Amt Builds A Model CarAMT Corp. was a major player in the model car biz. They had recently started their AMT Speed and Custom division to build full-size dream cars for the movie and car show industries. It was run by famed auto stylist Gene Winfield, who later built cars for Blade Runner, The Last Starfighter, and dozens of other movies. Many of their creations ended up in model form as well. AMT decided the CRV might be a worthwhile project for their Speed and Custom guys. The idea was to rename it the Piranha and license the project from Marbon who would supply the Cycolac-molded bodies with the fiberglass chassis, having a steel subframe and honeycomb aluminum reinforcements.
The AMT version had an 89-inch wheelbase, an inch shorter than the first CRV prototypes. Weight was a svelte 1,400 lbs and the height was only 41 inches. Ideally they hoped to sell 50 of the Corvair-based sports cars per year. They were to have new 140 hp or 180 hp (turbocharged) Corvair engines, fabricated tubular A-arm suspension, and Girling disc brakes at all corners. Winfield recalls the spindles were off a Sunbeam Tiger, with Chrysler bearings and Koni coilover shocks. A great deal of research was done into making the Piranha a viable street and track machine.
However, the cost of tooling up proved to be quite high, and coupled with a weak economy and falling profits, it caused AMT to rethink the project. The decision was then made to offer the Piranha in kit form. The kit would include everything to complete the car (including a new 140hp Corvair engine and transaxle) for $3,677. A "Starter Kit" was to sell for $1,879.96, less running gear, and a hardtop was optional.
In order to publicize the venture, Winfield built up a special version of the Piranha to star in the popular television spy series, "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." It was based on a chassis owned by Marbon, but the special body was customized by Winfield with a longer tail and elongated top. Loaded down with missile launchers and enough spyware to make James Bond's Aston turn its tail and run, the Piranha looked set for stardom.
However, it was not popular with the actors since getting in and out of the gullwing doors was awkward when they were in a hurry to escape a hail of imaginary bullets (laser-guided robot bats, whatever). The car was only used in a few episodes, including in the spin-off series "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.," where agent Stephanie Powers wrestled with navigating the vehicle's wide sills in a miniskirt. When the car was returned to AMT, Winfield removed the U.N.C.L.E. body and replaced it with a standard Piranha body before sending the chassis back to Marbon. He then installed the U.N.C.L.E. body on an AMT chassis and sold it.
Other publicity ventures include a Piranha dragster, using only the Cycolac body perched on a conventional dragster chassis. Powered by a 1,400hp Chrysler Hemi, it cranked through the quarter-mile in 8.88 seconds at 182.64 mph. The Piranha dragster competed in match and exhibition races with some success, but it was more a publicity exercise than a serious racing effort.
Another road racing car was also built and driven by experienced racer Dick Carbajal in SCCA events. It was similar to the first race car (CRV-II). It was very quick, and Winfield recalls trying the standard four carburetors and twin three-barrel Webers (standard Porsche 911 equipment) before settling on a single four-barrel carb on a fabricated intake manifold. He says the car would pull the front wheels off the ground coming off of a corner! This car was featured in some of AMT's promotional material.