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Viewer Car: The '74 Javelin that Survived a Tornado

8/28/2015

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In 1982, the city of Paris, Texas was hit by a devastating tornado.  Houses were torn to shreds, power lines were pulled down, and trees were uprooted.  Unfortunately, one of those trees fell on a beautiful plum colored 1974 AMC Javelin, belonging to Dickie and Linda Towers.

Actually, the car was more Linda's than anybody else's.  When Dickie's little sister got a Javelin for her 16th birthday, Linda loved the pony car so much she decided to get one herself and ordered one from Hooker AMC in Sherman, Texas.  A lover of all things purple, she chose the color G-4 Plum.

On July 16th, the young couple drove their first new car off the lot.  Linda loved the car, and drove it every day until the tornado hit.  The falling tree and flying debris caused severe damage to roof and rear quarter.  The insurance company considered the car a complete loss and wanted to mark the car as "totaled," but Linda refused.  She had the necessary repairs done to make it driveable again, and continued using it for another sixteen years!

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The family together with their Javelin.
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The special G-4 Plum paint from AMC.
By 1998, the car needed a legitimate restoration, so Dickie and Linda decided to put it in storage until they were able to do this.  Twelve years later, they pulled the Javelin back out, and managed to get it going again with a few minor fixes.  Unfortunately, this would be the easiest part of the restoration.

For the next two years Linda occasionally drove the Javelin, until the restoration began in earnest.  A body shop started the job in 2012, but failed to perform the work as promised.  Frustrated, Dickie and Linda had to start all over again and find somebody else to finish the job.  Finally, Gary Armstrong of Reno, Texas began restoration of their Javelin in the summer of 2013.

Using a combination of NOS and OEM parts, Armstrong restored the Javelin to near stock condition, except for a few special touches that Linda requested, such as the purple wheels.  It two longer than they expected, and cost three times what they'd budgeted, but after nearly two years, Linda finally had her beloved plum Javelin back.
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Linda with her restored Javelin.
Since then, it's made it's way into several popular magazines, including American Motoring, Old Car Weekly, and Muscle Car Review.  As for Linda, she loves her Javelin and plans to drive it for a long time to come, before eventually passing it on to her daughter, Nicole.

In an email to AutoMoments, her husband Dickie said, "I can honestly say that this restoration of a piece of AMC Automotive History would have never occurred without the persistence and dedication of Linda, and her sentimental love for this car, and I personally feel that this story needs to be told, to provide an inspiration to others interested in keeping the Classic Car Hobby alive."

We love sharing car stories and this is one of the best.  We wish Dickie and Linda many more years of happy motoring, and thank them for sharing their story with us!

If you have a cool car you'd like to share with us, shoot as an email, at AutoMomentsShow@gmail.com!
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Linda and her Javelin in Paris, Texas.
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AMC Enthusiasts are the Best Car Enthusiasts

8/12/2015

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PictureOld cars and new friends.
Car shows can be frustrating for AMC owners.  While rows of generic Corvettes and Mustangs attract scores of onlookers, often they are relegated to some side lot next to the BMW Isettas and that one guy with an Avanti.  Then, they endure countless people who either don't recognize their cars, or worse, make fun of them.

But once a year, there is a show where they can proudly display their Ramblers, Gremlins, and Matadors, without muscle car owners laughing at them or confused spectators asking "what year Plymouth is this?"  The American Motors Owners Association National Convention is a place where AMCs get the respect they deserve.

Most car shows aren't that interesting to me.  Once you've seen one split-window Sting Ray with an old guy in sitting in a camp chair next to it, you've seen them all.  I also feel this weird sort of tension, as if these men all secretly want me to start an argument with them, so they can prove why their car is harder/better/faster/stronger than all the other ones there.  However, I found the 2015 AMO Convention to be quite the opposite.

The sense of machismo and rivalry typical of classic cars is seemingly absent, replaced with a feeling of "we're all in this together."  The owners seem happy just to have each other, as if there is some unspoken bond that unites them all.  Considering that in 1968 Ford built over 100,000 more Mustangs than AMC built total cars, they may be right.  As one man put it, "All AMCs are rare; we have to stick together!"

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This little guy's name was "Nash" after one of the car companies that merged to form AMC. That's his Dad's car behind him.
This is the only place in the world where a 1977 Pacer gets the same attention as a 1969 AMX.  Here, 340 horsepower Rebel Machines sit side by side with 112 horsepower Concords.  It really is quite a sight to see.  Their shared heritage is the great equalizer, bringing together men and women, young and old.

Speaking of the young, it seems AMC is attracting a new generation of enthusiasts.  Disgusted by the ridiculously high prices of other classics, millennials have taken to snapping up Hornets, Gremlins, Pacers, Spirits, Concords, and Eagles for only thousands (or even hundreds) of dollars on Craigslist.  Many of collectors are younger than the cars they drive, drawn to them simply because they are unique, yet affordable.  It seems the values AMC touted long ago are still holding true today.

Of course, nobody ever accused AMC owners of being normal, and the most enthusiastic of them are quite interesting.  I was introduced to a man who owned no less than 15 Gremlins.  I saw countless people with AMC hats, shirts, coats, and even tattoos.  I met a Pacer owner who drove all the way from North Carolina, bringing with him half the drivetrain of an Eagle in back of his car, who then proceeded to install woodgrain trim on the show field just hours before the judging started.
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The Pacer Wagon's wide cargo area is great for hauling parts.
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This woodgrain is actually just shelving paper from Big Lots.
Even though I don't own an AMC, I considered myself a pretty dedicated enthusiast.  After all, I'd made an entire documentary about the Pacer, and I certainly enjoyed learning about the company.  But it's easy to feel like an expert when 99% of the population knows nothing about AMC.  Here I learned there are people who memorize everything from the yearly changes in chrome door trim to the lines of every 1980s Eagle TV commercial.  I realized that even after all my research and reading, I was only a novice; an outsider.  Thankfully, these people took me in.

They shared their time and their stories with me.  They answered my dumb questions, and didn't insult me for asking.  They told me how much they enjoyed my YouTube videos, and invited me to come film their cars.  I was blown away by their genuine kindness and generosity.  By the end of the weekend, I felt like I was part of the AMC family.
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After driving down from Canada, this man decided to find the nearest tattoo parlor and get an Eagle logo on his arm.
I know there are a lot of great car clubs filled with a lot of great people, but there is something different about the AMO.   There's this incredible feeling of community, as if they're all part of this big inside joke that the rest of the car world doesn't understand.  AMC owners have nothing to prove.  They love their cars, they love each other, and they couldn't care less what others think.  To them, a '68 Javelin will always be better than a '68 Mustang, not because of any quantitative reason, but simply because it's different.  Like I said before, "All AMCs are rare."

Eventually, the show ended, cars were packed up, boxes of parts were stowed away, and the people sadly went their separate ways.  Driving home in my Subaru, I already could hardly wait to start making more AMC videos.  There is such a rich history here that is just begging to be told.  Meanwhile, I'm keeping an eye on Craigslist, too...
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Of Lard and Lincoln Town Cars...

8/3/2015

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As weird as it sounds, I find it highly relaxing to meander down the aisles of a grocery store, looking at all the different products, putting together recipes in my head, and considering all the foods I'd try if I had enough time and money.  Because of this, everybody hates to go grocery shopping with me.

During my grocery adventures the other day, I came across an item I didn't even think existed anymore—lard.
PictureImage Courtesy of Amazon.com
Having grown up during the great "fat panic" that connected the 20th and 21st century, the only time I ever saw lard was in old TV shows and church cookbooks.  I was taught that fat was evil, and animal fat, eviler.  As a child, all my toast, pancakes, and waffles were adorned with a liberal coating of margarine, because that was the least evil of fats.  Butter was something you kept in the freezer for use only in special occasions, like to impress good company or make Christmas cookies.

Undoubtedly, my family was one of millions that traded animal and dairy fat for hydrogenated vegetable oil, only to be distraught in the mid-2000s when science revealed that Crisco and Country Crock contained trans-fats, which actually made them unhealthier than what we traded them for.

While we returned to eating butter with slight trepidation (often differing to Smart Balance), our family never did get into lard.  I assumed that lard was simply something nobody bought anymore, which is why I was surprised to come across it on my grocery excursion.  I figured you had to special order it.

If you ask someone over 50 who is a serious home cook, they will tell you that lard works magic for foods like biscuits, fried chicken, pie crusts, and even scrambled eggs.  While the average family may not need it, there are enough dedicated people out there to keep lard on store shelves.

Lard enjoys an interesting niche.  Because the world was in such a hurry to run off and replace it, there are still many left behind who demand it.  Thus, companies can continue selling lard without investing a great deal in marketing or advertising, because they know there will always be a finite but dedicated base of customers.

It seems Ford stumbled across a similar lesson in the world of automobiles.  By not chasing after the latest trends in luxury cars, Ford cemented the Lincoln Town Car as the only luxury vehicle that stayed true to old values.  So while the rest of the world rushed off to buy margarine and Mercedes Benzes, Ford found those customers still dedicated to lard and Lincoln Town Cars.

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This is What I Do!

5/21/2015

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    I have a weird feeling toward self-promotion.  Like everybody, I certainly don't mind when people praise my work, but at the same time I feel awkward trumpeting my own abilities.  Yet, in the media business, you have to be able to advertise yourself so others know what you're actually capable of.

    That said, I've had my car videos on the back burner for the last few weeks because I've been updating my personal website and my demo reel.  Now that I've gotten these necessities out of the way, I'm hoping that I can return my attention to automotive pursuits.

    If you take to time watch the video, you'll see that a lot (but not all) of my work centers around cars.  You'll also see some hints at what videos we have coming out next.  Be sure to stay turned!
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Saying Goodbye to an Unexpected Friend

5/2/2015

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Anyone who thinks a car can't evoke emotion has clearly never watched any of Disney's Herbie movies.  But even when automobiles aren't sentient, we still get very attached to them.  Why is it that these rolling contraptions of steel, rubber, and glass have such a special place in our lives?

I knew my 2001 Subaru Forester would not last forever.  When I purchased it a few years ago in Ohio, it already had 198,000 miles, and the rust belt winters certainly hadn't done it any favors.  Even though Subarus are celebrated for their longevity, I could help feeling that this was a "transitional" car--something to help me get to the next stage of life where I could eventually afford a better car.  With that in mind, I didn't plan on getting attached.  The Forester wasn't my first car, and it wouldn't be the last.

This last year went hard on both of us.  A pothole nearly the width of the whole road managed to break one of the rear struts on my way to work.  Next, a  juvenile delinquent threw rock into my taillight, which I had to fix with packaging tape and red Sharpie.  Then, the alternator/power steering belt shredded itself, leaving me to coast into AutoZone and repair it in the parking lot.  This winter we got scratched up from some accidental off-roading, hurting my pride more than anything else.  While none of these incidents were fatal to the car, I couldn't ignore the signs of bigger troubles on the horizon.  I noticed that passing trucks seemed to take more effort than before, there were scabs of rust on the quarter panels, an occasional "check engine" light eventually became persistent, and an oil stain began to form in the spot where I usually parked...

Yet, the car continued to serve me gallantly.  Across bridges, through tunnels, up and down the hills of Pittsburgh we traveled together.  Even during a brutal winter with multiple days below zero, the engine started on the first try every morning.  On days where the heater couldn't overcome the cold, the heated seats made my commute bearable.

I think the struggle brought us together.  There was a feeling that we were here for each other.  The Forester took me wherever I needed to go, without relenting or complaining, and to return the favor, I always made sure it was gassed up and had enough oil. 
Like a pair of well worn shoes, the Forester's seats were comfortable to slide into after a long day at work.  Neither one of us required any special treatment; we were content.

This spring, it became obvious that our time together was limited.  The rust spots continued to grow, as did my concerns about passing the car passing its state inspection.  On the highway, the car's lackluster performance felt less like an inconvenience and more like a legitimate danger.  I finally decided I had to get a newer car.  I found one with some shopping around, and the day finally came to trade in the Forester.  On my way to and from work that day, my mind invariably filled with thoughts like, "This is the last time we'll drive to work together" and "this is the last time listen to this radio..."  I even turned on the heated seats one last time.  Saying goodbye turned out to be harder than I thought it would be.

Why is it that we become so attached to our automobiles?  Essentially, a car is just an appliance
--something we use every day to make our lives easier.  Yet, nobody writes songs about their refrigerator, or reminisces about how much they loved their first water heater.  Cars somehow have a way of connecting with us on a much deeper level.  Perhaps those Herbie movies aren't so much a fantasy as they are a commentary on our relationships with automobiles.

What new car I bought really doesn't matter.  To mention it here would distract from the Forester's story.  In time, I'm sure it will come to mean something different yet equally important to me.  I hope the Forester's new owner can appreciate all the things I came to love about it, and if this year's winter is anything like the last, that person is going to really appreciate the heated seats.

To the Forester, thanks for being an unexpected friend.  You were one of the best used cars a guy could ask for.

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Every Car Has a Story

4/24/2015

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Today I received a text message from a good friend and mentor of mine reminding me that a year ago today, we were in Hollywood together for the College Emmy Awards.  My documentary film, The Unfortunate History of the AMC Pacer, had been (to my disbelief) one of three national finalists.  What seems even harder to believe is that exactly a year before that, I was pitching my film to a panel of judges to see if they deemed it worthy for production.  Now, with a 3rd Place in the College Emmys, multiple airings on local PBS stations, and over 270,000 YouTube views as of this writing, I'm still amazed at how far this crazy little car has taken me.

One of the questions I was (and still am) asked most often was, "Why the Pacer?"  People assume that I must have some kind of affection or even fanaticism for it, to dedicate so much time and effort into documenting its history.  However, I always reply that the Pacer is not my favorite car.  In fact, it's not even in the Top 10 list of my favorite cars.  While I will admit that I have a soft spot in my heart for American Motors Corporation, I like Javelins, Eagles, Rebels, Ambassadors, and AMXs.  Before this film, the Pacer never meant much to me.

I chose to produce a film about the Pacer because it had a good story.

From its development to its demise, the Pacer's history is filled with ups and downs.  One moment, it's a wild success and the hottest new car on the market; the next moment, it's dragging down the whole company and threatening to bankrupt it.  Rather than relay the whole story here, I would encourage you to watch the film for yourself.

I remember searching for a car to use as the subject for my film, but wanting to pick something different.  Countless books, magazine articles, films, and TV shows, have been produced about the Mustang and the Corvette, but not very many people told stories about the Pacer.  In my opinion, the Pacer's history is just as interesting as that of those cars, and it deserved to be shared. Granted, the audience for American Muscle is significantly larger than the for Pacer fans, but the popularity of the film proved that people love a good story no matter what it is about.

There are so many people I have to thank for the success of  the film, and with their encouragement, I decided to parlay this style of movie-making into shorter videos for my AutoMoments YouTube channel.  Along the way, I've learned that every car has a story
--Imperials to Imprezas; Packards to Pacers.  There are so many great cars out there with even better stories, just waiting to be told.  The goal of AutoMoments is to share those stories in creative, imaginative ways.

Now when people ask my "Why the Pacer?" I reply, "It was too good of a story to not be told."


-Joe Ligo



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    Every car has a story.  AutoMoments is dedicated to telling these stories through beautiful video, insightful interviews, and humorous commentary.  Be sure to watch our webseries!

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