AMC Pacer prototypes, early 70s. Work began on “Project Amigo” under AMC’s chief stylist Richard A. Teague in 1971. American Motors’ brief called for a fresh design “featuring a body style not seen before, using the latest technology, and exceeding upcoming safety regulations” in anticipation of increasing demand for smaller cars. The project was designed to offer the interior space and feel of a large car but in a compact, more aerodynamic package. Originally, the car was designed to use a rotary engine, hence the very short nose. In 1973, AMC signed a licensing agreement with Curtiss-Wright to build Wankel rotary engines for cars and Jeep-type vehicles. However AMC later decided instead to buy in engines from General Motors, who were developing them for use in their own cars (initially the Vega and the Monza). But when GM canceled development in 1974 it left the Pacer without an engine so the front of the car had to be redesigned to accommodate AMC’s existing 3.8 litre in-line six cylinder motor.
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