The Life and Death of American Motors Corporation: RCR Car Stories

A look into the life of the American Motors Corporation, and the decisions that led to its death. What were the successes that defined AMC, and what were the tragedies that changed its path forever? What lessons can we learn from its demise? It's an all-new RCR Stories! The longest ever. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is entirely up to you.

Special thanks to AutoMoments for additional AMC footage!

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[riverraisin]

A YouTube personality makes a video that last 10 minutes or less. A YouTube journalist makes a video that lasts 2 hours and is loaded with research on the subject.
This is a masterpiece in which you should be very proud.

[matthewv.bonofiglio]

My aunt and uncle worked at the Kenosha plant and lived just a couple blocks from there. My father was a definite advocate for AMC products being born and raised in Kenosha on 25th st. In 1976 my father pre-ordered our '76 AMC Matador wagon, it was yellow with wood assimilation, it was fully loaded with a 360 4brl with dual exhaust, power windows, Cruz, etc etc. It was car to be proud of living in Beverly Hills, California. In 79 we (mom, dad & 6 kids) moved to Haiku, Maui, HI and the wagon came with. In '83 we came state side on vacation (Dad, sister Marie, sister Mia and myself Matthew) while in Kenosha my father bought a '82 AMC Concord sedan limited edition, it was chairman of the board of AMC's car with 14, 000 miles on it. It was so plush inside with all the bells and whistles air ride leveling suspension etc. My father passed in Oct. 30th 2017 and was the greatest man in the world at the age of 93. Thank you for your documentary it has brought back such awesome memories and I too wish AMC was still around.
p.s. my dad had owned other products starting with a nash metropolitan, ambassador station wagon and a Javelin
Bye,
Matthew V. Bonofiglio

[brentpalkovic]

This guy deserves some kind of an award for compiling all this info, and narrating it all in grand fashion. BRAVO

[EmyrDerfel]

Video length: 2h27.
Time to next meeting: 2h30.
Murray Walker: GO GO GO!

[johnwalentowski]

My grandpa worked engineering out of Kenosha at AMC. He hand drew their illustrated parts breakdowns and jacking and tire stowage diagrams from about 1960 to 1975 and then after that he was involved with moving and installing assembly lines at different plants. If you look at the jacking and tire stowage on '60s and early 70s midsize and full size cars in the bottom right hand corner you can see the initials RW for Ralph Walentowski. He's ( and I) very proud of that claim to fame.

[brucestockberger]

I am 75 years old and watching your creation bought back so many wonderful memories as I owned many of the vehicles featured in you presentation! Thank you for bringing me back so many really great memories that I lived for so many years!

[burk]

I love the "ya know what I mean?" It's so informal, as if this isn't a 2.5 hour documentary but a one sided conversation with a friend, it's the small things that get me, keep up the good work Roman

[DinsdalePiranha]

This is probably the longest YouTube video I've ever watched. I did have to pause it for pee breaks, smoke breaks, dinner, etc, but I did get through all of it. And I'm glad I watched this.

[_Ramen-Vac_]

Not only epic, this 2.5 hour journey was more interesting than any other course on an auto make. Thanks for all your hard and great work.

[RCToTheFuture]

As a big AMC fan and a feverient defender of their rise and a realist as to why they fell, I appreciate a long form history about them. Thanks for not forgetting them ♥️

[MonkeyDolphin]

This is great! My grandfather was an AMC/Jeep/Renault dealer in small-town PA in the 70s and 80s. Needless to say, my mother and her sisters had many models over the years: Rambler, Matador, Spirit, Pacer, Eagle, Jeep Cherokee, Renault 18i, Fuego Turbo - all the classics lol! We still have a photo of him with one of his birthday cakes sporting an AMC logo. When AMC folded, he switched to Pontiac, Buick, and Olds and we were riding high on a wave of Firenzas and Bonnevilles. Good times, man.

[Torgonius]

I learned to drive in the family's 1985 Eagle. We lived walking distance to my dad's job, but my mom needed to drive about 15 miles to her job as an OR nurse. The 4 wheel drive was the selling point as we lived in the sticks of upstate New York. My little sister was 3 when we got it, and it became her first car when she was old enough.

Thanks for putting this documentary together. It was very well done and enjoyable to watch.

[catfish]

Two and a half hour RCR Story, Roman's bringing out the big guns for this one.

[umair]

For history nerds like me, RCR stories hit different. Roman, please never stop doing them. I'll wait months in between if I have to but don't stop.

[worksbydandeprez]

We had two Ramblers when I was a kid in the '60's and my folks had a Renault Alliance in the mid-'80's. I owned a 1974 Oleg Cassini Matador from '79-'80, while I was living in LA. People in Beverly Hills and Hollywood had no idea what it was but it looked important and in that world people are so tuned into not missing out that it gave me a lot more status there than it should have. That $1000 car would cost me $11, 000-$14, 000 today. AMC was a big part of my youth and I'll sing their praises to anyone who will listen. Thanks for this tribute.

[AdamG]

Mark my words, this will be one of the most popular videos on this channel

[boostbogan]

2 hours, 27 minutes and 5 seconds of an absolute masterpiece.

[charlestimmons]

Currently 44 minutes in, feels like ten. So much incredible information, and depth of perception for the human elements of these companies and their founders. Amazing work!! Definitely one of the best documentaries I've ever seen, automotive or otherwise. Thank you for your hard work sir!

[corneliusmcmuffin]

1:48:56
"Primarily a Passenger Car wearing an Indiana Jones hat"
Probably the best analogy I've heard all year.

[mikepratt]

I cannot thank you enough for such a fascinating automotive story. I never knew just how complex, unique, and truly weird and interesting AMC's history truly was.