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Eh, I might chime in here too. Both sides. AMC don't sell. You can look
back thru the years and see AMC coverage 'in the back of the bus' (so to speak)
by many different magazines, of which I have dozens of. Some of course did put
them in better positions in the pages, and some even (gasp!) put them on the
cover. One of my favorites is not one, but two different Muscle Car Review
magazines when they did their 'muscle car shootout' and in two seperate photo
shoots, in two different years, the AMC was in back. Way back of the photo of
6-8 cars. Could harly tell it was even a AMC, sure could nto tell if just
glacning at magazine stand.
Both years both different AMCs came back and won the shootout.
However, what 'sells' magazings? Of course GTO, front and center, Charger,
442, Camaro, and Barracuda were usually front nad center, simply because they
sell magazines.
This bias is something Doc has mentioned before (maybe not with magazines)
but it is something I have seen thru the years even going back to when AMC was
still in business.
And I have tons of the print magazines to prove it. I never did understand
why you might have a beautiful 73 plum AMX shoved in the back pages with Joe
Weider's wimpy guy getting kicked in sand face guy, penile enlargement ads, and
other stuff. Front pages reserved for Yenko, hemi, Copo, and other stuff we have
seen a million times, maybe several times in one year in different mags. Why?
Well it sells.
Not to say AMC don't sell I guess. But if you have ever noticed in my
vendors list I have very 'few' mixed make rags. Old Cars Weekly, Cars &
Parts, Hemmings to name a few. These are 'AMC friendly' and have been for
decades. Sure there are other like MuscleCar Enthusiast, and lately Car Craft
getting aMC chummy.
I accepted the fact that for whatever reason, which is beyond my, or
anyone's control, when you see a AMC cross the line at Barratt Jackson you will
probably hear (what is that doing here?) or (nice Rambler) or something
derogatory. I didn't see the Mike Gray car but to me, three minutes is
three minutes and I am estatic for any type of press, even mundane, or well, not
flattering press. Especially in 2006.
No, no one has to "accept" this either, but hard not to, when it has been
going on since the cars were new. Yes, there are some who are uneducated about
AMC. And many could give a rat's ass about anything AMC too. This is why you
have to sometimes educate them. Respect is earned, not demanded. You can have
the fastest car at the track and beat everyone's ass and still some will not
like your AMC. Big deal, it was fun thrashing them. Same at car shows. Same on
the street.
But don't everyone get too worked up about that infomercial on tv that was
three minutes long. It's my understanding that it could have been a hour show,
but most ended up on editing production floor. And so it goes, we need to be
thankful for the press we get, period.
Not everyone will be happy with the press we get, or as in John's words,
being a ugly red headed stepchild. However, it is up to each and everyone of us
who owns a AMC to change that perspective, even if it takes one damned person at
a time, whether it is the announcer at B/Jackson auction, or a timekeeper, judge
at ISCA, wherever.
Speaking of press, how about some of you emailing Playing Mantis/Johnny
Lightning and thanking them for the new Gremlin 1:64th scale? Watch for another
Gremlin to come out in April, followed by a new 69 Big Bad Blue AMX under the
Street Series. So thank them for the 'positive' aspects. Address your thanks to
Rob Ragan at PM.
While at it, how about ramping up the thanks to Car Craft and editor Doug
Glad for toying with a AMC Rambler? You know they get hate mail for choosing a
Rambler. Many would rather see them build a 'mainstream' vehicle, that 'the
paretn company is still in business'.
Hmmm....maybe next project they can choose a Olds or Plymouth, those are
joining us in the orphan car shows now! The way things are going, maybe all of
GM and Ford join us.
Anyhows, ya'll keep up good work, and send those 'readers rides' photos in,
write those articles, and keep AMC in the press. The alternative, is we
disappear like Studebaker forever; and no press, no articles, and few meets.
Think about it.....
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