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- The History of AMC Motorsports: Trans-Am, Quarter-Mile, NASCAR, Bonneville and More
AMC's racing history is chronicled in this volume recounting legendary stories of the cars and their drivers from the NASCAR circuit to the drag strip and beyond.
Veteran racing journalist Bob McClurg covers it all: Nash-American Motors' corporate history, the first years of NASCAR, the 1960s efforts that included Trans-Am and drag racing Super Stock programs, and the Craig Breedlove land speed record efforts when 106 world records were shattered and covered by Hot Rod magazine. And let's not forget the 1970s Trans-Am championships with Donohue and Penske, and finally the NASCAR success with Bobby Allison in the always-curious-looking Matador, which is also covered here.
When thinking of a manufacturer's racing involvement, AMC is not a manufacturer that immediately comes to mind. Yet even from the very beginning of American motorsports, Nash and Hudson, the companies that became AMC, had some serious commitment to motorsports.
Whether you are a hardcore racing history fan or a casual enthusiast of the AMC street offerings, The History of AMC Motorsports provides a unique showcase vital to every enthusiast's library.
Pages: 204
Size: 10 X 10 (inches)
Format: Hardback
Publisher: CarTech
ISBN: 9781613251775
Product Code: CT536
Acknowledgments
Foreword by Bob Swaim
Introduction
Chapter 1: Nash-American Motors Corporation History: A Brief Overview
Chapter 2: Powered by AMC
Chapter 3: The Grant Rambler Rebel SST
Chapter 4: R We in Trans-Am? U Bet We Am!
Chapter 5: Mr. and Mrs. Land Speed Record Holders
Chapter 6: The Javelin Speed Spectacular at Bonneville Contest
Chapter 7: Thunder in the Pipes!
Chapter 8: Hurst SC/Rambler: Red, White and Holy Moley!
Chapter 9: Super Sensational SS/AMX
Chapter 10: NASCAR Grand Touring, T.E.A.M. AMX and Thrill Shows
Chapter 11: The Penske and Woods Trans-Am Javelins
Chapter 12: NASCAR Grand National Stock Car Racing
Chapter 13: IMSA Gremlins, Pikes Peak and Running Flat Out
Chapter 14: Pro Stock Rocks!
Index
Reviews
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Interesting book.
Review by Daniel Lopez
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I'm a fan of racing cars. I know all of about them. But I didn't know the history of them. But then I found this book that answers all my questions. From 1897 rambler prototype up to 1975 or today. The outside of the book is hard and durable. I 100% recommend this to all cars fans people or even people learning about them.
(Posted on 2/27/2016) -
Don't hesitate-read this!
Review by Stacy
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This is not the first Car Tech book I've read and it matches the high standards of others with superb photos on almost every page. Throughout the book there are "A Conversation with...." which are revealing interviews with the author. As usual from Car Tech books, there are specification pages and the content is comprehensive starting in 1897 to the present. This would be a wonderful gift book for NASCAR fans.
(Posted on 2/24/2016) -
Informative and entertaining
Review by Michael
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Bob McClurg is a racing journalist that has taken on the task of researching and sharing with us the history of AMC Motorsports. We have had books that cover some car models and even some famous racing teams but this is the first history I have read of Nash-American Motors corporate history. I love that we start at the beginning with Nash and how these cars participated in events. AMC broke over 100 world records and had a strong presence at the beginning of NASCAR, Trans-Am, Drag racing, Bonneville, etc. When you read this history you will understand why the AMC era muscle car sell for a premium today.
(Posted on 2/22/2016) -
Grant Rambler Rebel SST Co-Creator
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(Posted on 2/28/2016)"I was overwhelmed by the attractiveness of the cover and the magnitude of the work. All I can say is that the author has done a magnificent job and captured the essence of the American motors program and acknowledged the individuals and the work that they accomplished on behalf of that program."
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Old Cars Weekly News & Marketplace
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(Posted on 4/24/2016)"Any fan of AMC history, performance car history and the legends behind them will enjoy the ride with McClurg behind the controls."
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Hemmings Muscle Machines
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(Posted on 4/25/2016)"Without any question, this is a definitive work on the unexpectedly rich history of America's last automotive independent."
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Hemmings Classic Car
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(Posted on 5/11/2016)"... an interesting history of this overlooked, and successful, American brand."
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Area Auto Racing News
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(Posted on 5/18/2016)The History of AMC Motorsports takes a thorough look at how a comparatively small manufacturer got fully-involved in a variety of motorsports disciplines and in that process its cars and drivers turned more than a few disbelieving heads. So, if a
Bob McClurg

Veteran automotive journalist Bob McClurg grew up in 1950s Southern California, where he was surrounded (and heavily influenced) by early hot rod culture. McClurg's photojournalism career spans 40 years, writing and shooting for the most influential magazines as well as authoring books for CarTech. His previous titles include Diggers, Funnies, Gassers and Altereds; Yenko; Fire, Nitro, Rubber and Smoke; How to Build Supercharged and Turbocharged Small Block Fords; How to Install and Tune Nitrous Oxide Systems, The Tasca Ford Legacy, and more.
More titles by this author
- How to Build Supercharged & Turbocharged Small-Block Fords (Digital)
- How to Build Supercharged & Turbocharged Small-Block Fords
- How to Install and Tune Nitrous Oxide Systems (Digital)
- How to Install and Tune Nitrous Oxide Systems
- The History of AMC Motorsports: Trans-Am, Drag, NASCAR, Land Speed and Off-Road Racing (Digital)