Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

Mike Pearce recently brought back the Petes Patriot to Cruise Weekend in Kearney Raceway Park this past weekend. He was on his way from Maryland to L.A to attend the Southern California AMC club on July 28th and 29th. Following the trip to L.A. he will be bringing it back to Kearney, NE to put it into the new museum at Cabela`s, they now have a Classic Car Collection. It will be on display for one year there.

Along with the Petes Patriot will be the "Steak Maker" which Steve Mercer owns. If my notes are correct it was the original `68 Petes Patriot.

Below is a page put together from the original pictures I took when Mike first brought it to Kearney in 2002, which he had just finished restoring. On that day the original club members were on hand, including Gene Peterson, and Lou Downing, father of Rob Downing the Co-Crew Chief for Greg Anderson.

http://www.krpi.com/Results/mikepearce/petespatriot.htm

I also have a video shot that weekend of it going down the track.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9gLE...ature=youtu.be

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

GULP! That famous car now has an automatic trans in it! Blasphemy!

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

x2

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

which Cabelas?
there's a bunch of 'em...

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

X3

they COULD have hollerd if they needed somebody to drive a stick...

i GUESS i could have been persuaded to go back to nebraska for that...;)

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

At Kearney, NE

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

I was in Omaha when Lou Downing broke the drivers seat in Pete's Patriot on the launch. He ended up where the rear seat would have been but didn't loose control and brought it back to the pits safely. When he got out of the car he said "well, I found a new way to lose a race"..............Just like it was yesterday............man, I am getting old. LOL

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

i figgered (as they're from that area),thanks, next time i'm back that way i'll have to stop.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

That happened a bunch on the old AMC full recliner seats!
I pinned the recliner handle on my '69 AMX street car after I ended up layind down after yanling 2nd!

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

that reminds me....

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

I was at Kearney a couple years ago when they had the car there making some passes with it, on 7 cylinders. Can't remember what was wrong with it, but they had the pushrods out on one hole. Still went low 10's IIRC.

The Cabela's is right west of the track.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

when I bought my SS car in mid 70's the owners of that car had replaced the AMC drive train with a 440 and a 727. I bought some of their AMC parts including some heads and a SS hood scoop. That scoop is now on Barry Allens' SS/B car.

Does that car now have an AMC engine?

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

It does have an AMC engine. Hopefully it's a proper 390. That car is an icon in Super Stock drag racing; not just amoungst the AMC crowd. I can't count how many times I've had my AMX at an NHRA race and had somebody telling me all about witnessing the Pete's Patriot AMX in action. That AMX won a lot of races. I'm not positive but I believe it was the D5 champion one year.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

This is one of the two Cras that warped me forever and made me throw every cent and minute i had a race cars,( the other one was the Tension 57 Chevy out of Omaha). I'm curious ,on the original car does anyone know what the factory color was, I mean was it white and they added the red and blue or was it all repainted.?

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

When I saw it there was a cross ram 390 in it.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

I have a picture somwhere with them all at the Hurst facility. They were all white.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

Hurst sent them out all white or R/W/B. No other color combo's.
Engine was a 390 with factory crank & rods and domed Jahns pistons. Crane ported the heads, Edelbrock built the X-Ram & Holley supplied a pair of 585 CFM carbs on top. I think Jardine supplied the headers. That was the engine package. Unfortunately, a stock passenger car cam was also part of the deal.
T-10 trans with 2.88 low gear, hurst shifter and Lakewood bell housing in the middle. Hurst put the battery in the trunk and made their own version of Chrysler SS rear leaf springs. One piece axles from Henry's were in the AMC Dana rear. The factory over ride bar was also still attached (I think that's what it's called; bar over the leaf springs attached to the frame at the front and a mount over the axle tube). Rear wheel wells were radiused for slicks and they came with Cragar SS wheels.
A pretty simple package and tens were a roller cam and engine blueprint away. Of course I'm reciting the history books as I was only 9 when they were new. Guys like Mike Withers here and Tom Goldman were there!
Had AMC done more to the car like Ford & Chrysler did at the time, like fiberglass parts and thin glass, they would probably be even more valuable today. Restored ones (only 53 made) seem to fetch $125K or more. Pete's Patriot WITH A 4-SPEED! :) should be a gold mine if sold!

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

From the picture I have of the cars setting in the Hurst facility I also believe they were all white.

I was in stands setting near the finish line the year Lou was runnerup at Indy in super stock. It sounded to me like he clicked it off and mancini nipped him in the lights. At that time you raced off the record not an index and if you ran under in finals that became the new record. earlier at that same race he defeated the chrysler sponsored team car of Tritack and morgan who had put a four speed in thier car just to take on the AMX's. I was with an all chrysler crowd so I had great fun jagging them that weekend.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

AMC sent all 53 cars to Hurst in white. It was Hurst who painted the cars R/W/B if the customer wanted them that way. From what I've read, Hurst paint quality (and even build quality) was less than stellar. These cars were built as quickly as possible and sent on their way. A friend of mine has the 3rd car built.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

Mine is # 20 it was delivered to Bill Swad Motors in Columbus Ohio. I bought it from Ray Whinery who lived in Lisbon Ohio. It may be the only one of the original cars being raced today.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

[great response on the petes patriot car. i have the die cast model of that amx and would like to get the autograph from lou downing on that. if you have any info, would like to contact him. thanks melsf

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

Yes, I agree on the response. Have learned alot more about this car and history of the AMX other than what I learned talking to Mike Pearce.

I also have the die cast model and have had it signed by Gene Peterson, Lou and Mike. If you go to any national events you can find Lou at Greg Andersons Pro Stock pit area, his son is the co-crew chief.

Tim

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

Well, it's for sale on Racing Junk. Take your heart pill before you check the price.

Re: Petes Patriot `69 AMX
 

Heres a link to the one on Racing Junk. This is not the Petes Patriot in this thread. The one for sale in Ohio was listed around 2007 or so for $1 million so I guess this price is a bargain.



http://www.racingjunk.com/Nostalgia/...-RACE-CAR.html