MotorWeek | Retro Review '83 AMC Concord

Hold onto your power seats, with a 1/4 mile time of 20.5 seconds surely nothing will ever fall off of that lower package tray.

[KDoyle]

As with most AMCs, it's a much better car than many people are willing to give it credit for.

[justjeff]

I actually own this car. A 1983 AMC Concord DL That. except for the paint (Jamaican Beige ) is identical to the car featured here. The vinyl top and interior are the same color. I've owned a lot of AMCs and they were always good  high mileage cars. I'll probably own this one for the rest of my life. It just keeps on going.

[landyachtfan]

Now, when I think about the ultimate Brougham, THIS is what comes to mind IMMEDIIATELY, the venerable American Motors Corporation Concord. This one has all of the plush trimmings that you would expect to find in a Cadillac or Lincoln, but even when fully loaded with every option imaginable, it STILL retailed for thousands less that any car from either of the aforementioned established luxury brands. We actually rented a brown Connie wagon on our first trip to Disney World, & I do remember crying when we had to give it back. I had fallen that much in love with it. Anyone who calls this car ugly is COMPLETELY missing the point, in my view. Is it the most beautiful car in the world? Absolutely not. However, this car was not DESIGNED to be beautiful. It was designed to be durable, it was designed to be strong. It was designed to be sturdy. It was designed to be tough.

[mrpoohbearlvr]

One of the most comfortable cars ever made. Solid, quite, plenty of cabin room....for its day, it drove so easily, and you felt safe in it, drove mine till I had to get a truck. AMC had its problems, but it had its glory to, and the Concord was one of them!

[thebestisyettocome]

I bought new in 1981. AMC Concord. I had zero issues with that car. Period

[deborahchesser]

AMC really did soldier on with minimal tooling and spare components to call brand new but still produce reliable and somewhat competitive vehicles. I’d take a late 70’s CJ-7 with a straight 6 in a heartbeat. Simplicity and utility at its finest.

[christopherconard]

That "venerable old engine" was still being used to pull Jeep SUVs around 20+ years later. That old I6 just wouldn't die.

[LakeHowellDigitalVideo]

Heavy gauge steel body, AMC Inline 6 and a Chrysler Torqueflite transmission. That's exactly why they called it a Sherman Tank at the beginning -- all of that is bulletproof.

I am impressed this 1970 Hornet remodel did so well in their review.  I always loved the Concord and my favorite year was the 1979 Limited model...and the Spirit was nice too.

[bummeroni]

AMC could've been America's honda in today's time.... Shame they just didn't have the budget.

[oldiron]

My Dad had a '79. Comfortable and quiet, but he was disappointed with the fuel mileage. To get on the freeway you needed every inch of the entrance ramp, full throttle, to merge into traffic at 60 mph. Always dependable and no major repairs. Had it 8 years and put 130, 000 miles on it before selling it.

[HoneyBakedHam]

I had a 1982 Concord that was a super base model with the 4.2L engine. Still, it was like a Sherman tank.

[ponch]

In high school my buddy inherited his parents Concorde 82 Concorde in 92. It's true it was a tank . I remember when we just drove around because we lived in a smallish city we could jump on the hood or roof no dents, thick metal. Good times " just driving around at 16 "

[jefferyrobinson]

AMC had great cars at a decent price and value. I miss AMC and Jeep is the one good thing left over that keeps me going. My 1973 401 Ambassador and 1985 Eagle Limited wagon are still going strong and look as good as new all these decades later. Good job AMC.🇺🇸🥇😍

[ecYRFPTcC]

Aaah the days when you could get 3rd degree burns from the door handles and seat belt latches in the summer.

[JohnSmith-wdrc]

I have a 78 Concord and 72 Gremlin X. Also had Rebel Machine and AMX. None of them ever failed. The 258 is probably the best inline 6 ever made.

[corvettebaby]

My neighbor had one.Hit a train and drove it home.Left the bumper and a front fender in the ditch.

[eveevelittleevil]

I had an 80' Concord- very luxe, woodgrain everywhere, drove like a dream- NEVER had any problem of any type, NEVER! Totally, absolutely reliable!

[LakeHowellDigitalVideo]

AMC's indestructible Inline 6 bolted up to Chrysler's indestructible torqueflite transmission. It may be slow, but it was the 1980's version of the durable Dart/Valiant all over again. It is a tragedy they didn't sell more of them.

[MrGoldenwaffler]

had one. an 81 limited. extraordinarily plush, quiet, well built, not bad on gas....