You know, that crazy little car from Wayne’s World
AMC, the American Motors Company, is by far the smallest of the four American auto groups. The brand is best known for the AMC Pacer, which starred in the movie Wayne’s World. There is hardly any money for new models, but thanks to smart innovations, AMC manages to attract a loyal group of customers. For example, AMCs already drive around with disc brakes, while Cadillacs and Lincolns still have to make do with drums.
In the early 1970s, AMC decided to invest in a brand new model, the Pacer. It is aimed at a growing group of commuters who do not want a huge battleship, but a car that you can easily park in the busy city center. The lack of length compensates for the Pacer in width, so that – at least in the front – you still have the feeling of being in a normal car.
Protect occupants in rollovers
The Pacer is a unique opportunity for small AMC, but also a huge financial risk. An additional challenge is the emergence of Federal Safety Regulations. Safety was an important theme in the automotive industry in the early 1970s. From model year 1974 large safety bumpers become mandatory, but in the meantime the US government is working on even stricter rules. In 1980, all models are expected to withstand impacts of 40 km/h in side impacts and 50 km/h in rollovers. Because governing is foresight, AMC decides to take possible new legislation into account. The Pacer gets a sturdy internal roll bar, which runs around the body via the B-pillars. He is clearly recognizable by a bump in the roof of the Pacer. The space required for the roll bar makes the Pacer a bit wider than it already is, which makes the design rather out of proportion. But, AMC argues, safety comes first.
AMC Pacer eventually comes without a roll bar
Meanwhile, the Big Three are opting for a different strategy. With a powerful lobby, Ford, Chrysler and GM manage to convince the US government that the new rules are far too strict and that it is technically and financially impossible to comply with them. The lobby works, and the rules are relaxed considerably. A sour apple for AMC: all the work on the Pacer has been for nothing. The Pacer was introduced in January 1975 without a roll bar, but AMC did not change the design. The bump in the roof and the thick B-pillars are still there. In fact, AMC was right, and the Pacer was years ahead with its primitive safety cage. But you should never want to be right too early…
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl