Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos
VAM, which purchased licenses and rights to produce AMC and AMC-based automobiles and engines, started production in 1946. Jeeps as well as cars were produced there, some with model names and even body styles that differed from U.S. output. When the company ceased production in 1986 it was producing Renault models. A full-color publication printed about 1982 features a two-page profile on the company, but gives few solid details. The book does, however, include several pictures of the cars and the manufacturing process.
Most VAM cars mimicked domestic (U.S.) models. In the sixties, VAM produced the Rambler American (in 2- and 4-door and wagon versions), a version of the Rebel called the "Rambler Classic SST" (in 2- and 4-door versions) and the Javelin.
The 1974 "Classic AMX" was VAM's version of the Matador Coupe.
(Thanks to Larry Robert Daum for contributing the scan.)
In the seventies VAM produced a full line of Hornets, called first "Rambler American" and later just "American," plus a sport version called "Rambler Rally". The Hornet hatchback was badged a "Rally AMX." Gremlins, Javelins, and Pacers were sold under their familiar names. Matador sedan models were badged as "Rambler Classics," and the Matador Coupe was produced in a sport version called "Classic AMX" and a luxury "Classic Brougham."
In later years, VAM badged variants of the Spirit as the sporty "Rally AMX" and luxury "Rally SST." The Mexican version of the Concord kept the "American" name, in base and GFS models. Some VAM models mixed and matched body components from U.S. cars. The '82 book has pictures of notable buildings and such in Mexico with traffic streaming around. The cars include a new 2-dr "Hornet" with a '77 Gremlin front clip. More recent models carry no outward manufacturer identification, just a model name. A particularly odd VAM product was the "Lerma," essentially a Spirit on a Concord chassis. At least two body styles were available, a two-door sedan and a four-door sedan. You can imagine them as a four-door Concord with the Spirit taillights and liftback instead of a trunk. You could also imagine a four-door Spirit. The two-door is unique, totally different from the domestic Concord hatchback due to the use of the Spirit rear. Rear quarters are unique.
All VAM engines were inline sixes, including 232, 252, and 282 CID units. The 252 and 282 motors were based on the domestic 232 and 258, respectively. No V-8 engines were produced.
It is interesting to note that now, in Mexico, you can hardly see a Renault Alliance or Encore; they are all but gone. However, you can see thousands of Hornets, Concords, Spirits and Gremlins, and the Javelins, Matadors, and Pacers are still rather common. You can still find numerous pre-1970 Rambler Americans rolling on the streets!
Das gab es auch, nicht nur bei den Anderen!
