AMC Matador

See also: Dodge Matador

AMC Matador
1975 AMC Matador sedan
Overview
Manufacturer	American Motors Corporation
Also called	American Motors Matador Rambler Matador (export markets) VAM Classic (Mexico)
Production	1970–1978
Assembly	Port Melbourne, Australia (AMI) San José, Costa Rica Mexico City, Mexico (VAM) Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
Designer	Dick Teague
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size (1971–1973 and coupes) Full-size (1974–1978 sedans and wagons) personal luxury (Oleg Cassini and Barcelona)
Layout	FR layout
Related	AMC Ambassador
Chronology
Predecessor	AMC Rebel AMC Ambassador (since 1974)
Successor	Eagle Premier

The AMC Matador is a car model line that was manufactured and marketed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) across two generations, 1971–1973 (mid-size) and 1974–1978 (full-size), in two-door hardtop (first generation) and coupe (second generation) versions as well as four-door sedan and station wagon body styles.

The first generation Matador was focused on the "family" market segment and was also offered in performance versions as highlighted in the NASCAR racing series with factory support from 1972 to 1975. Several TV shows - portraying both true-life, day-to-day operations of police work as well as in fictional stories - featured Matadors that were common in police fleets.

With its second generation, the Matador became AMC's largest automobile after the 1974 discontinuation of the Ambassador that shared the same platform. Premium trim levels of the second generation Matador coupe were marketed as the Barcelona and Oleg Cassini (after the noted fashion designer) positioning the coupe in the personal luxury segment. A Matador coupe was embedded for action in a James Bond movie.

Abroad, Matadors were also marketed under the Rambler marque and were assembled under license in Costa Rica, Mexico by Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM), and Australia by Australian Motor Industries (AMI). Matadors were also marketed in overseas markets that included exports of right-hand drive versions to the UK.

Background

The 1971 Matador replaced the AMC Rebel, which had been marketed since 1967. With a facelift and a new name, the AMC Matadors were available as a two-door hardtop, four-door sedan and station wagon body styles. The Matador shared a modified platform with the full-size Ambassador line. Although related directly to the previous Rebel models, AMC began promoting the Matador as more than a change in name with a slight facelift, in an effort to reposition the line in the highly competitive intermediate-car segment among consumers. The advertising campaign was built around the question "What's a Matador?"

Sedan and wagon models "offered excellent value and were fairly popular" cars. Matadors were also offered to fleet buyers with various police, taxicab, and other heavy-duty packages. They outperformed most other cars and "was adopted as the official police car." Matadors became popular with government agencies and military units as well as police departments in the U.S. and thy equipped sedans and wagons with 360 cu in (5.9 L) or 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 engines. Matadors with heavy-duty police equipment was produced from 1971 to 1975. They were continued in service longer than normal because of favorable field reports.

The Matador received a redesign in 1974, in part to meet new safety and crash requirements. The most significant change was to the two-door version. The hardtop was the slowest-selling body style in the Matador line although it was in a market segment where two-door models were typically the most popular - and also most profitable. As a result, the boxy two-door hardtop body design was replaced with a completely different and sleeker coupe model "to contend with the bull market for plush mid-size coupes that sprang up after the end of the muscle car era". It also featured a design that was praised by owners along with complains about its low roofline. The design of the Matador coupe has been described as "polarizing" as well as being "an evocative, swoopy coupe that perfectly captured the design ethos of the era."

Factory-backed first-generation hardtops and second-generation coupes competed in NASCAR stock car racing from 1972 to 1975. Drivers included Mark Donohue and Bobby Allison winning several races including the 1975 Southern 500 at Darlington. Matadors in police livery were featured in television shows and movies during the 1970s. The Matador coupe was featured and a scale model of it was used as a flying car in The Man with the Golden Gun, a James Bond film released in 1974.

First generation

First generation
1972 AMC Matador station wagon
Overview
Model years	1971–1973
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 252 cu in (4.1 L) I6 (Mexico only) 282 cu in (4.6 L) I6 (Mexico only) 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual (1971 only) 3-speed Shift-Command automatic (1971 only) 3-speed Torque-Command automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	118 in (2,997 mm)
Length	206.1 in (5,235 mm) hardtop and sedan 205 in (5,207 mm) wagon
Height	53.8 in (1,367 mm) hardtop and sedan 56.4 in (1,433 mm) wagon

1971

Matadors for 1971 received a revised front styling for all body styles, sharing its body design from the firewall rearward with the Ambassador and the same platform. Revision included a longer wheelbase and revised front styling, grille, chrome trim. The new Matador was built in sedan, two-door hardtop, and station wagon body styles.

The 1971 model retained the same trunk lid chrome strip and rear-corner chrome garnishes as on the 1970 models. New was a rear bumper with revised rounded-square lenses; interior dash, instrument cluster, steering wheel, and armrests; and the 1967–1970 Rebel "Weather Eye" fan-heat control unit.

As a restyled 1970 Rebel, advertising suggested the Matador was not just a name change and facelift. The new nameplate distanced the car from connotations of social unrest, and the "what's a Matador" advertising campaign established a distinct marketing identity for the car. This self-disparaging marketing campaign "turned the styling of anonymity into an asset." Consumer-research polls conducted by AMC found it meant virility and excitement to consumers. American Motors ran into problems in Puerto Rico, where the term "matador" retained a bullfighting "killer" connotation.

Station wagons offered optional rear-facing third-row bench seats, increasing seating from six to eight passengers. Standard equipment included a roof rack as well as a two-way tailgate so that with the rear window retracted could be opened down from bottom-mounted hinges to extend the load surface or when using another handle could swing open door-like on its left-hinges.

The Matador came with a straight-6 or a number of V8 engines. Transmissions for the Matador included the Borg-Warner sourced "Shift-Command" three-speed automatic, a column-shifted three-speed manual, and a floor-shifted four-speed manual.

Matador Machine

The traditional muscle car market segment was decreasing in 1970 with ever-higher insurance rates for those models as well as the looming changes for engines to operate on lower octane, lead-free gasoline formulations, thus AMC to discontinue the Rebel Machine model for 1971. Rather than marketing a distinct 1970 Rebel model, the 1971 Matador was available with a performance package option for the hardtop, marketed as the "Go Package" with a choice of two engines. The Matador Go Package option also lacked the previous optional red-white-blue striping, no unique model identification, and also had no special badging on the cars.

Approximately 50 Matador Machines were produced for 1971. The package featured 15x7-inch slot-styled steel wheels with white-lettered Goodyear Polyglas tires, dual exhaust system, a heavy-duty handling package, power disk brakes, and a choice of either a 360 cu in (5.9 L) ($373 option) or the 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 engine (for $461) with either a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic transmission. A "Twin-Grip" rear differential was a recommended option and it was required in combination with a four-speed manual and the available 3.91 rear axle ratio. Factory-installed ram air was not offered with the Machine Go package.

1972

1972 AMC Matador two-door hardtop

1972 AMC Matador wagon

The 1972 Matador was positioned as a "family car" and continued with few changes in sedan, two-door hardtop, and as a station wagon with two or three rows of seats. The 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 was standard on sedans and the hardtop with the wagon including the 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 engine as standard. A three-speed column manual transmission was standard with the I6 engines. A total of five different horsepower versions of V8s - 150 bhp (112 kW; 152 PS), 175 bhp (130 kW; 177 PS), 195 bhp (145 kW; 198 PS), 220 bhp (164 kW; 223 PS), and 255 bhp (190 kW; 259 PS), were optional and available only with a column-mounted automatic transmission. The previous Borg-Warner sourced "Shift-Command" three-speed automatic transmission was replaced by the Chrysler-built TorqueFlite three-speed automatic that AMC marketed as "Torque-Command." The optional four-speed manual was discontinued. All engines were designed to use no lead, low octane gasoline and featured new rocker arms and bearings for quiet valve train operation.

The 1972 model year introduced AMC's innovative "Buyer Protection Plan" to address increasing consumer demands. This was the automobile industry's first 12-month or 12,000 miles (19,312 km) bumper-to-bumper warranty. American Motors started with an emphasis on quality and durability by focusing on its component sourcing, improving production that included reducing the number of models, as well as mechanical upgrades and increasing the level of standard equipment. This was followed by an innovative promise to its customers to repair anything wrong with the car (except for tires). Owners were provided with a toll-free number to the company, as well as a free loaner car if a warranty repair took overnight. The objective was to reduce warranty claims, as well as achieve better public relations along with greater customer satisfaction and loyalty. This "revolutionary" coverage was evaluated as successful by AMC dealers to bring buyers into the showroom, provide a sales tool that other brands did not offer, as well as the cars' quality resulted in improved ownership satisfaction.

Externally the 1972 models were the same as the 1971 versions retaining the same front end, but now with a simplified grille design. The chrome trunk lid strip and rear corner chrome found on the 1970 Rebels and 1971 Matadors was dropped. The 1972 model was given a new tail light lens assembly with each assembly divided into nine recessed vertically rectangular lenses. Interior-wise the 1972 model saw the return of the round instrument dials of earlier Ambassador and 1967 Rebel models. The steering wheel was the same as the 1970 Rebel and 1971 Matador models. New for the 1972 model were slimmer armrests for the doors and a bench seat without the fold-down center armrests. Individual reclining front seats were an option.

Production of 1972 Matadors included 36,899 sedans, 10,448 station wagons, and 7,306 pillar-less hardtops.

1973

The Matador hardtop, sedan, and station wagon body styles came in only one trim model for 1973, with numerous appearance and comfort options. The 1973 model year brought new U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations that required all passenger cars to withstand a 5-mile-per-hour (8 km/h) front and a 2.5-mile-per-hour (4 km/h) rear impacts without damage to the engine, lights, and safety equipment. Matadors gained stronger front and rear bumpers. The front bumper included self-restoring telescoping shock-absorbers and more prominent vertical rubber guards, while the rear bumper gained vertical black rubber bumper guards that replaced a pair of similar and previously optional chrome bumper guards. Aside from the changes to the bumpers, the design of the 1973 model was identical to the 1972 model with the exception of new tail light lens assemblies and a slightly different grille pattern. The dash and instrument cluster of the 1972 model was repeated in the 1973 model although the steering wheel horn pad no longer included a "bullseye" emblem, which had been in use since the last year of the Rebel. The full-width bench seat was standard with 50/50 individually adjustable and reclining seats were optional on all body styles. The station wagons came with "Uganda" vinyl upholstery, while the two-door hardtops offered optional front bucket seats.

All V8 powered Matadors came with a TorqueFlite 998 automatic transmission and a column-mounted shifter. The V8 Autolite 2100 carburetor was replaced with the modified Motorcraft 2150 carburetor. The 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 was the base engine with a column-mounted three-speed manual transmission, with a 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 optional, with which only the station wagon could be ordered with a manual transmission because almost all six-cylinder powered Matadors came with TorqueFlite 904 automatics.

Promotional and publicity efforts for the Matador included sponsorship at NASCAR racing events. Mark Donohue drove a two-door hardtop prepared by Roger Penske on the road course at Riverside, California, on 21 January 1973, lapping the entire field to win this NASCAR Cup Series race. This was also Penske's first NASCAR victory at the Winston Western 500, with Donohue's Matador leading 138 out of the 191 laps.

A comparison of 1973 Matador owners conducted by Popular Mechanics indicated increased satisfaction and fewer problems than was the case with the owners of the essentially similar 1970 AMC Rebel three years earlier.

The intermediate-sized car market segment was growing to almost 20% of the total market by 1973, but the hardtop was the slowest-selling version in the Matador line, "in a segment where two-door hardtops were customarily the most popular (and profitable) models." Automobile Quarterly reviewed the 1973 cars and summarized that "AMC actually has a very strong product line, but public awareness of it seems so feeble as to be negligible. ... The Matador became a typical intermediate, an exact counterpart of the Satellite/Coronet or Torino/Montego", and ranked AMC's car as a "good buy."

1973 AMC Matador

Sedan

Interior

Station wagon

Tailgate opened down

Second generation

Second generation
1975 Matador base model sedan
Overview
Model years	1974–1978
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door hardtop coupe 4-door sedan 4-door station wagon
Powertrain
Engine	232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 (1974 only) 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 252 cu in (4.1 L) I6 (Mexico only) 282 cu in (4.6 L) I6 (Mexico only) 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 (1974 only)
Transmission	3-speed manual (1974–1976) 3-speed Torque-Command automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	114 in (2,896 mm) coupe 118 in (2,997 mm) sedan, wagon
Length	209.3 in (5,316 mm) coupe 216 in (5,486 mm) sedan 215 in (5,461 mm) wagon
Height	51.8 in (1,316 mm) coupe 53.8 in (1,367 mm) sedan 56.4 in (1,433 mm) wagon

American Motors was facing many challenges in a dynamic marketplace. The strategy to redesign the Matador for the 1974 model year was an example of the changes that Gerald C. Meyers, vice president of product development, wanted for AMC's mid-sized product range. The intermediate-sized cars were best sellers in the U.S. and the two-door hardtops or coupe versions most popular with consumers. Because styling was their greatest selling point, a decision was made to develop a new version of the Matador as a coupe, thus giving designers the freedom to style "rakishly as sheet metal could be made to look" and eliminating the limits of making sedans and station wagons with the same lines.

The results were introduced with the 1974 model year Matadors. Four-door sedans and station wagons featured major front end changes.<ref="Frechette"/> The rear end on the four-door sedans was revised.<ref="Frechette"/> In contrast, the two-door model became a separate and radically styled pillared coupe.<ref="Frechette">Frechette, Doug (11 September 2013). "In Defense Of The 1974 AMC Matador Sedan: The Bullfighter Gets A Bum Rush". curbsideclassic.com. Retrieved 14 October 2020.</ref> All models included new interiors and paint colors. The previous pillar-less hardtop design was discontinued and the new two-door coupe no longer shared any body parts with the sedan or wagon. The two-door's roofline was significantly lower and its wheelbase was 4 in (102 mm) shorter compared to the four-door Matadors. These are considered to be the "second generation" Matadors.

1974

New passenger car requirements set by NHTSA called for the front and rear passenger car bumpers to have uniform heights, take angle impacts, and sustain 5-mile-per-hour (8 km/h) impacts with no damage. All the 1974 Matadors accomplished this with massive front and rear bumpers mounted on energy absorbing shocks. The sedans and station wagons had them integrated with the bodywork using gap-concealing flexible filler panels.

The four-door sedans and wagons had increased overall vehicle length, as well as new front and rear styling. A new front fascia with a hood and grille featured a prominent central protrusion that followed the front bumper shape. Matadors with this front end are sometimes nicknamed "coffin noses". The rear of the sedan was redesigned with the license plate was relocated above the number to the center of the rear panel with new, wider rectangular taillights. The station wagon had redesigned taillamps and a stronger bumper with a central rubber facing.

The interior of all body styles featured an all-new fully padded and safety shaped dashboard with three squared pods for housing the instruments in front of the driver (indicator lights, fuel gauge, and water temperature to the left, 120 mph (190 km/h) speedometer at the center, and an electric clock or fuel economy gauge on the right) as well as a new horizontal radio/sound system design in the center of the dash. The traditional steering wheel horn pad in use since the 1970 Rebel was replaced with a rectangular "soft feel horn bar."

Second generation sedans and station wagons continued over all the model years with only minor trim and equipment changes.

The base model sedans and wagons came with the 258 cu in (4.2 L) I6 with the 3-speed Torque-Command automatic transmission. The 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 was optional. A two-barrel or four-barrel 360 cu in (5.9 L) was optional as well as a 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 with dual exhausts. The 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 became a fleet-only option after 1974.

A road test by automobile journalist Vincent Courtenay of the 1974 Matador station wagon "praised its performance, handling, and fuel economy considering its size and 360 CID engine." He described it as "a real sleeper on the market. Its performance ranks it in the first line of cars, yet it's reasonably priced."

1975

1975 Matador sedan in Fawn Beige

Changes for the 1975 model year were minor as AMC focused on the development and introduction of its innovative Pacer, but Matadors now included a standard "no maintenance" electronic ignition developed by Prestolite. All U.S. market Matadors featured catalytic converters that required the use of unleaded regular-grade fuel. New "unleaded fuel only" decals were placed by the fuel filler door and on the fuel gauge. Steel-belted radial tires became standard equipment on all Matadors.

The six-cylinder engine now became the 258 cu in (4.2 L) version and it was not available in California. The standard V8 was 304 cu in (5.0 L) and optional was the 360 cu in (5.9 L) as the 401 cu in (6.6 L) was available only for police and fleet orders. From 1975 the 360 and 401 V8s were fitted with the upgraded Autolite 4350 4-barrel carburetor. Only V8-powered Matadors were available in California.

The sedan and wagon exteriors were updated with a new full-width grille featuring squared-off parking lights in the front and a new tail light lens assembly. An uplevel "Brougham" trim option became available for both sedans and wagons from 1975. There were no further style changes to the body of the sedan and wagon for the remainder of the production run.

A preview of the 1975 Matador models by the editors of Consumer Guide was quite complimentary, especially of the sedan and wagon.

1976

1976 AMC Matador station wagon with optional simulated wood trim

second-generation Matador interior (1976) with safety shaped padded dashboard

For 1976 the 258 cu in (4.2 L) six-cylinder remained the base engine with 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 and 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 engines with 2-barrel carb as options.

A "Performance Option" 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 with 4-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust with twin catalytic converters was available through 1976. The 2.87 rear axle ratio was standard with 3.15 and 3.54 optional. A floor shifted automatic transmission was available on coupes equipped with bucket seats and console.

The "Brougham" trim option continued for both sedans and wagons in 1976.

1977

For 1977 AMC introduced the Buyer Protection Plan II which extended the engine and drivetrain warranty from 12-months/12,000 miles to 24-months/24,000 miles. The base engine continued to be the 258 cubic-inch I6 and V8 options were the 304 or 360 cubic-inch. The high-performance "Power Package" 360 was dropped for 1977. All Matadors now came standard with automatic transmissions.

1978

For 1978, the 258-cubic-inch six remained standard, but the 360 cu in (5.9 L) became the only V8 engine available. The "Barcelona Package" option that was previously exclusive to the Matador Coupe was extended to the four-door sedan. This special interior and exterior trim included individual reclining seats in velveteen crush fabric with woven accent stripes, custom door trim panels, unique headliner, vinyl roof, and 15-inch wheels color-matched to a choice of two two-tone color schemes: Golden Ginger Metallic with Sand Tan, or Autumn Red Metallic on Claret Metallic. The AMC Buyer Protection Plan for 1978 changed back to 12-months/12,000 miles across the entire AMC range.

Sales in 1978 fell 66% for the Matador line so the line was dropped by the end of the model year.

1978 AMC Matador Barcelona sedan

Front

Rear

Two-tone and 15-inch wheels

Interior special upholstery

Matador Coupe

1974 AMC Matador X Coupe

1976 AMC Matador Coupe, Brougham edition finished in Dark Cocoa Metallic (paint code: H4) with optional vinyl roof cover

American Motors' executives saw an opportunity to replace the "uninspired" Matador two-door hardtop with a new design to capture people looking for exciting, sporty styling in a market segment that was outpacing the rest of the automobile market; and were looking to answer the demand for plush mid-size coupes after the end of the muscle car era.

The 1974 model year introduced an aerodynamically styled fastback coupe with pronounced "tunneled" headlight surrounds. The Matador coupe was the only all-new model in the popular mid-size car segment, specifically targeting the Chevrolet Chevelle Coupe, Ford Torino Coupe, and Plymouth Satellite Sebring. The coupe was designed under the direction of AMC's vice president of styling, Dick Teague, with input from Mark Donohue, the famous race car driver. AMC's styling department had greater freedom because of a decision to design the new Matador strictly as a coupe, without the constraints of attempting to have the sedan and station wagon versions fit the same body lines. Reportedly Teague designed the coupe's front as an homage to one of the first AMCs he designed, the 1964 Rambler American. This was one of several distinctive elements as the long sloping hood was set off by deeply tunneled headlamps between a broad grille with turn signal lamps resembling driving lamps. The forward edge of the hood was part of a character crease line that went completely around the middle of the car and continued across the rear end. The coupe's doors were extra long and featured frameless glass. The B-pillar was also distinctive and the quarter side windows sloped with the roofline. The combination of a very long low hood and a tall short rear deck enhanced the coupe's wind-shaped look. The new coupe featured a totally unique design to avoid the massive, blockish look. The bodywork flowed underneath the coupe's broad grille with tunneled headlamps in the rear with an uninterrupted design with the four round taillamps and an indented license plate area, while the bumpers were free-standing with rubber gaiters concealing the retractable shock absorbers.

The standard power team for the 1974 coupe was AMC's 232 cu in (3.8 L) inline six-cylinder with a 3-speed manual transmission. Standard on the Matador X was the 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8. A floor shift automatic transmission was available only on the coupe with center console and bucket front seats.

Many were amazed that AMC came up with the fast, stylish Matador, considering the automaker's size and limited resources. The Matador coupe stands out as one of the more distinctive and controversial designs of the 1970s after the AMC Pacer and was named "Best Styled Car of 1974" by the editors of Car and Driver magazine. A Popular Mechanics survey indicated "luscious looks of Matador coupe swept most owners off their feet" with a "specific like" listed by 63.7% of them for "styling".

Sales of the coupe were brisk with 62,629 Matador coupes delivered for its introductory year (August 1973 thru December 1974, Long Year), up sharply from the 7,067 Matador hardtops sold in 1973. This is a respectable record that went against the drop in the overall market during 1974 and the decline in popularity of intermediate-sized coupes after the 1973 oil crisis. After it outsold the four-door Matadors by nearly 25,000 units in 1974, sales dropped to less than 10,000 in 1977, and then down to just 2,006 in the coupe's final year. Nearly 100,000 Matador coupes in total were produced from 1974 through 1978.

American Motors executives, including vice president of design Dick Teague, described design plans for a four-door sedan and station wagon based on the coupe's styling themes that did not reach production.

Oleg Cassini

Cassini showing off the interior trim he designed

1975 Matador Oleg Cassini coupe

A special Oleg Cassini edition of the Matador coupe was available for the 1974 and 1975 model years. This one more in a series of designer cars that were marketed by AMC. This included the Gucci Hornet and Pierre Cardin Javelin special designs as well as the Levi's versions of the Gremlin and Hornets. American Motors had the famous American fashion designer develop a more elegant luxury-oriented model for the new coupe. Cassini was renowned in Hollywood and high-society for making elegant ready-to-wear dresses, including those worn by Jacqueline Kennedy. Cassini himself helped promote the car in AMC's advertising.

With Cassini's styling, the new "smooth and slippery" two-door featured "marks of haute couture" with the "upholstery, panels and headliner done in jet black, with copper trim pieces, and with carpets and vinyl roof also offered in a copper accent color. The exterior trim included striping, bodyside rub strips, custom wheel covers, and special "Oleg Cassini" crest badging." The Cassini Coupes were limited to black, white, or copper metallic exterior paints, and all came with the vinyl-covered roof. They also featured copper-colored trim in the grille, headlamp bezels, within the standard turbine-type full wheel covers, and also within the rear license plate recess.

The interior was a Cassini hallmark featuring a special black fabric with copper metal buttons on the individual adjustable and reclining front seats as well as on the padded door panels. The design was further enhanced by deep pile copper-colored carpeting. Additional copper accents were on the steering wheel, door pulls, and on the instrument panel. Embroidered Cassini medallions were featured on the headrests. The glove compartment door, trunk lid, front fender, and hood featured Cassini's signature.

The use of a fashion designer to specially create appearance packages for American cars was followed with the Continental Mark IV in 1976. In 1979, Cadillac briefly used this approach on the Cadillac Seville partnering with fashion designer Gucci, but ended this practice in 1980.

Barcelona

1977 Barcelona Coupe

1978 Barcelona Coupe

For 1977 and 1978, the "Barcelona II" coupe featured a padded Landau roof and opera windows, styling cues that were required at that time by buyers in the highly popular two-door "personal luxury" market segment. At first, it was available in only one distinctive two-tone paint pattern consisting of Golden Ginger Metallic with Sand Tan.

The Barcelona included numerous comfort and appearance upgrades in addition to the extensive standard equipment that came on all Matadors. The special items were: individual reclining seats in velveteen crush fabric with woven accent stripes, custom door trim panels, unique headliner, 24 oz (680 g) carpeting, special "Barcelona" medallion on glove box door and front fenders, two-tone paint, headlight bezels painted accent color, two-tone finished 15-inch slot styled wheels, body-colored front and rear bumpers with rubber guards and nerf strips, landau padded vinyl roof, opera quarter windows with accents, dual remote control mirrors painted body color, black trunk carpet, rear sway bar, GR78x15 radial whitewall tires. The standard roll-down rear quarter windows were converted into fixed "opera windows" with fiberglass covers over the stock openings that were finished with padded vinyl inside and out.

For the 1978 model year, the Barcelona package came in a second color scheme: an Autumn Red Metallic on Claret Metallic combination. The 258-cubic-inch six with automatic remained standard, but the 360-cubic-inch became the only V8 option. Production for this final year was 2,006 coupes.

Motor Trend magazine road tested a 1977 Barcelona II coupe and found it to be equal to all in the objective areas, as well as one of the most distinctive vehicles on the road that "makes a good deal of sense... if you're not put off by the Matador's unique lines."

NASCAR racing

#12 NASCAR Matador during a pit stop

#16 NASCAR Matador tribute car in Sweden

Penske Racing prepared factory-backed Matador hardtops and coupes were used in NASCAR stock car tracks. Drivers included Indy winner Mark Donohue and Bobby Allison, and they won a number of races.

As it was AMC's first entry into NASCAR since the Hudson Hornet of predecessor company Hudson, the company's effort "raised eyebrows" for many NASCAR veterans because AMC was not known for cultivating a racing image. Racing pundits "initially scoffed at the notion of an AMC entry" on the circuit, but "the Matador acquired a fan following of its own."

Hutcherson-Pagan built a pair of 1972 2-door hardtop "Bull Fighters" for Penske as the marque's first attempt at NASCAR in 1972. The Matador was one of the first oval stock car to use disc brakes. After Donohue won the Western 500 with the first-generation Matador hardtop with four wheel discs, other teams soon followed with the upgrade.

The new 1974 coupe replaced the previous "flying brick" two-door hardtop design. Penske was quoted as saying that they did what they could with the old hardtop, and it did better on tracks with more curves and fewer straightaways. Donohue did not survive to drive the new aerodynamically designed fastback coupe, that many believe was aimed at NASCAR racing. The five wins for the AMC Matador are:

• Winston Western 500 – Riverside – Mark Donohue – 21 January 1973
• Los Angeles Times 500 – Ontario – Bobby Allison – 24 November 1974
• Winston Western 500 – Riverside – Bobby Allison – 19 January 1975
• Rebel 500 – Darlington – Bobby Allison – 13 April 1975
• Southern 500 – Darlington – Bobby Allison – 1 September 1975

Bobby Allison also won the non-points Daytona 125 qualifying race on 13 February 1975 and finished second in the Daytona 500 three days later.

Police and Law Enforcement

Though the full-sized AMC Ambassador was also offered as a police car, the Matador would prove to be very popular. The largest user of Matador patrol cars was the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), primarily from 1972 to 1974. After extensive testing of the special police models offered by Chevy, Ford, and Chrysler, the LAPD chose the AMC Matador because they "out handled and outperformed all the other cars." The LAPD police Matadors included among other special equipment: T-2 can lights, a five-channel Motorola Mocom 70 VHF radio, a Federal PA-20A Interceptor siren, and a "Hot Sheet Desk" with a Roster gooseneck lamp. Matador sedans and station wagons were also used by other agencies, including the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, and the Los Angeles Fire Department. The 1974 models would be the last year for the LAPD's purchase of the Matador. The second-generation longer-nosed restyle and the 5-mile-per-hour (8 km/h)-mile bumpers added weight that affected handling and performance. Moreover, after 1976, AMC "let the police car business go as it causes too many problems."

Matadors were used many other law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and Canada, as well as by military police units with some remaining in service even until the mid-1980s.

While V8 power was down for many domestic sedans, AMC used a 401 cu in (6.6 L) V8 engine that out-powered most other police vehicles. Tests of the 1972 AMC Javelin pony car and Matador sedan equipped with the 401 V8s resulted both running the quarter-mile dragstrip in the 14.7-second range. 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) times were within 7 seconds, comparable to a 2006 Hemi Charger police car. Top speed was about 125 mph (201 km/h), which took 43 seconds, much faster than the previously used Plymouth Satellites.

The high-performance 401 V8 was last available in 1975 only for fleet and police ordered sedans.

In popular culture

Television shows

A 1972 AMC Matador was used as the hero police car in Seasons 5–7 of Adam-12 TV show

During the 1970s, AMC Matador police cars would appear in many television shows and episodes featuring police car procedures. The vehicle itself was considered a character most famously in Adam-12 from 1972 until the show's end in 1975. The show's stars rode in a 1972 Matador and the character of "Mac", their precinct sergeant, drove a 1972 Matador station wagon.

Most famously, 1974 Matador sedans were the Hazzard County, Georgia police cars featured during the first season of The Dukes of Hazzard and both generations of sedans appeared as LAPD police cars during the first three seasons of The Rockford Files.

James Bond film placement

As part of a significant product placement strategy, an AMC Matador coupe played a starring role in a The Man with the Golden Gun, released in 1974. It featured the newly introduced Matador Brougham Coupe in the Oleg Cassini edition, along with Matador four-door police cars (in the black and white livery used by the Los Angeles Police Department) and a Hornet X hatchback. The Matador is the car of Francisco Scaramanga, and along with Nick Nack, they use the "flying" AMC Matador to kidnap Mary Goodnight. With its wings, the stunt car was 9.15 m (30 ft) long, 12.80 m (42 ft) wide, and 3.08 m (10 ft) high. A stuntman drove the "car plane" to a runway. It was not airworthy, so a 1 m (39 in)-long remote controlled model, built by John Stears, was used for the aerial sequences.

The "flying AMC Matador" was exhibited at auto shows, part of AMC's marketing efforts for the aerodynamically designed coupe, as well as publicity exposure for the concept of unique flying machines.

International markets

Australia

First generation Rambler Matador sedan in New South Wales assembled by AMI

Australian assembly of the Matador by Australian Motor Industries (AMI) started in 1971, and the model was discontinued after 1977. The AMI cars were marketed as the Rambler Matador. AMI also acted as the State distributor for Victoria. Sales for New South Wales were managed by Sydney company Grenville Motors Pty Ltd, which were also the State distributor of Rover and Land Rover. A network of Sydney and country NSW dealers were controlled by Grenville which was in direct communication with AMI. Australian Capital Territory sales were managed by Betterview Pty Ltd in Canberra. Annand & Thompson Pty Ltd in Brisbane distributed Rambler vehicles for Queensland. South Australian sales were managed by Champions Pty Ltd in Adelaide. Premier Motors Pty Ltd in Perth distributed Ramblers for Western Australia, and Heathco Motors in Launceston distributed Rambler vehicles for Tasmania.

Knock-down kits for right-hand drive models were shipped from AMC's Kenosha, Wisconsin factory for assembly in AMI's facilities in Port Melbourne, Victoria. AMI used the same paint codes for the Matadors as the Toyota and Triumph vehicles they also assembled. These paint codes did not correspond to the AMC paint codes and thus Australian Matador colors are unique. All exterior model year changes otherwise corresponded to those of U.S. production. However, Australian production of each model was carried through to the following year, and the final first-generation 1973 model was further assembled through to the end of 1975. The U.S 1974 second-generation Matador was assembled in Australia from December 1975 to December 1976. The Matador coupe was assembled in 1976 and sold in 1977 only.

Standard equipment included automatic transmission, power steering, power windows, locally fitted under dash air conditioning, and an AM radio, for both sedan and wagon models. The engine was AMC's 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8, following its introduction in the 1970 Rebel. Although superseded by AMC in the United States, Australian Matadors continued to be built with the heavier duty steering components used in Ramblers built with power steering up until 1967. Among the options were an exterior mounted sun visor, vinyl roof cover, tow hitch, and mud flaps. The cars were targeted at the top market segment and advertised as "the American luxury limousine made for Australians" and built for Australian conditions.

In addition to the modifications needed for Australian standards and market requirements, changes included the use of "local content" sourced parts and components (such as seats, carpeting, lights, wing mirrors, heaters, and even unique "R"-logo wheel covers) that reduced the tariff added to each car. As red rear turn signals were prohibited in Australia, Matador sedans had amber lenses mounted over or behind the reversing lens of the tail light assembly and the turn signals rewired to the reverse lights, while Matador station wagons had their rear turn signals rewired into amber trailer lights that were retrofitted into the tailgate. As with its Rebel predecessor, the Matador hardtops were not marketed in Australia. AMI's two-door offering was the AMC Javelin.

1971

1971 Matador, assembled by AMI in 1972. Although RHD, the cars still had LHD windscreen wipers

From late 1971, the AMI-built Matador was available in sedan and wagon body styles. (AMI had assembled the 1970 Rebel again in 1971, thereby causing the Matador's release to be a year late.)

As with the previous Australian-assembled Rebel models, the AMI-assembled Matador continued to use the dash of the U.S. 1967 Rambler Ambassador first used in the right-hand-drive Ambassadors produced for the United States Postal Service in 1967, including the three-lever Weather Eye heater unit and analog clock to the left of the instrument fascia. The black, round instrument dials of the U.S 1970 Ambassador were also reused. A black metal plate with a picture of a bull and a bullfighter covered the cavity to the right side of the fascia where otherwise the radio went on U.S models. An AM radio unit was instead fitted into the center of the dash, above the ashtray.

Air conditioning was fitted by way of locally supplied under dash units.

Seating for the 1971 model consisted of a locally-made full bench seat, in vinyl, with a fold-down center armrest for both front and rear seats and headrests for the front.

Interior door panels were locally made in the style of the U.S model but with cutouts to accommodate the right-hand drive positioning of the power window controls (from the U.S AMC Ambassador), and the rear door panels came standard with ashtrays.

Forward parking light/turn signals received clear lenses as opposed to amber lenses in the U.S. so that front parking lights and turn signals flashed clear. Amber side marker lenses were used for both the front and rear of the sedans, where otherwise the U.S models had red lenses for the rear.

The Australian Matador also came with unique "R" logo hub caps which were locally made. The full-sized stainless steel hubcaps with the writing "American Motors" which were used in the U.S and New Zealand 1970 Rebel and U.S 1971 Matador were never available as an option in Australia. Apart from the hubcaps, externally the 1971 Australian Matador was the same as the U.S 1971 model.

Unlike the U.S models, Australian Matadors came standard with power steering, power windows and continued to use the earlier steering componentry of the mid-1960s U.S Ramblers.

Despite being right-hand drive cars Australian Matadors retained the left-hand-drive windscreen wiper assembly (left-hand sweep.)

A total of 69 Matador sedans and 64 station wagons (including some 1970 Rebel station wagons reassembled in 1971) were sold in Australia in 1971.

1972

Australian 1972 Rambler Matador. 1972 models were also assembled into 1973

AMI continued to assemble the U.S 1971 model into 1972 marketing it as a "1972" model. The actual U.S 1972 Matador was assembled by AMI in late 1972, with sedans assembled from October and wagons assembled from November 1972.

As with the U.S model, the Australian 1972 model came with the new Torqueflite 727 transmission and the new-for-1972 external style changes.

The black instrument dials of the U.S 1970 Ambassador were again reused in the RHD 1967 Ambassador dash. The revised armrests of the U.S 1972 model were consistent with the Australian 1972 model. The front bench seats were again locally made with individually reclinable driver and passenger seatbacks and a fold-down middle armrest. The rear seat was the same as the 1971 Australian model. The same door panels from the 1971 model were reused and again made locally, also allowing for the RHD power window controls.

In order to comply with Australian Design Rules regarding not allowing red rear turn signals, an orange serrated plastic cut-out was glued inside the reverse light lens of the tail light assembly for the sedans, and the reverse lights re-wired as flashers. Station wagons received amber trailer light assemblies drilled into the tailgate and wired as turn signals. Clear forward park/turn signal lenses were again used.

The Australian "R" hub caps were reused for the 1972 model.

Power windows, power aerial, under dash air conditioning, and earlier Rambler steering componentry remained standard.

300 Matadors (236 sedans, 64 wagons) were sold in 1972, most being U.S. 1971 models.

1973

The U.S 1972 model was further assembled in 1973 and sold as a "1973" model. The U.S 1973 model was assembled by AMI starting in late 1973. Externally the Australian 1973 model was identical to the U.S 1973 model, with the same grill and taillight changes. Again the models were built with the earlier Rambler heavier duty steering components and heavy-duty suspension.

AMI boasted the new model's 11.4% increase in brake horsepower and a 3.5% increase in torque, despite a slew of anti-pollution equipment. A four-barrel carburetor replaced the two-barrel carburetor used up until this time.

For amber rear flashers, AMI fitted an orange serrated plastic cut-out over the clear reverse lens of the tail light lens assembly and once again re-wired the reverse lights as the turn signals. Station wagons again received amber trailer light assemblies drilled into the tailgate and wired as turn signals. For 1973 AMI dispensed with the transparent parking light/turn signal lenses, but instead of simply using the standard U.S amber lens, they fitted an off-the-shelf, notably ill-fitting, rectangular amber trailer lens in each light cavity to make the lights flash amber.

From 1973 Matadors were fitted with Australian-made front split-bench seats in vinyl, each with their own fold-down armrest and headrests. The new headrests were not so "chunky" as the 1971 and 1972 models. The rear bench seat remained the same. The locally-made door panels first used in the Australian 1971 model were again reused.

A slight change was made to the passenger side of the dash from the 1973 model onwards in that the 1967 Ambassador "flat" dash pad was replaced with a more protruding dash pad that ran flush with the instrument cluster binnacle and without the speaker. For sound, speakers were instead fitted into both front door cards. Otherwise, the dash was the same as previous models but new for 1973 was the introduction of the white-backed instrument cluster of the U.S 1972/1973 Matador, displaying in miles-per-hour (mph.)

Power windows, power steering, under dash air conditioning, and electric aerial remained standard.

For 1973, Australian sales were 230 Matadors (191 sedans, 30 wagons.) Most were U.S 1972 models.

1974

For 1974 AMI continued to assemble the U.S 1973 model again, marketing it as a "1974" model.

Changes for the year included the introduction of white instrument dials (in use on the U.S models since 1972) but displaying kilometers per hour (km/h.)

The left-hand-drive wiper assembly was finally re-engineered locally to a right-hand-drive sweep.

The horn pad and steering wheel of the U.S 1973 Matador (without "bullseye" logo) was replaced with the slightly smaller steering wheel and interchangeable horn pad of the AMC Hornet (with the "AMC" logo in the center.)

Also for 1974 three-point retractable seat belts for the front and rear were fitted, replacing the two-point sash belts.

The locally-made, split-bench front seat and rear seat from the 1973 model were again reused, as were the locally-made door cards copied from the U.S 1971 model.

145 Matadors (118 sedans, 27 wagons) were sold in Australia during 1974. All were U.S 1973 models.

1975

For 1975 AMI continued to assemble the U.S 1973 model, marketing it as a "1975" model. All the standard features of the U.S 1973 model and local year-by-year changes were retained.

Assembly of the revised second-generation Matador sedan and wagon released in the United States in 1974 was held off in Australia until December 1975.

Registrations for 1975 were 118 Matadors (85 sedans, 33 wagons) including the first few of the second-generation models assembled at the end of 1975.

1976

1976 (U.S 1974) Australian-assembled Rambler Matador sedan

AMI assembled the U.S 1974 second-generation Matador sedan and wagon through 1976 marketing it as the new "1976" model. The first few were built in December 1975.

Externally it was identical to the U.S 1974 model, even using the U.S stainless steel, full-size hub caps which AMC had been using on its domestic models since the 1972 Matador.

As with the previous models, the 1967 Rambler Ambassador dash assembly was reused, but now with the 1974 U.S-version instrument cluster. The 1967 Ambassador Weather Eye unit, previously positioned to the left of the instrument dials for the Australian-built Rebel and first-generation Matador, was shifted to the right of the dials. The new foam-formed cluster fascia encompassed all but the levers of the Weather Eye. The Australian-made seats in use since the 1973 model and the locally-made door cards in use since the 1971 model were continued with no changes. The revised steering wheel with the rectangular horn pad of the 1974 U.S-version was used on Australian models until the end of production.

All Australian second-generation Matadors continued to be powered with the AMC 360 V8 engine with automatic transmission, as with the first-generation Australian-built Matadors. From about June 1976 AMI fitted the Matador sedans with a "Heavy Duty Fleet Engine." As explained in Rambler Automotive Technical Service sheet #157, dated November 1976, the engines came with a four-barrel carburetor and electronic ignition. There were no other engine or transmission options.

The bonnet latch on the second-generation Australian Matadors remained on the passenger (left) side of the cabin, whereas previous Australian Matadors had the bonnet latch on the drivers (right) side as would be expected.

Under dash air conditioning, power windows, electric aerial, and the superseded 1960s steering componentry remained standard.

To meet the requirement of amber rear turn indicators, an orange plastic cut-out was screwed over the clear reverse lens of the tail light assembly and the turn signals rewired to the reverse lights. As Australian number plates were larger than U.S plates a wider sheet of folded steel needed to be welded to the rear of the number plate area so as to be able to fit the larger plates.

Registrations in 1976 were 88 Matadors (78 sedans, 10 wagons),

1977

A small number of Matadors which were assembled in December 1976 were registered in 1977.

Registrations for 1977 were 27 Matadors (24 sedans and 3 wagons.)

Matador Coupe

Rambler Matador X Coupe assembled by AMI

Australian Matador X Coupe. Generic orange lenses replaced the original red lenses for the turn signals

A fully imported AMC Matador X Coupe was presented at the Melbourne International Motor Show in 1974 to gauge interest. The evaluation car was converted from left-hand-drive to right-hand-drive by an outside company for the show. AMI dealers announced that there would only be 80 assembled. One media outlet reporting on the show stated that "As an indication that U.S cars are now very passe, most showgoers drifted by with hardly a glance for the car, preferring to paw over the bread-and-butter Toyota range." Other media reports were more positive stating that they expected the model to sell out quickly.

Although AMI received 160 knock-down kits for the all-new Matador Coupe in 1974, AMI did not assemble them until late 1976, and by that time 70 were intentionally destroyed leaving 80 still able to be assembled, with another 10 held as parts. Priced at $11,986.00 the model was marketed through 1977, sold for the one year only. Australian models came with AMC's 360 cu-in V8 with three-speed automatic transmission, the U.S Matador X sports steering wheel, and bucket seats. Air conditioning, electric antenna, and AM/FM radio were all standard. Because of the low production numbers (under 100) AMI was able to avoid having to re-engineer the left-hand drive wiper sweep to right-hand drive as they had done on the Matador sedans and wagons after 1974. All Australian models were badged as the sportier Matador X.

As with all factory RHD export and kit-assembled RHD Rebel and Matador sedans and wagons, the Australian Matador coupe used the dash of the 1967 Rambler Ambassador, although the instrument dials, center column, and steering wheel were from the U.S. 1974 model. Again, to satisfy Australian design rules, the red rear turn signal lenses were replaced with an off-the-shelf round orange lens replacing the inner tail light and rewired to flash amber, leaving the outer lens as tail light and brake light.

Costa Rica

Purdy Motor in San Jose assembled Matadors in Costa Rica from Knock-down kits.

Purdy Motor had acquired the franchise rights to market American Motors vehicles in 1959 and had imported complete cars to Costa Rica, but it was not until 1964 that Costa Rican laws permitted the local assembly of vehicles. Purdy Motor built an assembly plant in 1965 and the first locally manufactured Rambler was a 1964 Rambler Classic 660 which came off the line in late 1965. The all-new 1967 Rebel was assembled to production end, followed by the Matador from 1971.

In 1974 a new local vehicle manufacturer, Motorizada de Costa Rica, purchased the rights of Rambler distributorship from Purdy Motor. Motorizada continued to assemble AMC and Jeep vehicles as well as other brands until 1978. Motorizada was liquidated in 1979 allegedly for not paying taxes thereby ending the AMC brand in Costa Rica.

As with other export markets, the Matador was marketed in Costa Rica under the Rambler marque even after the marque was retired by AMC in its home market after 1969.

Mexico

Matadors were built by Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) in Mexico.

First generation

1971

Continuing the concept of VAM's version of the AMC Rebel, the Mexican Matadors were only available as a single trim level and in four-door sedan and two-door hardtop forms in their initial year. The hardtop retained the Rambler Classic SST name while the four-door sedan changed from Rambler Classic 770 to Rambler Classic DPL. Both body styles saw the same features as the 1971 AMC Matadors and were almost equal with only few exclusive characteristics for each. Standard equipment consisted of four-wheel manual drum bakes, manual steering, 170 bhp (127 kW; 172 PS) gross at 4,600 rpm 252 cu in (4.1 L) I6 engine with Carter WCD two-barrel carburetor and 9.5:1 compression ratio, fully synchronized three-speed manual transmission with column shift, 10-in heavy duty clutch, 3.54:1 rear differential gear ratio with manual transmission, 3.07:1 rear differential gear ratio with automatic transmission, electric two-speed wipers, electric washers, rectangular full-length 200 km/h (120 mph) speedometer, electric analog clock, collapsible steering column with built-in ignition switch, luxury custom steering wheel, courtesy lights, cigarette lighter, dashboard ashtray, locking glove box, wide individual front seats (hardtop), front bench seat (sedan), two-point front seatbelts, front and rear side armrests, dual rear ashtrays, single round dome light (sedan), dual C-pillar dome lights (hardtop), dual coat hooks, bright molding package, luxury wheel covers, and driver's side remote mirror. Optional equipment included power drum brakes (standard with automatic transmission), power steering, heavy-duty suspension, automatic transmission, heater with front defroster, vinyl roof, remote-controlled driver's side mirror, passenger's side remote mirror, bumper guards, bumper tubes, and locking gas cap.

1972

For 1972, all VAM cars received the same revisions and improvements of the AMC models. The Classic line saw upgrades in the replacement of the 252 cu in (4.1 L) six in favor of the 282 cu in (4.6 L) with gross 200 bhp (149 kW; 203 PS) at 4,400 rpm with Carter ABD two-barrel carburetor, 9.5 compression ratio, and 266-degree camshaft. Power brakes with front disks became standard equipment regardless of transmission, a Chrysler A998 three-speed automatic transmission in place of the older Borg-Warner automatics, heavy-duty suspension with front sway bar, improved heater with revised controls placed to the right of the steering column, and new two-round-pod instrument cluster. New wheel cover and grille designs were noticeable on the exterior, while seat patterns and side panels were also updated.

Since its redesign in 1970, the hardtop body style started to drop in sales and the front end facelift of 1971 did not help to reverse the trend. VAM did not want to drop it thereby leaving the company without a mid-sized two-door offering.

The model was reworked into an all-new limited edition with a sportier focus for 1972, as well as featuring more appointments similar to a personal luxury car. This became the VAM Classic Brougham, with the name "Rambler" removed to rejuvenate the line, while the four-door sedan became the VAM Classic DPL. The Brougham included as standard equipment power steering, three-speed automatic transmission with floor-mounted shifter (the same unit as the U.S. Rebel Machine models), center console with locking compartment (also shared with the Rebel Machine), individual high-back bucket seats (shared with the VAM Javelin), bright trim for pedals, heater, AM/FM stereo radio with four speakers, tinted windshield, and a remote-controlled driver's side remote mirror.

Despite the marketing and high level of equipment, the public saw it as the previous model. In reality, the only external differences with the previous model were limited to the colors, the grille, the standard vinyl roof and the wheel covers. The price was higher than that of the Rambler Classic SST and it did not increase sales for the year, ending below VAM's expectations.

The VAM Classic Brougham is the closest Mexican equivalent to AMC models Rebel Machine and Matador Machine sold in the U.S. and Canada and is probably the most collectible Matador/Rebel model produced in Mexico.

1973

Because of the low sales of the Classic Brougham hardtop, the Classic DPL four-door sedan became the only Matador version produced by VAM for 1973, with Javelin being the largest two-door model offered by the company. The 1973 Classic DPLs were virtually the same as their previous year's counterparts with differences only in seat and side panel designs as well as the grille design and a new engine head with larger valves and independent rockers.

Second generation

1974

The generational change that AMC Matadors received for 1974 in the United States was also introduced in Mexico. This meant a new front-end design with the "coffin nose" elongated central portion and single headlights, new horizontal tail light designs and rear licence plate mount located on the rear panel instead of the bumper and a new dashboard with squared dials and full length padded surface. With these novelties also came new bumper designs characterized by the five-mile-per-hour impact absortion system. This meant the only case (alongside the Pacer) of a VAM car incorporating this safety measure, which was not mandated by the Mexican government; making VAM Classics exceed the safety regulations of its time. Sedan units ordered with the automatic transmission regularly also included the power steering system and a heater at no extra cost. The beginning of automotive engine emission certification in Mexico affected the 282 cu in (4.6 L) six, which changed to a lower 8.5:1 compression ratio.

Matador Coupe

The biggest news of the year was the arrival of a new two-door model, AMC's Matador coupe. Unlike all previous (Matador and Rebel) models, it was available in two different trim levels; the sporty Classic AMX equivalent to the AMC Matador X model and the luxury Classic Brougham equivalent to the AMC Matador Brougham coupe model. Both versions were mechanically the same, carrying the same technical specifications as the Classic DPL models. Their main differences relied on appearance and standard features. The Classic AMX sported VAM's in-house five-spoke wheels with volcano center caps and trim rings, a blacked-out grille, and a rally stripe surrounding the full length of the car with an integrated AMX emblem on the right corner of the trunk lid; the Classic Brougham had a standard vinyl roof cover with its respective moldings, wheel covers (new design for the year), standard grille and "Brougham" emblems over the C-pillar bases. The Classic AMX showcased a three-spoke sports steering wheel, high-back fold-down individual bucket seats, a center console with a locking compartment, floor-mounted gearshift, and AM/FM radio. Despite the sportiness of the model, intended to take the place of the Javelin as VAM's top-of-the-line performance model as well as the image and enthusiast builder, the side armrests were the standard designs used in the Matador base models of the U.S. On the other hand, the Classic Brougham sported a custom sports steering wheel and column-mounted shifter with a fold-down split-back bench seat and AM radio. Unlike the Classic DPL, both the Classic AMX and the Classic Brougham included automatic transmission, power steering, and heater as standard equipment. A unique characteristic of the 1974 VAM Classic AMX was the shifter because it was the Javelin's "aircraft" U-shaped design.

1975

For 1975, changes in all three versions were few.

The Classic DPL obtained the new one-piece grille design with rectangular parking lights, in accordance with the US-versions, alongside new seats and door panels. The luxury steering wheel gained a new design for both the Classic DPL and the Classic Brougham.

Both coupe models obtained new interior door panels with AMC's full-length X-model side armrests; the panels of the sports version also carried an etched "AMX" emblem over the vinyl near the top front corner of the door. The Classic AMX also featured AMC's X-model floor-mounted shifter design.

All three versions shared the upgrades of electronic ignition, a vacuum gauge in place of the electric clock, a 282 cu in (4.6 L) I6 with a lower 7.7:1 compression ratio, and Holley 2300 two-barrel carburetor. The rear differential gear ratio was changed to 3.31:1 for both transmissions.

1976

Additional changes were incorporated for the 1976 model year. The Classic DPL and Brougham featured a new design for wheel covers. Both coupe models obtained a new grille design divided into two portions with squared parking lights. The Classic AMX had a new and more discreet side decal covering only the front fenders. It started near the A-pillar running all the way to the top of the side marker light in two tones, with a painted "AMX" emblem on it. The loss of the rear portion of the side decal meant and a new metal "AMX" emblem on the right trunk lid corner. Unlike previous years, the 1976 Classic AMX had a more blurred line between a sporty model and a luxury one. The side panel designs and seats looked totally luxurious instead of sporty, several units had wheel covers as standard instead of the trim rings and regular hubcaps, some units also had the clock instead of the vacuum gauge. What made them sporty was mostly reduced to the side armrests, steering wheel, the individual seat configuration, floor mounted shifter and center console. All three versions shared a new 160 km/h speedometer, tinted windshield, and seat designs that were based on AMC's Oleg Cassini units for the Matador coupes. These were color-keyed with the rest of the interior, and shared by all three versions instead of just the Brougham coupe as under AMC. The most unusual ones were those of the AMX as they were individual and included adjustable headrests with integrated Cassini crests and reclining mechanism (for the first time in VAM cars since 1972). The Classic DPL sported a fixed front bench seat while the Classic Brougham held a split folding-back bench. This model (as well as the 1976 VAM Pacer) is the only case of a VAM car that came close to the various U.S. AMC designer cars. This interior design was not an optional package, but standard factory issue. The copper accents (except for the buttons) and well as the exterior trim of the AMC Oleg Cassini models were not used in the VAM Classics (and Pacers). Meaning the Mexican Cassini package was mostly focused on seat and side panel designs (interior only).

The Classic line was discontinued in the middle of the 1976 model year. VAM was looking forward to introducing the Pacer model to the Mexican market, which would represent its fourth product line, while Mexican legislation at the time allowed only three per marque. Having both the Classic and the Pacer in the luxury market segment would have also caused internal competition. VAM favored the new Pacer over what until that time had been its flagship model (Ambassador in the US). There were also external factors behind this decision, since the large car market was going through a general downturn in Mexico. Starting in 1977, VAM's most luxurious model was the Pacer, and its largest sized models were the Americans (AMC Hornets).

Norway

Matadors were imported into Norway during the 1970s by Norwegian importer Kolberg & Caspary AS located at Ås, Norway. Kolberg & Caspary was formed in 1906 and imported automotive, industrial, and construction products.

Matadors, Javelins, and Hornets were sold by Gavas Motors AS in Oslo and Hasco Motors AS in Drammen.

United Kingdom

The Rambler name was used on right hand drive Matador models sold in the UK. Matador sedans were available through Rambler Motors (A.M.C) Limited in Chiswick, West London alongside the Ambassador hardtop and station wagon, and Javelin. With the exception of the Javelin, Matadors, and Ambassadors were exported from Kenosha with factory right-hand drive, as had been with the prior Rebel and Ambassador models brought into the U.K.

Unlike the Knock-down kits used for Australian assembly which continued to use the RHD version of the 1967 Ambassador dash, cluster, and Weather Eye (albeit to the right of the cluster for the second generation models) U.K. second-generation Matadors were factory-built with the temperature controls of the US-versions (positioned underneath and to the left of the instrument dials.) U.K. models also received a locally built and fitted "walnut burr" fascia that replaced the AMC black plastic cluster surround, as had been the practice for previous U.K.-market Rebels and Ambassadors.

The final 1977 models for the U.K. market were regular LHD versions.

End of the line

During the late 1970s, the domestic automobile market was moving to smaller cars. The large-sized Matador was no longer attractive to customers demanding more economical cars as fuel and money became increasingly worrisome problems after the 1973 oil crisis and the continuing double-digit domestic inflation.

Lacking the financial resources for a full redesign, AMC dropped the large Ambassador after 1974, while the Matador was discontinued after 1978, around the same time as Ford moved their full-size nameplates to a smaller platform. The downsized 1977 Chevrolet Impala also spelled doom for large intermediates from AMC and Chrysler. American Motors responded to the declining demand for large cars by introducing a new nameplate in 1978, the AMC Concord. The Concord was an upmarket restyling and positioning of the compact AMC Hornet that had the same 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase as the redesigned intermediate 1978 Chevrolet Malibu. It was presented as combining an "easy-to-handle size with a roomy sumptuous interior" and in contrast to the Matador coupe, the "overall styling was pleasant ... would not offend anyone" This was the first full-line of economical, compact-sized cars with luxurious trim, features, and comfort levels previously available only in larger automobiles.

American Motors did not have another large car until the Eagle Premier that was developed with Renault's partnership and introduced to the marketplace following the purchase of AMC by Chrysler in 1987.

Collectability

1974 AMC Matador X Coupe at a classic car show in Daytona Beach, Florida

While well-restored examples of Matador sedans can still be purchased for under US$3,000, ads have been published asking over US$10,000 for restored coupes. In Australia, a "survivor" or restored Matador sedan can fetch between AU$10,000–14,000.

Hemmings Classic Car magazine listed the 1974–78 Matador Coupe as one of their 19 pieces of rolling proof that the old-car hobby need not be expensive and described the Coupe as "possibly one of the most distinctive shapes to come out of the 1970s, and arguably a style pinnacle for the personal luxury movement", the James Bond movie role, as well as its NASCAR history.

The 1991 Esquire article "Cool Cars Nobody Wants" describes the 1974–75 AMC Matadors as a collectable, stating: "long considered the automaker to geeks, American Motors began its slow decline, we believe, when the liberal do-gooders who made up its core market began earning enough money to buy Scandinavian cars."

In 2014, Hagerty collector insurance listed the Adam 12 AMC Matador as their number one "favorite full-size, rear-wheel-drive American cop cars from 60 years of the best cop shows."

Further reading

• Conde, John A. (1987). The American Motors Family Album. American Motors Corporation. OCLC 3185581.
• Foster, Patrick R. (2004). AMC Cars: 1954–1987, An Illustrated History. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-1-58388-112-5.
• Foster, Patrick R. (1993). The Last Independent. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-0-87341-240-7.
• Montgomery, Andrew, ed. (2002). The Great Book of American Automobiles. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-1-84065-478-3.
• Marquez, Edrie J. (1988). Amazing AMC Muscle: Complete Development and Racing History of the Cars from American Motors. Motorbooks International. ISBN 978-0-87938-300-8.

External links

• AMC Matador on fastmusclecar.com
• The Coupe Coop, a website dedicated to the Matador coupe
• (Archived) MatadorSedan.com
• (Archived) Vintage LAPD Matador
• (Archived) AMC Police Car Registry
• (Archived 2009–10–24) Matador racing history
• AMC Matador at the Internet Movie Cars Database
• AMC Rambler Club — Club for 1954 – 1988 AMCs.
• American Motors Owners — Club for 1958 – 1988 AMCs.