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AMC Automobiles? |
pappythesailor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jul 07, 2005
Posts: 1563
From: Mass.
|  Posted: 2005-08-15 11:12 am Permalink
My first car was a 1980 AMC "Spirit". You would have thought I was a mechanic the way I worked on that car: 3 alternators, water pump, valve cover gasket, blower motor, carburator and tuneups. Next car was a 1991 Ford Escort and there wasn't one thing under the hood I was brave enough to work on! Still, it was a great car. I remember almost getting killed in the Escort the day I bought it because it didn't have the passing power of the AMC.
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cynfulcynner
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1800
From: Ocean Beach, San Francisco
| Posted: 2005-08-15 11:48 am Permalink
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On 2005-08-14 20:20, tikitortured wrote:
Didn't AMC own bowling alleys or Brunswick too?
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No, that was AMF.
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Shipwreckjoey
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 29, 2002
Posts: 1794
From: San Diego, CA
| Posted: 2005-08-15 5:16 pm Permalink
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On 2005-08-14 17:48, martiki wrote:
I always thought Javelins were great looking cars.
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I spotted an old Javelin in a parking lot yesterday and, having just read this post, pulled in to take a closer look. The black paint (I think) was totally oxidized, the trim and mags (slots) were slightly corroded but not beyond resurrection. The car was complete, original and appeared to have never suffered any serious damage. For a collector or restorer it's what's known as an "unmolested car". A real score for the right person.
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spy-tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 11, 2003
Posts: 697
From: glendale, ca
| Posted: 2005-08-15 5:35 pm Permalink
In "The Man With The Golden Gun" James Bond goes on a car chase with a stolen Hornet and the bad guy (Scaramanga - Christopher Lee) drives a Javelin on which he puts wings and flies away.
I had a '62 Rambler American. Inline 6, three on the tree and bench seats. Doesn't get better than that.
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Kono
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Oct 08, 2003
Posts: 1266
From: Orlando
| Posted: 2005-08-15 5:45 pm Permalink
Here's a site with a bunch of pics of AMC cars:
http://www.matadorcoupe.com/amcpictures.htm
Not too many pics of the Javelin though. Don't get tricked by the AMX/2. It was only a mock up for car shows. The AMX/3 is quite the hotty but only 6 were made. Looks a lot like a Mangusta.
When I was a kid I had a Hot Wheels Javelin that looked just like this purple one:
Another site with pics of AMC over the years (don't bother if you're on dial up).
http://oldcarandtruckpictures.com/AmericanMotors/AmericanMotors.html
Another Javelin pic (WARNING - vintage nudity!):
http://www.woresort.com/misc/cin-back.JPG
Hewey, can't believe you're dissing the Javelin! Nice and clean muscular design:
Pics courtesy of google.
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Gigantalope
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 01, 2004
Posts: 913
From: Shinola, California
| Posted: 2005-08-15 6:18 pm Permalink
One of the options available on Gremlins was a 340 CID V8. Even in the 1970s detuned smog-dog years, that's quite a bit of engine for a small car.
I think there was a few years where they also had Levi's denim intreiors with the little pockets (complete with red Levi's tag)
All you really needed was your John Denver 8-track and a Huffy 10-speed to be a suburban hippy.
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Shipwreckjoey
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 29, 2002
Posts: 1794
From: San Diego, CA
| Posted: 2005-08-28 03:46 am Permalink
I watched a show on the SPEED channel a few days ago about AMC muscle cars. I totally forgot about the AMC Rebel. It only came in Red, White & Blue and was basically a Rambler American with a hot 390 motor, mags, a super sport interior (buckets and a TACH!!) and 4 speed that was intended to go up against the Charger, GTO, Roadrunner and Malibu SS 396. I think it only came out in limited numbers for 2 years. If you blinked you missed it.
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Benzart
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 09, 2004
Posts: 10306
From: Port Saint Lucie, Florida
| Posted: 2005-08-28 09:09 am Permalink
My second car as a kid was a 1955 Studebaker Commander Coupe. Super car and I really loved it. When I was in my early 20's I drove a Gremlin for a few months. It was an Avis rental car and at the time I was the customer service manager for a private airplane operation in Pompano Bch Florida. We were an Avis agent and the Gremlin was "Lost" in the system. I kept trying to return it to them and they would not take it, saying there was no paper work in it. So I just drove it. It was Loads of fun to drive and I was really sad when they finally found the papers nad took it back. It was a Fun car. Those were the days.
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Polynesiac
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Jan 29, 2004
Posts: 2022
From: San Pedro, CA
| Posted: 2005-08-28 10:46 am Permalink
Yeah...don't diss the javelins. My family has an unmolested '68 javelin ('68 year, purchased in '67 - one of the first 1000 off the assembly line) that I drove all over massachusetts. She's still in great shape too. They're not as "collectable" as the older mustangs and other "muscle" cars, but I got offers all the time. They're a unique vehicle that you don't see much of.
A few years ago I purchased an ex-mail vehicle that I thought was a jeep...but turned out to be an AMC model. Looked exactly the same, except it didn't say "jeep" accross the back of the mail vehicle. I drove that thing all over LA. She was a bit more beat up, being an ex-government vehicle and RHD - which is a real trip to drive (in the states). I had a small rust hole in the ceiling directly above my legs, so when it rained I carried a cup with me to catch the drops. one hand on the wheel, the other on my rain collection device. good times!
I got pictures of them around here somewhere...I just need to find a scanner and I'll put them up
thanks for this thread, brings back a lot of good memories.
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tikimug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 01, 2002
Posts: 751
From: 1217 mi. North of the Mai Kai
| Posted: 2005-08-28 12:43 pm Permalink
My Grandmother was sooo cool she owned a 1972 Javelin in Silver with the interior designed by top fashion designer Peirre Cardin!
She loved that car and it had great pick-up! That car was so boss!
I think she eventually traded it in for a Buick Century ...ugh!
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[ This Message was edited by: tikimug 2005-08-28 12:45 ]
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Shipwreckjoey
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 29, 2002
Posts: 1794
From: San Diego, CA
| Posted: 2005-08-28 2:24 pm Permalink
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On 2005-08-28 12:43, tikimug wrote:
I think she eventually traded it in for a Buick Century ...ugh!
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What's the deal with old people and Buicks (or to a lesser degree Oldsmobiles). My mom has owned two Chevelles, a Mustang, a T-Bird and a 280Z and when she turned 70 she went out and bought a Buick Park Ave. I know those cars were considered the hot ticket back when the Roadmasters and Rocket 88's were burnin' up the race tracks of Anytown, USA but Jeez...that was 50 years ago! If you want comfort, style and performance in the 21st century (at a reasonably affordable price) go buy a Lexus fer crisakes.
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Gigantalope
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 01, 2004
Posts: 913
From: Shinola, California
| Posted: 2005-08-28 2:56 pm Permalink
Buicks and the elderly...it's hard for car companies to shake those images once the establsih themselves too.
I think when people are at an age when they are interested in a number of different things, they decide what's "The Thing" then as they age, and usually become more conservative, they just hold on.
Until the last few years Cadillac (for example) went from being avant guard in style in the late '50s and early '60s to having no pulse...
There's one out now that's basically a Corvette.
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martiki
Official Mixologist
Joined: Mar 29, 2002
Posts: 3056
From: http://www.smugglerscovesf.com
| Posted: 2005-08-29 10:08 am Permalink
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On 2005-08-28 14:24, Shipwreckjoey wrote:
Quote:
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On 2005-08-28 12:43, tikimug wrote:
I think she eventually traded it in for a Buick Century ...ugh!
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What's the deal with old people and Buicks (or to a lesser degree Oldsmobiles). My mom has owned two Chevelles, a Mustang, a T-Bird and a 280Z and when she turned 70 she went out and bought a Buick Park Ave. I know those cars were considered the hot ticket back when the Roadmasters and Rocket 88's were burnin' up the race tracks of Anytown, USA but Jeez...that was 50 years ago! If you want comfort, style and performance in the 21st century (at a reasonably affordable price) go buy a Lexus fer crisakes.
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Hmmm...old people and Buicks...WWJD?
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cynfulcynner
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 24, 2002
Posts: 1800
From: Ocean Beach, San Francisco
| Posted: 2005-08-29 4:42 pm Permalink
If you'd like to drive a Javelin convertible, check out this "Manta Ray" body modification kit for Mazda Miatas!
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tikimug
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 01, 2002
Posts: 751
From: 1217 mi. North of the Mai Kai
| Posted: 2005-08-29 5:40 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2005-08-28 14:24, Shipwreckjoey wrote:
Quote:
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On 2005-08-28 12:43, tikimug wrote:
I think she eventually traded it in for a Buick Century ...ugh!
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What's the deal with old people and Buicks (or to a lesser degree Oldsmobiles). My mom has owned two Chevelles, a Mustang, a T-Bird and a 280Z and when she turned 70 she went out and bought a Buick Park Ave. I know those cars were considered the hot ticket back when the Roadmasters and Rocket 88's were burnin' up the race tracks of Anytown, USA but Jeez...that was 50 years ago! If you want comfort, style and performance in the 21st century (at a reasonably affordable price) go buy a Lexus fer crisakes.
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I'm pretty sure those fancy imported Japanese cars are made of plastic and have too many buttons and nonsense. Nothing like an American car!
btw, my Grandfather was a Mercury man!
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