Watching video's on the AMC Gremlin & Pacer compacts on the web and this got me thinking.
What if instead of designing the Gremlin & Pacer cars to combat the Omni, Pinto & Vega, the company license built British Leyland cars built to cut costs instead of going into an alliance with Renault in the early '80's?
The BL cars in question would be changed and adapted similar to US tastes as the Chrysler owned Simca/Talbot Horizon's did when released as the Dodge Omni & Plymouth Horizon
Also other cars could be license built above the compact level if required to combat Chryslers K car platforms or Ford or GM sized models
Possible timeline
1974:
A year after the the original launch, the Allegro is built in the US (a proper hatchback version from the off)
1975
With the successful development and launch of the Allegro the Morris Marina & Austin Maxi & Princess are also launched, again developed with US engines and spec.
1979
Rover SD1 built by AMC
1980
AMC builds the TR-8 (US spec TR-7)
1983
The US spec Maestro is launched by AMC replacing their US built Allegro
1984
The US spec Montego is launched by AMC replacing their US built Marina's & Maxi's
1986
AMC built Rover 800 replaces AMC built SD1
Would this work in keeping AMC solvent into the '90's?
Would the build quality be better than the original BL production?
Would there be a fair sized market for these models?
Regards filers