Volume 14 Number 4 July-Aug. 2005

Serving the Northeast Ohio AMC enthusiast since 1991

Volume 14 Number 4 July-Aug. 200Volume 14 Number 4 July-Aug. 20055AMX-Clamation!!!

The other day I got to thinking about some of the local AMCs I have seen for sale, but did not buy for one reason or another. Wow, this goes back to 1979!

The fi rst car I wanted, and the fi rst one that I ever went to look at, was a 1971 Hornet SC/360 which was adver-tised in the Plain Dealer. I still didn’t have my license so I coerced my mom into driving me to Lakewood (I believe) to see it. It was a metallic green color and I remember that the stripes had been removed. Where they once were the car was touched up in a similar green. Although the Hornet was less than ten years old and pretty solid, I passed because the right front fender was crunched. I believe they were only asking $800 for it. What was I thinking?!

A year or two later I went to see a SC/Rambler in or around Lorain. It was stored in a little garage right by the lake. I remember helping the owner push it outside since it didn’t run. This poor SC actually had moss growing on it! I don’t remember the asking price but it was too much of a project for me at the time. So I kept looking.

I remember a maroon ‘72 Javelin in Rocky River which was hooked to the tiniest battery charger that I have ever seen! The car was in decent condition, but I really wanted an AMX so there it stayed. Ditto for the black ‘73-’74 Javelin in Avon Lake with the uh, really cool etched windows. One car that I came dangerously close to buying was a dark blue 1970 AMX in Mentor. I believe the seller lived in an apartment or condo complex as I recall test driving it there. It was a 390 car and possibly a 4-speed. Two things which I remember for sure were the prisma “AMX” stickers on either side of the hood scoop, and the serious rear main leak which left almost a continuous trail of oil. Two grand? Pass. A trip to Barberton around 1983 produced a white 1977 Hornet AMX with a 304 with a high stall converter. The body was in great condition and the car ran really well. Years later I learned that Mike Moneypenny had owned this same car! I’m trying to remember why I didn’t buy this one; I think I was a little short on cash. My one buddy did buy a 401 “police” engine from the guy which turned out to be junk. Two decades later I’m a little more willing to take on a project, especially if it’s a rare AMC muscle car. Like the 1973 Javelin Trans Am Victory edition with a 360 that I just won on eBay. As I write this the Fresh Plum metallic with gold stripe Jav is still in West Virginia, but it appears to be restorable. Best of all it was priced like the 1980s!

Mark your calendars now for Saturday, October 8th when everyone is invited back to Medina for our second annual Final Drive! Last year we had great weather and 10 AMCs on the front lawn. Let’s see if we can double that this year! Watch the newsletter or our NCAMC web site for details...

American Motors Ramblings...Scott Campbell

Contact Information... President/Treasurer Advertising Director Newsletter Editor Scott Campbell Dale Veverka Javlynn Sue Leair 5340 Columbia Rd. 6934 Brookside Rd. 4904 Edsal Dr. Medina, OH 44256 Independence, OH 44131 Lyndhurst, OH 44124 Phone: 330-725-3824 Phone: 216-524-5977 Phone: 216-381-7859 E-mail: amx692seatr@aol.com E-mail: squirrel70@msn.com E-mail: js@javlynnsue.net

West Side Coordinator East Side Coordinator Shaune Zavertnik Don Moyer 1254 Catherine Dr. 9027 Lakeshore Blvd. Brunswick, OH 44212 Mentor, OH 44060 Phone: 330-220-7264 Phone: 440-257-5615 E-mail: zavertnik@att.net E-mail: MoyerGraffiti@aol.com

Deadlines...Sept./Oct. newsletter – Sept. 1Nov./Dec. newsletter – Nov. 1

What’s Up?! NCAMC now has its own web site! The URL is http://clubs.hemmings.com/northcoastamc. Thanks goes out to new club member, Ken Walker who is willing to step up to the plate and create the club web page. Check it out!

You can also get the latest NCAMC news by going to www.amcforums.com under the Clubs section.

NCAMC Final Drive is Saturday, October 8 at noon at Scott Campbell’s place in Medina (at the above address)

2005 AMC Calendar of EventsAug. 12-14: Mopar Nationals - National Trail Raceway, Kirkersville, OH web site: www.moparnats.org

Aug. 20: Woodward Dream Cruise - Michigan. Cruisers and spectators travel up and down a 16-mile stretch of legendary Woodward Avenue through the nine communities of Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Pleasant Ridge, Pontiac and Royal Oak. Web site: www.woodwarddreamcruise.com

Aug. 21: Great Lakes AMC Family Meet - Greenmead Historical Park, Livonia, MI; Great Lakes Classic AMC Club AMO Mid-West Regional Contacts: Stu Ehrhardt (248) 634-5259; Tim Smith (313) 381-4411; Ron Rogers (248) 250-3876 web site: http://clubs.hemmings.com//greatlakesamc/

Aug. 27: Hoosier AMC 4th Annual Bill Redding AMO Regional Meet- Carmel, IN Contact: Joe Fougerousse (317) 335-3575

Aug. 2-4: Glenn Christian Church Ox Roast Car Show - FREE 3 Day Community Event Trumbull County Fairgrounds,Cortland, Ohio 326 Classic Car Trophies-30 Classes; 50 Motorcycle Trophies - 4 Classes web site: oxroastcarshow.com

Sept. 4: Glass City AMC Regional Meet - Randy Hensinger (419) 483-9917

Sept.15-17: NAMDRA Nationals. Cordova Dragway Park, 19425 IL Route 84 North, Cordova, IL 61242 Contact: Jock Jocewicz - President/Editor NAMDRA - NAMDRA@juno.com (262) 843-4326; web site: cordovadrag.com/

Sept. 17: APD Annual Car Show and Open House - West Manchester, OH Doug Noel (937) 678-7249

Sept. 17: Chilson’s AMC Family Meet - Lawrenceville, PA Casey McGowan (740) 321-1308

Sept. 24: Ed Anderson AMCRC Regional Meet - Carillon Park, Dayton, OH Casey McGowan (740) 321-1308 or Mike Turner (937) 865-0940

October 1: AMO Southeast Regional - Greenboro, SC Steve Corder (704) 938-5712

October 8: NCAMC Final Drive - Scott’s Place - starts at noon; See flyer on page 5

Member Profile: Dan Koch This edition of “Member Profile” features James Snyder of Brunswick, Ohio. James did a very nice job of filling out his profile sheet and said it all as well or better than I could, so I’ll simply relay his words:

Current AMC - 1970 Hornet, 232 6 cyl., T-34 trans.

Modifications I Have Made to This Car - “This car has only 45,000 miles on it. Yes, it’s due for a second oil change soon! I will eventually install a hot 360 with a T-400 trans.”

Other AMC’s I Currently Own - An additional 1970 hornet - a possible Pro Street project in the future.

Other AMC’s I Have Owned in the Past - A 1971 “Nasty Nash” SC/360

Future Projects - “I would like to build a 1970 or 1971 Hornet convertible for my daughter. What a challenge!”

Other AMC’s I Have Lusted After - “Dick Maskin’s old Pro Stocker’...(Reach for the stars, Dude-Ed.)...’and a 1976 Hornet fastback.”

How I got interested in AMC’s - “Basically, on a bet from Greg Blaha. He bet me I couldn’t get a Hornet to run in the 10:00’s. Ha! I fooled ‘em! Off the trailer it went 10:38. After some tuning, it went 10:06 - 137mph! I actually had to slow the car down in order to run the (then) new 10:50 bracket at the IHRA Nationals in the early ‘80’s. This car was a dream to drive. Hats off to Wally Ciokajlo and Greg Blaha. The fire from this car still burns deep within me!”

Well said, James! It’s this kind of passion that keeps our hobby alive! To all of you who have yet to respond to this column, PLEASE do so at your earliest convenience. To all those who have responded, thank you - but please send pictures if you haven’t already. Either photos or e-files will do nicely. It is our mutual love of these unique and unusual automobiles that draws a rag-tag group of mechanical miscreants into a band of broth-ers and sisters united under the AMC banner. Please share your story!

GAD IV (Great AMC Day)

GAD IV was also the 2nd SS/AMX re-union. This is the real Pete’s Patriot.

A few of the 20-35 “display only” cars at Norwalk Raceway on June 17. There were also 79 race cars and over 200 spectators.

George Gadat doing a wheel stand and showing how it’s done. He won the showmanship award.

Barry Allan & Hemmy Adkins grudge match; Times were the same for

both - first round 9.54 secs.; second round 9.59 secs. Hemmy (yellow

AMX) won based on reaction time.

Fuzz and his 13.7 sec. Jeep races against Jon in his 12.6 sec. Gremlin.

“Stick Shifter” burns some rubber.

Martin lights ‘em up in his super-charged Hornet hatchback.

AMX vs. SC/Rambler Green Gremmie in the burnout box

Mike Luke’s “Tubby” squares off against a Spirit.

Javie smokin’ ‘em up and killing some mosquitoes

Richard A. Teague Regional Meet Around 60 AMCs attended this year’s show in Dublin, Ohio. The weather was sunny and very warm.

Some of the AMX class participants The AMC class included Steve Halstead’s Jeep and Scott Brown’s blue Gremlin.

Mike Luke’s “Tubby” Christine McGowan’s “Mary Kay” pink Javelin AMX

“The Greminater” owned by Jim Martin

Some of the participants in the Rambler class

Javelins and AMXs including North Coast AMC member John Gifford’s red/white/blue AMX

AMCs at theMopars at Summit Show

Saturday, June 11th participants included Dale Vever-ka’s yellow AMX, Amy Veverka’s BBO ‘70 AMX &

Javlynn Sue’s ‘74 Javelin.

Shaune Zavertnik’s BBG ‘70 AMX, Chris Tomsic’s Rebel Machine, Javlynn Sue’s ‘74 Javelin & Kurt

Zanone’s Javelin

Phil Martin’s ‘69 Javelin Mike Moneypenny’s ‘70 AMX Kurt Zanone’s Javelin

Right: This beautiful ‘67 Rambler from Pennsylvania was the only AMC to win one of the awards for the top thirty cars.

Bottom pic: Sunday attendees included three cars (the Spirit AMX, Gremlin and Rambler) from Pennsylvania, Kurt’s Javelin, Sue’s Javelin and John Gifford’s AMX. Mike Moneypenny and Phil Martin were also there on Sunday.

North Coast visits National Park

Visitors to the Cuyahoga Valley Nation-al Park car show were treated to an AMC show within a show on July 16, 2005. Gary Steely brought his ’74 Gremlin. Dale Veverka trotted out the ’70 AMX and ’68 Rebel SST. Frank Martin parked his ’69 Javelin in the line, too. We were pleased to add a new member to

NCAMC, Lindsey Anderson who brought his 1967 Rogue. Check out the picture at the old Pure station (an all AMC treat). It was beastly hot, so unfortunately Frank had already headed for home before we had our photo op at the old garage.

Classified CornerDale Veverka

“Build an AMC (What to do when you can’t find an AMX or SST?)” is the title of an article that appeared in February 2005 Car Craft magazine. Yes, it appears that even the people at Car Craft have discovered that AMC built some interesting V-8 powered cars beyond the ponies and two-seaters. This four-pager suggests an American, Rogue or Rebel as having the potential for potent sleep-ers. Nice size engine bays seem to scream for late 70s 401s as well as 360s that filled engine bays of a number of larger Jeep products. Pictures include a side by side by side block comparison. One caution here, when you build your 450 horsepower 401 make sure you spend the bucks to update the oiling system. You can practically build a 401 with aftermarket parts. A 727 Chrysler auto tranny can provide better shifts than the Shift Command units in older cars (pre 1971). The answer to rear-end dependability is to replace the Model 20 rear-end with a Dana or simply leave it alone. Tell those non AMC people what many of us have known for a while, AMC built great toys.

The August 2005 issue of Hemmings Motor News features 15 AMCs including a 1967 Rambler Rogue 401. The car with new upholstery (not installed) has “minor smoke/water damage” and a heady $20,500 price tag. Someone else offered a “restored” 1969 AMX for $16,500. The same people have an additional ad for a 1975 Pacer with 57,000 one owner miles and a plaid interior for $5,700.

The issue also features an article on “AMC, Nash and Hudson Suppliers”. There are over two dozen suppliers includ-ed. In addition Hemmings provides a listing of suppliers that can be accessed by registering on line using your subscriber number. One interesting auction sale was this 1953 Nash-Healey, British built, Italian designed, American powered (6 cyl.) product. It sold for a lofty $57,500. It’s so nice to go to a shop and have people treat you right. I took the Rebel to Transmission Kings for a problem with shifting and reverse. First, Rick offered a possible solution that I could try myself. I had no luck so I brought it in and he solved the first problem. He said he couldn’t road test it because the brakes were bad. He said he could do the work but knew I did quite a bit of my own work so he let me pick it up. I slowly got to fixing the brakes and brought the car back. He picked away at all the problems including a problem with reverse, downshifting and a pan leak. He knows the older stuff very well and used an

obscure way of fixing a pressure problem. His pricing was very fair. Give Transmission Kings a shot at your tranny. Tom at Radiatorwerks would love to help your cooling problems. We welcome Royalton Automotive as a new advertiser. Gary Stinnett’s shop offers Mechanical Repair and Detailing.

Ads are still free to members so send some fresh ones to me.

For Sale:1970 Javelin SST, parts car-$500; 1970 304 engine and trans, fresh bot-tom end not assembled. New pistons etc. ( $700 machine shop receipt). Heads, intake, pan, mounts, flex plate, converter, torque converter, drive shaft all included! All-$750; 1973 Hornet fenders, rough-$25 pair; 1973 Hornet trunk lid, nice-$25; 1970-75 Gremlin fender-$75; 6cyl Grem-lin Spirit rear end parts-free; Spirit AMX 4-speed with ford style bell housing (mustang t-5 style)-$350; Super t-10 4 speed with shifter(shifter needs work)-$300; 1969 Rambler trunk lid, nice-$50; Don at (440) 257-5615 or MoyerGraffiti@aol.com

1973 Hornet rear quarters-$50 each; Hatch-$50; Roof-$50; Gary (216) 570-6510 or themixtoo@aol.com

1969 AMX, 390, White with red stripes, red interior, 146K miles, one owner car appraised at 16K and 17K, must be driven to be ap-preciated. Asking price??? For more information please call (419) 868-1739

Eagle hood, same as 1977-78 Gremlin, also Spirit and Concord. Excellent used condition with no rust. Asking $50. Also have nice used Eagle wagon/Concord/Sportabout rear hatch, no rust. Scott Campbell (330) 725-3824 or Amx692SEATR@aol.com

Wanted:1968-69 AMX with nice body. Prefer 4-speed, GO Pack, PS, PB. Please call Lee Crum, (419) 663-2239

Excellent used 1969 AMX (same as Javelin) steering wheel with no cracks or separations. Prefer charcoal backside but will con-sider any color if wood grain is nice. Scott Campbell (330) 725-3824 or Amx692SEATR@aol.com

1968-70 Javelin; Prefer 1970 SST or Donahue; Dave Deamicis (440) 934-0599

Concord wagon Passenger side hatch hinge; Rim blow horn switch Rubber strip that contains the horn contacts; Dale Veverka (216) 524-5977 or (216) 407-8657 Squirrel70@msn.com

904 Torque Command tranny; and a 4-liter head; Dan Koch (330)645-0546 or danrose@themacisp.net

5340 Columbia Rd.Medina, OH 44256