Muscle Cars

[Michael Bailey <route66rambler@xxxxxxxxx>]

---->   I think I agree with Doug Novak. He wrote:
 
> But, speaking of Concept Cars and the subject of the
> thread Muscle  Cars, I see 
> something happening that is very obvious. 
> Professional restoration and the recreation of
> vintage Muscle,  Modernization 
> and Full Scale Automotive Art in the private sector
> has  exploded. I can't 
> remember seeing so many Street Rods, restored 60's
> and 70's  Muscle Cars and 
> vintage Hot Rods on modernized chassis and drive
> trains, as  there are today, 
> both on the public roads as well as on the Cable
> Networks and  other media.
>  
> We Boomers are buying, building and driving our
> dreams and an industry  is 
> rapidly growing to keep up with this demand. The
> High Dollar rides such as  
> those auctioned in the desert sold for prices way
> higher then what similar finds  
> can be had for, just google the internet and there
> are Dealers with extensive  
> inventory of any thing you want, at any price and in
> various stages
> from needs work, to turn key, including AMC's.

---->I have three daughters, and a 22 year old son. 
It's not just about us, who actually remember the
cars.  All of my daughters' boyfriends drive old
stuff, most of 'em are in 60's iron. All of these guys
are very interested in my AMC projects, but find them
somewhat intimidating. Most of these guys are very
aware of what a Javelin or AMX is, even though they
have not seen one. Because of the recent interest in
muscle cars etc., AMC is beginning to develop a split
personality in the collector and street machine
market. The old "Oh, yeah, the Pacer! No wonder they
went out." and then the flip side. There are people
out there who consider AMC some kind of Shelby or
Saleen on a larger scale. More than once, when one of
these guys coming around my house found out that AMC
made other cars, and started remembering some of the
cars I showed him, a Concord or an Eagle made an
appearance. My son just bought a 1967 Rambler American
440 V8 hardtop. All of his friends have old trucks or
old cars. They are intensely into what we are doing
here with our AMC's, and the latest little research I
have uncovered.  The future is out there waiting for
us (or the next generation) to take it. After all, I
grew up in the 60's and 70's, yet I love the hell out
of the cars from 30's, 40's and 50's, not just from
when I was a kid. I'm sure it's the same for kids now.
I also have five grandchildren who I am sure will
inherit the defective gene of American loyalty. I
can't understand most of what you write, John, but I
can hear where you're going. There are two BIG answers
to the question (the AMC hobby)and lots of little ones
/;] 

  1) In the immortal words of Eddie Stakes,

  "Shut Up And Drive!"

 Just showing up in public with a Gremlin, Pacer or
Rambler is like an act of civil disobedience. It's
Non-Clonelike Behavior. It draws attention. Nobody
expects you to go out and beat on a 30,000 dollar AMX
in traffic. Get yourself a 1000 dollar Eagle or
Spirit, (check out Planet Houston AMX's Shut Up And
Drive Lists) get it licensed, and DRIVE IT. If it
won't work to get you to your job every day, use it
for milk runs. These cars are for DRIVING, and you
won't FEEL it if you don't DRIVE it. (Tell 'em, Doc).
If your wife gives you issues, NAME the damn car.
She'll start thinking it's cute when she sees how hard
it works. You CAN get them very cheap, even free. But
get it out there. People are curious, and everybody
has a story.

  2) LEARN about your hobby. Information is the main
stock in trade in the modern age. It's the reason
people build Fords and Chevys. They KNOW about them.
Do Yahoo searches. Just check at the library instead
of driving by. Stop at the swaps and flea markets.
Score some old car, hunting, and sports mags. You'll
find ads, reviews, and stories where you see these
cars in the backgrounds. Buy a book every now and
then. The only way the average guy is going to find
out anything that flips his switch about American
Motors is if he hears it from you. So you want it to
be right. Only today I was told that Henry Ford was
the first mass producer of automobiles in the United
States. (Oldsmobile- 1901, then the Jeffery Rambler-
1902, THEN Ford- 1903) Just ask a question, ANY
question, here on this list, and you know these people
will find out.
 
 DRIVE 
and 
 LEARN. 

 The rest will follow, if you FEEL these cars.
And I don't think we have to worry about our hobby,
John. There IS a future, but we have to send out the
next generation. It's now Our job to arm Them with
what they need. Just like the Cord, Packard,Crosley
(insert favorite defunct manufacturer here) guys do.
If you ARE the next generation out there, once a month
stop lurking, and comment about the AMC groove from
your viewpoint, and ask a question you are curious
about. All the other list readers learn valuable info.

  Start Your Engines!
 mike




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