AMC bought Kaiser-Jeep for much the same reason that Chrysler bought AMC, which was to get Jeep and all marketing rights pertaining to Jeep. Jeep sales certainly kept AMC afloat for many years. I have a color advert from 1984 showing the Cherokee, with no mention of Chrysler in the ad, just the blue and red of AM.
Would you believe that the man who designed the AMC AMX 2 seater was the same guy that did the Hornet, Gremlin, Pacer and the 1980s boxy Cherokee? It was the late Dick Teague.
The AMX 2 seater was eventually replaced by the regular 4 seater Javelin with an AMX badge. 1974 was the last year for this car, and it was still available with a 401 motor. In 1977-80 AMX returned as a rebadged Hornet and Spirit.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...502848869&rd=1
You have to see this special Gremlin 401. A dealer in Mesa Arizona built 20 special Gremlins with the 401 ci V8. 401 ci in a 168 inch car is BIG!
http://www.gremlinx.com/RandallXR.htm
http://www.gremlinx.com/images/wpe6.gif