1982 AMC Concord "Sundancer" - An Ultra-Rare '80s Convertible

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The Rarest AMC?

This AMC is one of the rarest ever made—perhaps for good reason.

What do you think is the rarest car ever built by American Motors? The Pierre Cardin Javelin? The 1988 Eagle wagon built after the Chrysler buyout? Maybe the Rebel Machine or the Hornet SC/360?

Well, the 1982 AMC Concord Sundancer convertible has them all beat. In fact, except for ultra-special cars like the Hurst SS/AMX and the extremely rare AMX/3, the Sundancer is one of the lowest-production AMCs ever built.

However, rare doesn’t always mean valuable—which is part of the reason most people have never heard of the Sundancer. So how did these cars come to be, and more importantly, why?

The Last Independent Automaker

Before we get into that, I want to remind everyone to check out The Last Independent Automaker, our upcoming six-part documentary series on the history of American Motors. I’m really excited to share this project with you, so be sure to take a look after you’re done with this video.

Now, back to the story.

Pacer Prelude

This story starts in the early 1970s, when AMC management met to plan future products. Having found success by offering something different from Detroit’s Big Three, CEO Roy Chapin Jr. wanted to continue what he called the company’s “philosophy of difference.”

Top proposals included a compact luxury car and a radically styled commuter designed to maximize interior space. With growing concerns over traffic congestion and air pollution, AMC made the bold decision to develop what would become the 1975 AMC Pacer.

While the Pacer was certainly different, it wasn’t the kind of “different” buyers wanted. After strong initial sales, enthusiasm cooled as drivers were turned off by its poor fuel economy and odd looks.

A Compact Luxury Car

With sales slumping, AMC couldn’t raise enough capital for major new models. So, on a shoestring budget, it revisited the idea of a compact luxury car. Designers took the solid but dated Hornet and loaded it with late-’70s luxury touches: a landau roof, opera windows, hood ornament, velour seats, woodgrain trim, a digital clock—anything to make it look new without costly reengineering.

They offered a new 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine from Volkswagen as an option, though it actually cost more than AMC’s own inline-six. The Hornet name was retired, replaced with the more sophisticated-sounding Concord.

AMC promoted the 1978 Concord as “the luxury Americans want, the size America needs,” and buyers responded—production jumped 55 percent over the Hornet.

Where Did All the Convertibles Go?

That still doesn’t explain where the Sundancer came from.

AMC had built some striking convertibles in the past but stopped after the 1968 Rebel. Convertibles had become too low-volume to justify. The trend wasn’t unique to AMC—GM, Ford, and Chrysler also phased out their convertibles by the mid-’70s as buyers favored air conditioning and quieter, more practical cars.

By 1976, only the Cadillac Eldorado convertible remained, and even it was discontinued after that model year.

Coach-Built Drop-Tops

A new market opened for small coachbuilders who converted hardtops into convertibles by hand. One of them, Jack Griffith, had already made a name building custom sports cars and later created convertible versions of the Toyota Celica called the Sunchaser. Sold through Toyota dealers, around 2,000 were built between 1979 and 1981.

Jack Griffith Meets AMC

After the Sunchaser’s success, Griffith approached AMC in 1980 with a similar idea. AMC, struggling through a recession and an energy crisis, needed something fresh. The two companies struck a deal.

Lacking a small sporty car, AMC based the convertible on the two-door Concord and the newly launched Eagle. Both bodies were nearly identical, making production easier. The resulting cars were called Sundancers.

Customers could order one through an AMC dealer. The cars were shipped to Griffith’s shop in Florida, where workers reinforced the chassis, cut off the roof, welded in a roll bar, and added a removable fiberglass and vinyl top. Technically, the Sundancer was a Targa rather than a true convertible—but Griffith’s brochures simply called it a “Sport Landau Convertible.”

Raising (or Lowering) the Roof

Dropping the top was a bit of a process. You’d roll down the windows, unlatch the roof panel, remove it, fold down the canvas top, cover it with the boot—and only then were you ready to drive. It was doable solo, but two people made it much easier.

Exterior Review

With the top down, the Sundancer looked surprisingly good. The Concord’s squared-off styling worked well for the early ’80s. The brown Targa bar blended nicely with the deep blue paint and tan roof. Buyers could choose any factory color, though all Sundancers came with brown tops, so paint choice mattered.

The Eagle version added flared fenders and extra ground clearance, giving it a rugged look. Griffith advertised it as “America’s only four-wheel-drive convertible”—conveniently overlooking Jeep.

Interior Review

Inside, the Sundancer felt handmade—well-built but clearly modified. This particular car showed its age with faded leather and worn trim, but that only proves it’s been enjoyed. The Concord’s plush seats, fake wood trim, and thick carpet gave it a mini-Lincoln feel, though some cheap plastics hinted at its economy-car roots.

Most Sundancers started as Limited trim models, which included leather, woodgrain accents, and power accessories.

Engine and Driving Review

Power came from either AMC’s 4.2-liter inline-six or GM’s 2.5-liter “Iron Duke” four-cylinder, paired with a three-speed automatic. This example has the Iron Duke—reliable but far from powerful, with just 82 horsepower.

Acceleration was modest, but at cruising speeds, it settled in comfortably. Wind noise was surprisingly well controlled, suggesting Griffith’s design work was effective even without formal testing. Ride quality was soft and luxurious, though the added structural flex from the missing roof made the body less rigid over bumps.

What Went Wrong?

Despite its charm, the Sundancer was a tough sell. The conversion added about $4,000 to the price, pushing it over $10,000—too much for what was essentially a restyled Hornet. Most were ordered by dealers for display rather than by customers.

Plans to move production near AMC’s Kenosha factory never materialized, and the project was quietly dropped after 1982. AMC discontinued the Concord a year later to focus on Jeep, Eagle, and Renault. Griffith sold his company in 1984.

What Could Have Been...

It’s hard not to wonder what might have happened if AMC had prioritized the Concord over the Pacer in the early ’70s. Ford launched the compact Granada that same year—and it became a hit. The Concord found modest success but arrived too late to save AMC financially.

By the mid-’80s, the Big Three cautiously returned to the convertible market—ironically outsourcing conversions to coachbuilders, just like Griffith. AMC helped design the Renault Alliance convertible in 1985, but it too failed to sell in big numbers.

Social Circles and 1980s Cars

A collector once told me, “All AMCs are rare.” Compared to Fords or Chevys, that’s true. It’s estimated around 200 Sundancers were built, though fewer than 100 are known to survive. Still, rarity hasn’t translated into high value.

While 1980s cars are finally getting some love, most of the attention goes to sporty imports and quirky hatchbacks—not modest American sedans like the Concord. It’s the difference between being invited to prom and being invited to the after-party.

Within AMC collector circles, the Concord sits near the bottom—lacking the flair of muscle cars or the novelty of the Gremlin and Pacer. It’s ordinary, but honest transportation, which in its own way makes it special.

Days in the Sun

There’s something about convertibles. You can take the most ordinary car, cut off the roof, and suddenly it’s fun. That’s what makes the Concord Sundancer unique—it turned something plain into something genuinely joyful.

Jack Griffith could have chosen flashier cars to convert, but he picked AMC. And while the Sundancer wasn’t a commercial success, it represents a kind of sincerity that’s rare in the automotive world.

This particular car’s new owner has already started restoring it, ensuring that after a long and unusual journey, this 1982 AMC Concord Sundancer will enjoy many more days in the sun.