American Motors concept cars & dealership info

ccbatson · April-06-09, 03:37 PM

Dang, if the stamps and dies are gone, I would imagine parts are hard to come by and expensive.

Bearinabox · April-06-09, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

My mom's car when I was young:

AMC Javelin

My mom's car when I was young:

The color is about right, but I think the one in the picture is a higher trim level than hers was. It has those fancy plastic hubcaps, chrome exhaust pipe, and a nice shiny bumper.

**MoparDan** · April-06-09, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by Johnlodge

My mom's car when I was young:

AMC Javelin

Nice ride!
Were you old enough to drive & would she let you take it out for a spin?

**MoparDan** · April-06-09, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Bigb23

56 Packman - were you familiar with "Complete Restorations" in Mt. Clemens ? We were Packard specialists.

Attachment 360

What a beauty! Talk about exuding class & prestige.
BigB, can you check post #20 about a soda blaster?
Thanks!

**yaktown** · April-06-09, 10:54 PM

There is an annual AMC show at Greenmead in Livonia every summer. If you're looking for parts, there's usually a few swappers there. It takes place August 16 this year. They will also be hosting the national convention in 2010.

/AMC people, the dorks of the car world!

**Bigb23** · April-07-09, 08:55 AM

What a beauty! Talk about exuding class & prestige.
BigB, can you check post #20 about a soda blaster?
Thanks!

I looked at the ad, and it seems like a good unit for non - commercial use. For media blasting though, crushed walnut shells seem more green friendly.

**MoparDan** · April-07-09, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Bigb23

I looked at the ad, and it seems like a good unit for non - commercial use. For media blasting though, crushed walnut shells seem more green friendly.

Thanks for the looksee & recommendation. I thought about using baking soda...from what I've read it's easy on the environment as well. One drawback appears that it's prone to clumping because of water buildup in the compressor line. I'd planned on getting a regulator to trap the moisture, but if crushed walnut doesn't have that problem & is competitive in price I can go that route as well.
To be honest, I'm probably looking at 6mos down the road at the very earliest I would even attempt to do this. Despite my kids' best efforts I've managed to save a reasonable amount of money towards this project. I'm seriously thinking of going to the point of buying a rotisserie...there's a Northern Tool distributor in San Antonio which carries a few models. When I'm down there later this month I'm going to swing by to see them in person. http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...9+78060+786208
I'm interested in the $1299 version. I'll check out the parts stands/trees as well.
I used to be a pretty decent mechanic, just very limited experience where body/paint is concerned. My next purchase will be a book titled "The Key to Bumping Metal" which I understand is excellent. After that it'll be a trip to a local auto salvage yard to buy some dented panels & start schoolin' mahself!

ccbatson · April-07-09, 03:42 PM

How do you [[BigB) reconcile being a liberal and the interest in vehicles that, according to Al Gore, are destroying the planet?

**Bigb23** · April-07-09, 04:23 PM

I'm seriously thinking of going to the point of buying a rotisserie.

Thats the way to go, but with your investment in equipment, seriously look at doing some other work after the project also. Maybe sharing the rotisserie through a car club for extra help on labor.
Too bad you're not up in Detroit, I have a sh*t load of air and fabrication tools not being used.

By the way - did anybody hear a faint buzzing noise after Mopar's post ?

**MoparDan** · April-07-09, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by Bigb23

Thats the way to go, but with your investment in equipment, seriously look at doing some other work after the project also. Maybe sharing the rotisserie through a car club for extra help on labor.
Too bad you're not up in Detroit, I have a sh*t load of air and fabrication tools not being used.

By the way - did anybody hear a faint buzzing noise after Mopar's post ?

I used to belong to the area Mopar Club but haven't attended a meeting in about 2yrs. One co-worker is a member & am going to see if he can do a little welding for me. He's currently restoring a '67 GTX with a Hemi but I don't think he has a rotisserie anymore. Another co-worker is trying to wrangle an old Bronco from his uncle up in Delaware. If I knew for sure he'd be getting it in the near future I'd hit him up on going 50/50 for major purchases. Plus he only lives about 2miles down the road.
I'll probably get some help from my best friend who used to be a pretty good mechanic himself...he once owned a '70 440 'Cuda but sold it back in '82. Yeah, I'm sure he'd still love to have that back.. Who knew they'd be going for major bucks at auction?
Just checked pricing on walnut vs. soda at Eastwood.com & it's the same. Do you still do any restorations?
History Channel has a program on the Great Lakes...think I'll watch it.

**Bigb23** · April-07-09, 07:26 PM

Do you still do any restorations?

No, I haven't since about 1990. I did work for two custom car/limo fabricators, and Complete, and also put my time in at a Maaco. But I had to move to larger firms for Machine design and mockups, to get the better health care. And of course, we know whats been happening up here. I'm still a car guy, but have moved to more affordable, smaller projects.

In fact, for the last two years, I sold the majority of my machinist tools and Kennedy boxes, and a Mig welder, but still have managed to keep my Snap On roll around, and essential tools and compressors.

I opened up my profile page - have a look. I'll see if I can dig up a photo of a 440 Super Bee high compress. engine that me and a shipmate built in the kitchen of his Navy housing, out in Long Beach, Cal. It's next to his fridge.

His wife loved that.

**MoparDan** · April-07-09, 08:36 PM

LOL
In the kitchen? Probably easier than keeping it in storage at the base hobby shop while y'all were out at sea.
I'll check your profile out.

**MoparDan** · April-07-09, 10:33 PM

Since this IS the American Motors thread so to speak...
AMC Hudson Hornet commercial from 1955

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BklXn...eature=related

**Bigb23** · April-07-09, 10:43 PM

I had friends that had a 55 Hudson, that was built like a tank. But they wrapped it around a tree that was only a few inches across. It was one of those WTF moments. They all lived. But what was the deal on the Hudson ?

**MoparDan** · April-07-09, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by Bigb23

I had friends that had a 55 Hudson, that was built like a tank. But they wrapped it around a tree that was only a few inches across. It was one of those WTF moments. They all lived. But what was the deal on the Hudson ?

I just thought it was interesting that even though Hudson & Nash had merged they were already calling themselves American Motors. I thought that "officially" didn't occur until about 1970.
Trying to find an old Ambassador commercial with Robert De Niro in it. There's one but it's a very short clip thrown in with several others.

**Bigb23** · April-07-09, 11:04 PM

If I seem a little jaded - it's because in the early eighties we, [[military gear heads), were interfacing and digitizing, Cincinnati Millacron , TC 3 robotic arms, with 5000 watt lasers, that astounded the Universities at the time. And we were written up in the trade journals articles. Now, I can't get a job at the local gas station, [[no experience).

Oh well, life sucks.

**MoparDan** · April-07-09, 11:04 PM

And the Mirthmobile from Wayne's World.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkHBh...eature=related

ccbatson · April-07-09, 11:34 PM

AMC and Mopar were solid, but always seemed to bring up the rear behind Chevy, and to a lesser extent Ford.

**Bigb23** · April-07-09, 11:43 PM

Thanks Cc, you always had my "Back End" or was it just "anybody's" back end ? What a guy.

ccbatson · April-07-09, 11:48 PM

I am an equal opportunity American car autoholic, however, currently, Chevy has the top spot, and Chrysler falls into second place.

ccbatson · April-08-09, 12:00 AM

Read the rules lately BigB?

**Bigb23** · April-08-09, 12:02 AM

I'm done, you win Cc.

It's your forum.

ccbatson · April-08-09, 12:04 AM

Keep a level head and try again later...or not, your call.

**MoparDan** · April-08-09, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by Bigb23

If I seem a little jaded - it's because in the early eighties we, [[military gear heads), were interfacing and digitizing, Cincinnati Millacron , TC 3 robotic arms, with 5000 watt lasers, that astounded the Universities at the time. And we were written up in the trade journals articles. Now, I can't get a job at the local gas station, [[no experience).

Oh well, life sucks.

I understand where you're coming from. When I got out of the AF in '92, I really believed having a BS plus 8yrs electronics experience would help me out. We were in a recession at the time & I was laid off twice. I got in with govt & despite its trappings/shortcomings I've stayed with it. Guys that got out after me who stayed around caught on with tech & dot.com companies; they were always on me to jump back into the private sector. After the bubble burst they were out of jobs & very few remained here. My career field in the Guard was basically eliminated about a year or so ago because of the move to digital for the aircraft recording systems. Now the unit is sent directly to the manufacturer[[Sony) instead of to an intermediate shop for maintenance. Oh well, my enlistment ends in Dec & I'll over 20yrs in. Won't see the retirement check until age 60 though.
I keep thinking with a Midwesterner in the White House, he'll be more in tune with what's going on in the region than the previous guy. At least he actually mentions the industrial base of this country more often in speeches. We'll see.
Just hang in there as best you can.

**Bigb23** · April-08-09, 10:27 AM

Super Bee high compress. engine that me and a shipmate built in the kitchen of his Navy housing, out in Long Beach, Cal. It's next to his fridge.

Here's that pic, about 1976. He bought a 68 Super Bee with the engine all apart in the trunk. We rebuilt the engine in his kitchen while our ship was in port. After installation, we had to push start it with a truck, and ran it with open headers for a test run.

It screamed.

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