American Motors joined the “pony car” race in 1967 with its Javelin (and the AMX, but that was more of a GT-style muscle car). The Javelin would soldier on across two generations before AMC retired the car in 1974 (the same year that Chrysler pulled the plug on the Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger). This ’72 edition looks as though it’s been sitting out in the desert sun for a long while in Yuma, Arizona, but it has its original 360 V8 and automatic transmission. The Javelin is available here on eBay where bidding is holding at $3,099.
From a sales perspective, the Javelin would trail its competitors at GM, Ford, and Chrysler. But that was generally the case for all of the products the independent automaker built. The Javelin would enter its second generation in 1971 and remained mostly the same from year to year except for bigger bumpers and emissions control updates. In 1972, AMC produced 22,974 Javelins of which 5,801 were equipped with the mid-range 360 cubic inch engine like in the seller’s car.
We’re told this auto wears its original Trans Am Red paint, but it’s faded from its time out west. Plus, there are some sorted dents and dings in the body, including the right rear quarter panel where the seller put one from moving the machine around. There is some rust around the windshield base and rear window from the accumulation of leaves and sand over the years. The interior has perhaps suffered the most and the original seats have the stuffing come out of them and the dashboard cluster doesn’t look readable.
On the other hand, the V8 engine was “refreshed” some years ago, but never started. We don’t know the status of the 727 automatic tranny, but it might need “refreshing” too. Surprising for a car in this condition is that the seller still has its window sticker from 1972. Should you want to add it to the restoration, a spoiler from a Javelin AMX is thrown in for good measure. The seller sounds pretty high on this car as a project, but then you see far less of these vehicles nowadays compared to Mustangs and Camaro’s.
It’s a No Reserve auction or the reserve has been cleared. It’s a steal at the current $3099. I’ll watch this one.
This baby is begging
Begging for a restomod restoration
Bring this girl to 2022
Engine , brakes, diff , suspension
Add the amx hood and the trunk spoiler and it would look great
Drive it like you stole it
Yolo
The Javelin was never, ever a muscle car.
You’ve got to be kidding
“It was never a muscle car”.. said no one ever. Apparently, you weren’t around in the seventies when it was popular at drag strips. Check out YouTube.. AMC 390s and 401s had plenty of muscle.
Right, it’s a pony car.
Barn Find? More like a Junkyard Find.
The big X on the trunk seems fitting.
My first girlfriend had almost the same car orange sst. Fun fast little car nimble as i recall. I would always wear my lap and shoulder belt in that car as the shoulder belt was always dangling by design. She thought i was a square and was always embarrassed to use the shoulder belt for fear someone would see her with it on although occasionally she would do up the lap belt. We parted ways after a few months but i often think of the javelin.
Buy it for the engine.
I can attest to the Southwest sun. I have a 74 Gremlin X 304 and the interior plastic is really baked. The shift indicator pointer turned to powder and is just a nub.
Northern states have salt and rust and down there, it’s the heat.
The heat vaporizes the plastic and the canadian cold cracks it ! Cant win …
“It was never a muscle car”.. said no one ever. Apparently, you weren’t around in the seventies when it was popular at drag strips. Check out YouTube.. AMC 390s and 401s had plenty of muscle.
Wow! Now that my vertigo (from ad pics) has calmed down, looks like someone got a great project for $4250! Rust-free, bucket seats, console, SW car and a rebuilt 360 is a good start.