American Motors, long known for building practical, economic automobiles, got into the pony car revolution in 1968 with the Javelin. And, unlike the competition, also offered a 2-seat GT version called the AMX (named after an AMC experimental model). The AMX was all about performance as two-thirds of them came with the biggest powerplant AMC offered, the 390 V8. The seller’s 1969 edition of the AMX has been held captive indoors since 1984, although we’re told it was last driven in 2016. It’s located in University Place, Washington and available here on craigslist for $17,000. Thank you, Steven T, for alerting us to this nice mini-muscle car.
AMC was good at developing cars for multiple purposes. The Gremlin was born from the Hornet, the Spirit came from the Eagle, and the AMX sprung from the Javelin. While an oversimplification, the AMX was a Javelin with the rear seat removed along with 12 inches taken out of the wheelbase (and thus the length of the car). While an excellent performer, the AMX apparently appealed to a limited audience because just 19,134 copies were made between 1968-70. After that, it reverted to an option on the bigger Javelin and lost its uniqueness. The AMX would enjoy its best year in 1969 with sales of 8,293 units, of which 2,183 were fitted with the 390 and automatic transmission, like the seller’s car. Only 1,742 1969 AMX cars came with factory air conditioning, also like the seller’s car.
As the story goes, this 1969 AMX found its way into a garage in 1984 and stayed there, except for an outing four years ago. It managed to accumulate 138,000 miles on the odometer before being put out to pasture. The body and interior look really well overall and might come back nicely with a thorough detailing. There doesn’t appear to be any rust, and everything seems to match although the hood is a different shade and could have been flat black while the rest of the car was gloss black. Or it could be one of a different car. It’s a well-optioned AMX, including leather interior, A/C, and AMC’s “Go Pack” performance package.
The Go Package (or Go Pack) was a factory option that included various performance items available to AMC buyers of muscle cars. The name of the option on the dealer vehicle order forms was Performance Package but it was called Go Package in the marketing spin. A Go Pack on the 1969 AMX included either the 343 or 390 cubic inch 4-barrel V-8 engine with dual exhaust and chromed exhaust tips, a heavy-duty cooling system, power front disc brakes, an uprated suspension, “Twin-Grip” limited-slip differential, five-spoke “Magnum 500” wheels, and over-the-top racing stripes (if the buyer so chose). The seller says this car has the Go Pack option with the 390 engine.
We’re not told if the AMC will start or run, so we must assume it does not. According to Hagerty, the average resale value of a ’69 AMX is $17,000, the same as the seller’s asking price. Fair drops to under $10,000 and Concours would make it a $35,000 car. If the ills with this car are mostly mechanical and it can be cleaned up to be presentable, this could be a vehicle to really impress the folks at Cars & Coffee. No other AMX would have been faster, except a 4-speed or one with Ram Air which was only offered in 1970.
I think the asking price is fair. Too bad while there are several pictures they don’t reveal the condition of the body. I work of a customers 343 withe the go pack. Very cool cars and perfect if you want to stand out from the Chevy and Ford crowd. The only thing that would make this car better would be a 4-speed. The 390 and the Go-pack are a big win though.
Gone in Sixty Seconds.
Happy Holidays Sports Fans.
The Eagle came after the Spirit, not the other way around.
The Spirit was actually a restyled Gremlin. (There was even a Spirit sedan with the Gremlin body and enlarged side windows.) The Eagle versions were the SX/4 hatchback and Gremlin-bodied Kammback.
Remember when looking at a pre-1970 AMC vehicle to carefully check the condition of the front suspension. Upper trunnions are utilized rather than ball joints. Repair parts are available but expensive, and hardly any mechanics know how to work on them any more. A quick check is if the front springs are bowed the trunnions are shot.
seems minor
I f Craigslist link is deleted does this mean car is sold? any other way to reach vendor?
I remember seeing the AMC at the Chicago auto show, when I was a kid. The one at the auto show was a 2 seater- but also sported an actual rumble seat.
-My step father, who was an AMC/Rambler mechanic, checked out my AMC Eagle. He told me most of the mechanical parts serial numbers were for the AMC JEEP Cherokee.
And deleted….
Sold. (DAMN!)
Since most AMXs go for around $30,000, if there are no serious issues, this was one heck of a bargain!
The emblem on the side of the car looks like it was an AMX not a Javelin. It has been a long time since I have seen one in person but I don’t recall Javelin having a similar emblem.
Too bad it wasn’t a 4speed BW automatic was crappy, so I’ve been told by AMC mechanic from back in the day.
I THOUGHT IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME THEY STARTED BUYING TRANSMISSIONS FROM Chrysler?
1972 for the Torqurflytes.
1972 for the Torqueflytes.
I feel like an idiot. I just reread article and realized my mistake. Guess I had Javelin on the brain my bad.
Everybody makes mistakes. (It would be nice if there was an edit option on Barnfinds.)
Sorry just not interested in an AMC. /AMX. Too many more nicer Fords , Mercurys and Chevys out there to choose from.
HC;
I once-owned two AMX 390’s (both 4-speeds) for almost the same reason you’re not interested in this one….”Too many Fords , Mercurys and Chevys out there” :-) :-)
Any idiot can buy the “dime a dozen” crap. It takes ZERO individuality.
My father had the 390 go pack.. The gentleman talking about the rumble seat. That model never made it to the public..little known facts the AMX at the DETROIT SHOW also had a small piece of the rear bumper that folded into a step and the back window lifted upward and the trunk folded back to expose the rear seat…the 66 model was concept. The rest is HISTORY….
People are under the impression the AMX was a Javelin with no back seat and shortened a foot. A guy was talking to a group of people at an AMC car show decades ago. Someone in the audience tried to correct the speaker by telling him this info. The man on stage quickly corrected the guy in the audience by telling him the the AMX was designed first. The speaker said he should know. He was the designer.
AMX was designed first. Then a 4 door prototype that looked a lot like a Javelin was shown. The AMX was supposed to be on a new chassis with a fiberglass body. This was too costly so the AMX, like the Javelin, was built on a modified Rambler American chassis and used the less radical front end style that was debuted on the prototype 4-door Javelin. In addition to different rear body style, the AMX also differed in the rear chassis which had different structure that had re-enforced shock mounts, altered spring mounts and torque links.