re: what I'd like to see in a book

[<eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Good post Gary and don't get too stressed out either. But one thing I would 
like to also point out is how much misinformation there is on the internet 
as opposed to books.

Here is one quote I found:
"This highlights a key problem with the web. It's carelessly used as a 
primary source of information, when in fact it's more often a secondary 
source. Someone reads an inaccurate statement on the web, quotes it on 
another web page, search engines obligingly index all of the inaccurate 
pages, and we end up with a mess where fiction is accepted as reality."

To read the whole eye opening article, click here:
http://searchenginewatch.com/searchday/article.php/2160991

Another one:
"Misinformation on the Internet is, and will always be, a problem. One of 
the attributes of the Internet - the fact that nearly anyone can publish on 
it - creates an environment of freedom and simultaneously an environment 
that lacks quality control. That lack of quality control often requires the 
Internet user to perform the filtering done for us transparently in 
magazines, newsletters, journals, encyclopedias, books, and so on. The array 
of agents, editors, publishers, and professional readers that scrutinize the 
majority of published text is often absent from Internet content. And with 
the exception of librarians, information professionals, and some academics, 
many Internet users are ill-equipped to do a capable job of scrutiny.
While misinformation is typically understood to mean "wrong" information, 
much of what is on the Web is information detailing issues of opinion rather 
than fact, a so-called gray area of information. Information that we might 
consider overly biased or wrong may prove useful to someone arguing against 
that agenda. For example, a pro-abortion advocate might benefit greatly from 
knowing how anti-abortion advocates think. Since many of the parody and 
spoof sites on the Web are political, they often contain antithetical 
information that might prove useful given the proper context."

Yes, it is easier to change things on a website as opposed to something 
printed and already 'out there' however, if no keeper of the gate then many 
times don't get done. I know a lot of websites with errorenous info on 
it......mine included. However I change things when I can and right now 
Jacob's green bondo filled daiper is a little more important to change than 
a error on site.

A case could also be made for AMC's books themselves (PAS mentioned already) 
but just about every AMC color catalog has 'things' wrong with it, can't 
call it errors, nor misinformation either, but a majority of the photos show 
stuff that never made it to production or was airbrushed in. Somewhere on 
the internet is a photo of the 1973 AMX and Javelin; a plum and silver pair 
of cars sitting at a track. Look closely, and a good AMC eye will pick out 7 
wrong things quickly. Too bad, it is accepted as fact (and that word gets 
tossed around blatantly) and how many people walked into a showroom wanting 
something seen in that photo, like 70-72 high back buckets for instance? How 
many in 2006 will swear up and down their 73 AMX or Javelin have 70-72 high 
back buckets from 'factory' for instance? After all, they have the original 
photos in the brochures.

How many of you ever seen the Venezuelan Jeep Llanero?
http://www.mi-vehiculo.com/Vehiculos10600-10649/jeepllanero10605.htm

Would Jeep be included in a book? There are dozens of Jeep books already out 
there, but without Jeep, AMC probably would not have survived past 1975. And 
without Jeep, hundreds of reproduction items in the past decades would not 
have been made....for AMC owners either.

As for a 'restoration guide' this is something I have carped abuot since the 
1980s, especially for the more popular models (ie: musclecars). But has 
never been done. Even if it was, you still would have running changes (AJ in 
San Antonio stopped by here the other day and we talked about this for 
instance) but different grains on vinyl for say, SC/Rambler, or other things 
aMC might not have had in parts bins and run out of, but kept the line 
moving as if the line stops, AMC loses money! There are some neat photos on 
Arcticboy's website:

http://www.arcticboy.com/media/amx/amx14000.jpg
Maybe that SC/Rambler behind the AMX....AMC ran out of ram air seal. Don't 
stop line, send Mario to Hi Lo to buy a roll and make it.
Go Javelin.....
http://www.arcticboy.com/media/javelin/Javgrease.jpg
and the 50,000th:
http://www.arcticboy.com/media/javelin/Jav50.gif
for instance, running changes you won't find in any book...or web.

I mentioned to Mahoney off list that a number of 'old nash men' had passed 
away:
http://www.amxfiles.com/archive/show.cfm?postid=106130&row=1&search=mahoney

And that I was trying to get a number of people together in the southern 
California area together to go visit (and lift the 'Spirits') of Mr. Javelin 
Guy Hadsall Jr who is in a nursing home. Imagine his 'spirit' lifted when he 
looks out and sees dozens of Javelins and AMXs and AMC vehicles. What 
stories can this gentleman tell? Will he tell them?

There are already dozens of books out there with stories, production, tech:
http://www.planethoustonamx.com/main/amc_books.htm

But again, the more the merrier.............


Eddie Stakes'
Planet Houston AMX
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com