Long story short, my grandparents aren't getting by so well these days financially and health wise, and as a result Gramps is selling his 1969 AMX race car. I am selling my Z06 on BaT and will be able to buy it, but it makes no sense whatsoever outside of the family nostalgia. Gramps has owned this one since the late 90's and it's been one of his favorites. It's his last AMX and he wants to see it stay in the family. I have no way of towing it and a mostly-tube frame Super Gas style car isn't exactly useful to me, but I want to both help my grandparents and not let this one get away like all of his others.
Here is the car and Grampy:
This is the car that I did my first wheelie in:
Is this AMX in South Florida and you are in South Washington State?
I'll estimate at 3,300 miles. If the car runs enough to drive onto a trailer, you might get the car shipped for 50 cents per mile or $1650. If it doesn't run the price goes up. That is an open carrier. Enclosed is more like $1 per mile.
John Welsh said:
I'll estimate at 3,300 miles. If the car runs enough to drive onto a trailer, you might get the car shipped for 50 cents per mile or $1650. If it doesn't run the price goes up. That is an open carrier. Enclosed is more like $1 per mile.
There's zero financial sense in this. Also, I can mooch a garage space out of somebody in my family in Florida indefinitely if needed.
What, no fly and drive!?!
Looks like a cool car!
dj06482 (Forum Supporter) said:
What, no fly and drive!?!
Looks like a cool car!
2-speed powerglide and 4-something gearset...
Ideally I would manual swap it, change the gears, and get it street driving again. It's street legal with all the lights and has a vin and title.
I'd almost be tempted to drive it out to you for a plane ticket and gas.
In reply to Javelin (Forum Supporter) :
Can you afford to park the money for a while for nostalgia's sake?
Do you have somewhere to keep it? Inside?
If yes, yes, and yes then go for it. You can enjoy it for a while and get your money back later.
I don't think this is a struggle for you. I think you know what you want...
Don't be so practical. Let yourself enjoy this a bit. For absolutely no reason at all.
In reply to SVreX (Forum Supporter) :
Yes, yes, and yes. The Z06 is getting listed on BaT as we speak and the AMX is definitely less than reserve on the Vette.
Appleseed said:
I'd almost be tempted to drive it out to you for a plane ticket and gas.
It's got like a 3.5 gallon fuel cell that it empties doing 1/4 mile, so you won't get very far...
You already know the answer. All I can say is don't let it get away. I let dads car get away many years ago and then chased it for 20 years. I finally got it back but it was in sad shape. Dad did not live long enough to get to see it fixed up and returned to him.
I'm in with the others. Nostalgia is hard to put a price tag on. And throw practical out with family, unless your kids would go hungry over it! 
Besides the 11 second pass is worth a lot as well
only car I ever drove that would jump a coke bottle (on the one side only) was a bit slower. 12.02 @121. Only reason it would lift that much was due to way to much flex. Great vid.
Helping gramps out is great, and you mentioned storing with family in FL. Win for all!
And , although the super gas tube car ain't useful to ya, I kinda get the feeling you are sorta into Javelins, a little bit. 
Nostalgia aside.. How much could he get for that car IF there was a market for it? If the point is helping him out financially, do you let "your" drag car stay at his place?
You said it still has a title and can be made street legal; seems like that alone makes it much more practical to keep. At least to me, keeping it for nostalgia doesn't mean also keeping it identical to the way it sits now, especially if it means you would drive it more.
You can always take it on and sell it later if things don't work out. You'll probably never be able to get it back again if you pass on it and then change your mind.
In reply to gearheadE30 :
Put in a bigger fuel cell, 3:55 gears and an overdrive trans and cruise forever. If I had anyway to drive Grandpa's old cars, or fly his old J-3 Cub I would be happy beyond measure.
Unless some fool offered me $100,000. Because Grandpa would be yelling at me to pay off the house and be debt free.
docwyte
PowerDork
4/20/21 8:43 a.m.
In reply to John Welsh :
Gonna be more than that to ship it. I'm getting quoted $1400 for an open trailer transport from Boston to Denver
OHSCrifle said:
Nostalgia aside.. How much could he get for that car IF there was a market for it? If the point is helping him out financially, do you let "your" drag car stay at his place?
No idea honestly. The used drag car that's also an AMC market isn't exactly large. He is also trying to move and actively wants me to have his car. None of his other cars have stayed in the family; his 68 he bought new and the pace car are in museums, the Super Stock is in Finland, and the funny car is in Ohio. All the other cars are lost to the sands of time.
Yeah, this is a no brainer in my opinion. There's no way I'd let that car go anywhere else than to me. Even if you own it for several years until he's finished his laps here, it will make you both happy. You can always place it in the right collection down the road if you decide to.
Obviously you come from a family that loves a fast quarter mile. Have you ever driven this rocket, or one of his others?
Tom1200
SuperDork
4/20/21 10:43 a.m.
My .02
Buy the car, install a bigger fuel cell, swap out the drive train and or detune the current motor to make it streetable.
As for shipping......................just find the best deal you can and be done with it. It's a one time cost. Storing it on the other side of the country is guaranteed to turn into a protracted nightmare.
After that take it to the Friday night drags and Cars & Coffee.
Another vote for no brainer here.
Pro-street aint dead.
berkeleying DO IT.
You probably won't regret it. Even if you do, you won't.
