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Homely Survivor: 1978 AMC Concord D/L

1978 Amc Concord Dl Survivor

Ok, we know it is ugly, but this 1978 AMC Concord D/L only has 28k original miles on the odometer. This was AMC’s take on compact luxury in the 70s and owners seemed to have liked them. In fact, this car beat out competitors such as the Honda Accord for consumer satisfaction when new. We are not sure what made it so great, but with the 258 I6 engine option, automatic transmission, and air conditioning this car could make someone a nice commuter. This example is all original and in excellent condition. Would you drive it, or should it go back in the barn? Find it here on St. Louis’ craigslist with an asking price of $3,995. Thanks to reader Alvan E for submitting this one.

Comments

  1. Avatar J. Pickett

    That is an important time capsule of the ’70’s. It should be lovingly driven. To often we preserve the rare, the muscle cars, I love those too. But something like this is affordable, and will show car show and cruise night attendees what ordinary people drove to work at that time. They were well built, AMC could not afford to compete stylistically or in engineering with the big guys but I would rather have that then the same year’s accord.

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  2. Avatar Foxy

    I used to work on these cars. They were pretty solid cars , and the motor was bullit proof if you could keep oil in it. the valve covers were plastic and leaked bad. buy it , drive it and keep an eye on the front wheel bearings. they were a great snow car.

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  3. Avatar Fred

    Is it front wheel drive?

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  4. Avatar karo

    Fred, the Concord was the successor to the Hornet, mildly restyled, but with AMC’s limited resources, the mechanicals weren’t changed much. The Concord was rear-wheel-drive, but soon after (1980), AMC introduced the Eagle, which looked like a Concord but was all-wheel-drive; it was followed by the SX/4, which was based on the hatchback version of the Concord, the Spirit (which replaced he Gremlin, also Hornet-based).

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  5. Avatar s arcuri

    By no means is this survivor UGLY…..It’s a part of Americana….I would love to have it in my garage, but no room at this time.

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  6. Avatar Corey

    That thing is sweet!

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  7. Avatar Lon Lofgren

    Back in the ’80s I was a driver for Hertz. We would shuttle cars to locations that needed specific models. On one trip moving 12 cars from Rapid City SD to Denver CO, the only one that made it without a fill-up was the Concord Wagon!

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  8. Avatar Will

    I don’t agree that its ugly. It is a very good looking car. I could live without the landau top but that makes it a “luxury” version. I miss cars with steel wheels and color keyed hubcaps. I wish there where more non muscle cars being preserved. I am getting tired of looking at cars that where economical when new but have been turned into muscle cars. (six cylinder novas come to mind)

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  9. Avatar A J Ewers

    Back around ’87 or ’88, my parents bought an ’80 D/L wagon. More than enough power, went through snow like no one’s business, and the first car we owned with a/c. Miss that car. Drove it to and from school for a while, till that Chrysler source slushbox fragged.

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  10. Avatar Ron

    I agree with all the “save as it sits” comments. It’s sort of the AMC Morris Minor of the 70’s. You could hack it up, but why?

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  11. Avatar B J Ewers

    I would drive it. The car is just broke in.

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  12. Avatar Kuch

    absolutely Americana..what we drove in the day!! i wish more everyday cars we drove survived today, instead of being tossed aside. Its our history man! As transportation, it does the job, use it!!! Its what a car is supposed to do first- move people and connect them with others; family, friends, work, a new life, vacations, etc.

    Like 1
  13. Avatar J. Pickett

    Realistically, how many of us did our “cruising” in either our parents cars, or whatever we could afford on a part time job in the 1960’s. You saw far more four door sedans, stations wagens etc. than you did muscle cars. That was reality. Those were our dream cars. These cars were our reality. As a college student earning less than 100.00 per month. most of my cars cost less than $400.00. They were not what high end collectors wanted. Remember auction prices for Hemi Challengers are based upon the fact that no one could afford them, so very few were sold.

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  14. Avatar fred

    I cruised in my mother’s 57 Lincoln(white with pink leather). At 7 mpg. I didn’t go far.

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  15. Avatar Kuch

    In 1973, i bought a used 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner. I was a sr in HS, so my first car! 1400 bucks, i paid 7 parents loaned me 700. It had 50k miles. 383 automatic, manual everything. The only thing it had: it was fast, and flashy! What fun. Still have it, tho not running. Someday it will!

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  16. Avatar Kuch

    OH i might add: 9 mpg. but gas was 32 cents for reg. but car ran rough. So had to buy 90 octane, at 48 cents a gal.. One night of cruising one tank gone! ( about 6 bucks ) But hey I pumped gas part time so…

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  17. Avatar Will

    In 1976 I inherited my Dads 75 Granada six cylinder three on the column. 4 door. I was 16. I got laughed at for driving it but when ever my friends and I went out on Friday nights their muscle cars where parked we took my economical four door.

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  18. Avatar fred

    The more I come back to this page checking your comments, the more I like this car. I’m wondering if parts would be a problem..??

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  19. Avatar Dan

    I drove a Concord for five years as a Co. car. Nothing special, but it never let me down. It did tend to lock up the rear wheels with any sudden stops.

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  20. Avatar A J Ewers

    AMC tended to overacheive on the rear brakes. Probably due to the fact that they out source a lot of those parts. Fred, the hardest things to find is interior and suspension stuff. The trainees were usually Chrysler or GM source. Same on the brakes. Plentiful parts, just gotta know where to look.

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  21. Avatar Will

    For the life of me I can’t understand why whoever writes these articles would call this car “homely” and the Saab 92 “beautiful” . This is way better styled. The Saab has its cool nerd factor but this is way better looking.

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  22. Avatar Jason Carpp

    I don’t think it’s ugly. Anything but. I’ve always liked the front end look of the 1978 AMC Concord. I’d prefer either a 4 door sedan or a station wagon version, but either way, I like the car.

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  23. Avatar Dan H

    In the 60’s, 70’s, and 80,s I was an over the road salesman. I drove AMC products, all of them well over 100k miles. I never had a major repair, never had an over the road breakdown, and drove in comfort as the seats were very thick. Gas milage was great, repairs were few and far between. Could not ask for better cars and wish I could buy a new one today. They were also very easy to do maintenance as you could get to everything. Loved them every one.

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  24. Avatar Rick A. Loera Member

    I remember when these first hit the dealer showroom floors in 1977 as 78 models. In the right color they looked good with the vinyl top. Even better in the 4 door with vinyl top. The best was the 2 door with no vinyl top. Very luxurious interior for an economy car. AMC did a excellent job considering the lack of resources at the time. One of the nicer upgrades of an existing car.

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  25. Avatar Gay Seattle Car Nut

    I remember AMC. In this case, AMC stood for American Motors. Up to the time it was taken over by Renault and then Chrysler, it was an independent car maker.

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