61k Original Miles: 1970 AMC AMX 390

Buying a vintage car online without seeing it in person first is sometimes a risky venture, but it’s less of a gamble when a seller provides a large number of photos that show every view of the car, including the exterior, interior, engine, undercarriage, and any close-ups that pinpoint defects.  The seller of this 1970 AMC AMX provides only two pictures in his listing here on eBay, and while I’d still likely request more before spending the buy-it-now price of $50,000, what we can see certainly seems to show a top-notch, mostly original muscle car that appears to remain in stellar condition overall.  This beautiful two-seater is in Marble, Pennsylvania, and has a credible, interesting backstory to go with it.  Curvette, thanks a lot for the great tip here!

Those into drag racing may remember the name Ken Dondero, a legend in the sport who won two AHRA championships driving a Pro-Stock Vega in the seventies.  The seller reports that this AMX was once part of his automobile collection.  Sadly, Ken passed away in 2014, but it appears this GT-style car was well cared for during his ownership.  The paint is said to remain original, and this one’s also stated to have always been kept in a garage when not in use, which has helped preserve the finish far better than most vehicles that have been around this many decades.  The sheet metal reportedly has no rust, and I’m leaning toward preservation as the goal here, since there’s not much that jumps out to suggest this AMC has any exterior needs.

It would be great to get a shot from under the hood, but my guess is it’s in clean, orderly condition.  Thankfully, this AMX is equipped with the largest engine available, a V8 measuring 390 cubic inches.  The seller tells us that the car has 61,000 miles, but the engine has only been operated for about 5,000 miles since it was completely rebuilt.  The 390 retains the original carburetor and intake, and its performance is described as strong.  This one is also equipped with the desirable Go Package, and while I would have thought Ken would have preferred a 4-speed manual, the future owner will have to live with an automatic transmission handling gear changes.

The only clue about the interior is that it has black leather seats, so we’ll just have to imagine what the rest looks like, though we do get a small glimpse of the dashboard in one of the provided photos.  Based on the exterior still having the original paint and its condition, I strongly suspect that most of the inside components are likely in excellent shape, especially given the confirmation that this one has spent so much time in a garage.  There’s also the option to submit a best offer, and while I have no reason to expect nothing but the best here, I’d still want at least three additional photos before making any commitments- one of the interior, another from the engine bay, plus a picture from the underside.  Are the two supplied photos enough to pique your interest in this 1970 AMC AMX?