Storing the Parts
Replacement Parts Sources
Chapter 4: Body Repair
Evaluating Condition
Paint Removal
Bolt-On Panels
Structural Rust Repair
Outer Body Rust
Surface Rust
Collision Damage
Door Hinges
Panel Adjustment
Block Sanding and Prep
Chapter 5: Painting Your Car
Interior Body Paint
Cutting in the Color
Exterior Body Paint
Caring for Paint
Chapter 6: Engine and Transmission
Inspection
Removal
Disassembly
Painting and Detailing
Transmission
Chapter 7: Engine Compartment
Refinishing Small Parts
Cowl and Firewall
Engine Installation
Engine Accessories
Cleaning Tip
Chapter 8: Undercar Components
Suspension System
Steering System
Driveshaft
Braking System
Exhaust System
Wheels and Tires
Brake Lines and Fuel Lines
Restore or Over-Restore?
Chapter 9: Interior
Interior Removal
Window Glass
Dash and Console
Seats
Seat Belts
Door Panels
Steering Wheel
Interior Refinishing
Chapter 10: Trunk
Chapter 11: Body Trim and Finishing
Rubber Parts
Bumpers
Moldings and Trim
Grille and Lights
Vinyl Top and Stripes
Chapter 12: Performance Upgrades
Chapter 13: Presentation and Showing
Detailing
Presentation
Car Show Props
Chapter 14: Care and Storage
Driving and Parking
Weather Conditions
Storage Tips
Chapter 15: Future Collectibility
Conclusion
Source Guide
When I was asked to undertake this project, I knew it would be no small feat. An AMC restoration book had never been produced, and even though I do this type of work every day, I don’t even pretend to know everything about the subject matter. For this reason, I immediately contacted some of the most respected members of the AMC community, people who have disassembled, documented, and restored some of the finest original AMC muscle cars in the world. These calls and messages led to the formation of a “secret” Facebook group dedicated to the project, where we could discuss topics in detail, compare findings, and generally form a consensus of what is most correct, despite the subtle variations that exist between cars assembled within the same year, or even the same month.
For their invaluable assistance and free sharing of restoration information, I would like to extend a special thanks to Tom Benvie, Brooke Pitt, Steve Parson, Ross Peterson, Joe Roberts, Kevin Shope, and Ian Webb. The combined knowledge that these gentlemen possess could easily fill ten books! So many additional people helped in other ways, often not even knowing that their answers to my random questions were actually for the book. Others offered their cars as subject matter for photos that were needed. My sincere thanks to all of you as well.
Several AMC project cars are prominently featured, and my gratitude goes to their owners because some work was actually delayed a bit to produce photos for the book. Thank you to Will Cook, Russell Barnes, Nevada Johnson, David DiPiero, and Rich Rider. Entrusting your awesome AMC muscle cars to me was the only way that writing this book was even possible.
Thanks also to B & B Auto and Wayne’s Collision, both of Medina, Ohio, for indulging my impromptu photo shoots as bodywork was in process and paint was applied. It is a privilege to have a choice of body shops nearby capable of producing consistent show-quality work.
Finally, I would like to thank my wife and children for the time that this project took me away from them, and my neighbors for not complaining when my lawn wasn’t cut quite as often this year!
Following its inception in May 1954, American Motors Corporation capitalized on its image as a builder of practical, economical cars; Rambler sedans and station wagons were engineered to get you from point A to point B as efficiently as possible without a lot of drama. But, along the way, something happened.
As early as 1957, American Motors was dabbling in V-8–powered performance cars; the Rambler Rebel was among the fastest domestic cars produced that year. And by the late 1960s, following the success of the Pontiac GTO and Ford Mustang, among others, little AMC found itself right in the thick of things, producing several high-performance models including the 343-powered Rogue, 390 Javelin SST, and Hurst SC/Rambler.
Even more incredible is that American Motors fielded a competitor to the Corvette with its two-seat AMX sports car! But despite their best efforts, and due in large part to the increasing costs of gasoline and auto insurance, the original muscle car era began to wind down and AMC once again found itself building small, practical cars along with Jeeps and a few models engineered by Renault.