AMX/3 Reproductions

[Randy V]

Great Progress there Tom!!!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

You'll be driving her yet this summer at this rate!

Although I may be a little late - You might want to talk to Fran Hall at RCR (he's on these forums all the time) about getting Corvette C4 Stub axles machined for CV joints..

These look like they've not yet been heat-treated like the ones in my RCR40..

Check out his website at Race-Car-Replicas - 586-329-1573

 

[Tom Dulaney]

Randy,
Thanks for the lead, much appreciated. I just got off the phone with Fran, nice guy, funny accent :drunk: but seriously, he makes a much better stub axle than we did, his are 6150 aluminum, heat treated, then black oxide, roll spline tapped holes and use a Porsche 930 turbo 108 spline. for $750 a pair. I will be buying them from him in the future.
Tom

 

[Randy V]

Randy,
Thanks for the lead, much appreciated. I just got off the phone with Fran, nice guy, funny accent :drunk: but seriously, he makes a much better stub axle than we did, his are 6150 aluminum, heat treated, then black oxide, roll spline tapped holes and use a Porsche 930 turbo 108 spline. for $750 a pair. I will be buying them from him in the future.
Tom

6150 Aluminum... Hmmmm... I think you meant to type 6150 Alloy Steel...
http://www.suppliersonline.com/propertypages/6150.asp#Spec

Even though I knew the right answer - you had me second guessing myself as I went out to the shop with my magnetic probe and it literally sucked it out of my hand as it jumped to the spindle...

Had to be sure..

RE: Fran's speech issue - We've got him in therapy... Get a few pints in him and I hear he sounds like any one of us!!!

 

[Tom Dulaney]

My mistake, you are right of course, when I was looking at the picture they were so shiny, I assumed they were aluminum. Much of this is new to me, I was frantically taking notes when Fran was rattling off the specs and I got that part wrong. I am so glad it is steel because aluminum would not hold up. Congratulations to Fran for making a great product, I am going to be ordering and using these.
Tom

 

[Tom Dulaney]

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 10"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CTom%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:8.5pt; font-family:Arial; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:white;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> The chassis is completed! Three shows this summer, then we develop the four inner structures, hood, doors and rear deck lid. Then we make a new set of molds. Investors welcome.<o></o>
Tom<o></o>

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[Randy V]

Wonderful Tom!

I am really looking forward to your finished car!

Are you planning on pulling molds then from this car so you can re-sell the stretched body version?

I'm certain that the Fiero boyz would go crazy trying to wrap this gorgeous shell around one.. Your car will be a stunner for sure!

 

[Jack]

Tom, Absolutely fantastic!

 

[Tom Dulaney]

<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" http:="" www.gt40s.com="" forum="" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype> Randy,<o></o>
I am looking forward to finishing the car too, but we both know, it will never be finished. LOL<o></o>
Yes, I am planning on pulling a new set of molds from this body, when we also have the inner structures ready as well. We stretched it 2 inches, just as the Italian builders did in 1970. The original <st1:stockticker>AMC</st1:stockticker> design needed a little more room, so we did the same thing since we are working from the original prototype made in <st1:city><st1lace>Detroit</st1lace></st1:city>. I am trying to avoid any Fiero builds, the AMX/3 should be able to hang with the nice GT40 replicas. I looked into the Fieros and the best configuration I could come up with was a 1988 (last year and new suspension improvements) with an LS V-8 engine and Pontiac G6, six speed transaxle. For all the effort that would take, and end up with the engine still sideways, I prefer what we have now. But yes, you are right, the Fiero kit car builders would really like to get their hands on one of these bodies, I get lots of calls to “partner”. Thanks Molleur, I appreciate the support, it keeps me going.<o></o>
Tom

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[Jack]

Keep it pure! Happy to hear of the two inch stretch. That's the way it SHOULD have been done. Really nice work so far, keep the faith it eventually all comes together!

 

[Randy V]

Hi Tom,

I am VERY GLAD to hear that you will be offering this as an available "component" car much the way that many of our cars our sold to us.
The body design was truly one which should not have faded totally into obscurity...
I know I've probably said all of this before but I think it bears repeating..
I'm very happy that you've stepped up to soldier the cause in saving the graceful lines of this car!

The Fiero cars - some of them (most notably the Lambo and F-Car crowd) have actually turned out to be very respectable.
Although you have to ask yourself - at which point do I determine that the transverse engine mounting is saving me enough money to offset the expense of purchasing a transaxle that would support my requirements?
Some of these Fiero donor cars resemble very little of their donor. I've seen full perimeter chassis' built to carry the Fiero front and rear suspensions. It just makes too little sense to me.. But - others see it differently (obvious I know)..

 

[Jack]

Transverse engine aside (pun), The Fiero has tiny brakes, small front spindles and just does not suit the AMX/3 at all. Recently I assisted a friend to modify a Fiero
chassis to take Corvette C-5 suspension all around. Big job, and maybe not worth the effort. A bespoke frame is the way to go IMHO.

 

[Tom Dulaney]

Thanks guys, there sure were a lot of Fiero based cars at the show today. But there were some nice GT40's from Superformance, Backdraft and Lesher. Just how many companies do we need making the GT40's? I guess I will feel better about it when the AMX/3's are up and running. Superformance is investing $1,000,000 into a reproduction of the 1963 Grand Sport Corvette. I guess GM didn't make enough of these the first time around, got to have more. Backdraft was working on a Shelby Daytona replica, there are already several companies making these, but Carroll Shelby is on the war path, so people are lying low for a while. Any way, here are some shots of the show.
Tom
mightypilot : photos : 09 Kit Car Show- powered by SmugMug
Next year the Repica/Kit Car Show will be held at the NHRA Museum in Panona.

Tom

 

[Tom Dulaney]

The 2009 SoCalAMX 3rd annual "All AMC Car Show" at the NHRA Museum in Pamona California on May 30th, 2009 was a blast. This is the best AMC event in Southern California all year. Congratulations to all the winners. Thanks to Mark Melvin and his crew for putting on this super cool event.
Tom

 

[Randy V]

Very cool Tom!

Looks like the car's getting a lot of good publicity!
:thumbsup:

Have you started taking names for orders yet?

 

[Tom Dulaney]

Randy,
Thanks for checking out the recent images. I have a mailing list, mostly e-mail addresses, for over 100 people who want to stay informed on the development of the body panels and when they will be available to the public. A friend of mine who co-founded the start up Aptera, three wheeled electric vehicle, suggested that I take deposits to raise money. I have given this some thought and I am not comfortable taking any money until I have the produce in hand, or at least the molds are completed and we just have to make the parts with them.This is the most fun I have ever had in my life! I am sure it will all happen in time, I am just so egar to drive one myself.
Tom

 

[Mort]

Looks great but what price will this be??
What is the time frame for having the first cars ready to view and orders to be taken???
Mort

 

[Tom Dulaney]

Mort,
Thanks for posting your questions. I believe it will be comparable in price to a GT40 replica. I have a few friends with Superformance, CAV and RCR GT40's and they all have over $100,000 in them. Right now I am looking for another investor so we can develop the inner structures and a new set of molds, about $50,000. Then I want to finish our first show car another $50,000 and get it in the magazines before we start selling body panels to the public. This way we can be assured of making a good first impression. There are many additional details that will be needed for a complete kit, I would like to develop and offer these over time as well, windshield, dash, tail lights, etc.
Tom

 

[Tom Dulaney]

Randy,
Sorry for not posting here for some time. We have made very little progress on the prototype AMX/3 replica in the last three years. The economy has made it difficult for me and the investor to come up with the cash needed. Hopefully things will turn around in the economy. We are also hopeful that new investors will appear, since we are planning an electric version of the AMX/3 as well. We have had time to plan and right now our biggest problem is finding a windshield that will even come close to fitting. I don't mind modifying the windshield frame a little bit if it is close, but I don't want to use a completely different windshield, it would spoil the design. With enough money, we could have the right glass made.
I am planning on taking the chassis, body, engine and Mendeola SDR transaxle to the International AMO show in Sedona, Arizona this July 7-10. I may continue on to Kenosha, Wisconsin for the other big AMC show in late July. Since the AMC hobby is our core audience I am focusing mostly there.
Tom

 

[Ron Earp]

I finally saw one of these cars in the flesh and it was quite pretty. IIRC it was at the SD car museum there in Balboa park, although I've visited three or four places in the last couple of months and they run together.

Cool car!

 

[Tom Dulaney]

Ron,
Yes, the number three car is in the San Diego Automotive Museum if anyone wants to go have a look. This red car and all the others are documented on my website AMX390 AMX/3
Tom