Sadie, Sadie, Rambler Lady

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

Yesterday, in Noo Yawk, Dave [Letterman] asked "Guess What Melted?"  In Rochacha, "Guess What Melted" was Nash Mash.  Today, perhaps no copy or scan offers arrived because the August 2005 CA article I asked for had profiled -Geraci-

http://www.marlin-car.us/vince.html

http://www.streetrodding.com/sr/index.cfm?&fuseaction=carshows.event_pics&id=200&showpic=49753

http://tinyurl.com/d37ah

(Click away --- and onto page 2 --- for more)

http://www.streetrodding.com/sr/index.cfm?&fuseaction=carshows.event_pics&id=200&showpic=0

http://tinyurl.com/csujp

Not Mashigan.  Tomorrow, there'll be no excuse for excuses.  Just the AMC List facts.


"Do for me, buy for me, lift me, carry me; Oy vat a vay ve haf today!" 

If we like to click tiny URLs, we also like to read COMPLETE posts "off the net."  Half of Hay's was unknown 'til Jennings' quoted it in reply. 

>>
On Tue, 9 Aug 2005, Sandwich Maker wrote:

> " drum brakes are dangerous which is why Detroit got rid of them.
>
> correction: detroit got rid of drums because the gubmint made them.
> they made 1000000-mile cars because the gubmint made them.
>
> detroit would never get rid of anything they could make a nickel on
> just because they were dangerous - consider the pinto gas tank...

Yeah, we'd still be driving drum cars if they weren't shamed into
it by Japan and Europe, and it took 10+ years for even that to
happen. Their decline took a long time.
<<

But online readers only got:

http://www.amxfiles.com/archive/show.cfm?postid=102903&row=1&search=22


Maybe the list needs a new drive train.  Y'all know, I assume, that the new "baby" Jeeps --- a fine old AMC idea still not completely "covered" by Foster and other "Complete Book of Jeep" writers --- will use Nissan CVT transmissions (made in Mexico), Mitsubishi AWD (made in Japan), and Hyundai engines (huh, can it be, made in the United States of America?)

http://www.dundeeonline.com/articles/7.2.2003.html

making those Jeeps "Red, White and Blue" in a "not-AMC-any-longer" era.

Or the List needs new door latches.  MercMopar will soon make only one!

No, not making that up.  Chrysler's VP (of "Product Development Process and Components") Herr Klegon (nor making up his name) said that when he becomes Executive VP of Product Development in five months, DCX communizing will become common, 'cuz, well, it "doesn't matter if it's in a Mercedes or a Dodge."  Maybe Mega Klegon is merely speaking in Klingon, since he's "big" on Mopar trucks and has less experience with M-B cars. 

Klegon/Klingon: no matter 'less Mercedes' fall restrains rise in MSRPs.
   
The bottom line -is- the bottom line.  Especially when building autos.

Oh well.


Meadow Brook welcomed over 300 cars on that beautiful Sunday; almost one-sixth of them were Brass Era.  From a 1908 Stanley that now lives near Buffalo to a 1911 Pierce that was built in Buffalo to a 1934 Duesie J that was restored here "at home" in the next big burg east of Buffalo     

http://www.platinumclassics.com/Contact-Us.html

to a bevy of Buehrig beauties to a bella Concorso Italiano to a 1969 Fascination (a fascinating concept!), it was a very good show.  There was a Packard wagon Dick could have worked on, the Chrysler convertible he definitely drew a few lines on, the Cadillacs, and even a speedster from way back that "made its mark" on the rear fenders of the AMC AMX. There was one Mitchell, as well: not after-Larry, rather, before-Nash.  Plus some other early Wisconsin wheels.

If you, too, are fascinated by what you DON'T know, blast off below.

http://specialcollections.wichita.edu/collections/ms/80-02/80-2-A.HTML

http://www.popcultmag.com/oddglimpses/ephemera/spacecar/spacecar.html

http://www.automotivechronicles.com/conceptsandrumors/concept-cars-lit-print.htm

http://tinyurl.com/7esej

(Scroll down to the Click Zone; scroll all the way down to a Sundance.) 

You can check on auction action yourself; except for the Duesie, few of the prices rose into doozie levels.  Studebaker Hawk and Nash Lafayette were really nice for ~$27.000 --- unless you remembered what they cost new. I thought Caribbean convertible was over-estimated; I was correct.
 
http://www.rmauctions.com/events/auctionresults.cfm?scode=MB05

Speaking of Geraci/Teague, if you missed it, Bob Thacker, in 7/05 HCC:

"I started at American Motors as a clay modeler in November 1959, and was assigned to a new studio under Les Peto, working with stylists Vince Geraci and Bob Nixon. We were to develop 3/8-scale clay proposals for the 1963 line, and I was the only modeler in the studio. 

On starting, I was given the grand tour of AM styling, but the advanced studio was conspicuously absent from the list. As luck would have it, that studio was right next to the one I was assigned to. 

Late one night, during overtime, I found myself working alone in the studio, and hearing no sound from the advanced studio next door, decided to hazard a peek over the wall. I rolled the heavy table supporting our first model over to the wall, and climbed aboard. On tiptoes, gripping the top of the wall, I could just barely get my eyes over, sort of like a "Kilroy was here" pose. 

My mind absorbed the bizarre array of renderings and models, and I slowly realized that someone on the other side had become alerted to my slight movement from above. George Lawson slowly turned and stared directly at me! 

I quickly retreated into friendly territory, and left for home with a heavy heart, certain that my employment would be summarily terminated for spying into that hallowed ground. 

Nothing ever was said about my breech of security, and a few days afterward, upon meeting George's modeler, Tom Beaubien, I was treated to an actual tour of the studio, meeting a smiling and cordial George Lawson."


If you care to compare with Nash/AMC history, Vince Geraci has joined William Chapin, Mark Joy, Charles, David, Stanley, and Warren Packard (and Edward Herrmann, "voice of the concours") to support The Packard Motor Car Foundation (whose major effort today is the preservation and restoration of the Packard Proving Grounds); are there American Motors hobbyist organizations, causes, or accomplishments for him to support?

http://www.packardmotorfdn.org/brochure_page.htm

http://www.packardmotorfdn.org/projects.htm 

Don't hold your breath.  If you expect me to "downsize" every link to images and more, don't hold your breath either: knowledge may be free (as long as its freely given); time isn't.  And that's passing fast.

Was anyone interested in "Rambler" bike designers?  Did anyone know they were (in addition to Geraci), sons of Ex, Stevens, and Teague?  More on 
present and future vision of "AMC-family" stylists someday, maybe.