Re: VAM

[farna@xxxxxxx]

That's correct Bruce -- same as US with different names. When some people heard about the "Classic AMX" years ago they got a bit excited, then discovered it was the Mat Coupe! There was one model produced later in the 70s and early 80s that was VAM only -- the Lerma. It was a Concord (four and two door models) with a Spirit hatch back. It was made using the "cut and paste" or "hack and weld" method! VAM proposed the same thing to AMC, but AMC told the Mexicans it would be to costly to make that way in the US. I don't think they cut complete cars, at least not for the rear end of the Spirit, but cut the components. Might have been practical to cut the back off a semi finished Concord though. The Lerma got its name from the town the body plant was in near Mexico City. 

Most of the AMCs you see near the border are actually US imports, deeper in Mexico is where most of the VAM cars are, particularly around Mexcio City. There is a 20 or so mile deep "special trade zone" (I don't recall the exact term) in Mexico near the US border. Only 10 year old or older cars can be imported without duties, so a 10 year old US model is the "new" model in Mexico. I don't think NAFTA affected that, it mainly deals with big business such as manufacturing. 

On August 21, 2005 brahlf@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> I just received a 1975 sales brochure for VAM off of E-bay.  Very
> interesting.  They had the 1975 AMC line up but with different badges.  The
> base Hornet was the American 75 , the Sportabout was the Camioneta American
> 75, the Hornet 2 door hardtop was the Rally 75, the Matador was the Classic
> D.P.L. 75,  the Gremlin stayed the same,  the Matador coupe was the Classic
> AMX 75 or the Classic Brougham 75.  The Americans and Gremlin came with a
> 170 hp 6 cyl, 259 cu in single barrel and the Classic came with 200 hp 6
> cyl, 259 cu in double barrel.  It seems in the late seventies they were
> using the current production runs of AMC with minor changes.
> 
> Bruce Rahlf
> Milwaukee, WI
> Brahlf@xxxxxxxxxxxxx


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