AMT Model Phoenix Prototype Shop

If you don’t know, AMT Model co. had a “prototype shop” here in Phoenix in the ’60s. They hired such folks as Gene Winfield, Sam Foose, Bill Hines and others to do whatever needed to be done. Some of it was building prototype vehicles, which would later become model kits, and others were completely over the top stuff, like the ’31 Chevy Roadster/’68 Camaro prop for the Dean Martin show on T.V.

I actually remember seeing this when I was a kid on T.V. as a repeat. The number started with a bunch of dancing girls dancing to a modern song, Dean Martin driving the Camaro on stage singing to the song, the dancers dancing around and past the Camaro, and removing quick release panels of the Camaro, exposing the ’31 Chevy Roadster. The music’s tempo changed, Dean’s voice style changed, and suddenly it was a thirties hot jazz type number… weird, but impressive, and it all was made possible here in Phoenix, about three miles from my place.

Cool part? This is one of the VERY few corners in this city, that hasn’t been razed and re-developed. The AMT building is still there, the white slats are still in the chain link fence, and the small bungalow court is still there, going strong. 13th street and Washington, if you are local and interested. H/T>