1977 AMC AM VAN

Much like the Ghia, AMC’s AM Van is a very 1970s concept based on an existing car platform that never moved past the concept stage.

As the 1980s approached and the internet continued not to exist, American Motors’ public relations people needed a PR gimmick. Their best idea was a nationwide tour of concept vehicles designed to remind the buying public of AMC’s strong suit: small cars that were domestically built, economical, and designed specifically for American’s driving style.

AMC created seven different design concepts specifically for this “Concept 80” tour. At each stop on tour, the public was asked to vote for their favorite design. The AM Van was the most appealing concept to American consumers by a wide margin, receiving 31 percent of the votes. The next most popular model was the Grand Touring concept (receiving 24 percent), a sporty two-door hatchback with a profile similar to the later Concord.

The AM Van was designed by AMC’s most famous (and favorite) designer, Richard Teague. That’s perhaps obvious when considering the concept’s styling, which looks like the result of a Pacer taking a large dose of steroids. I like it.

Like many AMC models, the AM Van was to have four-wheel drive, and the badges indicate a turbo as well. Perhaps AMC’s common 4.2-liter straight-six fit under the sloping front end. Since it’s just a concept, there’s no real interior to speak of and no mechanical bits inside. Still, it’s not hard to imagine bolting on any number of things — leave your powertrain ideas for us in the comments.

Despite consumer popularity, the AM Van was not to be. Budgeting constraints led the company to shelve the idea, with AMC instead revamping (and renaming) the Hornet and Gremlin as the Concord and Spirit, respectively.

Source: Rare Rides: The AMC AM Van From 1977 - A Concept That .... https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2017/10/rare-rides-a-one-off-amc-concept/

Images: aldenjewell's photostream