From JM (d)

A comment on AMC engine swapping

>>
In 1993 Lincoln came out with a 4.6 All Aluminum DOHC motor
that the Lunatic Fringe are sleeving to a bore of 3.70 inch and
stuffing a destroked 5.4 crank into .
<<

brought to mind another case of arrested development that parallels the
parallel life of two "new" 1979 autos: AMC's Spirit and Ford's Mustang.

When Ford found itself in an AMC-style financial situation at the turn of
this century, it was forced to do exactly what AMC had done in 1980: instead
of spending a bit more to turn potential into performance, both had to
demount the slicks and head home.  The Lincoln that could have been be the
M-B CL55AMG or BMW 645Ci or Nissan Skyline or even, ahem, the Toyota

http://www.autoweek.com/files/specials/2005_detroit/lexus/lfa/pages/1.htm

of tomorrow --- yesterday, was the same concept that, for the AMC Spirit AMX
Turbo could have been the Integra, the Eclipse, the Cobalt [SS], or, most
importantly twenty years ago, the Mustang SVO --- which unknown to most
Americans was the "best" Mustang built after the musclecar Mustang era [when
the "best" Mustang might be chosen from a vast menu of tastes: from Boss 302
to KR CJ] ended --- 12 or 18 months before that "Fox" Ford AMX Turbo
debuted.

Just as had another King from the late '70s II followed another AMX; right
down to color, stripe and execution.  AMC may not be alive today; AMC
history may still be living.  Maybe just not in the circles of AMC.   
  
Early sketches of Lincoln and AMX (dunno if they're online...) that, like,
say, those of today's 350Z development, make the "parallels" even more
striking: "might've beens" between two same-but-different eras and auto
companies.

One probably would not have survived if it had developed an SVO Spirit, one
possibly would have not survived if it had created its AMX Lincoln; both
faced a need to sell substance, style -and- performance to survive. 

http://www.carmarket.ru/images/allconcept/Lincoln-MK-9-Concept-01.jpg

http://www.slawsar.website.pl/Auta/Lincoln%20MK9%20Concept2.jpg

Ford trucks kept Lincoln living (but trucks cannot keep GM healthy, its
stock from tumbling or its credit from slide to "junk" rating): AMC lives on
in semi-forgotten, second-tier auto history.  But there's still potential
for AMC to be more than "just AMC."  

http://www.barrett-jackson.com/events/scottsdale/vehicles/makelistnb.asp?auc
tionid=51&makeid=1721

http://www.ameliaconcours.org/news/NR-BobbyAllison2005AmeliaHonoree.pdf

"Most people buying now aren't speculators; [they] want something unique and
not mundane."

- Craig Jackson 1/24/05

(Fifty years from now, you'll know whether they want unique, not mundane,
AMC cars, maybe...).