1968 was a great year to visit your AMC dealership if you liked sporty cars, as the brand introduced a pair of fun offerings including the Javelin, a hardtop aimed toward the popular pony car segment. The other was the Javelin-based AMX, but this one was about a foot shorter and a two-seater, making it somewhat competitive with the Chevrolet Corvette, which had begun manufacturing the first C3 model this same year. Although it could stand some attention, this 1968 AMC AMX coupe is a running and driving example, so it might be a worthy contender for those seeking some late-sixties American Motors Corporation muscle in their garage.
We don’t find out for sure, but I’m guessing it’s been quite some time since the AMX has been regularly driven. The wheels and tires are non-matching, and although the tread looks OK on the two we get close-ups of, the seller mentions they are old and probably should be replaced. The same thing is stated regarding the suspension, but fortunately, the one photo we get to see taken from down below shows some fairly solid-looking components from the front side.
For fans of patina, you’re in luck, as the paint has that baked-on appearance that takes years of sitting in the sun to achieve. As an added bonus, the seller also mentions that there are plenty of nicks, dings, scratches, and even a few lightly corroded areas to enhance the faded finish. Depending on the next owner’s mindset, it might be entertaining to just leave the outside as-is for a while, but the body also seems like a decent candidate to begin a restoration on at any time.
The interior looks like it’s been in a mostly warm environment most of its life as well, as the carpet appears brittle and there are a couple of good-sized cracks in the steering wheel, although it is nice to find that this one’s equipped with a tilt column. The center area of the dash above the console looks lonely, but one cool item can be found here and that’s a small tag reading AMX 04880, signifying the production sequence number from this year’s run.
One feature that could help this one stand out in the marketplace is the 390 engine, the largest V8 you could get under the hood here, which the seller says starts easily and runs well. It’s also got the Shift-Command 3-speed automatic transmission, with its operation claimed to be buttery smooth. This 1968 AMC AMX is located in Redwood City, California, and can be spotted here on eBay, where bidding has reached $7,100 so far, still shy of the reserve. It can also be yours today for the buy-it-now price of $18,880. Is this one better to go ahead and restore soon, or just enjoy driving around for a few seasons first?
Torquey AMC again on Barnfinds.
Loose write-up by the seller.
315hp/425lb/ft from these sweet 390s.
3222lbs curb weight. They must’ve really moved out 🏁
This was my main ride in the 1970s. I owned The infamous Blue Max out of San Jose . I had the go-package made famous by Mark Donohue’s AMX-Javelin Trans Am car. 390ci Block , mine was built in Cleveland with FORD engine parts. No back seat, you could crazy with the space for a modern day speaker system. The red enterior , I’ve never seen before. Most like mine were black , my seats were leather. Its a miracle the plasmmtic shift knob is still there. Dark Moon Blue is original, buy it cheap your not going to make a fortune most of these are simply junkyard dogs, I beat a few hot vettes in my day . stock 325hp, fast as crap, would bury Cudas alive. FYI The original concept AMX was a Italian designed mid engine. Javelin parts don’t work, I know, I tried! jv smashpalace
The engine used a Ford carb which was a hunk of junk for both AMC and Ford. Useless for racing then. More is known about rejetting them now to make them more than a paperweight. Below that were the same pushrods and lifters used by Ford. As far as I know, that was it for Ford in the motor. AMC used Ford starter motors too. They were also junk. My Rebel Machine went through 13 of them over a year after my compression was bumped up to 13:1. Then there was the electrical system with the Ford alternator, solenoid and regulator. When it became possible to change to a GM one wire system, I did that and finally had a reliable car. Later a racing starter motor, but not from Ford.
I have a 68 AMX as well as a Machine. The Ford parts were a plague. I never would have bought my first Machine if I’d realized there were so many Ford parts used. Some things can be replaced but not all of them.
Strange, but I owned a ’66 Ambassador with the AMC 327 V8 which came with a very troublesome Delco-Remy starter.
My two ’67 Ambassadors with the 343 V8s used Ford design starters and I never had a moment’s grief with either of them.
Fors lifter diameter is .874″. AMC lifter diameter is .904
AMC and Ford both offered 390 CID V8s but the differences between them were like night and day,
Had a freind in high school whos family was a huge fan of these. He worked at an amc dealership and had access to all kinds of parts. I believe his brother still has one although the year escapes me.
Were way cool cars and under appreciated at the time. This car is a definite runner and good luck to buyer and seller.
Actually the dash plaque doesn’t correlate to production sequence, VIN, or anything much at all. Here’s probably more than you ever wanted to know about those things from Eddie Stakes, a true expert on just about anything having to do with AMC, particularly Javelin and AMX:
http://www.planethoustonamx.com/main/amx_dash_plaques.htm
I thought those dash tags were numbered randomly, having zero to do with sequence. Seller also states a big block 390… hmm…
I’d like to own a ’68 or ’69 AMX.
Dash tags are sequential.
No such thing as an AMC big block from ‘68 on. 290/304/343/360/390/401 all used the same block.
Dash tags are somewhat in order of production but not exact.
This “Ford Parts” in the 390 myth just cannot seem to be killed, even with silver bullets or a stake in the heart. The carbs may have been Autolites, but rest is all AMC. Why the cubic inch size drives this, I can only speculate. The use of a starter relay like Ford may be the source of the “Ford starter” idea.
When I disassembled my all original 1968 AMX, there was not a Motorcraft or Autolite marking to be seen anywhere. None.
IIRC, 1968 Alternators were Motorola. Starter motors often say Prestolite.
The view from under the front end of the car shows it has the original style fuel pump with the large by today’s standards fuel filter. That’s good.
The lower radiator hose looks ready for replacement. Better make that a priority.
The orange oil filter needs to be replaced with a real filter, and now!
If it has the original style fuel pump it would be a dual-chamber job, with a booster for the vacuum windshield wiper motor you can see behind the air cleaner in the under-the-hood photo.
As i have written many times before , the new labor prevents me from wanting to restore this beauty , if only amc had made these in topless form , i would have owned one !
What a great design , even the bigger 4 seater moder was a beauty
In my neck of the woods in canada , these are seldom seen , even on cruise nights