Re: [AMC-List] Showing at WPC Show? (at Chrysler shows)

[farna@xxxxxxx]

Bob, I'd definitely go for it! Shortly after Chrysler took AMC over there was some acceptance problems in the Mopar clubs, like AMC was some ugly step kid trying to get their attention. In general over the last 5-6 years Mopar clubs have been taking a keener interest in AMCs though. Part of this is they see them as "fresh meat" for the club -- an easy way to increase membership -- and partly because the collectible Chryslers have got so outrageous in price. Even AMC guys get tired of going to shows with mostly AMXes and Javelins, and the Chrysler guys get tired of looking at 'Cudas and Chargers too. By accepting AMC they get some fresh views and a Chrsyler related car (even if by "shotgun wedding") that's a lot more affordable, and gets attention because it's different. The Ashmead Javelin winning the top award at the Mopar Nationals was the real turning point that caught most Mopar people's attention. 

Who cares if your Ambo isn't a 100 point show car? As long as it's road worthy take it and show it off! Some of the cars that get the most attention are those needing a little work, especially if you take it over a number of years and people remember it, seeing the progress as you go. Those are the cars I really like seeing at the local cruise ins -- works in progress! 

As far as the initial merging of AMC and Chrysler, that was all business. AMC didn't do much less when Nash and Hudson merged. The Jet and Italia were dumped on the market and discontinued as quickly as possible, lots of spare parts were scrapped (this is typical of any takeover -- only a reasonable number of spares are retained because of the big acquisition write-off for obsolete parts and equipment), and the Hudson detroit plants (except for the engine plant) were immediately closed -- no year reprieve like Kenosha got. Chrysler didn't realize how much it cost to keep Kenosha open until they were fully in the door -- it was one of the more expensive plants in the US to operate, paying more than others due to early 60s union agreements that the UAW refused ot back down from. The employees didn't make a huge amount more than others, I believe it was somewhere around 10-15 cents an hour on average. That's at least $4 per employee per week x several thousand though... AMC sor!
 t of su
rvived for a few years as the Eagle division, though the only vestige of AMC passenger cars was by then the Premier. 

--
Frank Swygert
Publisher, "American Independent 
Magazine" (AIM)
For all AMC enthusiasts
http://farna.home.att.net/AIM.html
(free download available!)

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2006 09:06:01 -0500
From: Bob Fratini <rcfratini@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [AMC-List] Showing at WPC Show?
To: amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Message-ID:
	<6.2.0.14.2.20060423085743.035c4200@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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What's the current thinking (and experience) on this list about 
participating in Mopar shows?

I'm considering bringing my '68 Ambassador to the Walter P. Chrysler show 
in Elmhurst, IL. next Sunday.  It's no award-winner or 10-point 
restoration, but it's been rebuilt and restored to good condition...and 
it's spring, and I'd like to start hitting a show or two in the Chicagoland 
area.

I know that Chrysler corporate was no friend (to put it mildly) to AMC'ers 
in the way they handled the takeover of AMC and the closing of the Kenosha 
plant.  But I'm more curious about the current reception/attitude among 
Mopar hobbyists towards AMCs.

Advice and experiences are welcome; flames re-hashing Chrysler's crimes 
against AMC are not.  Thanks!
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