid of American Motors. Just as the company started making a profit again, Renault cut them loose in 1986. 7 Poor Reliability Perception
Via Hemmings
By the 1970s, none of the American car companies were putting out great products, American Motors included. However, while Chevrolet and Ford overcame the disastrous Vega and Pinto debacles, American Motors was not as agile in convincing consumers that their products were reliable. They simply did not have the marketing and advertising resources that the bigger companies employed to overcome the poor perception.