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.