Inspired by the "Oldsmobile survives" thread I just came across, I began to wonder what it would take for the much-maligned American Motors Corporation to not only survive until the present day [with their own brand intact] but to thrive in the domestic -or even export- marketplace, be it in name only or in actual fact. Here are a few basic scenarios I can think of, with time I may choose one to expand upon, otherwise pick one or present an original one:
-Shortly after the merger of Nash and Hudson that creates the company, Studebaker-Packard merge into it as well, as was the original intent; this puts the new company on firmer financial ground with greater market share
-Perhaps an earlier oil crisis that deepens the late-50s recession, when the Rambler brand experienced its first boomlet
-George Romney elects not to leave AMC to run for Governor of Michigan
-Controversial, money-losing models such as the '74-78 Matador Coupe [my favorite] or the Pacer are not produced
-Rather than bailing out Chrysler, the US Gov't pushes for a merger-of-equals between Chrysler Corp and AMC, rather than allow AMC to fall under majority control of Renault
-Chrysler acquires AMC but keeps the marque rather than renaming it Eagle
-Shortly after the merger of Nash and Hudson that creates the company, Studebaker-Packard merge into it as well, as was the original intent; this puts the new company on firmer financial ground with greater market share
-Perhaps an earlier oil crisis that deepens the late-50s recession, when the Rambler brand experienced its first boomlet
-George Romney elects not to leave AMC to run for Governor of Michigan
-Controversial, money-losing models such as the '74-78 Matador Coupe [my favorite] or the Pacer are not produced
-Rather than bailing out Chrysler, the US Gov't pushes for a merger-of-equals between Chrysler Corp and AMC, rather than allow AMC to fall under majority control of Renault
-Chrysler acquires AMC but keeps the marque rather than renaming it Eagle