AM-LIST

AMC DEALERSHIPS: Count Per Year: 1955=2646; 1956=2893; 1957=1958; 1958=2200; 1959=2473; 1960=2977; 1961=2974; 1962=2980; 1963=3095; 1964=3100; 1965=2968; 1966=2636; 1967=2462; 1968=2347; 1969=2294; 1970=2374; 1971=2256; 1972=2025; 1973=1930. 1980=1532.

AMC's MARKET: Annual "New Car Registrations" for AMC:
1954=118,553; 1955=136753; 1956=115105; 1957=117330; 1958=186373; 1959=363372; 1960=422273; 1961=370685; 1962=423104; 1963=428346; 1964=379412; 1965=324669; 1966=265712; 1967=237785; 1968=259346; 1969=239937; 1970=254327; 1971=243138.

AMC's PROFITS: "Annual" profit or loss, in millions:
1955-$6.96; 1956-$19.55; 1957-$11.83; 1958+26.09; 1959+60.34; 1960+48.24; 1961+23.58; 1962+34.24; 1963+34.24; 1964+26.23; 1965+5.21; 1966-12.65; 1967-75.81; 1968+11.76; 1969+4.93; 1970-56.24; 1971+10.18.

Before we continue: Say a prayer for my father, Homer Thomas Stakes Sr, who passed away October 30th, 2005. My dad worked for AMC dealerships for about 18 years in Corpus Christi, TX. Some of those include Andy Anders Rambler; All American Motors and Pagan Lewis AMC/Ford. He died a poor man, leaving many rich memories of these wonderful cars, and the times me, and brother Tommy, spent at dealerships waiting for him to get off work, selling World's Finest Chocolate bars to salesmen for our Catholic school, or even going in back to dig thru the big dumpsters to see what neat crap we could 'salvage' that had been thrown away. No...there was no 401K, no retirement, no benefits, no pension, nothing. But he kept a wonderful sense of humor about it all and reminisced fondly about the times at "THE MOTORS".

Dad....he was 79 years old when he passed away, with a touch of Alzheimer's and dementia many memories had faded, and time had taken it's toll on this blue collar working man's body. I find solace in the fact that my mother, Sara Marie DeAlcala Stakes, had passed away at 62 years old, on January 30th, 1988. And to break dad out of doldrums (they were married 37 years) I gave him a 1970 Big Bad Blue Javelin I restored. He later would get the 70 Chinese Embassy Rebel, a black 75 Gremlin X 304 and a 79 Spirit AMX to keep him busy.

However, momma's birthday was October 22nd. She would have been 79 years old on 07-22-2005. It seemed that he waited until she caught up in birthdays, and they were both 79, before he died on same day she did, the 30th of the month.

You will find numerous photos of both of them on my site. This particular file is dedicated to my dad, of which many of you AMCers in Texas had crossed paths with thru the years. God bless you dad, give mom a hug for me.

#1, dad's new Nash 1953; #2, working at All American Motors, that is big brother Tommy with r/w/b jacket, me with flag; #3, my 70 Javelin gets 9th engine in 1976; #4, I give dad a new 70 big bad blue Javelin for 61st birthday; #5, dad shows off his new BBB Javelin, note Matador & Gremlin in back; #6, dad admires his new 70 Chinese Embassy Rebel I traded him the BBB 70 Javelin for; #7 my daughter Jenny with dad a few months before he passed away in 2005.

Below: rare AMC family photo: dad Homer T Stakes, me, mom Sara Stakes & brother Tommy Stakes. Note dealer AMC jackets & windbreakers. Behind us is the 70 AMX Goodyear car ad-car, possibly first 70 AMX built, VIN A0M397X100060. Behind that 68 Javelin, 63 Chevy pickup, 75 Matador.

Extremely rare book few AMCers have ever seen. From ordering your car to Zone, to Data Center to Broadcast (frame, trim, final assembly) to actual assembly (glass, panels, seats) to Shipment by rail and car carriers to your Dealership, a fascinating "behinds the scenes" look at how your AMC was ordered, built and delivered. You will NOT find this uber rare book for sale anyplace else. If you would like a copy for your collection and research, $19.00 postage paid in US, $20 to Canada and $25 overseas. Over 100 pages.

Above Chicago Zone promotion with 100 Javelins...note while the "official" Pace Car was Javelin, a 69 AMX was used for this race at Meadowdale!

Jimmie Vickers, Merritt Island, Florida, STILL shows their proud AMC past with a brand new AMC Eagle on showroom floor, and tired Select Used Cars sign out front. These photos courtesy of Jim Osborne and were taken in late April 2012!

We are your American Motors Board of Directors!
In the above uber rare photo, this is American Motors Board of Directors at a 1969 meeting. Clockwise: Gerard C. Meyers, VP Product Development Group; Stuart M. Reed, VP Manufacturing; Marvin W. Stucky VP Purchasing; Alan H. Foster, VP and Treasurer; Elmer W. Bernitt, VP Safety & Quality Assurance; Frank S. Hedge, VP Public Relations; R. William McNealy Jr, VP Marketing; Iain M. Anderson, VP & Controller; William V. Luneburg, President & Chief Operating Officer; Roy D. Chapin Jr, Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer; John C. Seacrest, VP Corporate Staffs; Cruse W. Moss, VP; Marius A. Van Merkersteijn VP International Operations; Jack E. Maxwell, VP Corporate Development; John F. Adamson, VP Engineering & Research; Walter J. Williams, Corporate Secretary & House Counsel; Frank G. Armstrong, VP Administration; Richard A. Teague, VP Styling. Not shown: William S. Pickett, VP Dealer & Distributor Relations.

Your NEW American Motors Gremlin on Kenosha Assembly East Line to Geneva Auto Show

American Motors Dealers 'Ad Planner' (1969)

which my dad brought home 2 AMC Trans Am Racing Games, one for me, one for brother Tommy in 1969. I still have 'both'.

Actual AMC promotional photo for 1969 Trans Am Javelin Racing games:

Some folks have asked me why I have a dealership list on my website. I have always strongly believed that every AMC & Rambler & Nash dealership has a story to tell. Some were mom and pop selling less than a dozen vehicles per calendar year. Others churned them out and had a waiting list for hot sellers like Hornet, Gremlin and Concord.

Chances are your car might have came from one in your area, might have come from one you never heard of. Maybe the original owner opted to pick it up in Milwaukee and drive it home. Regardless, the story of the Nash, Rambler and American Motors dealerships is a forgotten piece of US Automotive History.

In 1969, AMC had 2294 Dealerships in North America. By 1973 they were down to 1930. However, sales rate per dealer had increased 70% from 104 to 178 units sold per year. In 1970, AMC had only ONE Dealership in the US selling more than 1000 cars per year. By 1973, there were more than 30, plus more than 130 Dealerships whose annual sales exceeded 500 cars per year. Dealer profitability before taxes in that period had climbed 173%, one reason for a strong demand for a AMC franchise. AMC targeted new, high volume dealerships in 55 major markets by 1975...and a staggering 600 new Jeep dealers had signed on since the acquisition of Jeep in 1970, although the total number was down about 170. However, the average Jeep dealer sales rate had climbed from 19 to 46. By 1974, 700 Dealerships selling the profitable Jeep, by 1975, 900.

This list is 10 of the South's OLDEST CONTINUOUSLY OWNED AMC DEALERSHIPS IN 1974:
Skinner-Stewart Motors Inc, Demopolis, AL, 1927
England Motor Company, Fort Smith, AR, 1939
Schulstad Motor Company, Tampa, FL, 1945
Southern Motors of Savanna, GA, GA, 1934
Melito AMC of New Orleans, LA, 1950
Fletcher Motor Company of Columbus, MS, 1945
Ed Orr Motors Inc of Asheville, NC, 1942
East End Motors Inc of Orangeburg, SC, 1957
Smith-Owens Motor Company of Chattanooga, TN, 1956
Kern Motor Company of Winchester, VA, 1948

This was the South's LARGEST DEALERSHIPS BASED ON 1974 SALES VOLUME:
Colonial AMC-Jeep, Mobile, AL
Twin City AMC Inc. Little Rock, AR
Fincher Motors Inc. Miami, FL
Bobby Whitens AMC/Jeep Inc. New Orleans, LA
Thad Ryan AMC-Jeep Inc. Jackson, MS
City Motors AMC/Jeep Inc. Greensboro, NC
Tunmore AMC/Jeep Inc. Charleston, SC
Security Motors Inc. Memphis, TN
Mt. Vernon AMC/Jeep Inc. Alexandria, VA

I do not have figures for any other parts of the US.

AMC Plant, Kenosha, WI, circa 1955

Your NEW Kenosha built 1972 Ambassador, Gremlin, Hornet & Matador on Trailer Train headed out of milwaukee marshalling yard in 1971.

rambler-truck-milwaukee.JPG (37265 bytes)

New 1959 Ramblers headed out of Milwaukee Marshalling Yard to your friendly Rambler Dealership

This is my request to you as a AMC owner. If you have photos of AMC dealerships, or promotions, such as this 1969 Badger Javelin Driveaway for dealers: I would like to use them for my website here. This is a chance FOR YOU to tell that long ago dealerships story with a simple photo like many below. You can mail me or e/mail me a jpg of the photo, if mailing, the photo will be returned. Thank you, Eddie Stakes

(Dick McQuade, rt, manager of Specker Motor Sales, Marquette, Michigan, and Alan F. Mitchell lf, AMC General Sales Manager, stand in front of 80 1969 Badger Javelins that were part of a driveaway promotion marking AMC's 15th anniversary in Milwaukee, all came in white, red interior, 343 or 390, AT, roof "MOD" spoiler, twin fake hood scoops, and reverse red "C" stripe; before the driveaway, about 200 AMC dealers listened to William V. Lundberg, AMC President, at a breakfast meeting. Interesting that those dealers in the UP of Michgan were involved as part of a Wisconsin promotion!)

Have you ever wondered where your classic AMC might have been sold new at the AMC dealership? AMC had a extensive dealership network in the US, Canada and Mexico. Some of these dealerships STILL exist long after AMC; they are either DaimlierChrysler; some are Mopar; some are Brand X, such as a former AMC/Ford/Jeep/Olds dealership might now be Ford/Hyundai/Jeep/Kia. The list below is from 1982-1983.

One dealership that is very special to me is one I bought out in Houston. There have been 7 dealerships I have bought out, whether inventories or archives thru the years. Vance & Sons AMC had been around in Houston since 1925 on Bellaire Boulevard in Bellaire, Texas, which is a city inside of Houston. In the 70s it was known as Vance & Sons AMC/Jeep/Renault and in the 1980s changed to Western AMC/Jeep before closing down like many dealerships did after the takeover by Chrysler. I bought most of their stuff in a auction. But the place it still there, the lot subdivided into a Taco Bell, Stereo hi-fi store, and a Pollo Campenero which is some really good chicken out of Central America! These photos are from 1966 and like many dealership photos, take you back into time. Here is the (left to right) Vance & Sons coat of arms; their sign with phone; alignments bay; Ambassador in makeready; packed back lot; a front shot from across Bellaire; greasemonkeys; inspection area; showroom with stunning huge mural; tun up area and original sign & logo.

AMC Dealership Items:

AM 1968 Leasing Lighted Sign; AMC 1969 Power Guard Battery Shelf from Parts Department; AMC Touch Up Paint Setup; Dixco Company Gauges from Parts Department; AMC Dealership 1970-up Flag; AMX Lighted Sign from 1968

After the Chrysler hostile takeover of AMC to get Jeep, Kenosha got screwed. Promised by Mopar to keep Kenosha plants running, as soon as ink dry Chrysler rescinded and decided to change mind, not only closing plants, but laying off a staggering amount of people in process in 1988.
Kenosha got cheated, not they got outright screwed. At one time, AMC employed 34,000 people in and around Kenosha. This mass firing by Chrysler of 4500 people caused a upheaval with lost homes and a rash of suicides.

All American Motors on Water Street @ I-37, Corpus Christi, Texas.
The showroom floor was marble with a huge "H" as this once was a Hudson dealership. When it was a AMC dealership, the large plate glass windows (covered in this photo from 1990s) had big lights that lit it up and sidewalk outside, of which was clearly a draw from I-37. There were bright neon lights around upper areas to boot of this art deco building! That is my 72 AMX Special Order shown I drove down to visit family from Houston parked in front. This building is gone now and CC courthouse stands in it's place. Too bad someone couldn't have saved the marble floor.

P. K. Williams, Austin, TX. 1949

My suggestion to you if there are some former AMC/Jeep/Renault dealerships listed in the list below in your area is to contact the parts manager to see what, if any, NOS AMC parts might still be available at their business. You would be surprised at how much items are still in the Mopar pipeline, and many of them have been rebagged, and will now start with a "J" part number, such as a NOS mirror gasket would have appeared in AMC computers and books such as this: 3591097 but should that item still exist in Mopar computers and books, it would now be listed as: J3591097. Here is a extensive list of AMC dealerships in the US and it's territories, Canada, and Mexico.

Amesbury, Iowa

Superior AMC, Huntsville, Alabama
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Special thanks to Alden Jewell for many photos of Rambler dealerships.
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United States
Alabama
Alaska

Clark & Weber AMC, Waterloo, IL
(photo courtesy of Joe Clark)
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa

Bangkok, Thailand, From the 1974 AMC Cult Classic
The Man With The Golden Gun
(courtesy Arcticboy)

Wheeler Motors of Grants Pass Oregon
You won't go wrong with Genuine Rambler Parts & Service. The photo is from 1963.

George Bowman Motors in Santa Barbara California;
(I grew up in SB). 118 State Street (one block from the beach).
My dad and I bought many AMC cars from him.
I remember when I was in high school coming down to look at a new 70 Machine
in the small showroom area (just inside the large windows facing the street.
I took this photo when visiting Santa Barbara 2 years ago. I visited with
George, now retired, and he still has a Gremlin X, very nice condition.
The fence was not there when he had the building. The car lot was to the
left of the building and the large doors on left side of building were the
service areas.
He had a large "American Motors" lighted sign across the top of the front of
the building with the script logo, then around 70 got a vertical sign as was
used for that period.

This building was supposed to be torn down 2 years ago when I took this
photo. I do not know if it was torn down yet or not.
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Bill Clark Majestic Motors
7800 Brewerton Road. PO Box 322
North Syracuse, NY. 13212
"Where The Customer Is King"
Tel. 315-458-0224
US RT 11 North of Bear Rd.

Hoyt Stephens Motors
4907 Covington Hwy.
Decatur, Ga. 30032
284-9310
Home of the JAVELIN, REBEL, AMBASSADOR & AMX
Also Rambler; The Economy car with seven main bearings and seats six people with comfort.

left photo 1970 right photo 2008, note plane in both photos behind Love Field, this dealership was going to be demolished a few months after I took this photo in July 2008.
Mockingbird Rambler, Dallas, TX
2449 West Mockingbird Lane
Dallas, Texas, 75235
214-357-8201
Authorized Sales & Service
Ten Years At The Same Location
Home of the American Motors Buyer Protection Plan

Southside AMC & Jeep
"South Phila. Auto Mall,"
67th & Passyunk (Essington) Ave.
Philadelhpia, PA. 19153
"We have been in business since 1958, which has made us Philadelphia's #1 AMC/JEEP Dealer. Our services are experienced by thousands of new and used car buyers in the Delaware Valley area. Our success has been built upon honesty and integrity. Come in and see us."
Tel: (215) 492-8600

Alfred Rambler, La Grange, IL
"Dear Friend, If you are interested in a new Rambler, or a used car of any make or model, please come in and see me at Alfred Rambler, 2737 W. 111 St. or call HI-5-1200. There is a FREE gift waiting for you if you ask for me."

Compass Rambler
"Let Compass Be Your Guide For Better Values"
Compass Rambler Corp.
1745 Newport Blvd. Costa Mesa, Calif.
LI-9-9308 KI-5-9541

East Bay Rambler
16338 E. 14th, St.
San Leandro, CA.
Telephone 351-6400 or 276-4000
Serving The Community Since 1919
SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN 7:30am!
"Salesmen strike not recognized by Mechanics Union or Central Labor Council. Don't delay service on your car or jeopardize your warranty." Dwight Adams: Service Manager.

Knoxville Motor Company
413 N. Gay St. 524-8674
Knoxville 17, Tennessee
SALES-SERVICE-PARTS
Rambler American, The Economy Champ--Rambler Classic, our Volume Line--and the world's largest 6 cylinder wagon--Rambler Ambassador, or finest medium sized car--also servicing the quality car with economy habits, Mercedes Benz.

Security Rambler
695 Union Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee
Telephone 525-6393
"solve Your Rambler Needs with SECURITY. SECURITY for a new Rambler or a clean used car. SECURITY for the finest in service and parts. One of the South's oldest and largest Rambler Dealers. Buy with confidence--with SECURITY in mind.

ANDY ANDERS RAMBLER
San Antonio, Texas
Largest Rambler Dealer In The South
Andy Anders Rambler sells more American Motors Automobiles and provides the finest service on all makes of cars. Thee giant locations: Downtown-1111 San Pedro; Southside-2335 South Military Drive; and Universal city at the gates of Randolph Air Force Base.

BARTON RAMBLER CENTER
Houston, Texas
3560 Old Spanish Trail, Houston, Texas

***Eddie: Read your article on AMC Dealerships and I can give you some information on Barton in Houston. I purchased my first new AMX for that location but it was not called Barton. AMC Corp. had taken control on the dealership (on OST near the UofH) by 1968. The dealership address was 4300 Old Spanish Trail. The dealership was renamed “Fiesta Motors Rambler” and the General Manager was from AMC HQ, his name was M.L. Lawson I purchased my second AMX from Fiesta on April 1, 1970, so they were still in business at that time. My first AMX was stolen off the dealership repair lot. I still have the purchase contract from my second AMX and it is signed by Pat Witherway who was secretary Treasurer of Fiesta. They closed the dealership something after that date. Attached is the 2^nd AMX which was delivered to Fiesta from their Zone Office in Dallas. It was the Zone manager’s car (Brass Hat Car). It is still in my garage…

ed-winkler-69-amc-amx.JPG (628083 bytes)

Canal Rambler Inc.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Canal Rambler Inc, 1550 Canal St. New Orleans, La.
New Ramblers and used cars
PDQ Service
Every Body's Rambler Dealer

Mack Massey Rambler Inc.
El Paso, Texas
Mack Massey Rambler Inc
6318 Montana
PH#772-7447
The SouthWest's Volume Rambler Dealer
A.R.A Air Conditioning Distributor
Mack Massey Leasing Company
Parts and Service
El Paso, Texas

Schamberger Rambler
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Schamberger Rambler
717 Third Avenue Southeast
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
PH#364-7185
"The past 33 years have seen much progress in improving the equipment and facilities of the Schamberger Motor Company. Every Effort has been and is being made to bring our customers the finest service obtainable anywhere. Through the efforts of our trained personnel this organization, for the 33rd consecutive year, has been rated by American Motors a 10 Point Select Dealer. We are very proud of this honor and you may be certain we will continue the endeavor to better serve our friends and customers who in the final analysis have made these achievements possible."

OUR SERVICE DEPARTMENT: (1) 20,000 satisfied new and used customers can't be wrong. (2) We carry a stock of 30 to 60 new cars for your selection. (3) Best of all---Financing at Bank Rates.

SIEBERT RAMBLER
615 South Avenue
Rochester, NY. 14620
PH# 454-6920
"Rochester's Largest Rambler Dealer"

New 1969 Big Bad Blue 390 4 speed MOD Javelin at Siebert's for delivery. Note placement of electric wipers washer bag from factory, lack of hood insulation, and original smog equipment.

Mexico

I will also be adding many dealerships that existed in the 1960s/70s that people have sent me, your participation is appreciated!

Dealer stampings on NOS parts. Here are a few dealerships from the 1960s with names stamped on the item. Not all dealerships stamped their inventory. The below however is AM's address label to the Dealer.

Andy Anders Rambler logo permanently etched on 66-69 Rambler machined overlay

Here is a picture of my uncle's old AMC dealership sign.

He had the dealership in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada (I noticed you have it listed in your website - please feel free to attach the picture of the dealership sign).

He was the first Jeep dealer in Manitoba. He got the Jeep dealership in 1964.

I believe he then got the AMC dealership in the early 70s'.

He held onto the AMC dealership right through the Chrysler takeover. He retired in the mid 90's.

It was a mom and pop operation with low sales volume, but great service.

I bought my 1985 CJ7 from him, and still have it to this date.

My dad also bought a 74 Matador coupe, and a 81 Spirit.

So we've seen our share of AMCs' in the family.

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Eddie, this is the dealership where my parents bought the gremlin that
eventually became mine. It was a 1974. The dealership still exists under
the same name selling chryslers.

Zubek AMC
492 M55
TAWAS CITY, MI 48763-9284
You have a great site!
Dave Kaunisto