What if AMC didn’t buy Jeep?

[89 MJ]

What do you folks think would’ve happened if AMC didn’t buy Jeep? Would the Eagle have still been produced? Would Roy Lunn work for AMC instead of Jeep? Would AMC still be around because they could’ve developed new products for themselves instead of investing money in Jeep?

I suspect AMC would still be around and Lunn would’ve been in charge of engineering. The Eagle was his brainchild, so I suspect the Eagle still would’ve come around.

[vangremlin]

Interesting question and something to ponder.  I don't consider myself enough of an AMC expert to give a well informed opinion, especially about how the finances flowed at AMC.  But that won't stop me from typing more  .  I know Jeep in general was a money maker for the corporation, but did any of that flow to the automobile side?  I've always heard that AMC was short on cash, especially after investing so much into the Pacer and not getting as much of a return as they thought they would.  Which led to the Eagle being based on existing platforms.  Maybe if AMC had not bought Jeep, it would have led to an even faster end, and a quieter one, disappearing like Packard, Studebaker, and all the others. 

[89 MJ]

Interesting question and something to ponder.  I don't consider myself enough of an AMC expert to give a well informed opinion, especially about how the finances flowed at AMC.  But that won't stop me from typing more  .  I know Jeep in general was a money maker for the corporation, but did any of that flow to the automobile side?  I've always heard that AMC was short on cash, especially after investing so much into the Pacer and not getting as much of a return as they thought they would.  Which led to the Eagle being based on existing platforms.  Maybe if AMC had not bought Jeep, it would have led to an even faster end, and a quieter one, disappearing like Packard, Studebaker, and all the others. 

That seems equally as possible. It is good food for thought.

[vangremlin]

Thanks for posting this kind of question, I like to hear what others think and these "What ifs" are kind of fun

[89 MJ]

Thanks for posting this kind of question, I like to hear what others think and these "What ifs" are kind of fun

You bet, I'll try to throw more out there as I think of them. I agree that they are fun.

[Taylor]

Probably would have gone the way of Packard, quiet and quick. Sill would have seen some of my favorite cars, besides the Eagle.

[89 MJ]

Probably would have gone the way of Packard, quiet and quick. Sill would have seen some of my favorite cars, besides the Eagle.

That does seem like a likely outcome. They made a lot of really cool, but underrated cars.