From muscle automobile to fashionista.
What American Motors lacked in scale and monetary depth, it made up for in pluck and creativity. The Kenosha, Wisconsin primarily based carmaker appeared to all the time be getting ready to disaster, but someway managed to maintain issues fascinating out there place.
1972 AMC Javelin Pierre Cardin
One dollar-efficient maneuver employed by the AMC advertising and marketing crew was a sequence of licensed “designer” packages provided on sure fashions. Amongst them:
And plenty of Levi’s Version automobiles replete with, in some circumstances, real-denim upholstery.
Additionally provided, and seen within the advert under, was the Pierre Cardin Javelin. Obtainable for the 1972 and 1973 years, the $84.95 (1972) package deal introduced with it particular inside colours and patterns, and a restricted exterior colour pallet.
Cardin Javelins may very well be had in Snow White, Stardust Silver, Trans Am Pink, Wild Plum, and Diamond Blue.
Whereas AMC was by no means often known as an trade model chief, the designer-series automobiles have been truly effectively acquired, although gross sales have been fairly gradual. All instructed, the carmaker cranked out roughly 60,000 Javelins in 1972 and 1973, although solely 4100 or so got here geared up with the Pierre Cardin package deal. That’s a couple of 6.5-percent take fee.
The designer-series effort made sense in 1972, because the muscle-car period—due to low-lead fuel and rising insurance coverage prices—had come to an in depth, and carmakers have been scrambling to seek out methods to promote sporty automobiles with out promoting horsepower or drag-strip-performance figures.
For extra co-branded and designer enjoyable, try these basic designer Lincolns, and these largely forgotten licensed-vehicle trim ranges.
Take heed to the Automobile Stuff Podcast
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