Dodge Hornet

The AMC Hornet was a compact car, the American Motors Corporation (AMC) produced from summer 1969 to fall 1977.

The Hornet replaced the Rambler American. With the beginning of its production of the Rambler brand name was placed on the U.S. and Canadian markets. For the AMC, the new Hornet played a significant role. He and his successors were built by model year 1988. The model survived the compact car other U.S. manufacturers, the Chevrolet Nova, Ford Maverick and the Plymouth Valiant. The car was based on the AMC Concord and the SUV AMC Eagle.

The Hudson Motor Car Co. in 1951 called one of their models Hornet. The company formed a touring car team for this type of car, and the Fabulous Hudson Hornet soon became known for his victories in touring car races in the years from 1951 until 1954. The merger of Hudson and Nash Motors went in 1954, the American Motors Corporation produced. She built from 1955 to 1957 under the name Hornet vehicles that were based on the Nash models. From 1958 to 1969 no Hornets were prepared but retained the naming rights AMC.

The styling of the AMC Hornet was based on the prototype AMC Cavalier. In the introduction it gave it as a two or four-door sedan. 1971 a five-door station wagon, which Sportabout, the model range was added. In the same year the SC/360 a V8 muscle car, the two-door coupe as there were only joined them.

In 1973, a combined coupe was offered.

In addition, Hornet formed the basis for the Gremlin, the front half came from two-door Hornet, however, had a hatchback.

The Hornet was one of the first passenger car to be offered with an equipment package, which had been designed by a fashion designer.

The 1972 model presented was called Gucci and was named after the American fashion designer Aldo Gucci. The car was available in four exterior colors with beige interior and thin red and green stripes and special model signs. Nearly 3,000 copies of the 1972 Hornet were sold with this equipment. This success inspired other automakers – on to equipment packages, which also created by fashion designers – such as the Ford luxury brand Lincoln were.

1973, an equipment package Levi’s jeans was offered, which was named after the jeans manufacturer Levi’s. It was very popular and was offered until the mid-1970s.

The Hornets first published in September 1969 in basic equipment and better equipped than SST models with two or four doors. The 3.3-liter inline six-cylinder engine was available in the base model, the 3.8-liter engine powered the SST. A 5.0 liter V8 was available for both models as an option.

Made in 1970:

1971 came the Sportabout, a five-door station wagon, which instead of the usual, to the side-opening rear door, had a high swinging tailgate. The two four-door sedans and the were further prepared unchanged. The 3.8 liter engine was now standard equipment on all models.

Noteworthy was the SC/360, a two-door muscle car limited edition 5.9 liter V8 (248 kW PS/182), styled wheels, air scoop on the hood, side stripes and other performance-enhancing and optical equipment details. It was intended as a successor to the 1969 SC/Rambler, but did not sell well, so that only 784 copies were produced.

The production figures for the Sportabout speak for themselves, because most of the time he was the only American station wagon in this size class.

The production figures for 1971 were:

The basic model of the Hornet series ran from 1972, all vehicles were called from then on SST. The SST offered more features than the basic model of the previous year for the same price. In addition, there was the X package, a rally equipment. Gucci designed a special version of the station wagon Sportabout.

Made in 1972 were:

1973 accounted for the SST model, and all models were called only "Hornet". The vehicle front end was revised to fit the new, devouring impact energy and self-repairing bumpers. This was to comply with the rule "no harm falls below 8km/h". The overall length grew so by 195 mm.

A two-door station wagon coupe was introduced, called the magazine Car and Driver as "styling coup of 1973". A folding rear bench seat enlarged the loading volume of 269 to 651 liters at nearly flat load floor. The dealer offered a conversion kit, with which one could turn the cargo area into a camper. The limousines were built on the same, while for the combined D/L package was to get on request. It consisted of wooden decor at the Sides of the vehicle, a roof rack with rear wind deflector, individually folding rear seat backs and a plush upholstery of the seats. Even Gucci combi there was again this year, and the combi coupe was available in Levi’s features. The X package was now to get even for the Sportabout and the combi coupe.

Manufactured were 1973:

All four versions of the Hornet in 1974 continued to be built almost unchanged, only small equipment details have been changed. The front bumper had no continuous rubber lip more, but two rubber padded bumper horns. There was a larger rear bumper which also met the new regulations (no damage at 8km/h impact speed). The rear registration plate wandered up between the taillights.

Made in 1974:

Since AMC concentrated on the measures introduced in March 1975 Pacer, there were almost no changes in the Hornet. The biggest change was a new radiator grille, which had horizontal ridges.

Made in 1975:

In the sixth year without significant change, AMC demanded the same price for the sedan and wagon coupe, while the Sportabout something cost more. The Hornet grew this year, new competition from the Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare the.

A total of 1976 71.577 Hornet were built.

After more than seven years, the Hornet looked a little frumpy. The new sporty model, the AMX (not to be confused with the AMC AMX), there was only a combi coupe. It should remember the name of the racing sports car AMC AMX. The rest of the Hornet series remained unchanged.

Made in 1977:

In the fall of 1977, the Hornet was revised and renamed in 1978 in Concord. He established a new market segment "luxury compact car" with. With some design changes, new components and more basic equipment of Concord was intended for a different audience than the trimmed on profitability Hornet. He was comfortable and was sold frequently.

A Hornet X Combi Coupé is in the James Bond film used The man with the Golden Gun (1974).

2006 saw a small prototype of Dodge, the "Hornet" was called and scheduled to go into production in 2008.

Rambler-models: Ambassador | American | Classic | Marlin | Rebel

Dodge

Makes

Dodge Hornet