“I used to hang out at this local body shop when I was 15, just because they had cool cars around. That’s where I fell in love with the AMX.”
So says Jimi Day, head of FM3 Performance Marketing, the company that produces the OPTIMA Search for the Ultimate Street Car. He’s also the owner of what is possibly the …
Good looking car, but my interest was rapidly lost at the LS motor. I have never been a fan of cross-breeding...
In reply to FSP_ZX2:
For some, performance trumps brand loyalty.
484 hp/500 lb/ft out of a streetable, stock head AMC 401
It's about "the easy button" more often than not. It's easier--read cheaper--to build a Chevy.
I can, through Indy Cylinder Head, get an all-aluminum AMC motor that will make 840HP/700 LB/FT.
In reply to FSP_ZX2:
Also, one has to look at AMC's history and realize they were all about borrowing parts from other brands.
I'd have preferred they used nearly anything except an LSx, but that's just me and it doesn't meant the car isn't damned fast or worthless, just not how I'd build it.
Looking at that picture, I need to get the truck up and driving.
Stefan wrote: In reply to FSP_ZX2: Also, one has to look at AMC's history and realize they were all about borrowing parts from other brands. I'd have preferred they used nearly anything except an LSx, but that's just me and it doesn't meant the car isn't damned fast or worthless, just not how I'd build it.
Their engines are their engines.
There was a guy here in town, worked for City of Tucson, had an AMX in the 10s, all motor, all AMC. Car was dialed in 9-ways from Sunday. Watched the burn out, on small slicks, and thought, "dang, that guy is in the 11s, I'll guess 11.40-11.70s". He got to mid track, and I'm thinking that's faster than 11s....
I think he was 10.70 or something, it was ridiculous.
Met him quite by happen stance, we started talking at work, talking drag racing, talking dialed in cars, and I mentioned an AMX I saw. Turns out it was him, he'd had the car for years, worked at NAPA auto parts prior to the city, did his own head work and machining, chassis work, etc... He'd applied every detail I'd ever read about for a drag car, and then some.
Thing was so impressive.
In reply to FSP_ZX2:
and it isn't your car, so what's the problem?
FSP_ZX2 wrote: 484 hp/500 lb/ft out of a streetable, stock head AMC 401 It's about "the easy button" more often than not. It's easier--read cheaper--to build a Chevy. I can, through Indy Cylinder Head, get an all-aluminum AMC motor that will make 840HP/700 LB/FT. All the AMC "perfomance" you can handle
BTW, I don't think there is anything made by AMC in that last motor.;)
Many people think the AMC 327 is a GM 327. Not.
AMC won some Nascar races. The did pretty good in Tran Am.
iceracer wrote: Many people think the AMC 327 is a GM 327. Not. AMC won some Nascar races. The did pretty good in Tran Am.
The 287 and the 327 are based on an older Packard design and were used thru 1966. The 1967-1969 290/343/390 was an all AMC motor and it became the 304/360/401 in 1970/71. There are some minor differences from the 67-69 and the 70+ motors, but they all share the same block dimensions. AMC won in Nascar as recently as 1975 (Darlington)...and the TA championship in 71 and 72.
I have no sentimental attachment to AMC so the LS only makes the thing better in my opinion.
Now stick an LS in a Pontiac built before 1980 and you will see me come unglued!
I stuck a ford in my amc.
Only because I couldn't find a mopar.
Wanna get sick? I did. I was there and shortly after I arrived with the tanker one of the captains let me know what was in the building coz they know I am a car guy. I couldn't find a picture of the AMX, the Charger or the 'Cuda but they were in there and were the three cars lost in the fire.
I don't see how the LS is even remotely controversial anymore. It's just another V8 now. It just happens to be good.
In reply to 68TR250:
Wait, this AMX was lost in a fire?!?
Nah, A very nice AMX was lost
It's beautiful.
In reply to Chadeux :
Depends on whether you think it's important to try and keep a car relatively true to the OEM or not. In the case of classic cars like this, I happen to think it is important. As was pointed out above, it was not necessary to go to the LSx, which has to be the most overused engine around and totally non-interesting. Penske and Donohue proved the AMC engine was capable of winning and that's still true today, it's just harder and most expensive to do it that way. It's a trick car no doubt, but it'd be better with the AMC engine in it.
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