Great AMC Day

["Richard Estermyer" <javelinman74@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hey Gang,
I see it and figured why not share my road trip experience with the group.  
Last weekend my future son in law and I went to VA and got the car Marc 
Montoni had been showing for a friend.  It was great to meet another lister 
and Marc described it to a T!

We got in Saturday morning 2am and up at 9am to check it out.  After a 
couple fix it's check it outs' we left around 1pm.  The 360 ran great and 
there was no trouble.  We took my 80 Concord wagon to have a little AMC 
caravan.  I had no extra plates but I did have the Matador insured and all 
the paper work.  I have had a few people tell me that you can transport a 
car you bought without plates, from reputable people.

Marc had suggested wipers as they were shot but with all the good weather I 
had no fear.  On the first gas stop after leaving my Concord which usually 
gets 16 mpg highway got 20!  And of course the Matador got 12!  Well it 
averaged out.  The next gas stop the Concord was smoking oil from under the 
hood.  This was 8pm somewhere in PA.  Opened and found oil everywhere.  I 
had Jon start it up to see if it was a severe leak, which nothing showed, 
but then the fuel pump was leaking.

4 Blocks to Auto Zone and two great helping sales people.  When I unbolted 
the pump I got sprayed with gas and realized that there was gas in the 
oilpan so why not, oil change next.  I cut the hose off short as it still 
had factory clamps and then of course had to patch the line.  Well 1 1/2 
hours later we were back on the road.  The next stop still leaking oil and 
found the valve cover was loose.

While we were at Auto Zone a couple good old boys walked up and started to 
admire the Matador.  Doesn't Mark have one of those in his yard?  No he sold 
it.  HEY< YOU KNOW THAT CAR DOESN'T HAVE TAGS ON IT?!?  Yeah, not so loud 
and explained the idea behind it.

Well when we got to Toledo, OH and stopped, guess what RAIN!  Marc knew 
better.  It was light at first and I drove between the white lines until it 
got too bad and the trucks took over.  We stopped under a bridge and thought 
take one off the Concord and we will both have one.  Well we did and Jon 
turned off the lights parking behind the Matador.  There was the State 
Trooper at 3:30am.  I was getting tools and went back and told him the wiper 
crapped out and he got out and wondered why the lights were out.  He thought 
it was an accident, turn them on.  Spent a few minutes talking as Jon stood 
in front of the empty plate area and he left without taking our car or 
knowing.

So we finally made it home and I went today to get the licensing done and 
plates.  Since it is my birthday I thought about spending $35 and getting a 
custom plate as I did on my Pontiac Astre Safari Wagon years ago with a 
plate NOT VEGA!

Well I checked on GRCYGTR (grocery getter) and that was available.  Then I 
asked for AMC and it was listed but expired a year ago and wasn't taken off 
the list.  Then I asked for 1975AMC and that was available.  Then it dawned 
on me AMC!  Gotta have that one so I was lucky enough to get it.  The 
Concord was from Iowa and last summer I was able to get a 1980 Iowa plate 
with AMC 1 to put on the front of the Concord.  So a matching pair.

Thanks again to Marc for his hospitality and info and a great car!  After 
getting it home and checking out the rear window and tailgate, I found the 
hidden compartment still worked with the key and inside was, what else a 
fuel pump and the AMC wiring harness in a baggie along with the instructions 
from 1975!  Super Cool, then checking out the spare, it has never been off 
the car and still had factory air in it.  The previous owner did a good job 
of maintenance and went through 3 sets of tires since 1978 so never had to 
use it.

Thanks again, and for listening!

AMC lives!
Richard


Richard Estermyer
6235 S. Mohawk Avenue
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

734.483.5187
734.320.7066 cell
javelinman74@xxxxxxxxxxx

Check out my hobby!
www.a70sthingautomobilia.com