1970 AMX, VIN AOM397X100081 Dash Tag 17212 - "8+" Owners
As the 2nd Owner of this beautiful example of an AMC muscle car, title to this 1970 AMX was in my possession for 16 years and I would like to share as much of its known history as possible.
Purchase 04/30/1973 and passed on to owner 3 in 1989.
First Titled Owner
Paul Hagen
Paul was the first titled owner of this 1970 AMX.
Purchased - March 10th 1971 at Pierce Motors in Mauston WI from AMC Dealer ID 34 6673 for a purchase price of $2866.50 for cash and a 1968 Camaro trade-in as payment.
Sold - April 30th 1973.
Wondering why it was not titled from production date
in 1969 to March of 1971?
The Story was, it was an AMC executive car until it went to Pierce Motors in Mauston WI to be sold and Paul became the first titled owner.
I can not recall the miles put on by the factory executive although it was told to me at the time.
.
1970 AMX - original Specs
When purchased from Paul.
At one time I had seen a build "date" document. I think..? it was built late Sept?? of 1969 making it an early 1970.
Below is a list of how it was equipped - I do not recall Paul making "any changes" from stock.
Exterior / Interior
Bittersweet Orange with "dealer painted" shadow mask "minus" the factory pinstripe between the orange and black / interior - Tan
Engine / Transmission
390 cu / 325 hp - functional ram air. / BW - T10
Rearend
Unusual - NON-posi with 3:54 gears
I later installed a posi and obtained an extra set of gears 3:15's for the highway driving.
Other noteables
- Front disc brakes
- Power steering
- Power brakes.
- No air conditioning
- Trailer hitch but I do not know if it was factory or add on?
Other Original Document
American Motors Protective Maintenance Card.
2nd TiTled Owner
Rick Roach
Rick was the 2nd titled owner of this 1970 AMX.
Purchased - April 30, 1973, from Paul Hagen of New Lisbon WI. for a purchase price of $1,500.00. (Mileage - 33,932)
Sold - March 27th 1989.
Originally from Kenosha WI and having just turned 18, I was so excited to find this beautiful AMX. In my earlier teens when visiting dad and family in Kenosha I became quite familiar and maybe even a slight bit obsessed with AMC's as they had recently entered into the performance arena. My friendship circle in high school consisted primarily of muscle care guys and I couldn't have been more proud to find this beautiful example of AMC history and performance.
My first year of ownership, included a 5,200-mile trip to visit the west coast with my friend Dennis, we passed through and/or visited IA, NE, CO, NM, AZ, CA, NV and UT. "Great trip" - Pikes Peak, 4 corners, Las Vegas, LA, San Fransico, Reno and even meet Paul Newman on the Salt Flats in Utah on the way back to Wisconsin. (Only mechanical mishap was a broken nylon clutch bushing while in the San Francisco area - after limping our way to a dealer with no clutch, we were able to buy the inexpensive piece and replace it on the side of a nearby road) - GREAT MEMORIES!
The balance of my ownership saw extensive road time all across the WI landscape and it was seen often from LaCrosse to Kenosha to Eau Claire to Madison to Milwaukee to Sturgeon Bay and many destinations to numerous to mention including IL, IN, MI and MN, easily rolling 45K+ to 55k+ miles on the odometer during this ownership. A driver - not a trailer queen. (today she would be pampered as deserved - :)
Misc Purchase Docs 1973
Confirmation of Purchase / 1973
Vin AOM397X100081 - 04/30/1973
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Warranty Transfer
To: Low Motors - LaCrosse WI - Dlr. Code 36-0337
Great Decision! As I spun a rod bearing the first week of ownership, downshifting to 3rd gear on the Highway taking "Dad" for a spin. - Ha!
Pretty faded due to age and being a "carbon copy" from the day.
(still readable in person).
Mileage - 33932
Pretty faded due to age and being a "carbon copy" from the day.
(still readable in person).
3RD TITLED OWNER
Bob (Bondo) Johnson
Bondo was the 3rd titled owner of this 1970 AMX.
Purchased - March 27, 1989, from Rick Roach of LaCrosse, WI. (exact mileage - unknown). Bondo and I talked about this and we believe it was in the high 80 thousands, he suggested it might have tipped 90 thousand?
Sold - 1989.
Bondo
Bondo is a great friend I meet in the early 80,'s. A body man that also loved this AMX and acquired ownership in 1989. Once in his possession, he went to work to bring it back to it's original glory by replacing the lower quarter panels, a paint job, an exhaust, the seats, new wheels/tires and more. (Note the metal behind the rear wheels - this pic is likely '83 or '84). This work is the only known body work done to the car (with one exception - in '73 or '74 it left a rainy road surface "backward" requiring a new rear spring, shock and apron pan under the rear bumper - work was done at Kennard Buick, the dealership on the causeway that Jim Carlson worked at in 1973?).
4th Titled Owner
Name Unknown
When Bondo sold the AMX to "Name Unknow" the 4th owner he believes the buyer was from the eastern WI area - possibly Fondulac?
We have no way to confirm how long this person owned it but it seems likely that he may have been the seller to Brian Schneider (the next owner below)?
(This pic caught my eye as to being dash plate 17212 - when seller 5 Brian, in TX had it listed on ebay - notice the front fender cap droop on the driver side in this pic and the pic above, was a strong clue to me.)
The real question here is had it stayed in "name unknown" possession from 1989 to 2002/2003 when Brian purchased it? a 12+ year time span?
Maybe / Could have?
5th Titled Owner
Brian Schneider
5th titled owner,
I spotted this 1970 AMX on Ebay in Texas for sale in 03/2012 and my email question was - what is the dash tag number? which immediately confirmed it was my old AMX. Having talked to Brian a couple of times he told me he bought it on ebay about 10 years earlier which would be about 2002 or 2003. (but we could not confim if he bought it from the person Bondo sold to?).
6th Titled Owner
"Unknown 2" again and from Wisconsin...?
The current (06/2020) seller on ebay (seller id-ncc.1951) Lenny, on the owners behalf .. Says:
"THIS ORIGINAL AMX 390 IS A 3 OWNER CAR CAME OUT OF TEXAS THEN SOLD TO WISCONSIN WERE IT WAS MAINTAINED. 3RD OWNER IN NORTH EAST SPENT LAST YEAR $15000... etc"
So it went to Brian 5th known owner about '02/03 in TX from WI (providing owner 4 the buyer from Bondo (owner 3) is the seller to Brian.
6th known owner (Unknown 2) purchased in 2012 and we do not know when current owner 7 purchased from owner 6?
7th Titled Owner
"Uknown 3"- through Ebay seller
eBay listing says "3RD OWNER IN NORTH EAST"
No indication of when owner 7 purchased it from owner 6?
Saw an ad in Hemmings on 06/29 - said Connecticut?
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/amc/unspecified/2409773.html
The 65+ pics on ebay show it to be an absolutely beautiful restore!
(Was also listed in Hemmings around this time period
Not sure why it needs to be represented inaccurately after receiving the correct known information.
After sharing the known history the eBay (seller id - ncc.1951) Lenny replied:
" Rick thanks I am selling for owner I just put on what he told me I appreciate the history. Lenny ". (*)
No apparent regard to the real # of owners or ?? on behalf of the next buyer? Hum... and a second listing with a buy it now for $43,000 - again with the same know misinformation.... trustworthy collector car seller? Hum...
*This current gorgeous, timeless, beautiful example of AMC muscle car era 1970 AMX should not "need" to be misrepresented?
(Love the rear window louvers - hot!)
More history of this Rare Beauty
Some of the few photos in my possession from 1973 into the 80's. Absolutely terrible pics... :(
1976 LaCrosse WI
1976 LaCrosse WI
1976 LaCrosse WI
American 200s wheels / BF Goodrich T/A radials / no interior pics but she sported a hurst ram rod shifter as well.
1970 AMX
1976 LaCrosse WI
1976 LaCrosse WI
Doug Thorley side pipes - Custom fabbed from headers to the dummy side pipes making all 8 "fully functional" - Yep you gussed it, stole that idea from the other "2 seater" - my vette buddies - smile...
Dash Plate / # 17212
Dash Plate / # 17212
Dash Plate / # 17212
Fell in love with the rear end look with the Donahue Javelin Spoiler. It was one of those - just had to have it ...thing / added in 1973.
AOM397X100081
Dash Plate / # 17212
Dash Plate / # 17212
Shadow Mask black paint was put on at dealer/not original from factory. It never had the small factory stripe separating the black & bittersweet.
Tom Roach
1983 Graduation - Brother Tom enjoyed the AMX
Tom Roach
1983 Graduation - Brother Tom enjoyed the AMX
Great Friends / Great Relatives / Great Memories
Destination / Kenosha Wisconsin
Being from Kenosha Wisconsin and having wonderful family (father / grandparents / uncles / aunts / cousins) to host our group of close friends. We were fortunate to be able to visit and attend the Union Grove Dragaway Races for several years as we paraded our vehicles of passion from LaCrosse to Kenosha creating these memories.
First Car
Dennis Cox, owner - Meet in 8th grade.
1965 Corvette - hopped up 327 4spd.
Fast as hell - great numerous memories!
Way to many to ever share.
"Midnight Cruiser"
Steve Kundy, owner - Meet in 7th grade.
1971 Ford Van - An early participant & promoter of the Vanning Craze / 70's.
Prior - beautiful 1966 Dodge Charger.
Red/White/Blue
Jeff Burckhardt, owner - Meet in '73 friend and best-man in each others weddings.
1968 AMX - 343 4spd. We meet due to this AMX in 1973 - as a potential AMX to buy.
Black Corvette
Jerry Cox, owner - bro of Dennis & friend.
1968 Corvette - 427/435hp 3x2's 4spd.
older brother to Dennis. a wonderful family and lifetime of memories.
Jeff and Anita
Likely to be on the way home from one of our trips to Kenosha, Union Grove,
Lake Geneva in the 1970's.
Gotta love the poloriods!
Dennis and Debbie
"Always admired" Dennis's 65 corvette - I was with him when he bought it from Schnieder Motors in LaCrosse. Drove it to Baraboo for Cox family reunion same night.
AMX
AMX
AMX
AMX
Something relevant to share about this 1970 AMX history?
