Rarely do we find a barn find that’s had maintenance performed to it while being in storage, but the ones that have are usually in the best shape. This beautiful AMC Javelin SST was well kept throughout its life, even during an almost 20 year stay in a barn in Iowa. This well maintained 1968 AMC Javelin SST can be found in Costa Mesa California here on eBay with a BIN of $11,999 and a starting bid of $1,968.
This Javelin has bounced around a bit, but has been well maintained and driven little throughout its life. From the barn in Iowa, it moved to a garage in Illinois in 1984, were it stayed for only a few years and gained very few miles. In 1986 the car was sold to a private collection in Ohio. In 2006 the current owner bought the car and moved it to California. The car is showing 16,000 original miles and looks and drives great.
The interior in this car is in amazing condition and has the rare optional Black Strata Stripe seat inserts. The seats have new foam, but the upholstery is original and looks excellent. The dash and counsel look like new and all the original gauges are in working order. This might be one of the best looking AMC interiors we have ever seen.
This Javelin is powered by a 290 V8 that produces about 220 hp and 285 lbs. of torque. The engine and transmission are numbers matching and just recently had a complete service, including new belts. The car has also had a new exhaust installed and should sound fantastic. We only wish this car had come with the optional 383 or 390 V8.
This car is in immaculate condition with only a few small surface rust spots on the undercarriage. The paint looks great, but is an older re-spray, as does the chrome work and trim. We think the Javelin SST was often underappreciated and deserved more attention than they received. The only bonus of these cars being overlooked is they are typically more affordable today then the pony cars they competed with in the ’60s and ’70s.
I came across a 1968 AMC AMX 390, 4 spd. Positraction that was also stashed for 20 yrs. The difference from the Javelin is amazing starting from the Two seater ,..& continues all the way to how they shortened it about a foot & a half.. It is now restored, & I am enjoying the he!! out of it..
“We only wish this car had come with the optional 383 or 390 V8.”I think you typo’ed 383 instead of 343? AMC and Chrysler’s marriage did not happen till quite some time later. :-)And don’t discount the 290. It compares well to a base 289 or 302 of the same era. I’d love to have this car, or any 68-69 first gen Javelin. An uncle gave me one with a 343 back in the early 80’s. My dad and I took it on a test drive and he spun it twice on our dirt road without even trying. “Absolutely not” came the verdict, and I got a @#$% $300 Gremlin instead. Which I only appreciate now 30 years later.
Hilarious! My very first car was a ’68 343 SST. It’s what I learned to drive on. Later, driving other cars I was totally perplexed as to why they didn’t seem to go? My Dad drove it around the block and said it was dangerous. It truly scared him. Man I miss that car. The only thing that even came remotely close was ’68 olds toro – that really showed when you hit it at about 40, it was crap off the line. Javelin? not so much :)
I wish I had the money…. would anyone like to buy a kidney?
My first new car.. 1968 Javelin.. Blazer Blue, 290 V8, ordered it with dual exhaust. He’s right about the 290. I won a lot of races at the strip against 289 & 302, except a few hot Z28.. I loved that car !!!
My first new car…1968 Javelin SST, Hialeah Yellow, 290 V8 with dual exhaust. Wonderful car!
My first car on my 16th Birthday (1975) Copper on Red Vinyl. Still my favorite car! Chicks dug it in High School!
I had one of there, gold in color with black roof 343 engine with a stick shift, god I miss that car
Besides the comment that 343 is the real size of the step up engine, I just wish to add that the rating of the 1968 290 4 barrel engine is 225 hp exactly. This was also the base AMX engine in addition to being the base SST engine. Regular Javelins came standard with the excellent 232 cid six. (7 main bearings) It was a smooth and torquey low priced engine.
I had one of these, in this same color, in Venezuela, with the 343 and 4 barrel carburetor. The beast was a rocket, and I loved it.
I had the 290 Copper over Red and have never forgotten it. It was a beast. I am so glad that so many fans are around. I am dying of Cancer and would LOVE one more ride! I live in San Jose, CA. If you can help, please do.
amc 7 main bearing engines were quite durable. smokey yunick built an indy car using a 199 amc six believe it or not. dont think it ever raced though. look it up
My 1st car also. Candy Apple red . It had an ash receiver , not an ash tray ..
I had a 1968 copper with white vinyl roof. 290 and a 3 speed on the floor. I so appreciate the craftsmanship of that car! I let it go with 110,000 on the clock and it was still running strong.