Re: import craze

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 11 Nov 2004, Jim Blair wrote:

> A: I agree on the Pacer not being ugly (although the plastic interior trim 
> leaves something to be desired) As for outgunning the punks with Rice 
> rockets, My '73 J4000 gives them quite a surprise too. For having "only" a 
> 304 with TH400 and 33" tires with newer J20 Dana 60 full float, it can still 
> scoot! I have real fun when I put it in low range and get on it. The tires 
> both smoke in the rear (I have the part time kit in my QT) and I get to 35 
> mph right away!

I don't think any AMC is actually ugly, though sure, some are
better looking than others. The ones that stand out intentionally
are all well-designed, style-wise even or especially the "love
or hate" models. Though I doubt I'll ever own a Pacer or Matador
(too modern), I do like them, and think AMC did the cleanest
front ends in that era than any other manu. Not fond of the
plastic, either.

When I had my V8 Gremlin, it got a LOT of attention from the
import scene cars.  90% of them were idiots, with towel racks
out back and "fairing" flopping in the breeze, though that's
no different than the american car 'muscle' crowd in their
time (remember all the tall shackles, crappy exhausts, speed
stickers...?) (import speed stickers look faster than the ones
we had as kids, some things do improve :-)

I think the Gremlin got the attention (here in Calif
where there's a lot of import-scene cars) because it was
import-sized, though relatively tall and wide, very shiny,
and sounded... grumbly. Half-smooth chromies with moon hubcaps
(!) and they thought it was all show no-go. Within 1/2 block
90% of them were 1/4 block behind; that last 10% came close or
occasionally beat me, and one non-import Saleen Mustang kilt
me ded. Just casual between-lights funnin'.  The Saleen driver

smiled, I nodded, some of the kids were pissed, dimwits.