UPDATE 12/27/2021: It looks like it will hopefully be a case of second time lucky for the owner of this 1969 AMC AMX. His previous auction listing on this classic roared to $40,100, and it appeared that the car had sold. However, it seems that the sale may have fallen through because the AMX is once again listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has rocketed to $9,600, but this figure remains short of the reserve. I have to say a big thank you to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this AMX for us.

12/15/2021: If a buyer wanted an American performance vehicle in 1969 that offered a V8 motor and two seats, their choices were pretty limited. It boiled down to did they want to own a Corvette or was a V8-equipped pickup the answer. However, there was a third alternative. AMC rolled out its iconic AMX, which met both of these requirements. Our feature car is on its second owner and has a genuine 25,000 miles on the clock. Its original owner placed it in storage, and it remained there for thirty-five years. It appears that the seller has returned this classic to a roadworthy state, but it needs a person willing to restore it to its former glory. Located in Vernon-Rockville, Connecticut, you will find the AMX listed for sale here on eBay.

When this AMX was shiny and new, it rolled off the production line with Frost White paint gracing its panels. The original owner must not have been a fan of this shade because he chose to repaint the car in its current Black. The quality of the work is not great, and the buyer will almost certainly decide to address this. With the engine bay and other areas still wearing the original color, it would seem a no-brainer that Frost White will be their color of choice. The panels look remarkably straight, with no evidence of physical damage or previous accident repairs. The gaps appear tight and consistent, which isn’t unusual in an AMC vehicle from this era. The lack of rust in this AMX is also good news for potential buyers. While there is light surface corrosion on some areas of the vehicle, there is no visible penetrating rust. Some exterior trim may require attention or replacement, but it is hard to be sure of some aspects due to the quality of the supplied photos. There have been no exterior modifications, and the glass looks to be in good condition. An initial assessment suggests that this should be a pretty easy restoration project.

We’ve reached the moment where we can lift the hood and survey the magnificence of the 390ci V8 that occupies this classic’s engine bay. It should be churning out 315hp, which finds its way to the Twin-Grip rear end via a three-speed “Shift Command” automatic transmission. The original owner’s decision to include power steering and power brakes would make light work of the driving experience. The drivetrain combination should allow this classic to storm the ¼ mile in 14.6 seconds. It seems that the car spent more than three decades in storage, which means that it didn’t accrue many miles on its odometer. The owner indicates that it shows 25,000 miles but doesn’t mention whether he holds verifying evidence. He has coaxed this AMC back to life and returned it to a roadworthy state. He supplies this YouTube video of the car running and driving, and that V8 sounds as sweet as a nut. He admits that the carburetor requires priming to get the car started, so it sounds like that aspect of the vehicle would benefit from a rebuild. Otherwise, this classic seems to need nothing mechanically.

This AMC’s interior sends potential buyers mixed messages. The original owner ordered it upholstered in black vinyl, and the seats and dash appear close to perfect. There is no evidence of physical damage or wear and no signs of cracking on the dash or pad. The console is in excellent condition, as is the carpet. The faux woodgrain trim exhibits no fading or lifting, but the wheel has a couple of cracks. I’m left scratching my head by the lack of door trims. It isn’t clear whether the seller has removed these for some reason or whether they are missing entirely. It seems that the seller is pretty approachable, so he may be willing to answer questions on that aspect of the car. It is to be hoped that the door trims are present because a replacement set will leave little change from $550. This interior isn’t fully loaded, but it does include an AM radio, a tilt wheel, and a gauge cluster with a factory tachometer.

If the buyer can confirm the odometer reading for this 1969 AMC AMX, that, combined with its overall physical condition, makes it a special car. It features a fantastic drivetrain combination that combines impressive performance levels with a relaxed driving experience. This is one time where Hagerty and current market trends seem to align on the question of potential value. If returned to a pristine state, this AMX should command a value of close to $40,000. If the hammer falls on the eBay listing for somewhere around the current bid price, that would leave plenty of money in the pot to perform the work to the highest standard. I hope that somebody does this because, after thirty-five years in storage, it deserves nothing less.