XR-400
Encyclopedia
The XR-400 was a fully operational concept car
. A "sporty" youth-oriented convertible
was built in 1962 by the Budd Company
, an independent body builder in Detroit, Michigan
, for evaluation by the fourth largest U.S. automaker at the time, American Motors Corporation
(AMC).
The objective of this car was to entice AMC to expand into a new market segment with a low-cost Rambler-based "sports convertible." The Budd Company was a long-time supplier of tooling, parts, and bodies to automakers
. Budd also worked with Nash Motors
, AMC's predecessor company, to develop the first monocoque
(unitized) automobile body in 1940. By enticing AMC with this concept, Budd’s already existing business with AMC would increase. It planned to supply bodies and major sub-assemblies for the production version of this new car. Budd estimated that the new model could be available for public sale by October 1963, six months ahead of the Ford Mustang
.
chassis. To keep costs down, Budd engineers kept front of the unit body with the engine and suspension in the same locations. The XR-400's long nose was accomplished by adding a second cowl section behind the original that made space for the battery. The car was styled by Budd with a rather clean and uncluttered body giving little indication of its Rambler sedan origin. A double crease in the beltline suggested a family relationship to the contemporary styling of Rambler’s large-sized cars.
The proposed model was a true 2+2 (two front bucket seat
s plus limited use seats for two back passengers) sleek, steel-blue convertible
with a long hood and a short, stubby rear deck. The XR-400’s long 108 inches (274 cm) wheelbase
and truncated overhangs gave it athletic proportions, while the top-up appearance suggested a close-coupled two-seater sports car
. Classic sports car touches included a hood line that slopped lower than the front fenders, doors that had a dip in their top, and simulated scoops behind the front wheels.
Power for the XR-400 was supplied by a standard Ambassador 327 CID AMC V8 engine
. The engine bay could accommodate any of AMC’s I6
or V8 engines. The transmission was an automatic
(not typical of sports cars) controlled through a floor console
mounted shift lever. Braking was provided by an experimental front disc brake
system.
The interior used AMC’s front seats and many other hardware items. In classic sports car fashion, the driver had all controls and a full set of instruments (speedometer, tachometer
, as well as gauges for fuel, water temperature, amperes, and oil pressure) that mounted directly ahead of a highly regarded three-spoke wood-rimmed Nardi (brand) steering wheel.
Budd's sales pitch to AMC included pioneering a market "presently untapped by any other manufacturer" with a car so "unlike anything else on the road it would attract widespread attention, provide your dealers with both a new profit area and morale-builder, and offer unusual advertising and sales promotion opportunities." But in the actual context of US automotive history, the saying ignores the competitive presence of Studebaker's '62 V8 powered Lark convertible, the XR 400 looking very much like it. The statement also ignores the '62 Studebaker Avanti sports car derived from the Lark chassis.
(SAE). The press release stated that the concept shows how modifying Rambler Ambassadors results in:
Automotive press reports stated that such a new model could have appeared in AMC dealer
showrooms, thus establishing a market segment at least six months before Ford's similar Mustang
started the "pony car
" market. Unfortunately, AMC turned down the idea. There were probably several reasons for this decision, including:
Museum.
There are two final ironies to the XR-400 story.
Concept car
A concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car made to showcase new styling and or new technology. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced....
. A "sporty" youth-oriented convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
was built in 1962 by the Budd Company
Budd Company
The Budd Company is a metal fabricator and major supplier of body components to the automobile industry, and was formerly a manufacturer of stainless steel passenger rail cars during the 20th century....
, an independent body builder in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, for evaluation by the fourth largest U.S. automaker at the time, American Motors Corporation
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).
Origin
The XR-400 was developed and constructed by the Automotive Division of the Budd Company.The objective of this car was to entice AMC to expand into a new market segment with a low-cost Rambler-based "sports convertible." The Budd Company was a long-time supplier of tooling, parts, and bodies to automakers
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
. Budd also worked with Nash Motors
Nash Motors
Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors CorporationNash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. From 1938 to 1954, Nash was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation...
, AMC's predecessor company, to develop the first 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...
(unitized) automobile body in 1940. By enticing AMC with this concept, Budd’s already existing business with AMC would increase. It planned to supply bodies and major sub-assemblies for the production version of this new car. Budd estimated that the new model could be available for public sale by October 1963, six months ahead of the Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
.
Design
The XR-400 was built on a shortened two-door 1962 AmbassadorAMC Ambassador
- 1958 :American Motors planned to produce a stretched a wheelbase version of the Rambler platform for Nash dealers to be the new Nash Ambassador, and another for Hudson dealers...
chassis. To keep costs down, Budd engineers kept front of the unit body with the engine and suspension in the same locations. The XR-400's long nose was accomplished by adding a second cowl section behind the original that made space for the battery. The car was styled by Budd with a rather clean and uncluttered body giving little indication of its Rambler sedan origin. A double crease in the beltline suggested a family relationship to the contemporary styling of Rambler’s large-sized cars.
The proposed model was a true 2+2 (two front bucket seat
Bucket seat
A bucket seat is a seat contoured to hold one person, distinct from bench seats which are flat platforms designed to seat multiple people. Bucket seats are standard in fast cars to keep riders in place when making sharp or quick turns...
s plus limited use seats for two back passengers) sleek, steel-blue convertible
Convertible
A convertible is a type of automobile in which the roof can retract and fold away having windows which wind-down inside the doors, converting it from an enclosed to an open-air vehicle...
with a long hood and a short, stubby rear deck. The XR-400’s long 108 inches (274 cm) wheelbase
Wheelbase
In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel...
and truncated overhangs gave it athletic proportions, while the top-up appearance suggested a close-coupled two-seater sports car
Sports car
A sports car is a small, usually two seat, two door automobile designed for high speed driving and maneuverability....
. Classic sports car touches included a hood line that slopped lower than the front fenders, doors that had a dip in their top, and simulated scoops behind the front wheels.
Power for the XR-400 was supplied by a standard Ambassador 327 CID AMC V8 engine
AMC V8 engine
American Motors Corporation produced a series of widely-used V8 engines from the mid-1950s before being absorbed into Chrysler in 1987. Chrysler kept the AMC V8 in production until 1991 for the Jeep Grand Wagoneer....
. The engine bay could accommodate any of AMC’s I6
AMC Straight-6 engine
The American Motors Corporation straight-6 family of engines was used by a number of AMC and Jeep vehicles from 1964 through 2006.-195.6:American Motors' first straight-six engine was the...
or V8 engines. The transmission was an automatic
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
(not typical of sports cars) controlled through a floor console
Center console (automobile)
The center console in an automobile refers to the control-bearing surfaces in the center of the front of the vehicle interior...
mounted shift lever. Braking was provided by an experimental front disc brake
Disc brake
The disc brake or disk brake is a device for slowing or stopping the rotation of a wheel while it is in motion.A brake disc is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites such as reinforced carbon–carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel and/or...
system.
The interior used AMC’s front seats and many other hardware items. In classic sports car fashion, the driver had all controls and a full set of instruments (speedometer, tachometer
Tachometer
A tachometer is an instrument measuring the rotation speed of a shaft or disk, as in a motor or other machine. The device usually displays the revolutions per minute on a calibrated analogue dial, but digital displays are increasingly common...
, as well as gauges for fuel, water temperature, amperes, and oil pressure) that mounted directly ahead of a highly regarded three-spoke wood-rimmed Nardi (brand) steering wheel.
Budd's sales pitch to AMC included pioneering a market "presently untapped by any other manufacturer" with a car so "unlike anything else on the road it would attract widespread attention, provide your dealers with both a new profit area and morale-builder, and offer unusual advertising and sales promotion opportunities." But in the actual context of US automotive history, the saying ignores the competitive presence of Studebaker's '62 V8 powered Lark convertible, the XR 400 looking very much like it. The statement also ignores the '62 Studebaker Avanti sports car derived from the Lark chassis.
Expectations
The experimental convertible was publicly exhibited at the 1964 meeting of the Society of Automotive EngineersSAE International
SAE International is an organization for engineering professionals in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries. The Society is a standards development organization for the engineering of powered vehicles of all kinds, including cars, trucks, boats, aircraft, and others.SAE...
(SAE). The press release stated that the concept shows how modifying Rambler Ambassadors results in:
- "... A brand new type of car—one designed specifically to take over a healthy segment of the new car market presently untapped by any American manufacturer...."
Automotive press reports stated that such a new model could have appeared in AMC dealer
Car dealership
A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or its sales subsidiary. It employs automobile salespeople to do the selling...
showrooms, thus establishing a market segment at least six months before Ford's similar Mustang
Ford Mustang
The Ford Mustang is an automobile manufactured by the Ford Motor Company. It was initially based on the second generation North American Ford Falcon, a compact car. Introduced early on April 17, 1964, as a "1964½" model, the 1965 Mustang was the automaker's most successful launch since the Model A...
started the "pony car
Pony car
Pony car is an American class of automobile launched and inspired by the Ford Mustang in 1964. The term describes an affordable, compact, highly styled car with a sporty or performance-oriented image.-Origins of the breed:...
" market. Unfortunately, AMC turned down the idea. There were probably several reasons for this decision, including:
- American Motors’ President George W. RomneyGeorge W. RomneyGeorge Wilcken Romney was an American businessman and Republican Party politician. He was chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962, the 43rd Governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969, and the United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 1969 to 1973...
, who cemented the company as a maker of compact carCompact carA compact car , or small family car , is a classification of cars which are larger than a supermini but smaller than or equal to a mid-size car...
s, left the company in February 1962 to run for governor of Michigan. - His replacement, Roy AbernethyRoy AbernethyRoy Abernethy was an executive in the American automobile industry, serving as CEO of American Motors Corporation from February 1962 to January 1967. Prior to his tenure at AMC, Abernethy had been with Packard Motors and Willys-Overland. Abernethy replaced George W...
, began a strategy head-to-head competition with the Big Three automakers (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler) across all major market segments. - The new model had very little interior room to compete successfully against other sporty compact cars such as the Chevrolet CorvairChevrolet Corvair-First generation :The 1960 Corvair 500 and 700 series four-door sedans were conceived as economy cars offering few amenities in order to keep the price competitive, with the 500 selling for under $2,000...
Monza and the Pontiac TempestPontiac TempestThe Pontiac Tempest was an entry-level compact produced by the Pontiac Motor Division of General Motors, introduced in September 1960 for the 1961 model year....
Le Mans. - American Motors was developing entirely new models for 1963 and this was a major capital drain. Entering a completely new market segment with an unproven car could be a costly mistake.
- The company was itself working on a new compact fastback concept car called the Rambler TarponRambler Tarponthumb|305px|AMC press release photo of the TarponThe Rambler Tarpon was a concept car, a sporty youth-oriented 2 plus 2 hardtop coupé developed in 1963 by American Motors Corporation .-The Tarpon:...
using the soon to be introduced third generation Rambler AmericanRambler AmericanThe Rambler American is an automobile manufactured by the American Motors Corporation between 1958 and 1969. The American was the second incarnation of AMC's forerunner Nash Motors second-generation Rambler compact that was sold under the Nash and Hudson Motors marques from 1954 and 1955.The...
platform.
Legacy
The Budd Company kept the only prototype model, but later renamed it "XR-Budd" and used it for marketing purposes. The prototype was upgraded with chrome-reverse rims, but the original version had full wheel covers. The car is now at The Henry FordThe Henry Ford
The Henry Ford, a National Historic Landmark, , in the Metro Detroit suburb of Dearborn, Michigan, USA, is a large indoor and outdoor history museum complex...
Museum.
There are two final ironies to the XR-400 story.
- The idea was first presented to Ford Motor CompanyFord Motor CompanyFord Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
in 1961 when Budd developed a sporty convertible by combining a 1957 ThunderbirdFord Thunderbird (first generation)Ford unveiled the Thunderbird at the Detroit Auto Show on February 20, 1954. The first production car came off the line on September 9, 1954, and went on sale on October 22, 1954 as a 1955 model, and sold briskly; 3,500 orders were placed in the first ten days of sale...
body with a 1961 Ford Falcon chassis. Ford turned them down (and subsequently based its new Mustang on the compact Falcon chassis) so Budd tried to pitch its concept to AMC. - In 1987 American Motors was acquiredTakeoverIn business, a takeover is the purchase of one company by another . In the UK, the term refers to the acquisition of a public company whose shares are listed on a stock exchange, in contrast to the acquisition of a private company.- Friendly takeovers :Before a bidder makes an offer for another...
by ChryslerChryslerChrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
Corporation. At the time Chrysler was headed by Lee IacoccaLee IacoccaLido Anthony "Lee" Iacocca is an American businessman known for engineering the Mustang, the unsuccessful Ford Pinto, being fired from Ford Motor Company, and his revival of the Chrysler Corporation in the 1980s...
, who, while working at Ford was responsible for introducing the Mustang. As Iacocca stated, "you either lead, follow, or get out of the way."