AMC Concord - VAM Models

VAM Models

The Mexican government-owned automaker Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) manufactured a number of models in Mexico under license from AMC. The made in Mexico vehicles had to have at least 60% locally sourced parts. The cars came with different trim, interiors than the equivalent AMC-made models. It was sold as the VAM American.

The Concord-based VAM American started as the "second generation" of the economy and luxury line of intermediate compacts, the first generation being the 1975-1977 Hornet-based Americans. The 1978 base models were called "American sedan" and "Camioneta American" by VAM, despite that they had no designation. They had the 258 six cylinder engine coupled to a three-speed manual transmission with column-shift on the wagon and four-door plus a floor-shift on the two-door. A three-speed automatic transmission was available as an option with column-mounted shifter in all three body styles, ordering it included power steering, bumper guards and the heater without extra cost (heater was standard on wagon regardless of transmission). The four-door sedan and the wagon had a front bench seat incorporated while the two-door sedan has individual non-reclining seats. All units came from the factory with manual brakes with front disks, manual steering, plain blacked-out dashboard, fixed three point seatbelts, AM radio with antenna, rear ashtrays and round dome light.

The top of the line models were named American GFS (Concord DL two-door), American ECD (Concord DL four-door) and Camioneta American Automática (Concord DL wagon). All three versions had as standard equipment automatic transmission, power brakes, power steering, 282 six cylinder (258 on ECD) with Motorcraft two-barrel carburetor, light group, custom steering wheel, woodgrain panels on dashboard, parcel shelf, clock, retractable seat belts, luxury upholstery, tinted windshield, bright molding package, wheel covers (hubcaps and trim rings on 1979 models) and bumper guards. The GFS model had floor-shift transmission and reclining individual high-back seats while the ECD and automatic wagon had column-shift coupled with a bench front seat. Both sedan models incorporated vinil roof either in full form (ECD) or Landau type (GFS).

For 1979 the wagon with automatic transmission obtained a designation and became the Camioneta American DL. However, the biggest novelty of the year was the presence of a high performance version of the two-door sedan called American 06/S. This model is characterized by incorporating a high performance factory-modified 282 six cylinder engine developed by VAM's engineering department, having an output of 172 net horsepower at 4,200 RPM, net torque was rated at 225 foot-pounds at 2,600 RPM. The car came standard with power brakes with front disks, power steering, front sway bar, heavy duty suspension, TREMEC 170-F four-speed manual transmission with Hurst linkage, 3.31:1 rear differential gear ratio, coolant recovery tank, fan shroud, sports steerng wheel, reclining high-back bucket seats, dynamic three-point seat belts, center console with armrest and Rallye gauges, digital tachometer, woodgrain panels on dashboard, parcel shelf, light group (except dome), AM radio with a passenger side rear quarter panel-mounted antenna, dual remote-controled mirrors, high trim upholstery with map pouches and carpet inserts on the door panels, tinted windshield, blacked-out bumpers, sports steel 14x6 wheels and D70x14 radial tires. The "Hornet in Flames" decal design used by AMC for the 1977 and 1978 AMXs was used in the 06/S over both the hood and trunk lid alongside large white "06 / S" decals over each quarter panel. Probably the most unique option on this vehicle was the posibility of ordering a sunroof. Only 499 units were produced before it got replaced with the Spirit coupe-based Rally GT model since 1980.

The 1980 VAM Americans incorporated all novelties designed by AMC for the Concord, C-pillar windows on the ECD, opera windows on the GFS, full length tail lights, a standard flexible seven-blade fan, 180 km/h speedometers, and for the first time an aluminum VAM-designed grille. The American ECD got the 282 six as standard equipment, meaning that all high-trim VAM Americans were powered by the largest six engine from this point ahead. The American GFS switched to column-shifted transmission control (retaining the individual seat configuration) and the American DL wagon was available for the first time with exterior wood imitation panels. The vanity mirror appeared for the first time as standard equipment for the three top end models. All three base models included the heater as standard equipment regardless of transmission type as well as high back front seats with adjustable headrests. In other safety measures, all units incorporated a locking gas cap and high trim models safety reflectors fixed onto the door armrests. The high trim 1980 models were the first VAM cars ever to be available with intermitent wipers, power door locks, power windows, power trunk release, electric antenna, and AM FM stereo radio (instead of the 1979 monoaral unit).

The VAM American for 1981 in high trim form got the rear defroster, reading dome light, intermitent wipers, dual remote controlled mirrors, AM FM stereo radio as standard equipment. The option list got the tilt steering column and electric seats as the only new additions. All units had the AMC-designed Spirit grille for the year along with fan shroud and coolant recovery tank as standard equipment regardless of the presence of the air conditioning system. The largest appearance change was in the presence of "Noryl" wheel covers for the high trim versions. The largest change of the year took place in the base models. Ordering any of the three body styles with automatic transmission would include without extra cost the Quartz digital clock, retractable seat belts, tinted windshield, parcel shelf, full light group (except reading dome light), woodgrain panels applied on the dashboard, wheel trim rings, full bright molding package (hood, rocker panels, wheel lips, drip rails), and protective rubber side moldings aside from the already existing power steering and bumper guards. This meant a mid-range model between the standard basic units and the GFS/ECD/DL ones. This created for the first time an automatic base wagon that was not a DL. However, despite this change, VAM did not create any designation or distinction for the new semiequipped base models.

The 1982 recession shook the foundations of the Mexican automotive market and industry, VAM being no exception. The economical situation coupled with a government decree banning the importation of automotive accessories took its toll in both standard and optional equipment of all car lines and marques. All high trim Americans for 1982 lost the availability of power door locks, power windows, power trunk release, tilt steering column, Quartz digital clock and rear defroster. Items that were standard for 1981 such as the remote controls for the door mirrors, the intermitent wipers, the reading dome light, and vanity mirror were passed on to the option list. The rest of the equipment was virtually unchanged from 1981, despite this, there was a new optional accessory for the year, the tape-player AM FM stereo radio. All three high-trim editions got a new VAM-designed luxurious grille with a rectangular pattern while the three base models got AMC's square-pattern design used in the Eagle models, which was also shared with the Gremlin (Spirit sedan) for 1982. The GFS, ECD and DL models also got a set of plain VAM-designed bumper end caps with a chrome molding on the top side edge. Along with these, AMC's Eagle nerfing strip design was also used in both bumpers. The headlight bezels changed to blacked out units in their internal sections keeping the chromed surrounding areas. The last cosmetic change took place in the presence of the all-new aluminum wheel that replaced the previously-imported Noryl wheel covers. Both versions of the three base models were the same as in 1981 except for the already mentioned grille design, new door panels and the absence of the Quartz clock in the automatics.

After the turmoil of 1982, Renault de México tookover VAM from the Mexican government in February of 1983. As it happened with AMC, all Renault was interested in was the Jeep line and VAM's production facilities and dealer network. As soon as the agreement was finalized, Renault ordered the termination of VAM's passenger car line so it wouldn't compete with its own products. VAM's 1983 models existed mainly to use up the highest possible amount of existing inventories as well as fulfilling previous agreements with sourcing companies. The American line for 1983 soldiered on in a very limited form. The American GFS and American ECD models were virtually not produced this year. Both sedan models existed as the base manual and semiequipped automatics units. The units with manual transmission got the parcel shelf as standard equipment while the units with automatic transmission got the aluminum wheels, the same door panels and seat designs as the previous GFS and ECD models along with their respective door armrest safety reflectors. The two-door automatics also got the reclining mechanism for their front seats. What all units had in common regardless of transmission was the presence of power brakes, power steering and dual remote mirrors. Regarding the station wagons, the American DL model was virtually the only high-trim American model to be available this year. In 1981 and 1982 there were four versions of the station wagon model: base manual, base automatic, basic DL, and equipped DL. For 1983, the base automatic and the basic DL were merged together into a single version alongside the equipped DL and the base manual, creating three versions for the year. The mid-range version had the same equipment as the sedan models with automatic transmission of the year, it was also called "American DL" and carried the same woodgrain panels and moldings that were never seen in the base automatics of the previous two years. The only rear differences between the mid-range DL and the top-of-the-line DL are the presence of the AM FM stereo radio, reading dome light, vanity mirror, and intermitent wipers in the latter model. The only optional accessories available were the AM FM stereo tape player radio, remote-controlled door mirrors, electric antenna and air conditioning. Virtually, only the top end DL carried the 282 six from the factory while the rest of the line had the 258, all units equipped with air aconditioning were virtually switched to the 282 engine. Leftover 1983 VAM Americans were sold as 1984 models.

In addition to rebadged Concords, VAM developed model was the VAM Lerma that was based on the 2- and 4-door Concord sedan platform with the addition of the AMC Spirit's hatchback and rear design with unique Lerma quarter glass.

All engines built by VAM were of AMC design incorporating appropriate changes to deal with lower octane gasoline and the higher altitudes in Mexico. This included a unique 282 cu in (4.6 L) version of AMC's straight-6 engine.