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ShadowsPapa

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The 4.0 wasn't available until 87. I owned a 1986 Comanche for 21 years. (Sold it when I bought my JT.) That Comanche had the "upgrade" engine which was a Chevrolet 2.8 Liter V6. Jeez did that engine suck. And yes, my Comanche came from the factory with a Chevrolet Engine, Chevrolet transmission and a Chevrolet S10 interior. That's how AMC rolled back then.
Yeah, it was indeed in 1986 calendar year for the 87 model year.
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FutureOdin

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The 4.0 wasn't available until 87. I owned a 1986 Comanche for 21 years. (Sold it when I bought my JT.) That Comanche had the "upgrade" engine which was a Chevrolet 2.8 Liter V6. Jeez did that engine suck. And yes, my Comanche came from the factory with a Chevrolet Engine, Chevrolet transmission and a Chevrolet S10 interior. That's how AMC rolled back then.
I wish it had the interior of a Chevy S10, those seemed a bit more "modern" than the Comanche interior.

Anyways, I don't think they came with any GM transmissions--'86 gave you an AX-4, AX-5, or TF A904.

I've currently got a '91 (which was actually the reason I sold my JT, lol) that I'm bringing back to life.

Anyways, that GM 2.8L was/is terrible. Would have been better off taking the AMC I4. Plenty of people swap in the 3.4L in place of the 2.8L.
 

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I wish it had the interior of a Chevy S10, those seemed a bit more "modern" than the Comanche interior.

Anyways, I don't think they came with any GM transmissions--'86 gave you an AX-4, AX-5, or TF A904.

I've currently got a '91 (which was actually the reason I sold my JT, lol) that I'm bringing back to life.

Anyways, that GM 2.8L was/is terrible. Would have been better off taking the AMC I4. Plenty of people swap in the 3.4L in place of the 2.8L.
Maybe the Chevy S10 interior was just very similar.

I'm not positive about the transmission, but I'm pretty sure is was a GM 3-speed automatic. Again, with the 2.8 liter V6, it was the same as the S10 pickup and S10 Blazer.

EDIT: Looking online, it appears AMC used the Chrysler Torque Flight 904 automatic trans.
 
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ShadowsPapa

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Would have been better off taking the AMC I4. Plenty of people swap in the 3.4L in place of the 2.8L.
The AMC I4 is actually what the 4.0 is based on. Even though some parts interchange and they are very similar, the 4.0 wasn't the son of the 258. The 4.0 shared pistons and rods with the I4.

My 87 had the 5 speed. Makes sense that they'd have used the Chrysler TF transmission at least a year or so since Chrysler was making the automatics for AMC since 72 - with the AMC bell housing bolt pattern.
 

ShadowsPapa

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I'm not positive about the transmission, but I'm pretty sure is was a GM 3-speed automatic. Again, with the 2.8 liter V6, it was the same as the S10 pickup and S10 Blazer.
No GM automatics.
AMC never used them save for the THM400 in the large Jeeps.
The Comanche was TorqueFlite or Aisin-Warner automatics.
Chrysler was already making automatics for AMC with the AMC bolt pattern, which the 4.0 had (that's why you can pull a 258 and bolt a 4.0 to it - be it a stock or automatic)

The interior was the exact same as the Cherokee was. I recall thinking it looked like they moved my Comanche interior over to the Cherokee I traded my Comanche for. Everything was the same except the color. The dash, the door layout, all the same in Comanche and Cherokee.

It was TorqueFlite for 86 and then to the A/W transmission in 87 for automatics.
 

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I’ll likely skip trading the diesel for that because electric is right behind but it’ll be very tempting. My old TJ I bought new has almost 400k on it now and still runs.

rumor has it that 400 hp // 500 tq is what they have targeted
 

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No GM automatics.
AMC never used them save for the THM400 in the large Jeeps.
The Comanche was TorqueFlite or Aisin-Warner automatics.
Chrysler was already making automatics for AMC with the AMC bolt pattern, which the 4.0 had (that's why you can pull a 258 and bolt a 4.0 to it - be it a stock or automatic)

The interior was the exact same as the Cherokee was. I recall thinking it looked like they moved my Comanche interior over to the Cherokee I traded my Comanche for. Everything was the same except the color. The dash, the door layout, all the same in Comanche and Cherokee.

It was TorqueFlite for 86 and then to the A/W transmission in 87 for automatics.
Negative Ghost Rider. In other countries AMC used anything and everything they could get their hands on... including GM transmissions. If you go down to Mexico you will find both 258's and 4.0's mounted to TH350's, 700R4's, and even Powerglides. Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) (basically AMC Mexico) built all sorts of stuff including a factory stroked inline 6 that was 282 c.i. or 4.6L. This is the engine that a lot of Jeep Speed guys were using.
 

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I’ll likely skip trading the diesel for that because electric is right behind but it’ll be very tempting. My old TJ I bought new has almost 400k on it now and still runs.

rumor has it that 400 hp // 500 tq is what they have targeted
if that's the case they'll sell it as an upgrade over the 3.6 and diesel. That means the price of the truck will go up even more. I doubt it'll be the same/similar to 3.6
 

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Stellantis is selling the high output version I6 at a Engine Upcharge of $2,000.00 over the Grand Wagoneer's standard 6.4L Hemi engine according to a Grand Wagoneer Series III buyer who ordered one. Do not know if this is accurate, just passing on what one guy posted.
 

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Negative Ghost Rider. In other countries AMC used anything and everything they could get their hands on... including GM transmissions. If you go down to Mexico you will find both 258's and 4.0's mounted to TH350's, 700R4's, and even Powerglides. Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) (basically AMC Mexico) built all sorts of stuff including a factory stroked inline 6 that was 282 c.i. or 4.6L. This is the engine that a lot of Jeep Speed guys were using.
Nope, I am still correct.
VAM was not AMC and AMC never built cars in Mexico.
VAM was a company owned by the Mexican government (starting in the early 60s as I recall)
VAM licensed designs from AMC, Chrysler, Renault, etc. They based their own VAM vehicles on AMC platforms, among others. But it was VAM, not AMC.
For example - the VAM Gremlin was actually based on the Spirit Sedan.
VAM chopped, cut, welded, did whatever they wanted to some extent, with the bodies and chassis they got from AMC. They had license from AMC to make body parts. But it was VAM, not AMC.
AMC never had a plant in Mexico and never built anything down there as a company.
VAM used other parts, and their own engine designs (often copies of AMC and other engines)
VAM had to modify the designs due to the crappy gas. They dropped compression and increased displacement to compensate for lack of a V8, and compensate for low octane fuel down there.
AMC had a stake in the company but never did anything as far as management. They left that to the Mexicans and VAM.

Here's another reason I'm right on the AMC/Jeep thing and transmissions -
AMC lost their share of VAM to Renault in the 80s. VAM produced some Renault vehicles down there, but they were VAM.
VAM engines were of AMC design, but with VAM modifications. So they were only AMC in basic design. They weren't "AMC engines" they were engines of AMC design made fully by VAM to VAM specs with engineering changes.
So again - there was no pairing of AMC engines to other transmissions.
VAM used their engines of AMC basic design in vehicles made in Mexico by VAM
In about 86, the Mexican government's control and ownership of VAM was transferred to Renault. So VAM was defunct in 86. If you see an 87 or later Comanche with a strange combo of engine and transmission, it was the Mexicans, not AMC. AMC never did such a thing.
AMC had their own unique bolt pattern so any transmission mating that wasn't made specifically for AMC had to use an adapter. You can't bolt a powerglide to an AMC engine without an adapter. You can't bolt a Ford or GM transmission to an AMC engine without an adapter.
AMC had Chrysler made the TF transmissions for them using the AMC bolt pattern for a direct fit.
Anything else needed an adapter. The A/W transmissions were a direct fit and had the AMC bolt pattern even into the 90s.
I pulled the engine from a 94 ZJ and the transmission behind it was a direct fit so had the AMC bolt pattern.

AMC hobbyist for 50 years, half-owner theamcforum, member VAM FB page, friends who restore VAM vehicles in Mexico. We share info back and forth and one of them has a nice thread on his VAM vehicle restoration on our forum.

So - this:
- In other countries AMC used anything and everything they could get their hands on -
is wrong because AMC never made vehicles in Mexico.
In a nutshell -
*VAM was VAM, owned by the Mexican government.
*AMC never took part in management, engineering and so on of VAM vehicles or the factories.
*VAM licensed designs from AMC and used AMC body parts (and made their own).
*Most VAM cars mimicked domestic (U.S.) models but had significant differences in aesthetic design.
*VAM used AMC engine designs but with VAM mods and engineering - they didn't use AMC engines directly although some parts would interchange. They didn't buy AMC engines and drop them into VAM vehicles., the engines were made in Mexico
~Mexican government content rules applied as well. This means vehicles produced in Mexico must have at least a certain percentage of "domestic content" (Mexican content)~
*Because of the unfortunate collapse of the Mexican economy in the 80s (about 82??), their government lost VAM to Renault in 86.
*Renault shut it down.

What you see in Mexico is done by Mexican people and was done by VAM. AMC had no control nor part in it. They sold bodies and body parts, and licensed engineering/designs to VAM.
 

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ToJTornottoJT

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Nope, I am still correct.
VAM was not AMC and AMC never built cars in Mexico.
VAM was a company owned by the Mexican government (starting in the early 60s as I recall)
VAM licensed designs from AMC, Chrysler, Renault, etc. They based their own VAM vehicles on AMC platforms, among others. But it was VAM, not AMC.
For example - the VAM Gremlin was actually based on the Spirit Sedan.
VAM chopped, cut, welded, did whatever they wanted to some extent, with the bodies and chassis they got from AMC. They had license from AMC to make body parts. But it was VAM, not AMC.
AMC never had a plant in Mexico and never built anything down there as a company.
VAM used other parts, and their own engine designs (often copies of AMC and other engines)
VAM had to modify the designs due to the crappy gas. They dropped compression and increased displacement to compensate for lack of a V8, and compensate for low octane fuel down there.
AMC had a stake in the company but never did anything as far as management. They left that to the Mexicans and VAM.

Here's another reason I'm right on the AMC/Jeep thing and transmissions -
AMC lost their share of VAM to Renault in the 80s. VAM produced some Renault vehicles down there, but they were VAM.
VAM engines were of AMC design, but with VAM modifications. So they were only AMC in basic design. They weren't "AMC engines" they were engines of AMC design made fully by VAM to VAM specs with engineering changes.
So again - there was no pairing of AMC engines to other transmissions.
VAM used their engines of AMC basic design in vehicles made in Mexico by VAM
In about 86, the Mexican government's control and ownership of VAM was transferred to Renault. So VAM was defunct in 86. If you see an 87 or later Comanche with a strange combo of engine and transmission, it was the Mexicans, not AMC. AMC never did such a thing.
AMC had their own unique bolt pattern so any transmission mating that wasn't made specifically for AMC had to use an adapter. You can't bolt a powerglide to an AMC engine without an adapter. You can't bolt a Ford or GM transmission to an AMC engine without an adapter.
AMC had Chrysler made the TF transmissions for them using the AMC bolt pattern for a direct fit.
Anything else needed an adapter. The A/W transmissions were a direct fit and had the AMC bolt pattern even into the 90s.
I pulled the engine from a 94 ZJ and the transmission behind it was a direct fit so had the AMC bolt pattern.

AMC hobbyist for 50 years, half-owner theamcforum, member VAM FB page, friends who restore VAM vehicles in Mexico. We share info back and forth and one of them has a nice thread on his VAM vehicle restoration on our forum.

So - this:
- In other countries AMC used anything and everything they could get their hands on -
is wrong because AMC never made vehicles in Mexico.
In a nutshell -
*VAM was VAM, owned by the Mexican government.
*AMC never took part in management, engineering and so on of VAM vehicles or the factories.
*VAM licensed designs from AMC and used AMC body parts (and made their own).
*Most VAM cars mimicked domestic (U.S.) models but had significant differences in aesthetic design.
*VAM used AMC engine designs but with VAM mods and engineering - they didn't use AMC engines directly although some parts would interchange. They didn't buy AMC engines and drop them into VAM vehicles., the engines were made in Mexico
~Mexican government content rules applied as well. This means vehicles produced in Mexico must have at least a certain percentage of "domestic content" (Mexican content)~
*Because of the unfortunate collapse of the Mexican economy in the 80s (about 82??), their government lost VAM to Renault in 86.
*Renault shut it down.

What you see in Mexico is done by Mexican people and was done by VAM. AMC had no control nor part in it. They sold bodies and body parts, and licensed engineering/designs to VAM.
No, you are wrong, nice Wikipedia rephrasing... lol. My dad, Larry Bailey, was a head engineer at VAM. He was the only engineer there from the United States and was paid by Kaiser, AMC, then GM, and finally Chrysler before he retired, all while working at the same VAM headquarters and factory. There is a still a factory in Mexico City that is now owned by Mahindra. My dad set up the current three lines there after he retired.
 

ShadowsPapa

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No, you are wrong, nice Wikipedia rephrasing... lol. My dad, Larry Bailey, was a head engineer at VAM. He was the only engineer there from the United States and was paid by Kaiser, AMC, then GM, and finally Chrysler before he retired, all while working at the same VAM headquarters and factory. There is a still a factory in Mexico City that is now owned by Mahindra. My dad set up the current three lines there after he retired.
Uh, sorry, that's not rephrasing from wikipedia, it's from what I know about VAM from Mexican people.
VAM was not AMC, it wasn't even owned by AMC, although AMC had a minority holding like many corporations do.
Can't see why your father would be part of VAM and paid by GM - GM has operated in Mexico for years - as GM Mexico. They didn't need VAM although VAM likely bought certain parts from GM (and with GM being in Mexico, it could count as domestic content.
I did consult the Eagle Den and AMC forum for a couple of specific dates (we've a lot of hate for Renault so there's a lot discussed about that)
Doesn't matter who paid your father - VAM was not AMC.
AMC never made cars there.
Mexican rules say that cars made in Mexico had to have 60% Mexican domestic content.

Here's a couple paragraphs from AMC resources - GM wasn't involved.

For 40 years, this government-controlled company imported and produced automobiles and light trucks under license from Willys, AMC, Eagle, Jeep, Chrysler, Renault and designed their own vehicles based on AMC platforms.
But when Renault bought into AMC in the mid-eighties they had no interest in building AMC cars in Mexico and the partnership ended.

The agreements with VAM to license and produce cars and trucks in Mexico based on AMC designs and parts was put together by Roy Chapin - the guy whom my SX4's big best of show trophy was named after. He was executive VP of international operations.
VAM was independent, not owned or operated by AMC. And I suspect I can get confirmation if you must have it from Tom Benvie, an AMC historian who has a ton of the original documentation from AMC.

Still in that nutshell, AMC never built cars in Mexico. Anything built outside of the USA (or Canada, the Brampton plant) was done through licensing deals - other companies made the cars, not AMC.
That means AMC did not put other transmissions behind the 4.0 in the Comanche. For one thing, VAM was dead by then! VAM was no more, they could not have made any 87 or later Comanche trucks. Renault closed 'em down.
From the AMC Eagle Den forum and a Jeep site - The last AMC licensed and designed car was produced by VAM in 1983.
The Mexican government paid Renault some US$200 million to take over VAM and assume its debts in 1987.
Renault ended Jeep production in 1986 and pulled out of the country in 1987.
Renault then closed VAM down.

Odd a VAM "employee" would be paid by GM at all - GM had no interest or stake in VAM nor did VAM build GM stuff. GM did that in Mexico.

Still the fact remains - AMC did not build anything in Mexico. VAM did. VAM licensed the rights and bought the bodies and parts. They had their own engine plant and modified AMC engine designs to meet their needs.

To say AMC built cars in Mexico is the same as saying ZF builds transmissions in Indiana - they don't, Jeep does - under license from ZF.
 

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I contacted my sources, some insiders and a VAM biographer for More than you ever wanted to know about the Mexican version of Jeeps and the VAM I6 engines ->

From the horse's mouth (a Mexican gentleman I contacted with inside information on VAM):

En 1948 un grupo de empresarios llamado SOMEX (Sociedad Mexicana) adquirió la licencia de Willys para ensamblar en México los modelos Jeep. En 1953 SOMEX construyó una planta en la Ciudad de México para el ensamble de Jeep. La planta era grande y ofrecieron a otras empresas automovilísticas su servicio de armado. Willys Mexicana, S.A. De C.V. armaba en los años 50s y 60s coches Jeep, Datsun, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, camiones Autocar, FIAT, Austin, Izzeta y Peugeot.
En 1958 Willys Mexicana adquiere la licencia para armar el American de Rambler. La primera unidad Rambler apareció en 1959. También habían muchos importadores independientes de automóviles que traían de Estados Unidos de América los modelos American Motors.
En 1963 Willys Mexicana cambia de nombre a VAM (Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos).
En 1965 VAM sólo fabrica modelos Jeep y Rambler (American y Classic).
Los porcentajes en 1965 de accionistas propietarios de VAM era así:
SOMEX 60%
AMC, Jeep Kayser y Gobierno Mexicano 40%
Conforme pasaban los años el Gobierno Mexicano adquiría más y más acciones de VAM.
El modelo Ambassador nunca lo ensamblò VAM.
Las piezas para el ensamblado de los coches Rambler y Jeep en su mayoría provenían de Canadá y Estados Unidos. Un 20% de las piezas eran hechas en México.
En 1982 una terrible crisis económica en México obligó a muchas empresas a cerrar sus puertas.
En 1983 Renault compró VAM.
En 1984 Renault no quiso fabricar los modelos AMC, únicamente los Jeep hasta 1987.
En 1983 VAM estaba probando un prototipo Jeep Cherokee de 1984. Renault ya no continuó con la idea de fabricarlo en México. Hasta 1991 Chrysler de México fabricó el modelo Cherokee.
Es falso que VAM pusiera piezas de General Motors a los modelos Rambler y Jeep. Eso es una mentira.
VAM adoptó el motor L6 de AMC a los modelos Jeep desde 1966. En 1969 AMC de Norteamérica adoptó la idea de VAM de instalar los motores L6 a Jeep.
Hubo modelos VAM que tuvieron que adaptar para evitar costos. Uno de ellos fue el modelo Gremlin con frente de Hornet. Otro modelo propio fue el Lerma de 1981 y 1982.
Los motores L6 se fabricaban en otra planta del municipio de Lerma en el Estado de México.
Desde 1966 se fabricaban los motores con cilindradas 199, 232, 252 de VAM, 258 y 282 p.c.de VAM.

From an English speaking insider -
VAM adapted their I6 to the XJ for a prototype to try to get AMC to support it, which appears to have led to the domestic development and installs of the 4.0L. That was too late for VAM, though, and they never produced the XJ or MJ as a result.
They used Tremec manual transmissions built in Mexico from the 70’s on and used a very limited number of Torqueflights.

Another source in Mexico:
As far as Jeep.........VAM only produced J300 since 1970 and then in 1981 they introduced a pick up truck called J100. It used the same chassis as Wagoneers, therefore slightly different to Honchos offered in USA. Last year of J-300 was 1984. And last year of J-100 was 1986. These were the only pick up trucks manufactured by VAM. Comanche or MJ were never manufactured by VAM.
 
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ShadowsPapa

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I contacted my sources, some insiders and a VAM biographer for More than you ever wanted to know about the Mexican version of Jeeps and the VAM I6 engines ->

From the horse's mouth (a Mexican gentleman I contacted with inside information on VAM):

En 1948 un grupo de empresarios llamado SOMEX (Sociedad Mexicana) adquirió la licencia de Willys para ensamblar en México los modelos Jeep. En 1953 SOMEX construyó una planta en la Ciudad de México para el ensamble de Jeep. La planta era grande y ofrecieron a otras empresas automovilísticas su servicio de armado. Willys Mexicana, S.A. De C.V. armaba en los años 50s y 60s coches Jeep, Datsun, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, camiones Autocar, FIAT, Austin, Izzeta y Peugeot.
En 1958 Willys Mexicana adquiere la licencia para armar el American de Rambler. La primera unidad Rambler apareció en 1959. También habían muchos importadores independientes de automóviles que traían de Estados Unidos de América los modelos American Motors.
En 1963 Willys Mexicana cambia de nombre a VAM (Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos).
En 1965 VAM sólo fabrica modelos Jeep y Rambler (American y Classic).
Los porcentajes en 1965 de accionistas propietarios de VAM era así:
SOMEX 60%
AMC, Jeep Kayser y Gobierno Mexicano 40%
Conforme pasaban los años el Gobierno Mexicano adquiría más y más acciones de VAM.
El modelo Ambassador nunca lo ensamblò VAM.
Las piezas para el ensamblado de los coches Rambler y Jeep en su mayoría provenían de Canadá y Estados Unidos. Un 20% de las piezas eran hechas en México.
En 1982 una terrible crisis económica en México obligó a muchas empresas a cerrar sus puertas.
En 1983 Renault compró VAM.
En 1984 Renault no quiso fabricar los modelos AMC, únicamente los Jeep hasta 1987.
En 1983 VAM estaba probando un prototipo Jeep Cherokee de 1984. Renault ya no continuó con la idea de fabricarlo en México. Hasta 1991 Chrysler de México fabricó el modelo Cherokee.
Es falso que VAM pusiera piezas de General Motors a los modelos Rambler y Jeep. Eso es una mentira.
VAM adoptó el motor L6 de AMC a los modelos Jeep desde 1966. En 1969 AMC de Norteamérica adoptó la idea de VAM de instalar los motores L6 a Jeep.
Hubo modelos VAM que tuvieron que adaptar para evitar costos. Uno de ellos fue el modelo Gremlin con frente de Hornet. Otro modelo propio fue el Lerma de 1981 y 1982.
Los motores L6 se fabricaban en otra planta del municipio de Lerma en el Estado de México.
Desde 1966 se fabricaban los motores con cilindradas 199, 232, 252 de VAM, 258 y 282 p.c.de VAM.

From an English speaking insider -
VAM adapted their I6 to the XJ for a prototype to try to get AMC to support it, which appears to have led to the domestic development and installs of the 4.0L. That was too late for VAM, though, and they never produced the XJ or MJ as a result.
They used Tremec manual transmissions built in Mexico from the 70’s on and used a very limited number of Torqueflights.

Another source in Mexico:
As far as Jeep.........VAM only produced J300 since 1970 and then in 1981 they introduced a pick up truck called J100. It used the same chassis as Wagoneers, therefore slightly different to Honchos offered in USA. Last year of J-300 was 1984. And last year of J-100 was 1986. These were the only pick up trucks manufactured by VAM. Comanche or MJ were never manufactured by VAM.
Sorry, I copied his original un-translated text. Here it is translated to English:
In 1948 a group of entrepreneurs called SOMEX acquired Willys' license to assemble Jeep models in Mexico. In 1953 SOMEX built a plant in Mexico City for the Jeep assembly. The plant was large and they offered their assembly service to other automobile companies. Willys Mexicana, S.A. of C.V. built in the 50s and 60s cars Jeep, Datsun, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, Autocar trucks, FIAT, Austin, Izzeta and Peugeot.
In 1958 Willys Mexicana acquired the license to build the American de Rambler. The first Rambler unit appeared in 1959. There were also many independent car importers who brought American Motors models from the United States of America.
In 1963 Willys Mexicana changes its name to VAM (Mexican Motor Vehicles).
In 1965 VAM only made Jeep and Rambler (American and Classic) models.
Percentages in 1965 of shareholders who owned VAM looked like this:.
SOMEX 60%
AMC Jeep Kayser and Mexican Government 40%
As the years went by the Mexican government acquired more and more VAM shares.
Ambassador model never assembled VAM.
Rambler and Jeep assembly parts mostly came from Canada and the United States. 20% of the pieces were made in Mexico.
In 1982, a terrible economic crisis in Mexico forced many companies to close their doors.
In 1983 Renault bought VAM.
In 1984 Renault didn't want to make the AMC models, only the Jeep ones until 1987.
In 1983 VAM was testing a 1984 Jeep Cherokee prototype. Renault no longer continued with the idea of manufacturing it in Mexico. Until 1991 Chrysler from Mexico manufactured the Cherokee model.
It is false that VAM put general motors parts on rambler and jeep models. That's a lie.
VAM adopted the AMC L6 engine to Jeep models since 1966. In 1969 AMC North America adopted the idea of VAM to install L6 engines to Jeep.
There were VAM models that had to be adapted to avoid costs. One of them was the Hornet-fronted Gremlin model. Another model of our own was the Lerma from 1981 and 1982.
The L6 engines were manufactured in another plant in the municipality of Lerma in the State of Mexico.
Since 1966 produced 199, 232, 252 VAM, 258 and 282 cylinder engines p.c.de VAM.
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