Feature Car: Gabriel Dorge’s 68 AMX

When I was 16 I had the opportunity to buy a red convertible 442 cutlass. I had a part time job so I thought I could get a loan, so off to the Credit Union I went. They said as long as my dad would co-sign there wouldn’t be a problem. But there was the problem: my dad wouldn’t co-sign: he said I would kill myself in that kind of car.If at that time, if someone had told me then that I would be an owner of an AMC car someday, I would have said I didn’t think so. If someone at that time had said I would be married and a father of a baby girl in a couple of years, I would have laughed at the joke.But that is exactly what happened, and with new adult responsibilities, any thoughts about having a muscle car were quickly shelved (but never really forgotten)

Feature Car: Gabriel Dorge’s 68 AMX

After a year of not having the cutlass, I started getting antsy. I started looking for another car. Again I wasn’t looking for anything specific. Looking thru the Free Press, I came across an add for a 56 Ford in Oakbank. I went to look at it: it was a very nice 4 door car, but a little to “old” for us.

Beside it was another car, covered so I couldn’t see what it was. I asked what it was, and he uncovered it. There sat a white with red stripe, 68 AMC AMX. He told us a little about its history: used to be a black drag racer, and then was stored for many years and it had very low mileage. He bought it from that owner and changed it to the color it is now, which is believed to be the original color. And now he was selling it, along with the ford. I went home: like I said. I didn’t really know much about AMCs so wasn’t really sure I was interested in it.

Then about 7 years ago, after 2 kids grew up and moved out, there seemed to be more time and money to start looking for another car. At this time I wasn’t looking for something that I would have to put a lot of work into: just something nice that we could use right away to hit the local car shows and gatherings. There was no possibility of ever finding a red 442; anything like that would be way out of our price range, but something similar, but not so flashy. Eventually I came across a 72 Olds Cutlass. I hit the shows right away, and really enjoyed the whole car scene.After a year, I decided to do a full restore on it: unfortunately the bodywork is taking a VERY long time: we agreed that it would be”filler” for them: they would work on when they had free time, so that we wouldn’t have to pay full rate. But they don’t seem to have any spare time: we still don’t have it back.

But it grew on me. I started looking into AMX and it's history: the more I learned, the more I got interested. I was especially keen on the fact of the rarity of AMC vehicles: you can go to a car show and usually find a multiple beaumonts or cutlasses, but you will be lucky to find many Javelins, AMXs, or Machines. I was also impressed with the power this little car had.

Feature Car: Gabriel Dorge’s 68 AMX

After a couple of months I decided to make any offer: on June 20,2005 I drove the car home, extremely please that I was going to be able to get back into the car show scene, with a car I was getting to appreciate more and more.

After driving the car for the summer, I took the car in for an oil and anti-freeze leak: They discovered a problem with one of the heads. In March, 06 an edelbrock performance aluminum heads and aluminum intake was installed. That solved the leaks and provided an extra bonus: extra horsepower.

Then I looked into the interior: I wanted to get it back to what I believed was the original look. When I bought it, it had a red velour interior with black carpet. In May, 06 the carpet was changed to red, along with new headliner, door panels and vinyl seats.

In the April 07, I decided to get someone to look at the occasional gas smell I had noticed. I took it over to Walls Rod and Custom. I really liked that place. He changed the carburetor. I stayed with a Holey 650 Double Pumper. While it was there, I got him to dyno the car. The rates for the horsepower and torque to the rear wheels were not bad:Max. power 295.5 @ 4693RPM / 94.7 MPHMax. torque 363.9 @ 3661 RPM/ 73.6 MPH

Feature Car: Gabriel Dorge’s 68 AMX

The last thing I have done this year was change to chrome Magnum 500 wheels with Goodyear E70/14 Redline PolyGlass tires.

For the future: the engine compartment needs some attention and a paint job in a couple of years.

Since I’ve had the car, Linda and I have had a great time going to car shows and meeting people, especially the AMC group. Our big trip this year was to the 2007 AMO International Convention in Denver, Colorado, where we met many AMC fanatics from all over: Alberta, Ontario, Minnesota, South Dakota, California, Chicago and of course, Denver. There were even AMC fanatics all the way from Norway! (no car of course). We had a great time there, especially when cheering Robin on at the Drag Races. Next year we hope to make it out to the 2008 AMO Convention in Kingston, Ontario. Looks like it will be a great venue.

Another big show we made it out to was the 2007 Super Run in Brandon. Wow, there were a lot of cars there, but other than our group, not many other AMCs. That was another enjoyable weekend with some of the group.

So yes I am really enjoying my AMX; if someone approached me with that 442 today as a trade, I would say sorry, I have moved on to something better.