American Motors introduced the AMX in 1968 as a GT-style muscle car. It was a 2-seater, so it was often compared to the Chevrolet Corvette. Buyers may have been a unique breed, as the AMX only found 19,000 or so buyers in three years before AMC dropped the concept. The seller has a 1969 edition that was built for time out on the track. Its AMC hardware was dropped for a Chevy big block V8 and a Ford rear-end. Idle for the last few years, this hot rod has been in a garage in Patterson, California, and is available here on craigslist for $17,000. Tony Primo gets an attaboy for the interesting tip!
Some consider the AMX to be an AMC Javelin with 12 inches taken out of the wheelbase. Also, the rear seat was jettisoned, so it was never a car intended for more than two occupants. The 1969 model year was the AMX’s best showing at about 8,300 copies assembled. When the Javelin was reworked for 1971, the AMX was dropped as a separate series due to low sales and became the performance edition of the Jav instead. The top engine in the AMX in 1969 was a 390 cubic inch V8.
This car belonged to the deceased husband of the seller. He must have built the car to be a racer, as it comes with a full roll cage and a complement of gauges. The original drivetrain was replaced by a Chevrolet 396 V8 and a TH-400 automatic transmission. The rear-end measures nine inches and was sourced from a Ford. As a street rod, we’re told it is quite fast, and maybe all of the mechanical work was completed before the husband passed on.
Idle for a number of years, the car seems to be in good shape. The open trunk lid suggests the original color of the auto was dark green, replaced by grey (primer?). We’re told the machine had a current registration, but we don’t know how recently it was active. If you’re interested in a fun car for the local track, could this AMC/Chevy AMX fit the bill?
This is more of a street racer than a car meant for the track. A 4pt roll bar is considered to be the same as no roll bar by NHRA. The engine looks stock other than the valve covers. It’s also nearly 100 miles, each way, from what was the closest drag strip, which closed a few years ago.
The price seems pretty reasonable for potential buyers that don’t care about the engine swap.
Steve R
No telling what’s inside that engine from the Craigslist ad. I would tell everyone my done up 454 was a stock 396 too.
The GM engine sort of destroys the cache of these cars. Unless you’ve got an AMC 390 sitting in your garage? Is it worth 17 grand?
Anything left AMC? Is this available?
I think $17k is a reach on this AMX. Unless you are going to drag it, its going to cost some $$$ to get it back to stock. You are starting with a solid body so who knows maybe someone will but it and spend the money.
Neat project but at that asking price it’s a bit of a stretch.
I will never understand why someone would put so much time, effort and money into telling everyone what it ISN’T!
It is a shame that they ruined a good AMX.
Even at that, nowadays people want the high revving COYOTE,
Maybe a 10K car now
Merry Christmas to all
What a waste of an AMX. These were excellent cars with 390 and go pack. I am a GM muscle car guy but GM engines or Ford rear ends do not belong in an AMX.
JIHN
sure ruined that car
Butchery.
Blasphemy!
A 4 point roll bar is not a roll cage. Definitely a bracket racer. I’m not a drag racer (although I did some street AND strip stuff in high-school) But if I had this car. I would take it to the drags on a regular basis while I hunted for the parts to make it an AMC again.
I think you get what you want to buy. I’d offer $13,000.00. I owned a 1968 AMX and it had the 390 in it. Not all that fast but it depends who pulls up next to you or where you want to take it to. I always like my 1968, it also was a chick magnet on Saturday nights in my home town. Right now I own a 1964 Herald Triumph convertible with a built chevy small block 301 with a powerglide. I’ve done alot of custom to this car. At the scales it’s just under 1800 pounds. It’s taken me 11 years to build, I only race once a year, only one day, two runs down the track. Why two runs, I have two brothers, they also have nice cars. For this AMX, I’d love to bring it home even if Jethro Boedean helped build it. Having something that no one else owns, at a car show people will walk across a parking lot just to see the car.
o0OOFFF, & to 1 of our long term writerguys too…
yeah, I dont like the cross co/platform whatever (dont tag me 2 Don) called. Agreed. Back to the mopor motor. Every 1 puts the 9 inch in (I’d ok it begrudgingly). BUT…
I have grown to like this Y/M/M from my visits here. ALL AMX would B best.
If possible I’d ask him to keep the motor/lower the price
The sheet metal on this ride is worth a few grand, if it’s riding and driving with current drive train, and can make it to S. Chicago area, I’d give a few grand for it just to restore the gem and make it worth some real numbers.
Hey Don-
Maybe you’d like to give writing articles on Barn Finds a try?
None of us know it all, and all of us have been corrected on something at some point. Still a good write up, Russ and you can always tell a good article by the amount of comments it receives. Agreed that the motor swap is a bit of a downer, but- that’s what has people commenting the most, and that’s a big reason many of us visit the site.
Merry Christmas!
Speaking of subscriptions, it sure doesn’t take much to support Barn Finds each month. I notice a surprising lack of that support by those leaving harsh comments above. Of course, if the occasional error is unforgivable then I’m sure you’ll move on to one of the other sites that cover similar subject matter and doesn’t make mistakes. There’s a pure ton of perfection out there.
You will catch a lot more flies with honey than you will with vinegar.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.