LOST & FOUND

THE WHEREABOUTS OF THIS RARE 1969 AMC AMX WAS FOR DECADES A COMPLETE MYSTERY, UNTIL IT WAS PULLED IT OUT OF A SHED IN ADELAIDE

- GUY ALLEN

ORIGINAL CAR 1968 AMC AMX

OWNER JOHN & ROBYN ARNEL

LENGTH OF RESTORATION 3 YEARS

Serial restorer and collector John Arnel had long been a fan of the American Motor Corporation (AMC) Rambler line, having owned a Hornet in the past. However, he had never heard of an AMX until Robyn, his partner, alerted him to them. “Why don’t we get one of these?” was the question.

But there was a catch. Just 25 had been brought into the country: One right-hand drive that was used as a local development mule, and 24 as CKD (complete knock-down) kits for local conversion from left-hand drive. Import rules of the day said you could get it across the docks duty-free, if there was 30 per cent or greater local content.

So what the Arnels were chasing was one of just 24 cars that were by then over 50 years old. A local AMC enthusiast group had gone to the trouble of tracking them down. One had been repatriated to the USA, two went to New Zealand, while another was destroyed. There was, however, mystery surrounding car number 21 – where was it?

Knowing all this, Robyn was alerted to one up for sale in South Australia and immediately got on the phone. Apparently he sounded a little reluctant, though Robyn pointed out they were serious cash buyers. The ad for the car disappeared that night and the seller stopped answering his phone. A couple of texts were sent. Nothing.

Then, a couple of weeks down the track, the seller was on the phone. He told Robyn of all the hassle he’d faced with various optimists and would-be rip-off merchants. However, since she was the nicest of the people who called, she had first refusal. A sizeable deposit was quickly sent across.