A Brief History of the AMC Pacer

Richard A. Teague (1923-1991)
Legendary Creator of the AMC Pacer

With a rough sketch drawn in 1971, Richard Teague began a revolution in automotive design... quite a bit before its time. His car, the AMC Pacer, was first introduced in 1975, heading for a short life of six model years and a production total of just over 280,000 units. The Pacer wagon was introduced in 1977, and total production ceased in 1980. The smallest of the "Big Four" American automobile manufacturers at the time (or, the only American car company independent of the "Big Three", as some say), AMC met its demise in 1987, being bought out by Chrysler Corporation.

As Ricky Young of the Orange County Register stated, "When Pacers came out, it was the era of the Ford Granada. Round was unheard of." It was not until the early 90's that round became commonplace. The Pacer was ahead of its time. Criticized by many for its nonstandard design, it was at the same time praised for its revolutionary concepts of passenger comfort, convenience, and economy. More than a decade and a half after the end of production, very few specimens are still in existence, and those that are remain a novelty.

History links:

Little, Mellow, Different: The American Motors Pacer: Wolfgang Mederle's great, extensive history of the AMC Pacer
Richard A. Teague: A biography
An Account of Dick Teague's Early Life

A portion of one magazine's tribute to Dick Teague, following his death.

Chilton's Automotive Industries magazine named Dick Teague "Man of the Year" in their February 1, 1976 issue, less than a year after the introduction of the Pacer.