The AMC Concord was a compact car made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) starting in the 1978 model year and continuing to 1983. The Concord replaced the similar AMC Hornet and the AMC Matador, both due to be discontinued after 1978. The Concord was offered in four-door sedan, two-door coupe, three-door hatchback (to 1979) and four-door station wagon forms.

1978

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Because of budgetary limits, AMC was unable to build a completely new car. The "new" car was given an eggcrate grille with two rectangular headlights and a stand-up hood ornament, and enormous tricolor taillights. The Concord also received more sound deadening and suspension upgrades to differentiate it from the outgoing Hornet.

Three models were available: Base, Sport and the top-line D/L. The D/L featured many of the luxury cues that were popular on cars in the 1970s; a landau vinyl roof with opera windows (coupe only), color-keyed wheel covers, and reclining seats covered in velveteen cloth. The D/L wagon featured exterior woodgrain trim and reclining seats in a leather-like perforated vinyl. While one could get options like cruise control and air conditioning, power windows and power door locks were unavailable. A 232 in³ six-cylinder engine was standard, with a 258 in³ six-cylinder and a 304 in³ V8 being optional on the D/L models. An AMX package was available on the hatchback for 1978, including different a different front fascia with single round headlights.

AMC marketed the Concord as a more economical alternative to larger luxury cars. The tag line in the ads at the time of Concord's introduction touted it as the car with "The luxury America wants, the size America needs.". The Concord outsold both the Pacer and Matador combined, second only to the Gremlin.

1979

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The next model year saw moderate upgrades. The grille was changed and quad rectangular headlamps installed. The D/L sedan was given a "half-vinyl" roof. 1979 also saw the introduction of the Limited, appointed with leather upholstery, thick carpeting, woodgrain interior trim, full courtesy lighting, luxury wheel covers and a vinyl roof; the Limited was very well equipped for a compact car at the time. The Sport package was dropped, and the AMX option transferred over to the new Spirit liftback.

The V8 engine was dropped, and the D/L package, now relegated to being the mid-priced trim, was extended to the hatchback, which was given a brushed aluminum roof band and a half-vinyl roof to differentiate it from the standard hatchback. For a car in its size and price class, the Concord came better equipped than many of its competitors.

1980-1983

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The hatchback was dropped for 1980, and the remaining models were given a smoother appearance. The sedan versions of the D/L and Limited were given full vinyl roofs with opera windows; the coupe versions received squared off opera windows and a more formal landau roof treatment. The taillights were modified and given a wraparound treatment. That same year, options such as power windows and power seats were also made available. General Motors' Iron Duke I4 engine was also made available for 1980. The car pretty much remained this way until 1983. The four-wheel drive AMC Eagle was based on the Concord body style, and nearly all body, interior and trim parts were interchangeable.

End

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The Concord was dropped (along with the Spirit) after 1983 in favor of AMC's new line of Renault-based vehicles. The AMC Eagle remained in production, using the Concord platform until it too was discontinued in 1988. The Mexican government-owned automaker VAM made a vehicle called the VAM Lerma, which was based on the Concord's chassis with the Spirit's body panels.

The Chrysler Corporation, now DaimlerChrysler, which took over AMC in 1987, made a full-size sedan called the Chrysler Concorde from 1993 to 2004.

AMC vehicles | Compact cars | Coupes | Hatchbacks | Sedans | Station wagons | 1970s automobiles | 1980s automobiles | Rear wheel drive vehicles