Charity AMX

I went to the official charity AMXweb site and see that the last update was Oct of last year. I find it amazing that it's taken 8 years to get it where it is today. Now that I've started on my car, I sure hope it doesn't take me 8 years to complete my SC/360 resto...

What's wrong with the folks who know the background, can document some of what's happened and so on, literally write it all up, and "take it back" and get it finished right?

Yes, I will comment on this project. About 8 years ago there was a spirited discussion on the AMXFiles website about how neat it would be for the AMC hobby to band together and restore a car for a charity. There was talk about an American as that was the least expensive car. I just bought a rough 70 AMX, but the floors and gussets were perfect. I also had a complete nose, doors, decklid, interior, etc. for the car. I primered the roof and quarters and replaced the rest with rust free sheetmetal. I also had a 360 engine from a Wagoneer, and the rest of the original 70 driveline. The car ran fine, and under the hood was painted before the engine was installed. New carpets, rebuilt doorpanels, decent dash, okay seats, etc finished the interior. As it sat-a complete running 70 AMX with one rusty and one damaged quarter, a hole in the trunk floor the car was worth about $4000 in Mass at the time-though I had far less into it. At the time my daughter had just gone through a nightmare of medical problems, and was diagnosed with some fairly rare immune issues, and some medical procedures that needed 16 surgeries. I felt this would be a great opportunity to pay back Children’s Hospital in Boston for saving my daughter. I donated the car with express conditions that all the money go to Children’s Hospital in Boston. Everyone on the website was on board. A local clubmember took the car to his house, restored the braking system, and towed the car to the Daytona AMC meet. Some people from various clubs agreed to administer the project, but soon Frank Swygert appointed himself in charge, I think mainly to promote his new AIM magazine. It has been all downhill from there. A website was set up, then it was “decided” the profits would be split by 3 hospitals, 35% to two of them, 30% to Boston. WHAT???

While in Florida, a lot of work was done. However, they were not used to seeing cars with rusted quarters and felt it could be parted out for $6000. No deal-we want to show the world we can stick together and restore this car! It was decided the car should be stock, so Frank authorized a great deal- a stock 70 intake manifold in exchange for a torker intake, Holley carb, chrome aircleaner and valve covers, Accell ignition….all for a stock intake. Now the car didn’t run, so stock parts were needed.

In the meantime, I donated a complete quarter panel, complete wheels with NOS trim rings, lugs and correct center caps. Taillight lenses. A second grill to help fix the one that got busted. NOS grill lamp assys. A door window. Etc, etc, etc. I sent a ton of parts for the car, most ending up missing-to include a seat changed for a Gremlin seat of the opposite side! People donated other mechanical parts, Joe Roberts a number of items he had that were needed. There was an offer for a complete, new reproduction side exhaust, and it was turned down to install a stock exhaust, even with “missing” rocker moldings! There has been little publicity, little solicitations for parts, little of anything-except for the few people who had the car and did a ton of work on it-these people should be praised for what they did.

Just under two years ago my garage was empty and I asked to get the car back as a number of former New England AMC Clubmembers volunteered to finish the car and enter it in the Boston World of Wheels Jan, 2007. Believe it or not, I was told by Frank-“NO, we will let someone else work on the car”. Then it went in a shop and that is the last I heard. Frank has a number of excuses about this project, but to me it is a bitter disappointment. What could have been, but for the ego of one person. Couldn’t be any more honest than that.

Who holds the title?