American Motors introduced two new cars in 1968: the Javelin, to compete in the “pony car” market, and the AMX, a GT-style automobile whose closest rival was the Chevy Corvette. Underneath, they were much the same car, with 12 inches cut out of the wheelbase to create the AMX. This 1969 edition was tucked away in a barn for several years and has recently been nursed back to life. Currently calling Springfield, Missouri home, this nice daily driver is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $11,100. But the seller has set a reserve north of there.
Even by AMC standards, the AMX was not a huge seller at 19,134 copies across its first three model years. So, when the Javelin was restyled for 1971, the AMX was discontinued as a standalone model and became a performance option on the 4-seat Mustang competitor. Production was at its highest in 1969 at 8,293 copies; of those 843 had the 343 cubic inch V8 and 4-speed manual transmission, like the seller’s car left the factory with.
We’re told that this Javelin lived in a barn before being brought back to life. The original 343 engine has been replaced by a 360, an AMC engine that didn’t materialize until 1970. We don’t know if the seller swapped the motors or if this was done some time ago. But the 360 has been treated to a mild up upgrade in the camshaft department along with an aluminum intake manifold. It also has the Go Pack option from ’69 and a Ford nine-inch rear end. The brakes are new including the lines and power booster.
The body and red paint look nice for a storage-find with the only notable rust being in the rear quarter panels. The floorboards and trunk are solid, and the photos provided from on a lift show a sound chassis. We’re told it runs and drives, but a little more TLC is needed (we’re not sure what the seller means). The battery and fuel pump have been relocated to the trunk area and we don’t know why since no engine compartment photos are offered.
For being a 53-year-old car, the vinyl bucket set interior looks tidy and the AMX comes with an aftermarket sound system with a cassette tape player (which works). If you’d like to see and hear a video of the car in action, the seller says to message him/her for some links. According to Hagerty, a ’69 AMX in Good Condition is an $18,000 car, and – with a little work – getting it to Excellent might move it to $26,000. What would be your top dollar for this 2-seat AMC product?
An aftermarket fuel pump right next to the battery in the trunk! Looks like a recipe for what happened to the melted Mustang. What could go wrong!
A bit of fuel
A bit of spark
Kaboom
Bit of everything here
TLC = Truck Load of Cash
Wrong interior. Wrong stripe. Needs quarters. Lets just make this easier…total restoration needed.
The writer questions why the battery and fuel pump were moved to the trunk, this is a common hot rod trick. If you’re using an electric fuel pump, it’s best to have it near the gas tank, though it’s more common to mount it to the frame or underbody. Mounting the battery in the trunk helps with weight transfer. Moving it removes weight from the front end, and places it where it can help traction, in the rear.
The writer refers to this AMX as “this Javelin”. While it’s a minor point, it is not a Javelin, it’s an AMX. Until it became a performance sub model of the Javelin in 1971, the AMX was a separate model. The 68-70 AMX’s wore no Javelin badging, and even had their own sales brochure in 68. The AMX was a unique and interesting car, and it doesn’t do it justice to mislabel it.
$18,000 car, and – with a little work – getting it to Excellent might move it to $26,000. A little elbow grease and a vacuum cleaner to start with.
It now says AMX, no Javelin. No photos of the engine from the top?
great write up cept for “this javilin”.
Also great car, Hate fish eye pic tho.
C a lill bondo where L rear 1/4 joins bumper. I’d buy.
These have caught my eye LATE (last 5 yrs)..
Can anybody tell me where the 12” were “cut” from the frame to create the AMX frame?
Someone’s about to win a solid little 4-speed AMX for less than $13k! Granted it’s not the original engine but it does run, drive and doesn’t look bad as it is. It’s at $12,050 with 20 minutes to go, think I’ll keep the tab open and watch the last second bidders!
Yes Sold at $12,050!!
Helluva deal!
AMX & Javelin do not have a frame. AMC did not hire “Hacksaw” Reynolds to cut a Javelin somewhere behind the driver’s seat and in front of the rear bulkhead. iirc, the roof panel is slightly different and some of the floor panels are a bit different. The only body parts that are exactly the same are: fenders, doors & glass, windshield & surround, bumpers, cowl, backlight glass, deck lid; hoods are also the same size but with different detail. I can not recall seeing a Javelin that had been shortened to the 97 inch wheelbase of an AMX.