Charity AMX

It's great to hear that the body work is done! I have no business posting, as I have not contributed (hmmmmmm - do you take Paypal?).

Billd, you suggested that a section could be included here on the forum to chart the progress of the Charity AMX... it could be moderated by one of the project's leaders. I think the offer was a good one & I encourage the project coordinators to take advantage of it. You can't over-promote something like this.

THE IDEA: First paragraph from a message on the AMC-List:

Date: Sat, 30 Oct 1999 17:30:53 ‑0400
From: Frank Swygert <FARNA@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Free Hornet in Texas ‑‑ charity case???

Is there a lister in texas who'd be willing to participate in a relay to
retrieve the car? What I have in mind is using it as a group and AIM
project.


DONATIONS FOR:
From: ArcticBoy1@aol.com
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 1999 18:27:30 EST
Subject: FWD: From Tom Benvie-Ultimate Charity Car

Hi Listers,
Tom's email from his old BU.edu account has been closed (he believes), so I'm forwarding to the list.
<SNIP>
 I would ask that the proceeds go to a Children's Hospital or other
children's charity.

Date: Wed, 03 Nov 1999 18:56:52 -0500
From: Frank Swygert <FARNA@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Charity car (AMX???)

Tom, I'm sort of heading this up. I'm going to attempt to take you up on
the offer of the AMX. I doubt we'll get a 390, the 343 will have to be a
suitable sub in this case! I'm sending this to the list also. We SHOULD
have enough New Englanders to be able to get the 343 in and the car
moving on its own power from your place at least. That would be a good
start. Will see who all responds!! Our intent was to distribute proceeds
to 2-4 charities depending on the amount netted -- would 50% to a
children's charity satisfy your "requirement" for donating the car??
<snip>

From: tbenvie@mediaone.net
Date: Wed, 02 Jan 1980 01:23:35 ‑0500
Subject: Charity AMX

However, sorry if I am being unreasonable, but I really would like to
see all proceeds go to a children's charity.


Date: Fri, 05 Nov 1999 18:28:49 -0500
From: Frank Swygert <FARNA@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Charity AMX

The following was sent to Tom Benvie :

Considering the value of the donation Tom, an no one has sent any
objections, the entire amount will go to a Children's charity -- maybe
more than one. I am the overall instigator/coordinator, but will be
handed to different people along the way. Right now Gary Nielsen
(AMX1973401@aol.com) is the "step one" project coordinator. I've asked
everyone in the area who responded to get in touch with him first.
Actually, YOU are pretty much the coordinator, I didn't have your e-mail
address at first. Gary should be getting in touch with you about a
time/date to come get the car running if possible, and arrange for the
first move. That will pretty much be between you and he, and the other
helpers. I'd like for YOU to retain the title, that way you'll still
have some control over the car and where the money goes. Someone needs
to, and I see no sense in changing the title over until a new owner is
found. Unless you see this as a liability. We still have to get
something signed stating that you won't be held liable for anything
about the car. Will speak with Gary, or you can. Depends on when the car
needs to be moved and exactly where. Whos ever possesion it passes in
needs a "permission" slip from you to do any work or transportation for
the car. They should be listed as the only allowable driver, or a couple
names. Once it is under its own power we'll see about getting insurance
and tags. Title may have to pass to other hands then... depends on your
thoughts and how much liability you are willing to accept. We can
prevent any workers/drivers from holding you liable, but not third
parties.

Once the car is moved and what work you, Gary and crew want to do is
finished, I'll arrange for another coordinator and move.

Final disposition is still somewhat open. The car's next stop could be
as far as Penssylvania. This is more or less being handled one move at a
time. Most people are more enthusiastic once it actually starts moving
their way! I have an interested group in West Virginia, waiting to see
if car heads that way, and also asking for donations regardless.

Please let me know if you're interested (or your local club) in
sponsoring some work/parts/etc. so I can plan the next move!!

Any donations should be sent to:

FARNA Systems/Charity Car
Box 321
Warner Robins, GA

Current balance: $50
--
Frank Swygert -- Warner Robins, GA
Publisher, "American Independent Magazine" (AIM)
Supporting all AMC related vehicles, 1902-1987
http://www.javelinamx.com/AIM

---------------------

From: Frank Swygert <FARNA@worldnet.att.net>
Subject: Charity AMX Proceeds go to....
Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 21:41:00

After discussion with a couple of the main players in the Charity AMX deal, it was decided that it would be best to go ahead and designate the charities that will receive portions of the funds raised from the eventual sale. The main reason for this action was to assist in getting sponsors. Sponsors will be more easily swayed to donate products or services if they know for sure where the money is going. After careful thought, this is what was decided:

30% -- Boston Children's Hospital -- Tom Benvie donated the car, which got the ball rolling. His daughters have used this hospital, so we felt it was only fitting that part of the proceeds should go here. 35% -- St. Judes Children's Hospital 35% -- Shriners children's hospital organization
  These organizations were chosen because of their national outreach and free services to children in need. Rather than donate to a single Shriner supported hospital, we intend to donate to the central organization for use by the hospitals. This is if there is such an organization -- that is currently being researched. If a central contact point doesn't exist, we will chose one or two of the hospitals and donate to them.

------------------

From: tbenvie@mediaone.net (Thomas M. Benvie)
Subject: CHARITY AMX CHALLENGE
Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2000 09:08:00

I am somewhat disappointed with the response from the AMC community when it comes to the Charity AMX.  I really thought there would be vendors willing to donate some parts, club/list members would rise to the occasion and offset costs or find some parts themselves, etc.  There was more interest in the idea of doing a car when it was first proposed, but once the car was donated interest seems to have waned.  Some people have gone out of their way to get this project moving, such as Brian Seeley who brought the car all the way from Boston to Florida, and
Cliff Danley and group who are doing the body. But with 1,000 listmembers and about 4,000 combined membership of all the AMC clubs it is not as well received as I had hoped. There was a short article in Cars and Parts a few months ago, but what about the club newsletters, local newsletters, etc?  All Frank has in the "kitty" is $400, which won't go far. (And I don't mean to downplay the amount or the people who are involved-I just want to rekindle some interest in the project).

For those who don't know the whole story, let me take a minute to explain. Sometime about last September or so someone suggested the AMC clubs should find a car and "restore" it.  The car could travel to the various AMC clubs and each club could do a little work until it was done.  Frank Swygert and his AIM magazine became coordinator of the project, and suggestions for the right car were posted to the list.  I had a 70 AMX that I was working on, and decided I would donate the car to the project if the money would go to a Children's charity-a charity I am closely associated with as my daughter has a rare immune system problem and many other problems which means we spend a lot of time in  Children's Hospital in Boston-most recently Memorial Day weekend.
<snip>

------------------------

Yes, I was considering publicity for my little magazine. If anyone would like the entire text of these message, let me know and I'll e-mail the file.

As you can tell, there was lots of enthusiasm for the *idea*, not so much for the actual deed from the start -- after it got rolling.

There is no disputing that the car was fairly complete, or rather that there were at least enough parts to complete a decent driver quality AMX. By that I mean all the parts weren't 1970 correct, such as the 68-69 grille (a 70 has been acquired and repaired for it). I'll reiterate: the GROUP wanted to do "the best AMX we could do" -- against my recommendation that we build a good quality driver, something that would be a great base for a full resto. By that I meant not worry about year correct parts, not to "short-cut" repairs. More wanted the resto than driver, so that's how it went. There were, of course, some correct parts -- just not all.

Everything has been accomplished in steps. Go to http://www.mattsoldcars.com/charityamx/index.html and read the progress reports. The most thorough are the San Antonio reports. Body condition is all from Racine. The inner fender well on the passenger side and the door post were also pushed in -- the door post an inch. I had to read the reports again to see that! Once the reports are read you can easily see that the car got hung up at the body shop. During that time I did ask others if they wanted to take the car, but no one wanted to, so it stayed where work was getting done, even if it was very slow. The only other option was to pull it out and let it sit in storage somewhere until someone else was willing/able to take it. At that time Tom wasn't able to. The body shop wasn't charging for storage, and was working on it a little along. So it was a bad decision to leave it there?

It could have been turned over to Tom when he had a window of opportunity a couple years ago. I went over that, it was partially misunderstood. I did think it was a lot of work, no doubts as to Tom's abilities or quality of work. I've seen some of the cars he's done. This started as a COMMUNITY PROJECT, not MY project or TOM'S project.  I wanted the community to have more of a chance now that the major hurdle was cleared, and I didn't think Tom SHOULD have to do so much work. I did have my doubts as to whether he could do it in a short time, not that he wouldn't do his best. I think he'd have put in as many hours as it took in that short time, I just didn't think he should have to. I was thinking about Tom as well as the project.

Thomas,
It has been quite a few years, but as I recall, the interior was complete except for the seats being ripped and a few small trim items, and maybe the dashpad and/or center stack/radio area. It did need a cleaning from sitting/moving all the time, but the interior did not need much. EDIT - I also remember installing a set of reproduction seat backs. I vividly remember the Ram Air hood and ducting not only being complete, but also installed. I do remember some sort of problem with the grill/bumper as the car had the Javelin grill (either on it or just with it), but it left APP with the 70 AMX grill. I wire-wheeled and painted the grill brackets myself. I do remember that my father (Tony) had to rebuild the clutch/shift linkage to get it working properly, and that he found a complete set of 4 center caps and trim rings, all correct and very, very, very nice and those went with the car. I talked to him today on the phone briefly about it, but he's done some two dozen COMPLETE resto's since then, so his memory is foggy as well. I remember seeing the car again later in Atlanta, and we couldn't do anything about because we flew to the show instead of driving.

I am serious about offering my work on the car. If you want to sell it on the West Coast I can help facilitate that. It is an honest and open offer. If you do get the car back just let us know what is needed to finish it.


Edited by Michael Pinto - Mar/26/2008 at 1:31pm