AMC Ink in Spet. Hot Rod

[farna@xxxxxxx]

I didn't see this mentioned, so thought I'd pass it on. There is an article in the Sept. issue of Hot Rod alled "The Twenty Hottest Projects". The article is about what they considered the twenty hottest projects currently under way (in case you didn't get that from the title...). Two of the projects involve AMCs! One is by Mark Allen, manager of the Jeep Studio Project Design Office at Daimler-Chrysler in Michigan. It's called the "Gnash"  and consists of a 59 American with a late 90s Toyota Celica roof grafted on. When I first saw it I thought the roof was from a VW Karmann Ghia! It looks really cool though. The only other body mods noted in the picture (car is still in the works) is opened up wheel wells. Looks like the major shapr of the lower body will be retained. The goal of the project is to get the car on the road in primer for under $5K. Should be doable -- the paint is a major portion of any project's cost. It's got a Mustang 5.0L drivetrain -- the only "bad" thin!
 g about it. My bet is it's a late model pull to keep costs down. It's pretty much impossible to find an AMC engine ready to go in a salvage yard unless you're damned lucky or want to use a 2.5L or 4.0L. Hmmm... a 2.5L with fivve speed would still make that thing a fun little car to drive around! I'll have to keep that in mind for the 63 American roadster I'm considering... With the budget he has I'd think he has to be keeping the stock suspension. That's good -- it's up to the task and much better than an MII setup anyway! The early Americans have a "solid" upper trunnion, not as troublesome as the late model type. 

Second AMC is a 1965 Marlin! The good thing is the owner likes the general appearance of the Marlin and there will be few stylistic changes. All the original chrome trim will be retained. Rear wheel well openings were raised to match the front, grille nad headlights will be custom, and there is an LS-88 style hood scoop on the car. It will be lowered (as will the American), of course. Torque tube is being replaced by a four link setup, and it's getting "alternate" power as well. At least it's not a Chevy for Ford though -- try a mild 500 Caddy! To bad they didn't put a Vortec on the old GEN-1  327 -- assuming it had one. May have been a six cylinder or 287 car. 

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