Re: New AMC book.... what would you like to see??

[farna@xxxxxxx]

Andrew, that's what I'd do if going into something that detailed. There's enough commonality in the Javelins to group all together though. I'd break the Eagles off from the other Hornet derivatives though, just to keep that one from being to long.

I'd prepared a long post, but it got lost! I hate when that happens! I've taken to saving longer posts in another window and waiting until they show up before deleting. 

Making a separate book for logical model separations is, however, a tall order. There would be a good bit of duplication, but thanks to computer technology that's really not that big a deal, except that those who would want a complete will be paying for some of the duplication. 

The real problem comes from what is expensive to reproduce, but would be needed. Namely color illustrations. Paint chip charts and at least interior color shots from factory brochures would   be expensive to reproduce. Without those, some information is missing. I didn't even list the color codes and names in "Compact Chronicles" because the number and name really didn't do much good. I also didn't have breakdowns as to what colors were available on what models for every year. Some sales brochures have that information, some don't. 1970 and later TSMs don't list the color codes like earlier ones do. I managed this in "Compact Chronicles" by stating that most sales brochures usually had available colors, and auto paint stores can look up the codes by year. Now there is a nice on-line source with old paint chips. I do think the color codes and numbers should be in the new book though, now that I have them all (at least I think I do). 

Any book won't be a replacement for factory sales brochures and a TSM, not for a detailed restoration. It would be impossible to produce a volume that would do that! It would be a great source to get started, to identify what areas need more research material, and to determine exact model and what original equipment should be there before buying. 

Here's the table of contents from "Compact Chronicles". Does anyone have any suggestions for alterations/deletions/additions? The "Performance American Motors Style" section isn't a detailed performance how-to, it just lists some of the factory parts and capabilities along with a few suggestions and photos of famous racing AMCs -- most notably Shirley Shahan's 70 (or 71?) Hornet and Gremlin. I've made a few notes intermixed with the TOC, preceded by **. 

CONTENTS:

i. Preface
ii. About the Author
iii. Introduction

SECTION I: History
   A. In the beginning... **A synopsis of AMC history from Jeffery to Chrysler
   B. 1897-1991 Chronology ** A list of significant dates/events relating to AMC
   C. Personal Profiles ** Brief bios on these significatn individuals
       1. Abernethy, Roy               5. Mason, George W.
       2. Anderson, Edmund             6. Nash, Charles W.
       3. Chapin, Roy (Sr & Jr)        7. Romney, George W. 
       4. Jeffery, Thomas & Charles    8. Teague, Richard A.
** I could use a few other names, such as David Potter, but need info to go along with them! 
   D. AMC Abroad  ** Major AMC operations overseas. I have little info on the Iranian venture.
       1. Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos            5. South Africa
       2. Industries Kaiser Argentina Renault        6. Iran
       3. Australian Motor Industries                7. Karman (West Germany)
       4. Regie Nationale des Usines Renault (Belgium)
   E. The Cars! (includes production data)
** Each section has a year by year change synopsis and is followed by a production chart (broke down by body style only) and photos
       1. Nash and Hudson Cars: 1955-57 
       2. Series 54 and 56: 1954-62 Metropolitan
       3. Series 01: 1958-83 American, Rogue, Rambler, Hornet, Concord
       4. Series 10: 1955-78 Rambler, Rebel, Classic, Matador
       5. Series 20: 1957-60 Rebel
       6. Series 30: 1957 327 Rebel, 1968-70 AMX
       7. Series 40: 1970-82 Gremlin, Spirit
       8. Series 50: 1965-67 Marlin
       9. Series 60: 1975-79 Pacer
      10. Series 70: 1968-74 Javelin
      11. Series 80: 1958-74 Ambassador
      12. Eagle Four Wheel Drive Autos: 1980-88
      13. Jeep and AM General
      14. The Renault Connection - AMC Built and Sold in the US
** 14 covers the Alliance, Encore, and Premier in detail, also mentions LeCar, 18i, Sportwagon, and Medallion; but will leave all but VIN data out. 
      15. Oddities and Special Vehicles
          a. "American Spirit" Land Speed Record Attempt
          b. Rambler-Renault Rotary Engine
          c. Stirling External Combustion Engine
          d. Electric AMCs

SECTION II: Restoration Data
   A. Serial Numbers and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)
      1. 1955-57 Serial Numbers
      2. 1958-Early Production 1966 Serial Numbers
      3. Calendar Year 1966-1980 13 Character VIN (1971-80 Jeep)
      4. 1981-1989 17 Character VIN
   B. Unit Body Identification Plate  
      1. Body Number           4. Paint Number
      2. Model Number          5. Sequential Assembly No. 
      3. Trim Number           6. Jeep & Renault Numbers 
   C. Stickers 
   D. Engines 
      1. Four in a Row         5. Marking Codes 
      2. L-head Sixes          6. Colors & Markings
      3. OHV Sixes             7. Specifications 
      4. V-8s 
   E. Mechanical Data 
** General notes and some details of all, mainly types used and exploded parts view of suspension components.
      1. Unit Body Construction   5. Driveshafts
      2. Front Suspension         6. Rear Axles 
      3. Rear Suspension          7. Brakes 
      4. Transmissions 
F. AMC Related Clubs **Will list all known at time of printing
G. Parts Sources **List of larger parts sources
H. AMC on the Internet **List of larger and most popular web sites
I. High Performance- American Motors Style **Mostly factory parts and some hints, no real details


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

 -------------- Original message ----------------------

> Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2005 11:00:51 -0500 (EST)
> Message-Id: <200512091600.jB9G0pG03109@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> From: adh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Sandwich Maker)
> To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: New AMC book.... what would you like to see??
> 
> " From: Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>
> " 
> " I'd like to see restoration guides as well but to do those justice, you'd 
> " have to focus on a particular car and probably even have to break things 
> " down by body style since there are some major changes that happened over 
> " the years.
> 
> i think it might make more sense to organize them along body-shell
> lines - eg. 63-6 classic/ambo, '64-9 american, '67-'78
> rebel/matador/ambo, '70-up hornet/gremlin/concord/spirit/eagle, pacer.
> i guess you'd separate '68-'70 jav/amx and '71-4 jav into two volumes,
> and one for '50-'63 rambler/american, but i don't know enough about
> the other older cars.  imho for the met it would make sense to also
> include similar austin/mg/etc cars.
> 
> select for commonality, minimize duplication and workload.
> 
> " Outside of the "glory cars" (and Jeep), there aren't many models
> " that would support the effort required. Met's might but I'm not sure 
> " what else would.
> 
> sad but true.
> ________________________________________________________________________
> Andrew Hay  

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