1960s AMC AMX was a blast to drive in the 1980s
The old proverb, like father, like son, surely smacked true in the Prchal household - with Mark inheriting his dad's penchant for AMC power.
After cruising around in a 1966 Rambler, Mark's father, Tom Prchal Sr., purchased a 1969 AMC AMX, proudly driving it back to the family's Arlington Heights home in 1970.
“As soon as I got in it as a little 5-year-old, it was love at first sight,” Mark recalls now. All of his motoring memories in dad's sporty ride were from riding in the back cargo area, chalked up to being the youngest of three brothers.
“They got to ride shotgun and I was always climbing in behind the seats (where there are no seats) and hanging on,” Mark says. “Winter was crazy. Dad would throw bags of salt in the trunk for traction, but we'd still be fishtailing down the street.”
The car left quite an impression on Mark, now of Hoffman Estates, and his older brother, Craig, who requested and received the car as a high school graduation present in 1979. Around that time, Mark purchased Craig's used 1969 Firebird, cruising to classes at Rolling Meadows High School.
Soon, Mark found he wanted back into the AMC family. A year of searching led him to a 1969 AMX in Prospect Heights, which he purchased in April 1981.
“It was in a barn and when the seller pulled off the tarp, I knew it was rare to find one that clean,” Mark says. He wasted no time piloting it to school for his junior and senior years.
More learning - involving his car's capabilities - came on the local streets with the AMX's hopped up 390-cubic-inch V-8 engine. Joined by Craig in his second AMX (this one identical to Mark's), the two AMC-driving brothers tore up area roads.
“We were known to cause some ruckus crisscrossing different parts of towns,” laughs Mark. “We'd get pulled over for each other's shenanigans as the cops couldn't tell us apart.”
Some of their speed contests were sanctioned and happened on occasion at Union Grove Dragway but the two could be found showing their cars, too. They even attended AMC Day in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the hometown of AMC and its factory. In 1982, Mark won the Most Original AMX award there.
“People would see the two cars go by and do a double take,” Mark says.
Another favorite hangout in the '80s for music-loving Mark was Poplar Creek amphitheater. “I'd be there three times a week during the summer, tailgating, as much as you can in an AMX, and listening to my favorite rock 'n' roll bands.”
Mark used the car during his first year at Harper College in Palatine before rolling it into grandma's garage for long-term storage. It remained there until he had garage space of his own. In 2010, he began a restoration, completing it in 2017.
“When I showed Dad the car, he thought it was beautiful,” Mark says. “Although he still needs to go for a ride.”
Matt Avery's first book, “COPO Camaro, Chevelle & Nova: Chevrolet's Ultimate Muscle Cars,” is available at Amazon.com. Contact him at auto@dailyherald.com.