AMC’s “Project IV” Concept Cars

The American Motor Company, or AMC, often struggled to grab attention while bathed on the shadow of the Big Three. That’s not to say that AMC didn’t make some awesome muscle and pony cars during the late 1960’s. They also came up with some amazing concept cars that pushed the envelope, among them a group of four experimental automobiles called simply “Project IV.”

Hemmings Auto Blog dug up an old press release from the summer of 1966 in regards to these awesome old AMC concepts, and its an interesting look back at an automaker that didn’t realize it was just a decade away from a drastic decline.

Among the most recognizable of these concepts is the AMX, or “American Motors Experimental,” a sporty fastback with a “Rambleseat” that was like the rumble seats of the old days (pictured above). This is the only car to have found its way into a collection.

The AMX II, meanwhile, seems to have disappeared from history, though it ditched the Rambleseat for a full trunk and additional safety features including a stoplight-like taillight system that had green, amber, and red lights (for when the accelerator is pushed down, idled, or the brakes depressed.

Then there is the Cavalier, whose main claim to fame is interchangeable body panels that can be swapped front to back and side to side. It also had a built-in roll bar in the roof and those same odd tri-color taillight system. It wasn’t exactly a looker, but it was chock full of new ideas designed to make drivers and mechanics’ lives easier.

The final member of Project IV was the Vixen, a fastback version of the Cavalier and arguably the ugliest of the bunch. While none of these cars (and many of their features) never made it to production, the designs and ideas influenced not just AMC vehicles, but the auto industry as a whole for years to come. Which make us wonder, what would a 2012 AMC AMX look like?

About the author

Chris Demorro

Christopher DeMorro is a freelance writer and journalist from Connecticut with two passions in life; writing and anything with an engine.
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