Re: Mat coupe front clip on wagon

[Wayne E LaMothe <superglider@xxxxxxxx>]

IIRC the matador coupe was designed by Teague after serious input from
Mark Donohue.  It was meant for the super speedways and NASCAR.  I
believe there was a big write up about it in a 1974? R&T mag.

Wayne
Wayne and Lisa, Bolton Landing, NY, http://www.superglider.thinkhost.com
AMO#8454,
82 Eagle SX/4; 66 Ambo 990 Wagon, AC, PS, PB, PW, Apollo Yellow woody
69 Ambo Coupe, 401, M12; 83 Eagle Limited wagon

On Mon, 26 Sep 2005 14:53:16 -0400 farna@xxxxxxx writes:
> Jeff is 100% correct, of course! The Coupe and the Pacer were two 
> money holes for AMC -- turned out to be big gapping holes too! 
> NEITHER shared ANY sheetmetal with any other vehicle. The Mat Coupe 
> shared a more than the Pacer, but just drivetrain and most front 
> suspension components. The jury is still out on whether the front 
> suspension crossmember was the same as a Matador sedans or 
> Ambassador. I don't think it would directly interchange with the 
> Matador sedans because the engine seems to be set back further. It 
> could interchange with the Ambassador, since the stretch required 
> the engien to be set back some. The wheelbase stretch was 8", but 
> the engine wasn't set back more than 4". 
> 
> We've gone over this before, but I believe the Pacer was a necessary 
> gamble. The entire full size line would have been based on it had it 
> not bombed. I don't know WHAT AMC execs were thinking when they 
> okayed the Matador Coupe. I think Teague just talked them into it -- 
> he'd mentioned before that it was his last shot at a clean sheet 
> design. Maybe the execs thought it might be as well, or just wanted 
> to give him the chance to see what could be done. Should have been 
> with a small car. It was just the wrong car at the wrong time.
> 
> 
> On September 26, 2005 Jeff Reeves wrote:
> 
> > In a word: no.
> > 
> > I believe that AMC anted up for enough new sheetmetal for the 
> Matador coupe that it definitely wouldn't be a direct bolt on. Core 
> support would likely be different, if nothing else, and I would 
> speculate that the fenders wouldn't align correctly with the more 
> slab-sided wagon doors.
> > 
> > But, with some effort and determination, anything could be 
> possible! A coupe front on a wagon body would definitely be an 
> interesting project.
> > 
> > Jeff Reeves
> > Auburn GA
> > 94 Cherokee
> > 79 Spirit GT
> > 73 Javelin 401
> > 72 Javelin SST
> > 69 Ambassador DPL
> > 
> > Message-ID: <20050926032717.69296.qmail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > Date: Sun, 25 Sep 2005 20:27:17 -0700 (PDT)
> > From: Jesse <j2sax@xxxxxxxxx>
> > Subject: Mat Coupe Front Clip in Ambo Wagon? Marc?
> > To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> > 
> > SO I have this 6 cyl Coupe with no title.  I really
> > like the big Wagons, but I HATE the 75 up Ambo big
> > nose look.
> > 
> > Would a Coupe front clip work on an Ambo wagon?  I
> > know AMC is the ultimate for getting it's money's
> > worth from a platform!  I know this sounds crazy...
> > but wouldn't it be cool!
> > 
> > Just dreaming on a Sun evening!
> > 
> > Have a great week,
> > 
> > Jesse
> > 
> > 
> > 
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