VAM Lerma
Encyclopedia
The VAM Lerma was an automobile
designed and manufactured by Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos
in the early 1980s. The car was based on two other vehicles by VAM's license partner American Motors
(AMC).
The name for the cars was taken from Lerma
, a city in the state of Mexico, where VAM engines were manufactured.
The made in Mexico
Lerma was a unique hybrid since it used a chassis and some body panels from the AMC Concord
, but the rear of the car was borrowed from the AMC Spirit
. Although the Lerma was a single unit body design (monocoque
), a British newspaper article erroneously described it as "a bolt-together kit of a car".
There were two body styles available, a 3-door hatchback
and a 5-door hatchback (a body style not available for any of AMC's models at that time). Although presented to AMC's management as a potential model for other markets, the Lerma was marketed only in Mexico starting in 1981, and competed in an expanding market segment. The Lerma's most remarkable and striking hatchback design feature also proved to be its biggest drawback, because the shortened rear end resulted in a car with a limited space for storage.
It is believed that the VAM Lerma was the first Mexican-only body style, and it is also one of the few Mexican-only models in history. Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos is remembered as the first Mexican automotive company that created a car that is regarded by many as totally national. Although the Lerma was conceived in Mexico, it cannot be considered completely Mexican, since many parts and components were designed and manufactured in the United States. However, with the exception of the instrument panel, the elegant interior of the Lerma did not copy of any model and featured uniquely designed and upholstered seats as well as interior door panels.
A British newspaper reported in 2007 that the 1980s VAM model was the closest the Mexican industry has come to a producing a local car since Ford began assembling cars in the country in 1925, and until the Mexican-designed and assembled Mastretta MXT
sports car. However, a Mexican newspaper reported in 2004 that despite having its origins in Germany's Opel and its marketing under an American name, the Chevrolet C2 would be the winner because its design was almost 70% Mexican and the C2 was created expressly and exclusively for the domestic Mexican market.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
designed and manufactured by Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos
Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos
Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos S.A. was an automaker in Mexico. The original organization, a distributor for Willys-Overland vehicles, became government controlled in 1963 with American Motors Corporation holding a minority interest. The company imported and produced automobiles and light...
in the early 1980s. The car was based on two other vehicles by VAM's license partner American Motors
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
(AMC).
The name for the cars was taken from Lerma
Lerma, Mexico State
Lerma is a city and municipality located just east of Toluca and 54 km west of Mexico City in Mexico State, Mexico. The city was founded in the early colonial period and named after the Duke of Lerma in Spain. The municipal area saw two battles of the Mexican War of Independence, the Battle...
, a city in the state of Mexico, where VAM engines were manufactured.
The made in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Lerma was a unique hybrid since it used a chassis and some body panels from the AMC Concord
AMC Concord
The AMC Concord is a compact car produced by the American Motors Corporation for the 1978 through 1983 model years. The Concord replaced the AMC Hornet and to some extent the mid-size AMC Matador, discontinued after 1978 in a market moving to downsized automobiles...
, but the rear of the car was borrowed from the AMC Spirit
AMC Spirit
The AMC Spirit was a subcompact marketed by American Motors Corporation from 1979 to 1983 as a restyled replacement for the Gremlin. The Spirit shared the Gremlin's platform and was offered in two hatchback variations, each with two doors — marketed as sedan and liftback...
. Although the Lerma was a single unit body design (monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
), a British newspaper article erroneously described it as "a bolt-together kit of a car".
There were two body styles available, a 3-door hatchback
Hatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
and a 5-door hatchback (a body style not available for any of AMC's models at that time). Although presented to AMC's management as a potential model for other markets, the Lerma was marketed only in Mexico starting in 1981, and competed in an expanding market segment. The Lerma's most remarkable and striking hatchback design feature also proved to be its biggest drawback, because the shortened rear end resulted in a car with a limited space for storage.
It is believed that the VAM Lerma was the first Mexican-only body style, and it is also one of the few Mexican-only models in history. Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos is remembered as the first Mexican automotive company that created a car that is regarded by many as totally national. Although the Lerma was conceived in Mexico, it cannot be considered completely Mexican, since many parts and components were designed and manufactured in the United States. However, with the exception of the instrument panel, the elegant interior of the Lerma did not copy of any model and featured uniquely designed and upholstered seats as well as interior door panels.
A British newspaper reported in 2007 that the 1980s VAM model was the closest the Mexican industry has come to a producing a local car since Ford began assembling cars in the country in 1925, and until the Mexican-designed and assembled Mastretta MXT
Mastretta MXT
The Mastretta MXT is the first high performance sport automobile produced by the Mexican car maker Mastretta, and is notable for being both completely produced and designed in Mexico, as well as the first fully Mexican made sports car...
sports car. However, a Mexican newspaper reported in 2004 that despite having its origins in Germany's Opel and its marketing under an American name, the Chevrolet C2 would be the winner because its design was almost 70% Mexican and the C2 was created expressly and exclusively for the domestic Mexican market.