AUSTRALIA’S first-major American Motors Corporation car show will be held in Albury-Wodonga this month as part of the 22nd Chrysler’s on the Murray.
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Chrysler bought-out AMC in 1987 to acquire the Jeep brand, ceasing production of its cars like the Rambler, Javelin, Hornet, AMX, Classic and Gremlin.
“AMC were the last American independent car manufacturer and once it was were gone, that was it,” Albury Wodonga Chrysler Club’s Jason Chaplin said.
Mr Chaplin said while clubs have showed the AMC cars before, there has never been a major show dedicated to its cars before, and the club’s show on Sunday week would celebrate the 60th anniversary of the manufacturer’s demise in the biggest way possible.
“I wanted to lift the profile of these often-forgotten cars,” Mr Chaplin said.
“We would like to show the 10,000-plus spectators who come to Chryslers on the Murray each year what great cars America’s last independent car manufacturer made.”
He said a rare AMC Gremlin — as seen in the animated movie Cars 2 — would be on show. It’s the only one registered in Australia.
Jindera auto electrician Matt Lukins will drag his 1970 390cc Javelin — believed to be one of only 70 in the country — out of the shed.
The car first belonged to Mr Lukins’ mother-in-law.
He bought the car — which cost as much as a Mercedes Benz — in the 1970s for $5000 from a relative.
“It was a bit of a mess when we got it, but we got it because we heard it was a pretty rare car,” he said.
He spent $20,000 re-painting and re-trimming the car and has now promised it to his son, Harry, 10, in years to come.
Chryslers on the Murray will be held is at Gateway Lakes, off the Lincoln Causeway, from Friday to Sunday — March 14-16.
The show cars will cruise Dean Street from 5.45 to 6.15pm on the Saturday.