Aussie-built AMX survivors

Our

story in AMC #77 on the Rambler AMX series assembled in Melbourne by AMI drew a quick response from the USA, from Larry M. Daum, vice president of NAMDRA, the National American Motors Drivers and Racers Association.

He wanted to tell us that the pink Americanbuilt AMX presented to the 1968 Playboy Playmate of the Year Angela Dorian is alive and well and being restored – photos to come as soon as it is complete. Larry also informed us that one of the Australian-made AMXs now resides in the USA. This was No.18 of the 24 built here.

This ‘coals to Newcastle’ car is now thought to be hidden in a garage somewhere in Southern California after being involved in a bad drug deal and a divorce settlement. It’s been 25 years since anyone has seen it but Larry says: “some day it will turn up again; real soap opera that one.”

The Australian-made cars are of great interest to American AMX fans. We’ve also learnt more about the fate of cars 2 and 15, both now in New Zealand. One is being turned into a Mad Max tribute (see separate story).

Mark Scriven sent us the shot above from his family archives. “We had an assortment of Ramblers from 1959 to 1976,” he wrote. “I owned a 1974 Javelin AMX (on the trailer). My father owned a 1969 AMX (No.17) in Safety Wattle Yellow, nicknamed Tweetie-Pie.”

Promoters of the Chryslers on the Murray festival in Albury Wodonga, March 13-15 are hoping to have as many AMXs (and other AMI Ramblers) on display as possible this year. AMX organiser Jason Chaplin sent us a series of pics highlighting that many of the 24 cars built by AMI still survive. If you want to be involved, make contact via chryslersonthemurray.com.