<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a75975a3ex1.txt
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 1
<TEXT>
<PAGE>   1

                                                                       EXHIBIT 1

CUSIP No. 030371108               SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                               ORIGINAL STATEMENT


Item 1. Security and Issuer.

        This statement relates to the common stock, $.10 par value per share
(the "Common Stock"), of American Vanguard Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "Company"), whose principal executive offices are located at 4100 East
Washington Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 91504.

Item 2. Identity and Background.

        Two persons are jointly filing this statement: Herbert A. Kraft and
Glenn A. Wintemute (sometimes referred to herein as the "Reporting Persons").
Certain information with respect to each of them follows:

1. (a) Herbert A. Kraft.

   (b) The business address of Mr. Kraft is 4100 East Washington Boulevard,
       Los Angeles, California 90023.

   (c) The present principal occupation of Mr. Kraft is that of Chairman of the
       Board and President of the Company. Mr. Kraft is also a director and 7.0%
       stockholder of the Company.

   (d) During the last five years and prior thereto, Mr. Kraft has not been
       convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or
       similar misdemeanors).

   (e) During the last five years and prior thereto, Mr. Kraft has not been a
       party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of
       competent jurisdiction which resulted in his becoming subject to a
       judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or
       prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state
       securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

   (f) Mr. Kraft is a citizen of the United States of America.

2. (a) Glenn A. Wintemute.

   (b) The business address of Mr. Wintemute is 4100 East Washington Boulevard,
       Los Angeles, California 90023.

   (c) The present principal occupation of Mr. Wintemute is that of President of
       Amvac Chemical Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Mr.
       Wintemute is also a director, vice president and 18.1% stockholder of the
       Company.


                                  Page 1 of 4

<PAGE>   2

CUSIP No. 030371108               SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   (d) During the last five years and prior thereto, Mr. Wintemute has not been
       convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or
       similar misdemeanors).

   (e) During the last five years and prior thereto, Mr. Wintemute has not been
       a party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of
       competent jurisdiction which resulted in his becoming subject to a
       judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or
       prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state
       securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

   (f) Mr. Wintemute is a citizen of the United States of America.

Item 3. Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

        The securities giving rise to the filing of this Schedule 13D were
previously acquired or received by the Reporting Persons from time to time for
investment purposes. Both of the Reporting Persons acquired their respective
shares of Common Stock of the Company in connection with stock reorganization
transactions in which formerly unaffiliated companies became subsidiaries of the
Company. Mr. Kraft received his shares in connection with the January 1969
reorganization whereby Captive Air and Manufacturers Mirror & Glass Co., Inc.,
became wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. Mr. Wintemute received his
shares in connection with the October 1971 reorganization whereby AMVAC Chemical
Corporation (formerly Duram Chemical Corporation) became a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company. Both Messrs. Kraft and Wintemute had previously
acquired their shares of the formerly unaffiliated companies for cash. Neither
of the Reporting Persons has previously filed either a Schedule 13D or a
Schedule 13G.

        With respect to the potential acquisitions described in Item 4, Messrs.
Kraft and Wintemute intend to use personal funds. Although no final decision has
been made as to the method of obtaining such funds, it is anticipated that
Messrs. Kraft and Wintemute will borrow the necessary funds from a commercial
bank.

Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.

        At the time of the acquisition of shares of the Common Stock by the
Reporting Persons there were no plans or proposals by or between the Reporting
Persons which would relate to or result in matters described in clauses (b)
through (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D.

        The Reporting Persons are both directors and executive officers of the
Company. At present, Messrs. Kraft and Wintemute beneficially own 7.0% and 18.1%
of the shares of Common Stock outstanding. They have decided to attempt to
acquire sufficient additional shares so that they will each individually own the
same number of shares and collectively they will own more than 50% of the issued
and outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company. Initially they
intend, to the extent permitted by law, to approach a small number of major
holders of shares and effect private purchases. They are also considering a
public tender to all existing stockholders of the Company. There are no other
plans or proposals described in the instructions to Item 4 by or between the
Reporting Persons. If successful in acquiring more than 50% of the issued and
outstanding securities, the Reporting Persons do not intend to materially change
the Company's management, present capitalization or dividend policy, the charter
documents or the Company's business or corporate structure.


                                  Page 2 of 4

<PAGE>   3

CUSIP No. 030371108               SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 5. Interest of Securities of the Issuer.

        The following information is furnished with respect to the Common Stock
of the Company beneficially owned by each of the Reporting Persons:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          Percentage of
                       Total Number        Outstanding       Number of       Number of       Number of        Number of
                        of Shares            Shares         Shares Sole    Shares Shared    Shares Sole     Shares Shared
                       Beneficially       Beneficially       Power to        Power to        Power of         Power of
Name                      Owned              Owned             Vote            Vote         Disposition      Disposition
----                   ------------       -------------     -----------    -------------    -----------      -----------
<S>                    <C>                <C>               <C>            <C>              <C>              <C>
Herbert A. Kraft         121,909(1)            7.0%           121,909           -0-           121,909            -0-
Glenn A. Wintemute       316,521(2)           18.1%           316,521           -0-           316,521            -0-
                         -------              ----            -------           ---           -------            ---
   Totals                438,430              25.1%           438,430           -0-           438,430            -0-
                         =======              ====            =======           ===           =======            ===
</TABLE>

        With the exception of the transaction referred to in Footnote (2) to the
foregoing table, neither of the Reporting Persons has effected a trade in the
Company's Common Stock within the sixty days prior to October 28, 1983.


-----------
(1) On September 28, 1979, Herbert A. Kraft acquired four separate options to
    purchase 79,879 shares currently held by four persons. The 79,879 shares
    subject to these options are not included in the 121,909 shares shown above
    as owned by Mr. Kraft. The right to exercise this option is dependent upon
    the prior disposition of shares of the Company by certain other shareholders
    or upon a public trading price exceeding $2.40 per share of Common Stock for
    a stated period of time. At November 1, 1983, the quoted public trading
    price of a share of Common Stock was $.50; however, there has been no
    trading in such shares for over three years.

(2) Does not include 62,545 shares to be returned to Mr. Wintemute in
    cancellation of a promissory note previously given to Mr. Wintemute by the
    stockholder as consideration for such shares.


                                  Page 3 of 4

<PAGE>   4

CUSIP No. 030371108               SCHEDULE 13D

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 6. Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships with Respect to
        the Securities of the Issuer.

        Messrs. Kraft and Wintemute have agreed to share all expenses associated
with acquiring shares of Common Stock of the Company. There are no other
contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships (legal or otherwise)
between the Reporting Persons or between such persons and any other person with
respect to any securities of the Company.

Item 7. Material to Be Filed as Exhibits.

        Inapplicable.

                                   SIGNATURES

        After reasonable inquiry and to the best knowledge and belief of each of
the undersigned, the undersigned each certify that the information set forth in
this statement with respect to such signatory is true, complete and correct.

             Name                                     Date of Execution
             ----                                     -----------------

  /s/  HERBERT A. KRAFT                               November 4, 1983
------------------------------
       Herbert A. Kraft



  /s/  GLENN A. WINTEMUTE                             November 4, 1983
------------------------------
       Glenn A. Wintemute


                                  Page 4 of 4


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
