What's Up with that Car? #1 - Dow Smith Resin-Body AMX / Twist Test

[Otto Puzzell]

What's the story?

Please, respond below and share your knowledge what this is, who built it, at what's happening to it.

If you haven't registered yet, you need to do so in order to reply with your answer.  You can do so by clicking here.

Also, please be sure to check out our other puzzles, and, please post a puzzle of your own if you'd like - the more, the merrier.

Thanks!

[HEMI 426]

'65 AMC AMX concept car, one of most interesting concept vehicles that came out that year. In '68 AMX become a reality, very similar to the concept. This car was part of 4 interesting concept that came from AMC that year. AMC AMX concept car is made by Vignale and it was finished in 78 days. First, car didn't had an engine, but later it got 290 V8 from AMC engine line up...

[Otto Puzzell]

Good guess, but wrong.

[HEMI 426]

what's is wrong with my answer???

[vdp]

HEMI told you what car it was and I can tell what they are doing with it.

I think they are measuring torsional stiffness of the car. The have supported ther rear axle from the wheel hubs securely so there is no vertical movement. The front wheelhubs have been attached to a beam -  if you support the center of the beam and pull one end downward, you twist the body of the car. The numerous gauges are for measuring the vertical movement of different poinst of the body.

Am I good for a half of a point?

[Otto Puzzell]

what's is wrong with my answer???

That's the "pushmobile" AMX, not the Vignale-built example. The puzzle car is neither of those.

[Otto Puzzell]

I think they are measuring torsional stiffness of the car.

That is what they are doing to this body.

[Otto Puzzell]

Experts?

[Otto Puzzell]

Pros?

[Otto Puzzell]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxuqUNKqj6E

[Otto Puzzell]

Off to the boneyard with this one.

[Otto Puzzell]

Easily Google-able, using the info provided so far.

[Carnut]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxuqUNKqj6E

I have a CD of theirs!
I thought I was the only bloke who'd ever heard of them..

[streamliner]

Is it the AMX-1, originally a 6-cylinder 1965 Rambler American?

[Otto Puzzell]

Nope.

The builder though this one was more prone to deterioration through shaking than a run-of-the-mill AMX

[Otto Puzzell]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxuqUNKqj6E

I have a CD of theirs!
I thought I was the only bloke who'd ever heard of them..

The were quite popular in the US, later on. Hugely popular in their native Canada, almost from the get-go. Their early stuff is some of their best, IMO. 

I really dig this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwAzXJC1wwA

[streamliner]

So this one was metal-bodied, not fiberglass?

Is it currently being "refreshed" after sitting for a long time?

[Otto Puzzell]

Run-of-the-mill AMX's were fiberglass?

[streamliner]

Posted by: Otto Puzzell 

Run-of-the-mill AMX's were fiberglass? 

I think the run-of-the-mill Vignale's were fiberglass (except the second-built  AMX-1)...

Then, could this be one of the two or three Dow Smith Inc.'s resin AMX-2 body proposals for fiberglass bodywork, undergoing torsional twist testing for use on the production automobile (which it failed)?   

[Otto Puzzell]

Run of the mill Vignale's eh?

Well, you took the long way 'round, but you've answered the question posed at the beginning of this puzzle.