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The Kenosha Cadillac: 1968 AMX Dragster

1968 AMC AMX Dragster

The seller of this AMX drag car doesn’t state whether it’s an old racer or if it’s a modern creation, but it does have “Track Bracket Champion” for 1984 and ’85 painted on the side of it, so I’m guessing it really is an old racer. It looks very ’70s, which is a good thing if you ask me! And I absolutely love the car’s nickname, the Kenosha Cadillac. The seller states that they are selling it so they can get a ’65 Rambler back on the road, which leaves me wondering what the story has to be behind it to make it worth selling this ready to run dragster. Apparently the 390 V8 engine and torque converter have been recently rebuilt, so I assume that means this car is ready to race. The seller also claims the car has run a 11:30 quarter mile, which seems pretty good for a $10,500 car. It would be hard to buy another car and build it to this level for less, so if you’re interested in owning this fast Kenosha Cadillac, you can find it here on eBay in Fresno, California. Special thanks to Charles H for this tip!

Comments

  1. Avatar randy

    It might be easier to sell if it were sreet legal. AMX, another car on my bucket list.

    Hopefully a racer will pick it up and put it back on the track.

    Like 0
  2. Avatar DENIS

    WAYKOOL…would cost twice that to build it-would make a fun racecar. I would own it if it was closer…I hope some AMC fan scoops it up…

    Like 1
  3. Avatar Rick

    Glad it’s not closer (I’m near seattle) or I’d have a hard time not buying it

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Mark E

    Edited listing says it was built in the early ’80s. I think it’s cool. I’m gonna buy it and drive it home! ^_^

    Like 0
    • Avatar Erik Wadelin

      Whomever bought this car,please tell me she’s fine.My father and I spent many an hour bringing her to life,KC means more to me than you could ever know.Please contact me. erikwadelin96@google.com. I can provide more history on her as well.Thanks,Erik Wadelin,Munchkin Jr.

      Like 1
  5. Avatar pontiactivist

    I love it. I would put it in some nostalgia class of racing and have a blast on the weekends.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar AMCFAN

    I see this alot. It amazing why someone would build a race car and eventhough the intent is to never drive it on the street again throw away the title. Why would it not and what happened to the title?

    I once bought an old IMSA Gremlin race car. While tracking its history I found the original owner/builder. The story he told me was they were looking for a car. A Pinto or Gremlin Seems they came upon a Gremlin first. It was parked on the street in Cleveland. So they just loaded it up. He said American Motors already had a racing team (Famous Amos) but did chip in a little sponsor money their way. Wonder what would have happened if they (AMC) would have known the car was hot? *Not implying the AMX was stolen just a funny story that happened to me*

    As for the AMX. The boy racer fun factor would last only a few passes or untill something broke. Then you realize that no matter how cool you can’t do anything else with it. That is it. It is between the lines in the ad. Why would anyone have a genuine AMX and want to sell it to build a 65 Rambler??

    Spend a little extra and get a car that you can drive on the street. A stock 390 will still pull the front wheels as well as any lightly modified AMC V8.
    Show and GO Baby!

    Like 0
  7. Avatar Howard A Member

    Remember folks, it’s just a toy. And WHAT a toy. I saw several cars like this at the AMC reunion in Kenosha. ( maybe even this one) A guy had a Pacer that he made into a drag racer. I said, “Wow, this isn’t your grandma’s Pacer”, and the guy said, actually it WAS his grandma’s Pacer, and he made it into a drag car. http://www.amcpacer.com/images/archives/kenosha-10-drag-rear.jpg
    BTW, does anybody remember the AMX commercial in the late ’60’s, ” It’s a great car, dad, I just made it better”, where the kid strips out the AMX and puts a supercharger on it ( much to his father’s dismay) Can’t find it anywhere.

    Like 0
  8. Avatar AMCFAN

    Howard, ALL our collector vehicles that are not or everyday drivers are toys if you think about it.

    Going to the strip everyone dreams of having a race car. Nothing wrong with that. In a perfect world depending where you live you can race year round. But in all likelyhood it will sit in the garage 8 months out of the year.

    Many old race cars are restored and put back on the street. With out a title that is not an option so you are limited to hauling it around on a trailer or simply parked to look at. Sad but true.

    BTW the AMX you mention in the commercial is really a Javelin. It was built by Hurst and went off the radar in 1970. Some say it was in West Virginia at some point in the early/mid ’70’s. Eddie Stakes has it pictured on his site. Several people say they have the commercial but so far no one has stepped.up As far as I am aware the commercial only lives in our (now old) minds.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Howard A Member

      Thanks AMCFAN, I think I remember 2 Javelin commercials like that. One that showed it driving down the road, and possibly another of the father trying to drive it. I’ve even talked with Patrick Foster, and even he was stumped. It was short lived, as I heard it promoted street racing and was pulled. I remember the father asking the kid, “what’s that sticking out of the hood”, and the kid says, “It’s the supercharger, adds a lot more hp”, and revs the motor. Then the father leans in the car to shut it off and says, “where’s the deep pile carpet and the bucket seats”? And the father begins to chase the kid around the car with the kid saying, “It’s a great car, I just made it better”.
      If you ever find the commercial, please let us know.

      Like 0
  9. Avatar Erik Wadelin

    Actually it pulled an 11:27 in Famoso with me driving it in 1986.It belonged to my father David “Munchkin”Wadelin

    Like 0

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