[BaadAssGremlins] Re: sand

[<eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Interesting topic. In the early 1970s when my father, who recently passed 
away, was working at All American Motors AMC in Corpus Christi, people would 
bring their Gremlins in as seems some of them had trouble with the car at 
speeds above 70mph. What to do? At this dealership they would give them a 
loaner car. And tell them to come back the next day. In the Gremlin they 
would add a space saver spare (not full size), a bag of cement, 50lbs, and 
if I recall, change the jack to scissor, I believe they had full sized, 
can't remember. But they would also level it, and add a carpet piece back 
there, so if one looked in, you don't see anything. Some cars got a space 
saver spare cover (I had abuot a dozen blue NOS ones in stock last year, 
sold them for $29 each) to, but not sure why especially if the spare was 
covered by carpet. It was a big joke to the guys who worked there, as one 
can imagine the face of the Gremlin owner when they went to change a flat 
and found Don Knotts staring up at them from a big bag of ACME (real name) 
cement.

But no one ever brought back the cars for 'getting squirrley' again either.

Fast forward to 2003. I bought a origial owner 75 Gremlin X, 258, 3spd, AC, 
PS, PDB, loaded out dark brown car, from the 70+ year old owner. Really 
sweet little lady and had all sorts of stories to tell about 'Greta The 
Gremlin' too, like driving on I-10 near El Paso at over 100mph in it when a 
cop pulled her over and let her go after they both had a good laugh that a 
Gremlin could do 100mph (she was in her 60s when that happened!). But when I 
got this car home, and started cleaning it up and detailing it, I was 
stunned to find a brick hard (humidity had gotten to it decades ago) 1982 
dated ACME cement bag...with old Don Knotts and his goofy eyes staring up at 
me. He was the spokesman for them way back then, riding the popularity of 
the Three's Company thing I guess. Lifting it out of there was a chore. The 
car had a full size inflated spare and it was 13 inches. Scissor jack and 
lug wrench. So I called the lady back up and she confirmed that Archer AMC 
on I-45 are the ones that put that bag back in there two decades earlier. I 
took photos and wrote a article about it for I believe AMO, as it was a 
funny story and I guess still is, and not sure how many places used the old 
cement trick to keep the Gremlins butt ends on the road, but obviously it 
worked in two cities 200 miles apart. Not sure if there was a AMC bulletin 
or directive either on this, chances are no, but just word of mouth 'hey 
this works, go get a $0.79 (1970s/80s prices) bag of cement.

Greta the Gremlin was sold for $1500, and Ross Gustino flew in from damned 
near San Francisco and drove it home, abuot 1400 miles if I recall, quite a 
drive, only problem was a oil sending unit went out in Phoenix and was 
sparaying oil, but a quick trip to Auto Zone for another and he was on his 
way.

Cement is about $3.50 for 80lbs at Home Depot, just bought a bag a few weeks 
ago.
Eddie Stakes'
Planet Houston AMX
713.464.8825
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.planethoustonamx.com



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> 
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/YtqqlB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~-> 

 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BaadAssGremlins/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    BaadAssGremlins-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/