Re: [BaadAssGremlins] Re: gas caps & more!

[Onree <onree@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I bought my Gremlin in the first week of April, 1970. When the Gremlin first
came out, the gas cap was quite large, and also heavy. My wife had trouble
turning it because her hand was too small. The a few months later the cap
got either stolen, or not put back on, and I had to buy a new one. I
remember it costing about $10, a lot of money in 1970--I think my rent was
$65 per month--but I may remember wrong. Same thing happened again in the
spring of 1971, and by then the replacement cap was smaller, the detail
wasn't as good, lighter weight, and cheaper.
In those days the low-life kids would walk around with big medallions around
their necks--peace signs, and big VW emblems (off the busses) were real
popular. Anybody who tried that with a Gremlin gas cap would end up with
back problems, for sure.
Onree


on 1/7/06 10:35 AM, eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx at
eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx did write:

> A little AMC historical trivia here. On the gas caps, AMC had a big problem
> with people stealing gas out of the 'easy access' butt in the air Gremlin
> and Hornet Series. With rising gas prices in the early 70s something had to
> be done. The 'butt in the air' Grem/Horn offered a super easy target if you
> will, a 'bullseye' for those wanting to quickly siphon off gas. No gas door,
> no side of vehicle where possibly be seen, just poke hoes, suck and fill and
> gone quickly. So AMC responded with a locking gas cap. HOWEVER!!! Locking
> gas caps had been around since the advent of the Gremlin and Hornet, just no
> one wanted them. So AMC "pushed" them hard at dealerships. This was a Group
> 15 Accessory.  I would have loved to seen the faces of crooks trying to
> figure out how to turn that cap on a car they had hit many times before in
> their neighborhood or mall.
> 
> Enclosed in this photo is the actual page from the Dealership Accessory
> Catalog. Note AMC offered a discount on 12 or more locking gas caps. What
> makes the gas caps desirable for the Gremlin and Hornet is that they are
> 'big bling' that is big ass caps with the Gremlin "man" or Hornet "bee" on
> them. Other desirable locking caps are the curved type for several Ramblers
> in 65-66 and 68(?) and wagons. The wagons are large, flat and solid chrome,
> beautiful, but nothing AMC or "R" on them.
> 
> The gas caps sold new in 1970 for the prices shown. The first row with the
> 899 numbers is
> A/C number
> the second row is
> DEALER NET
> the third row is
> SUGGESTED WHOLESALE
> the forth row is
> SUGGESTED LIST.
> 
> Lastly, if I can ever find it, there was a in house dealership memo about
> the "gas crisis" by OPEC in 1973/74, and demand for locking gas caps for
> these cars blew thru the roof, and this is why AMC pushed them at
> dealerships. I believe they were still selling for under $5 in 1974 so quite
> a bargain if you wanted to keep your tank of gas from being stolen; the
> alternative would have been sitting in 2-5 hour gas lines, and your license
> plate would have to end in either even number or odd number. For you who
> didn't go thru it, even if you were in line 4 hours and it was a"even day"
> IE=Texas tag Fb5-4h9; the station by LAW would not give you gas, you could
> have dying momma and 7 kids in the Hornet, too bad. Come back tomorrow when
> it IS YOUR TURN with "odd" plates....hey it could happen again easily is a
> Rita, Katrina or Wilma ever hits Houston where I'm at, get your happy ass
> ready to pay $7 a gallon if that happens......then I guess a "run" on
> locking gas caps on ebay......
> Eddie Stakes'
> Planet Houston AMX
> 713.464.8825
> eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> www.planethoustonamx.com
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Hal" <strlcuckoo_46@xxxxxxxxx>
> To: <BaadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Saturday, January 07, 2006 5:20 AM
> Subject: Re: [BaadAssGremlins] Fwd: gas caps
> 
> 
>> Paul,
>> That could probably be done. I've only lost the use of
>> a locking cap since I've owned my 74 and that was due
>> to some A** snapping off the Gremlin and taking it. I
>> have another but it is ONLY FOR SHOW.
>> Have you gotten the caps yet?
>> Hal
>> 
>> --- Paul Hancock <kwikbiker@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Note: forwarded message attached.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ---------------------------------
>>> Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just
>>> $16.99/mo. or less> Date: Fri, 6 Jan 2006 18:38:29
>> -0800 (PST)
>>> From: Paul Hancock <kwikbiker@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> Subject: gas caps
>>> To: BadAssGremlins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> 
>>> Been lookin at early Mustang gas caps on ebay. looks
>>> like the early Mustang and Gremlin are very similar,
>>> almost exact in some cases. I noticed that the
>>> Gremlin logo can be removed by flipping a little tab
>>> on the back, the same as a Mustang cap. Mustang had
>>> a real cool cable that used to be fastened to the
>>> back, and to the fuel filler making the cap very
>>> difficult to remove (steal). It also looks like the
>>> cable attachment was an extra piece that fits
>>> beneath the rubber seal on the cap. I'm thinking you
>>> could take one of these old mustang cable assemblies
>>> and use it on a Gremmie cap. Seems like when the
>>> logo comes off there are fasteners that release the
>>> inner parts. you could then install one of the ford
>>> cable connectors and reassemble the cap, giving you
>>> a theft proof cap. Or maybe I've been drinkin too
>>> much coffee, what do you think.  Paul
>>> 
>>> 
>>> ---------------------------------
>>> Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just
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>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
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>> 
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