Wikipedia

Collier Motors

Collier Motors is a private car dealership primarily selling cars built by American Motors Corporation (AMC), as well as servicing other makes. The business was for many years an AMC franchised dealership located on old U.S. Route 117 in Pikeville, North Carolina.[1]

Collier Motors
Company type
Private
IndustryCar dealership
Founded1955
FounderRobert Collier
Headquarters4713 US Highway 117 S Pikeville, North Carolina
ProductsGeneral automotive repair and parts
Website"Collier Motors AMC". Archived from the original on 14 December 2024. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
Vehicle inventory in the front lot
The dealership as of February 2011
The front lot as of January 2012
Rambler vehicles, surrounded by overgrown vegetation

Background

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Robert Collier established Collier Motors in 1955 as a single entrepreneur while in his 20s.[2] His father was also in the automobile business and continued working until he was in his 80s.[2] Collier transitioned from marketing Chevrolets to selling cars made by American Motors Corporation (AMC).[3] The longstanding relationship with AMC continued until the automaker was partially purchased by Renault in 1979.[4]

After AMC began importing Renault models from France, Collier decided he preferred to sell only domestically designed and built cars.[2] He would not sell new Renault-derived passenger cars, such as the 1983 Alliance that was assembled by AMC in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Collier continued to sell the stock he already had on the lot and focused his dealership on older AMC cars and Jeep vehicles, as well as used vehicles of other domestic makes. He lost the AMC franchise in the mid-1980s and automaker was bought by Chrysler in 1987.[5][6]

The 5-acre (2.0 ha) property is on the west side of old U.S. Route 117. By 2010, the business was described by visitors as having "vehicles and parts slowly returning to the soil."[7] Collier died on 11 February 2018, at the age of 88.[3] The administration of the estate was placed mainly on Robbie Collier, the oldest son.[8]

Business

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As of 2012, Collier Motors sits frozen in time.[9] Attempting to settle Robert Collier's estate, the Collier family continues to sell off the remaining inventory. However, most have remained outside, unprotected, on the lot since the early 1980s.[10] Vehicles included 1970s and 1980s-model AMCs, such as Gremlins, Pacers, Ambassadors, Matadors, Javelins, Eagles, Spirits, Hornets, and Concords. Some of the cars still retain their original Monroney window stickers.[11] Once the inventory has been sold or otherwise disposed of, the property will be cleared and listed for sale.[8]

Historic vehicles

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Historic vehicles owned by the Collier family and stored at the lot have included unique examples such as four 1950s Nash-Healeys and Barry Goldwater's two-seat AMX muscle car with a "tricked-out dash".[12] There were also two Alabama Highway Patrol Javelins and a 1950 Nash Statesman from the 1991 movie The Marrying Man.[4][13]

The policy has been to sell complete cars, not to part them out. A late-2021 estimate noted 40 "desirable" and restoration-worthy cars that include some high-performance equipped AMCs.[8]

Television

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The American Pickers History Channel show (Season 10, Episode 1, "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" originally aired 13 May 2015) recounts the effort to retrieve two 1954 Nash-Healey sports cars for which they paid $46,000.[14][15][16]

In the Lost in Transmission History Channel show (Season 1, Episode 5, "Fly Like an Eagle", originally aired 4 June 2015), the objective is to purchase replacement fender flares for an AMC Eagle.[17]

Airing on 15 November 2022, Roadworthy Rescues (Season 1, Episode 7, "Rebel with a Cause") starring Derek Bieri, creator of the Vice Grip Garage YouTube channel, describes finding a 1967 AMC Rebel SST convertible to restore.[18]

References

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  1. ↑ "Company Profile: Collier Motors AMC". Manta Media. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Jones, Wigwam (2005). "Loyal to the End". Archived from the original on 5 June 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Obituaries: Bobby Collier". Goldsboro News-Argus. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 6 September 2018. Retrieved 6 September 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Collier Motors: The Last 'Surviving?' AMC Dealership". gremlinx.com. Archived from the original on 30 August 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Holusha, John (10 March 1987). "Chrysler is buying American Motors; cost is $1.5 billion". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Gilboy, James (16 August 2021). "There's a Ruined AMC Dealership That's Actually Still Open in North Carolina". The Drive. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Hyde, Justin (15 September 2010). "America's Abandoned Auto Dealerships". Jalopnik. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  8. 1 2 3 Gilboy, James (14 October 2021). "The Clock Is Ticking for America's Last AMC Dealership". The Drive. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Cranswick, Marc (2012). The Cars of American Motors: An Illustrated History. McFarland. p. 318. ISBN 9780786446728.
  10. ↑ "The Last Remaining AMC Dealership". AMChornet.com. Retrieved 21 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ↑ Truesdell, Rich (4 April 2009). "Part1: An AMC Weekend in North Carolina". automotivetraveler.com. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Lemons, Stephen (19 October 2006). "Goldwater Uncut". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "1950 Nash Statesman". imcdb.org. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  14. ↑ "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall". imdb.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Bedard, Mike (6 February 2026). "10 Of The Coolest Vehicles Ever Uncovered On American Pickers". slashgear.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  16. ↑ O'Neill, Shane (9 December 2024). "What Kind Of Car Is In Front Of The American Pickers Antique Archaeology Shop?". slashgear.com. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  17. ↑ "Fly Like an Eagle, Lost in Transmission". imdb.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  18. ↑ "Rebel With a Cause". imdb.com. Retrieved 13 April 2026.

Further reading

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35°29′23″N 77°58′57″W / 35.48972°N 77.98250°W / 35.48972; -77.98250

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