American Motors Incorporated

American Motors Incorporated (AMI) designed, manufactured, and sold a mini-van for commercial delivery use in the late 1940s.

Not to be confused with American Motors Corporation.
Delcar brochure page 1

History

American Motors Incorporated was established around 1946. It was very short-lived because it does not seem to have been in operation after 1949. It had executive offices on Park Avenue in New York City, as well as a factory and service facility upstate in Troy, New York.

Lack of success

Small delivery vehicles such as the Delcar did not succeed. Purchasers would be limited by their carrying capacity. A larger truck can haul more cargo resulting in less cost per mile traveled. Few niche market customers demand such a specialized service vehicle.[1]

Products

The company manufactured a mini-van designed for business delivery use. It was called the Delcar. The wheelbase was only 60 inches (1,500 mm) with a 25 hp (18.6 kW) engine, and it was priced at US$890 (suggested retail price). The Delcar was the first American vehicle with independent suspension on all four wheels, though the suspension used airplane landing gear-like rubber tension cords.[2]

As well as the Delcar van, one or more station wagons were produced using the same chassis. The station wagon could seat six.[3]

References
  1. Strohl, Daniel (2007-01-01). "The TriVan and the curse of small delivery vehicles". Hemmings Auto Blog. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  2. Strohl, Daniel (2006-12-23). "Troy, New York - center of automotive manufacturing". Hemmings Auto Blog. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  3. G.N. Georgano, G.N., ed. (1982). New Complete Encyclopedia of Motorcars, 1885-Present. Penguin Group. ISBN 978-0-525-93254-3.

Bibliography
  • Original Delcar retail sales brochure (four pages) printed by AMI - see images.
  • Mechanix Illustrated, August 1949 — brief article and picture depicting the Delcar.
  • Special Interest Auto (SIA) magazine (Hemmings Motor News), October 1978 — brief article about the Delcar.
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