Claborn American, Detroit, MI.
South Side Rambler, Chicago, IL.
Bonanza Rambler-AM, North Hollywood, CA.
Suburban AMC, Raytown, MO.
Grosse Pointe AMC, Grosse Pointe, MI.
West Allis AMC, West Allis, WI.
Delta Pontiac-American-GMC, Stockton, CA
Overland Park, AMC-Jeep-Renault, Overland Park, KS.
Kosco AMC-Jeep-Renault, Paramus, NJ.
Here in the Midwest, it appeared that AMC dealers were most successful where they could operate as stand alone franchises. When dualed with other makes, their success was limited. In a nearby college town, AMC was handled in succession by an import dealer, the Pontiac store, then the Mopar guy and finally the Ford agency. None of the big 3 stuck with them very long.
I Would love to see if anyone out there has a pictures of Clark Rambler / American Motors from West Mifflin, PA on Homeville Road.
I have never seen a picture of the dealership as it was back in the 1960-1980 time frame.
Geez, is that West Allis opening in 1973? Probably not the best time to have opened an AMC dealership.
I’ll take the Toyota Crown in the 4th photo…
I’d reckon just a new location for an existing franchise, but that’s just a guess.
I believe that’s true – looks like they moved from a location about 3 mi. away in 1972/73. Confusingly, the dealership seemed to go by two different names – both Buran American and West Allis American.
Maybe renamed from Buran to West Allis to highlight the new location, with a transitional period when they used both names? Could be both locations were still operating in tandem for a while as they wound down the old and geared up the new.
Westgrove Rambler at Bloor and Islington in Toronto:
A Rambler/Hillman dealership with a Morris Minor parked out front. Definitely Canada 🙂
I looked up the address of our former AMC dealership in town, Midtown Motors. It was demolished to make way for an LRT project that is progressing with glacial speed.
Great price on the ’67 Malibu
Yes, and it is interesting to see both a Chevelle and Cutlass on the lot, presumably as trade-ins.
I remember that stretch in the early 1970s when dealers got branded to “XYZ American”. Ours was Fort Wayne American. But “American” as a brand name never took off – at least I never heard anyone refer to an AMC product as an “American” (unless it was a Rambler American).
Its odd they chose to leave a ChevyVan in the Paramus NJ dealership lineup
Was wondering the same thing. Some dealers sold “Conversion vans” that they bought / marketed straight from the coachbuilders. Wonder if that is what we are seeing there.
Seems like Ben Carco Bonanza Rambler was quite the “hot car” promoter and built a couple of race cars back in the day.
Overland Park is familiar! It was at 87th and Metcalf. I lived a few blocks from there, and once dropped in to try out an Alliance. As an old Renault fan I hoped to like it, but didn’t. It felt sluggish and heavy, not especially comfortable.
Claborn American, Detroit, MI.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yMCyhM1YwbYGuJLB9
South Side Rambler, Chicago, IL.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/CkFa8rqDCfAfAY2b8
Bonanza Rambler-AM, North Hollywood, CA.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/riqdJjmnBFeXSEkZ6
Suburban AMC, Raytown, MO.
No information found
Grosse Pointe AMC, Grosse Pointe, MI.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/ybPwaRMGXjVt6bLM8
West Allis AMC, West Allis, WI.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/rN9k2UZsPbkoJZzo8
Delta Pontiac-American-GMC, Stockton, CA
No information found
Overland Park, AMC-Jeep-Renault, Overland Park, KS.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/sLK48LEN8d4SLes56
Kosco AMC-Jeep-Renault, Paramus, NJ.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/4PZGNb9eEP187YLF7
Many of the addresses were available on this excellent site:
https://theamcforum.com/forum/lost-dealership-project_topic1185_page10.html
Great work! Here’s the Delta Pontiac-American dealership location in Stockton:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/iSY5x3rFHQbWvzVGA
Suburban AMC was located at 9401 Blue Pkwy. in Raytown, MO. (The road was known as Highway 50 back then.) The site is now a gas station, but on Google Street View, the 2012 image still has the old dealership building before it was demolished.
Link to the 2012 imagery is here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/pzVBVP2A4BZ6ZvjX9
I remember Suburban AMC well, as I was living in Raytown when it opened, I think about 1968 or so. I haven’t been in Raytown for years, I think the last time I visited the dealership was about 2000 or so. I remember along that stretch of highway 50 was Crawford’s Plymouth-Dodge, I believe Ray Smith Ford and Faysenmeyer Chevrolet. Thanks for bringing back some memories.
Here in New England, AMC dealers were located in small buildings, with only one or two garage bays for the service department, with showroom space for only one or two cars. They were often a sideline business for small, “Mom & Pop” service stations or auto body shops. One local AMC dealer became an auto body shop after it lost its franchise when AMC imploded. Other defunct dealers sold their buildings to other enterprises. One local ex-AMC dealership is now the headquarters for a local home heating oil contractor. A third ex-dealer is now the home of a small woodworking shop that builds custom furniture. All of these had no more than one (1) service bay in the building.
Delta Pontiac/GMC/American was at 821 N. El Dorado Street, Stockton. Looks like the building is still there.
Fun pictures .
-Nate
“American cars guzzle gas.
American cars are all style, and no substance.
American cars don’t last.
To all that, American Motors says nuts!”
I love these. Those AMC dealerships of the ’70s seem to have a fun, bright, modern look to them, especially with those vertical street signs with the lettering turned sideways. The patriotic red, white and blue colors add to them looking festive. I love those Javelins, and even within this postcard photography, some of those Gremlins look appealing. Great post!
Many of these nicely highlight the bold, sleek and stylish graphic design language of AMC’s branding in the ’70s. A daring gambit to modernize the brand on a budget when they couldn’t really afford to modernize the product itself quite so much.
I’ve always liked the first. white-on-black AMC corporate store identity. It was different, modern, and very adaptable to new and existing dealership buildings.
It was a thing at that time. See also: the Vignelli design system for the National Park Service.
https://www.rit.edu/vignellicenter/vignelli-public-graphics
This sign is still on the ouskirts of Logan, WV to this very day.
I’d love that ’73 Hornet Sportabout in the front row in Stockton. I had its hatchback twin and recall that car quite fondly.
Yes, I remember Overland Park AMC and Grantello Rambler in North Kansas city and Rodekopf in Indepence. We owned 2 1963 Ramblers. Were good cars. Also were Motor Trend car of year.for1963.