[Amc-list] early American "performance"

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

Two weeks ago I had a close call in my 63 AMerican that kinda
freaked me out.

We were in two cars coming home from dinner downtown (I
rendesvou'd on the way home from work), had to take one of thes
6-lane city streets. I was in the right lane about to take a
rigt turn when the light changed, and some !@!@$$$-hole made
a right turn from the left lane at speed -- I stood on the
brakes, the idiot screeched to a stop with his bumper in my
front wheel. He momentarily froze, I backed up so he wouldn't
drive through my front corner -- and before I could do anything
else the driver tore off. Some late-model-ish ToyoHonHyun sedan.

I mean there was 6 lanes of LA city traffic -- but I SLAMMED
first, and screwed out after the SOB, wound it up, hit second,
third, caught up to him to his left, and forced him towards
the curb.

OK this was fairly stupid, cars were rightly beeping at me but
a hit'n'run really got me mad.

He continued to wave at me like it was OK and managed to get on
Highway 110 North onramp. Got his license though, I let him go.

I pulled up and over, and ...no damage! I mean he managed to
just touch the bumper tip, no damage... I mean this was no
parking lot event, it was SCREECH! skid to a stop at speed. I
was CERTAIN he'd bent lots of metal.

Whew.

But man that little AMerican really hauled ass. I baby it,
apparently, as I do my Classic wagon. The Hornet I'll get on,
258 with a cam it's reasonably quick.

But I was surprised how well the American did. The chassis roll
without sway bar is comical, but the positive camber from the
double-A-arms isn't that bad, and with 205/60-15's there's a
lot of rubber, and Gremlin brakes, and 3.77 axle... it's not
bad at all for an antique econobox within it's range of gearing.


Not once have I ever spun a tire on asphalt nor heard this
motor ping. I suppose I should get started.

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