Light year

["Mahoney, John" <JMahoney@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As the Day Approacheth, we Give Thanks for gratis Tach Schematics, Tire Sizements and Styling Secrets; we Foreswear to limit those Times, Dimes and Loonies we Passeth at the J&F and B&B shows.  Those who Truly Looketh for late '50s Rambler wagons and They who Divergeth in Reasoned Opinion are Wholly Welcome Keys as we Keepeth AMC during a Bleak Winter Tyme.  And if, in the Car Business, the Successful Groweth to Prosper and the Weak only Downsize to Hangeth on, They who can do Neither Hadeth out into the Fog.  We shall Worketh toward Improvement of a car Hobby, for Big names with Coveted models Surviveth and small ones with unwanted Product merely Die.  30 years past, AMC was Alive in America (and 15 years later, GM Liveth Large with around a 50% American Market Share): both proveth that Nothing is Forever --- not even an Euhedral crystal of Carbon so Dearly Over-Hyped and so Brilliantly and Seasonally Sold.       

Joy to Thee.


>>
out of curiosity, (trick question) what year did talks in earnest happen between American Motors and Renault
<<

Eddie can add three more questions to his timeline: 1) what auto company did AMC "beat out" by getting onto Renault's dance card, 2) what company "beat" that company instead (into oblivion, some might say), and 3) what year was the Chrysler buyout of American Motors/Jeep really planned for?  


>>74 was the last year the 401 was used in cars, 75-79 was Jeep only

Frank can add one footnote to his disclaimer: a handful of '75 Matadors were factory built with ['74-spec] 401s.  I have the breakout of coupes, sedans, and wagons in the boxes (and boxes!) of unorganized AMC paper at home.  (~8 or 9 installs total?)  Don't open windows in Advent calendars hoping that I'll find it in the days, weeks, or months to come... 


>>Plastic started around 67-68 for AMC, 1970 it was in full swing.

But who knew it would yield $3000+ Hot Wheels?

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/8200/clip.htm


>>
Clearly, General Misery has decided the amurrican pimples are no
longer interested in buying automobiles, therefore, the only possible
<<

Tom can add one name to qualify his comment: the zits americains are no longer into buying -GM- automobiles --- ze now luv anytings frum Toyota. 

But, I must say, Americans still can play very well with electricity: on Sunday, I was visiting someone who had "downsized" [2600 square feet for one over-60 woman is downsizing?] into a new condo.  Dusk fell as I left and I noticed the rear of a car parked several driveways off.  I vaguely thought to myself, "New Impala: dual exhaust, a V-8 SS."  I also vaguely thought that I was surprised it wasn't much taller than the Accord sedan parked beside.  Just then I saw its lights --- all its lights --- flash, as an older man approached it from -that- dwelling.  I thought (far less vaguely by then), "LED tail -and- backup lighting --- on a Chevrolet???"

Then, as he backed out, the blinding-bright blue-white backups instantly replaced by staccato bursts from his fender-mounted and HCMSL neon reds, I did a [Nash-Kelvinator] presidential (if you read and remembered, you know which one) "Of course!" mental head slap and identified his "Chevy" as a Cadillac.  When he turned to the right and drove off into the void of darkness, I could, of course, also see an old body under a flagship's flashy new togs.  It was a brief and shining moment that almost recalled a Camelot --- except that the chosen carriage for the king way back then was the Continental.  And more glorious days for all of American motors' achievement still were ahead.

Robert McNamara (from Ford) was at the right hand of power in the age of Kennedys; Andrew Card (of GM) now stands in the Bush's Oval Office door.  In 30 years, a Ms. President could ride in a new Toyota: an all-American car model, of course.  And, thanks to the 2006 light cast by former carmaker General Motors, she can work in its indirect interior ceiling-cove glow. 

Here's lookin' atcha, kid.

http://tinyurl.com/cfvsf
    
Here's lookin' at AMC too.

http://tinyurl.com/c7684


Share blessings; give thanks; do good.