Documentary "The Last Independent Automobile Manufacturer" looking back at AMC

A classic automotive underdog is getting its own documentary." The Last Independent Automaker" will look back at the history of American Motors Corporation, also known as AMC.

Those involved in the project, which aims to begin a six-part series in 2024, are currently crowdfunding to secure the funds needed to complete the series. At the time of publication of the article, the project has raised $5,760 of its $10,000 goal.

Created in 1954 from the merger of Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson, AMC was the largest U.S. automaker outside the "Big Three" of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler (now part of Sterantis). Even though it was a full-line automaker, AMC was much smaller than its Detroit rivals and had to be inventive to maintain its market position.

Under President George Romney, AMC focused on compact cars like the Rambler long before gasoline prices made them an essential part of every automaker's product strategy. Romney's son, Senator and former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, is featured in the trailer for the documentary.

AMC became embroiled in the performance wars of the 1960s, launching the Javelin and AMX muscle cars and successfully campaigning the Trans Am race in the early 1970s.

In the 1970s, AMC experienced financial difficulties. The acquisition of Jeep did nothing to stem the tide of losses and initiated an ill-fated partnership with French automaker Renault; AMC also launched the AMC Eagle, a four-wheel-drive vehicle that became the template for the modern crossover. [AMC ceased to exist in 1987 and its assets were absorbed by Chrysler. Auburn Hills kept Jeep alive and repurposed the Eagle name for a new captive import brand.

AMC's decades-long battle for survival should be interesting. The story will be told by those who were there. Watch the trailer, like it, and donate to the crowdfunding campaign for this series.