Re: [AMC-list] Chrysler crushing Vipers (AMC car crushing program)

["Eddie Stakes" <eddiestakes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Concerning the car crushing and 'the viper thing' (it was even on LOCAL news
this morning in Houston, & there is actual petition going now to try to save
these piece of US auto history)

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/393/174/916/operation-save-the-vipers/

How many of you knew that AMC had it's own car crushing program? Yup, you
have to really read between the lines as to what their mentality was in
1960s. Of course most of us will not say 'Stupid AMC!!' like I did with
'Stupid Chrysler!!' but the cars AMC wanted crushed were trade ins. I doubt,
and do not know was not there, but at the time of this crushing program, AMC
was at top of game and selling a lot of cars, motor Trend award and so
forth. So I don't know if any 'collectible' 57 Rebels (1500 made!) were lost
to this crushing program.

Here is the three pages of it off my site:

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/stuff/am_klunkers1.jpg

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/stuff/am_klunkers2.jpg

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/stuff/am_klunkers3.jpg

Now moving on a little, "So where is the steam driven, 2 cylinder 1970
Javelin (powered by Harley Davidson!!) donated to the University of
California for the 6 day clean air race at La Jolla? The race was from
Cambridge, MA to Pasadena, CA. AMC donated this brand new 1970 Javelin (they
kept the engine & trans though) to the university for this event. Where is
the 1971 Javelin commonly called "the junkbox" from Team Penske, another
TEST car, donated to the University of Pittsburgh in 1972. Still out there?
Just thinking with all this talk of the Vipers donated to universities
Chrysler wants back so they can crush as in earlier post!"

Many of the AMC prototypes were crushed, others saved by sheer luck.
Granted, the Vipers are actual production vehicles, not 'prototypes' but I
did mention Chrysler destroying their turbine prototypes, of which you can
see that on a empty stomach, on youtube.

The 1965 AMX 1, or "Vignale AMX' is still around:

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/65-amc-amx-prototype.jpg

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/65-amx-front.jpg

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/66-amx1-prototype-autoshow.jpg

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/amc-amx-prototype-daytona.jpg

shown in various phases of color early on (Dinoc color shifting paint!) but
the great looking AMX GT was destroyed by AMC after the New York Auto Show
in 1968

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/amc-amx-gt-prototype-destroyed.jpg

The "stolen AMX" off the streets of Kenosha has never been seen since and I
do not know if this was a prototype, but it is my understanding that " This
altered 1969 AMX was customized in AMC's skunkworks. It is my understanding
that the car was totalled out from behind at AMC's Burlington Test Track.
Instead of stripping it & scrapping it, several worked decided to customize
it with a Rambler Rogue rear end. The project manager is shown in one photo
on the left of car with crew that worked on this project.   There are no
known front angles of this car known to exist. The project manager and
employees shown are unknown. The car was stolen off the streets of Kenosha
Wisconsin and has never been seen again, one of American Motors biggest
mysteries in storied past. Exclusive one of a kind photos...these are ONLY
KNOWN photos to exist of this vehicle."

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/stolen-amx-manager.jpg

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/stolen-amx-crew.jpg

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/stolen-amx-ps-rambler-rear.jpg

The 69 AMX/2 prototype survived destruction only to be shoved unceremounsly
onto a used car lot pole in PA for many years.

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/amc-amx2-prototype.jpg

It is rumored the Marlin Tarpon might still exist in same state

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/press_photos/rambler_tarpon.jpg

and the Marlin Tahiti is being restored.

The Jeffords AMX is restored now & in the hands of AMO's ex president Darryl
Salisbury last I heard :

http://globalcarbrands.com/i/amc/amc-amx-r-prototype/amc-amx-r-prototype-12.jpg

while Dick Teagues 71 AMX two seat prototype was meticoulsly restored to
former beauty (that's mebehind wheel hee hee)

http://www.planethoustonamx.com/stuff/71-prototype-amx-me.jpg

while all the late Dom Jaradine did was ASK for, this rumble seat AMX back
at the factory where he worked as a AMC Exec walked by...and said 'yes will
sell it to you for $50', the rest is history;

http://amccars.net/cgi/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1254278282

here is a video of Dom's prototype at Kenosha

http://www.amx390.com/videos/AMX1.wmv

that is me on left in 1990(?) grilling him with questions early in film. Dom 
was gracious fellow & even let me sit in the car and was always willing to 
tell the history about the car. I believe at this time he had recently had a 
stroke, but his enthusiasm at the AMC national meet (Kempner Center in 
Kenosha) clearly comes thru. We miss you Dom.

so not all prototypes met untimely end by AMC. Regardless of the 'legal'
perspective which has always been there, just don't understand it with the
Vipers in 2014. sure, regular production cards vs prototypes but what if AMC
thought (or someone thought!) the 1970 AMX/3 6 production cars were 'unsafe'
or 'Ford Pinto fireballs' and ordered them crushed in say, 1985?
Eddie Stakes
713-464-8825 days
www.planethoustonamx.com 

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