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Family Owned for 40 Years: 1971 AMC Javelin

This 1971 AMC Javelin SST has been in same-family ownership since new, with the seller’s father being the original purchaser of the 5.0L V8-equipped example. The Javelin left the factory with the rare “faux vinyl” T-top roof option, and the roof remains in excellent shape. Overall cosmetics are quite strong and the seller notes it has 110,000 original miles and benefits from $5,000 in recent maintenance. Find it here on eBay where bidding is at $10K with no reserve.

The interior is quite sharp, with clean, untorn bucket seats, minty door panels with SST badging, woodgrain inserts in the instrument cluster, and a column-shift automatic transmission. The interior also features AM/FM radio with cassette, and the seller says the only reason for the sale after 40 years of constant family ownership is due to lack of space for working on the car.

The recent maintenance list is quite long, and includes a rebuilt carburetor, electric choke, refreshed cooling system, all new hoses, new transmission seals, and lots more. Basically, it reads like a list of must-dos for any car you wish to drive reliably in modern traffic, and you’ll note the new radiator in this picture. In all the pictures provided, I see no evidence of rust – which helps explain the strong bidding.

Now might be a good time to remind you we’ve got a great AMC project for sale as part of the massive Georgia collection we’ve profiled here on Barn Finds. This 1969 SST is a factory 343 car with automatic transmission, very minor rust, and an awesome patina. Javelin prices are definitely trending upwards, so we hope to see this one saved and restored. The original engine will come with the car.

Comments

  1. Avatar Rex Kahrs Member

    This model Javelin is gonna be my next project car, some day maybe next year after I finish the two I’m working on presently. And by “working on”, I don’t mean they are sitting behind my garage rotting in the weeds. They both run and drive and I take them to cruise-ins every weekend!

    Like 27
  2. Avatar Arthell64

    Over the last 40 years I have tried to like the looks of the 71- 74 Javelin and I have to admit I am not there yet but getting close. I do like the 68 – 70 amx. I had a friend in high school that had a 71 amx with a 401 4 speed. It was blue with a set of cragars I thought it looked pretty cool.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Ken Tilly UK Member

      @Arthell64. Up until 1969 I really liked the Javelin but from 1970 they, like all American cars to my mind, lost it, and from then on they went from bad to worse IMO.

      Like 1
  3. Avatar Dusty Rider

    From the firewall back, these look good, it’s the nose and front wheel openings that seem too long to me.

    Like 1
    • Avatar JoeNYWF64

      From way too long a overhang on this & to lesser extent on mustang II, etc., to too LITTLE overhangs on most modern cars.
      Do appreciate the blue interior. Prefer floor shift.
      Odd back then that optional gages were a low priority.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Little_Cars

    Jeff, I was going to call you out if you didn’t remind us about the SST on the Georgia property. Hopefully the price reflects the MASSIVELY HUGE difference in condition between it and the subject vehicle. The subject 71 Javelin reveals that is was cared for and comes with provenance to back it up. Nice find!

    Like 2
  5. Avatar That AMC guy

    A 1971 V8 car with vacuum windshield wipers and manual drum brakes. You just gotta love it! :)

    Like 7
  6. Avatar Shermanator

    The eBay listing shows the current bid at under $5k with the reserve understandable not met.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar lc

    Great proportions! Super Duper Teague styling – just a cool Machine!!!

    Like 7
  8. Avatar Del

    Super nice car.

    only thing holding it back is small V8.

    Not sure but I think SST came with two larger V8s than this.

    Like 1
    • Avatar That AMC Guy

      The 360 and 401 V8s were optionally available. Either will drop right in place of the 304. Good luck finding a 401, but the 360 is fairly common and can be built up to make good power. (The 304 can be built up as well. But – cubic inches! The 304 may also use the same trans as 6-cylinder models, which may not be able to handle much power.)

      Note though that in ’71 AMC was still using the old Borg-Warner slushbox and the engine’s crank end is different than that used with the later – and far superior – Chrysler TorqueFlite. If going for a bigger mill and sticking with an automatic the ticket would be to install a 1972+ V8 along with its matching TorqueFlite.

      I’d want to do something about the weak brakes before adding more power. Upgrading to front discs is a fairly easy job either using 1980s AMC parts or a kit from someplace like Scarebird which will adapt newer brake parts.

      Like 4
      • Avatar Chris M.

        Just give it what when it needed in the first place. A 340 or 360 Mopar. Hell even a 440 would be a perfect upgrade since they used a TF trans.

        Like 0
      • Avatar AMXBrian

        Typical. The AMC Torqueflites don’t bolt up to the Mopar engines.

        Those same AMC V8’s are a good swap for the same era Jeeps(unless you want fuel injection)

        And to most AMC enthusiasts, putting a Mopar block in our cars is just as offensive as LS swapping a Cuda.

        Like 0
  9. Avatar R Soul

    I never knew these came with t tops. That’s what I like about this site, I learn something new just about everytime I come here.

    Like 1
    • Avatar AMCSTEVE

      No those ARE NOT T-Tops. It is called a T-Roof. I love these years 71-74 Javelins and the styling won Trans Am in 71 so the design was functional by Mark Donohue for a purpose.

      Like 2
  10. Avatar leiniedude Member

    Ended:Oct 17, 2019 , 9:44PM
    Current bid:US $7,600.00
    Reserve not met
    [ 24 bids ]

    Like 1

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