Author Topic: AMC's car/truck prototype (Read 16790 times)

shanebo · « **on:** December 11, 2011, 02:25:26 AM »

Lookin around on the net tonight and I found this cool little car. It was a prototype AMC toyed around with as a potential car to compete with fords falcon ranchero and Chevys ElCamino. It was named the Cowboy. Oddly enough although its undeniably a gremlin truck it sported the Jeep name.

83Eagle! · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2011, 02:40:06 AM »

I know I have seen a topic on that here somewhere in the past. I like it. IIRC they decided to not do the truck (partly) because it would have been the only 2 wheel drive Jeep-badged vehicle at the time.

Can't say for sure, but I think the Rambler Ranch has a home-built version of this car. Can't remember where the prototype ended up.

vangremlin · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2011, 08:46:19 AM »

Quote from: 83Eagle! on December 11, 2011, 02:40:06 AM

Can't say for sure, but I think the Rambler Ranch has a home-built version of this car. Can't remember where the prototype ended up.

There is a Rambler that had a homemade conversion at the Rambler Ranch. Here is a picture:

AMC of Houston · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2011, 01:17:25 PM »

The Hornet-based Cowboy pickup still survives, and makes a lot of the big AMC shows. Google "Hornet Cowboy" for some pics. Cool-looking vehicle.

Sunny · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2011, 02:49:43 PM »

It's actually pretty neat looking.

83Eagle! · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2011, 06:00:55 PM »

I would love to have one. I like the Rambler-based one. I have always been a fan of the small car-based pickups.

AMC of Houston · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2011, 07:46:46 PM »

Ditto. During some of my years spent in Cincinnati, I drove a 1984 Dodge Rampage mini-truck. Got lots of abuse about it here in Texas since it was just a baby truck, and not macho enough for Texas. Sold it to a Houston Mopar Club member after it got too rusty from the years up north in the salt.

83Eagle! · « **Reply #7 on:** December 14, 2011, 06:15:50 PM »

Quote from: AMC of Houston on December 11, 2011, 07:46:46 PM

Ditto. During some of my years spent in Cincinnati, I drove a 1984 Dodge Rampage mini-truck. Got lots of abuse about it here in Texas since it was just a baby truck, and not macho enough for Texas. Sold it to a Houston Mopar Club member after it got too rusty from the years up north in the salt.

Been looking for a solid Rampage with black interior ever since I had to sell mine in 8th grade (grandpa's last car). Always seem available when I am broke, and never available when I have money.

WoodenBirdOfPrey · « **Reply #8 on:** December 14, 2011, 09:13:35 PM »

I love the way the Rampages look, always liked that design. My dad had one of the 80's Chargers up until 1992, I think that's why I'm drawn to them. I just hate that they're front wheel drive. Sort of ruins it for me!

vangremlin · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2011, 11:40:02 AM »

Somebody even got into the pickup mode with a Pacer. Here is a picture and a link:

http://www.amcpacer.com/archives/archives.asp?num=25&s=101

look at posting #104

carnuck · « **Reply #10 on:** December 23, 2011, 01:43:58 PM »

Quote from: 83Eagle! on December 14, 2011, 06:15:50 PM

Quote from: AMC of Houston on December 11, 2011, 07:46:46 PM
Ditto. During some of my years spent in Cincinnati, I drove a 1984 Dodge Rampage mini-truck. Got lots of abuse about it here in Texas since it was just a baby truck, and not macho enough for Texas. Sold it to a Houston Mopar Club member after it got too rusty from the years up north in the salt.

Been looking for a solid Rampage with black interior ever since I had to sell mine in 8th grade (grandpa's last car). Always seem available when I am broke, and never available when I have money.

One of our customers just sold one for $700 with only 70,000 miles on it. 2.2L 4 speed

83Eagle! · « **Reply #11 on:** December 28, 2011, 01:01:40 AM »

Quote from: carnuck on December 23, 2011, 01:43:58 PM

Quote from: 83Eagle! on December 14, 2011, 06:15:50 PM
Quote from: AMC of Houston on December 11, 2011, 07:46:46 PM
Ditto. During some of my years spent in Cincinnati, I drove a 1984 Dodge Rampage mini-truck. Got lots of abuse about it here in Texas since it was just a baby truck, and not macho enough for Texas. Sold it to a Houston Mopar Club member after it got too rusty from the years up north in the salt.

Been looking for a solid Rampage with black interior ever since I had to sell mine in 8th grade (grandpa's last car). Always seem available when I am broke, and never available when I have money.

One of our customers just sold one for $700 with only 70,000 miles on it. 2.2L 4 speed

Even though my wife said I would have to sleep in any other vehicle I bring home I would have been all over a Rampage for $700. Part of me doesn't like that the rampages are front wheel drive, but most of me doesn't really care. I would love to have one. Been close to buying one a half dozen times since 1995, but never had the money, storage and opportunity all at once.

shanebo · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2011, 02:44:25 AM »

Granted they were front wheel drive but it was a sign of the times. The once proud muscle cars of the sixties and seventies were little more than 4 cylinder economy versions of their former selves in the 80's...Doesn't bother me a bit though...I'm more fascinated with cars of that era than any other...I think cuz I'm a big fan of the under dog and the 80's were probably the least respected decade of cars, making them all the more appealing to me.

83Eagle! · « **Reply #13 on:** December 28, 2011, 08:00:46 AM »

I understand. It is funny to some that many of my favorite cars are products of the 80s.

Prafeston · « **Reply #14 on:** March 28, 2012, 10:31:41 PM »

Quote from: vangremlin on December 23, 2011, 11:40:02 AM

Somebody even got into the pickup mode with a Pacer. Here is a picture and a link:

http://www.amcpacer.com/archives/archives.asp?num=25&s=101

look at posting #104

Check out post #118!

rmick · « **Reply #15 on:** April 14, 2012, 12:19:38 PM »

A buddy of mine in our car club has this vehicle. His uncle was a VP at AMC There were two made a v8 and 6 cylinder only the V8 car survived

vangremlin · « **Reply #16 on:** April 14, 2012, 01:16:41 PM »

Great photo of a very cool car! Do you have others showing the back? Thanks for posting

rmick · « **Reply #17 on:** April 15, 2012, 12:26:48 AM »

68AMXGOPAC · « **Reply #18 on:** April 15, 2012, 07:37:26 AM »

It does "look" seperate, but I see the trim along the bottom edge isn't split at the seperation ? Odd........but way cool !!!

Prafeston · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2012, 02:20:56 PM »

Wow, yeah that's pretty awesome looking. And a stick shift!

AndyM · « **Reply #20 on:** April 15, 2012, 02:25:27 PM »

They should have offered the Eagle that way!

shanebo · « **Reply #21 on:** April 15, 2012, 10:28:55 PM »

An Eagle would have been more utilitarian for sure, and a much more fun and capeable...especially if it retained its four doors like a Subaru Baja or something.

vangremlin · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2012, 09:21:12 PM »

I was looking through the American Motors Owners magazine from back in 2002 which had a bunch of pictures from the 2002 Kenosha gathering, which was the 100th anniversary of Rambler, and came across another picture of the Hornet Cowboy in the lower right corner. Right next to it is a picture of a custom Rambler car/truck.

rohnk · « **Reply #23 on:** April 23, 2012, 09:33:45 PM »

Very cool! I like the sundancer pictured as well.

Prafeston · « **Reply #24 on:** April 23, 2012, 09:44:11 PM »

Yeah cool photo. Looks like a Sundancer Concord. Would love to go to a huge AMC car show like that in Kenosha. That would be so neat!

vangremlin · « **Reply #25 on:** April 23, 2012, 10:18:38 PM »

Quote from: Prafeston on April 23, 2012, 09:44:11 PM

Would love to go to a huge AMC car show like that in Kenosha. That would be so neat!

They had the 2007 AMO Convention in Aurora, CO about 5 miles from my house. I shined up my Gremlin and entered it into the show. It was really cool, the only thing that disappointed me was the fact that probably 80% of the cars were Javelins or AMX (at least that's what it seemed like to me). AMC was so much more than just those two cars.

Eagle1985 · « **Reply #26 on:** April 24, 2012, 06:21:43 AM »

//////////

Prafeston · « **Reply #27 on:** April 24, 2012, 11:13:22 AM »

Haha love the license plate. "ONLY 1"

Prafeston · « **Reply #28 on:** April 24, 2012, 07:30:33 PM »

AMC was good at reusing parts!

vangremlin · « **Reply #29 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:39:16 PM »

Quote from: Mernsy on April 24, 2012, 07:23:32 PM

I like the handle on the tailgate!

I noticed that too lol

Budwisr · « **Reply #30 on:** April 24, 2012, 09:19:37 PM »

Here's a blog of a guy who is building an awesome Pacer truck
http://pacertruck.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/bring-it-out-for-pictures/

Sunny · « **Reply #31 on:** April 25, 2012, 11:41:38 AM »

Quote from: Budwisr on April 24, 2012, 09:19:37 PM

Here's a blog of a guy who is building an awesome Pacer truck
http://pacertruck.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/bring-it-out-for-pictures/

I was expecting something hideous, but it actually looks kind of neat.
It looks really well done.

Prafeston · « **Reply #32 on:** April 25, 2012, 11:47:03 AM »

Yeah, that guy did it right!

Budwisr · « **Reply #33 on:** April 25, 2012, 05:57:14 PM »

Also check out the two seat 78 Concord he built. (Shown on the same blog) Neat concept, too bad AMC didn't do something like this for the Concord/Hornet AMXs rather then just "doll up" existing hatchback models.

Prafeston · « **Reply #34 on:** April 25, 2012, 06:13:20 PM »

I'm pretty sure he sold that Concord on the bay several months ago.

Author Topic: AMC's car/truck prototype (Read 16790 times)

Prafeston

68AMXGOPAC

Prafeston

AndyM

rohnk

Prafeston

Prafeston

Prafeston

Prafeston

Prafeston