Richard Teague was the boss of American Motors Corporation (AMC) styling in the 60s and 70s and most people today have never heard him.
Although a quiet and unassuming man, the vehicles he styled, within unbelievably tight budgets, had a considerable impact then, and still do.
Teague’s successes included the Rambler American, Rebel, Hornet, Javelin, Matador and the two-seat AMX, which were also sold in Australia.
AMC was the poor relation of America’s big three car companies.
It was always strapped for cash and barely made any money.
Consequently, Teague and his team never enjoyed the resources that his counterparts at Ford, Chrysler and GM were able to deploy on design and research.
Teague became legendary for being able to do lots with less.
Richard Teague
1968 Javelin
AMC Gremlin
Rambler Rebel
Javelin SST
In 1971, to match GM’s and Ford’s new small cars, Teague simply cut 30 per cent off the rear of the Hornet and called it the Gremlin.
It was a typical Teague idea, and AMC beat their rivals to the market by six months.
The hatchback styling motif is now used worldwide by all car makers.
Not all he penned was a success.
His ungainly Pacer was an attempt to predict the future of automobile packaging.
The car was short and wide because Teague sought to impart the feeling of driving a big car within small car dimensions.
Pity about the styling.
For our money his most classic designs are the 1967 Rambler Rebel, the 1970 Hornet, the 1968 Javelin and the 1984 “XJ” Jeep Cherokee.
The Rebel, Hornet and Javelin stand out today as timeless and subtle shapes, visibly American but with a touch of European elegance.
The downsized 1984 Jeep set the template for all the SUVs that have followed.
The entire global automobile industry has pivoted around this one car.
In fact, when Chrysler boss Lee Iaccoca bought AMC in 1987 he did so just to get his hands on the XJ Jeep and its successors.
It is Teague’s greatest legacy.
David Burrell is the editor of retroautos.com.au
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