In January 1954, Nash-Kelvinator acquired the Hudson Motor Car Company to form a new American Motors company. This decision was made in order to have a chance to compete with the “big three”: General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. Negotiations were also held with Packard, the result of which was the purchase of automatic transmissions and V8 engines of this company for some AMC models. Packard, in turn, acquired Studebaker and formed Studebaker-Packard, a corporation that worked with AMC, supplying 352cc engines to it. It was planned to merge American Motors and Studebaker-Packard, but at the height of the negotiations, AMC President George Mason died. Management of the company took George Romny, who said that there would be no merger.
Also, the new manager refused Packard engines and instructed the company’s engineers to develop their own V8 engine. Both companies decided to go it alone. This led to the fact that the production of models Studebaker in the United States ceased in 1964, and two years later the factories in Canada were closed. In 1958, the AMC company stopped using the Nash and Hudson brands in favor of the popular Rambler brand. The 1958 prototype of the Nash Ambassador / Hudson Hornet was renamed last-minute to Rambler Ambassador. At the same time, American Motors arrived in a very unusual way – it introduced the 1955 model of the year Nash Rambler with minor changes as a novelty called Rambler American. While managing the company of George Romniy, AMC focused on the production of small cars, and the Rambler became synonymous with “reliable, economical cars.” The marketing policy was based on the use of different components for AMC products and the constant redesign of models to keep up with General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. This policy was successful, and the company paid off with debts. In the early 60s, sales were high, and the AMC models enjoyed steady demand, but in 1962, Romny left the company for the post of governor of Michigan. The reins of the board went to Roy Abernathy, the successful commercial executive of AMC but in 1962, Romny left the company for the post of governor of Michigan. The reins of the board went to Roy Abernathy, the successful commercial executive of AMC. but in 1962, Romny left the company for the post of governor of Michigan. The reins of the board went to Roy Abernathy, the successful commercial executive of AMC.
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