It was fun being a nerdy car geek youngster in the ‘60s and witnessing the debut of the “pony car” in April 1964 and seeing the scrambling that ensued at GM and AMC afterwards. And although AMC was the latest to the party, I thought the ’68 Javelin was a good-looking car. AMC’s very talented VP of Design, Dick Teague, had pulled off another “doing the most with the usual AMC budget restrictions” miracle. Dick and AMC also took it up a notch by offering the sporty AMX, the first American made two-seater since the ’55 Thunderbird. If you like originality, this could be the AMX for you. This ’68 AMX is currently in Ceres, California and for sale here on craigslist for $31,000. Another big thank you to T.J. for sending this survivor to us.
The seller doesn’t give us any history on this first-year AMX or if it’s been a California car all of its life. It’s simply described as “a survivor, a clean barn find, and a solid, clean original car.” The photos could be better and show more detail, but based on what’s provided, it appears to be as advertised. The seller describes the original paint as not being flawless, (I found a paint chart and it looks like Laurel Green, one of the 14 AMX color options available in ’68). I’m not spotting any rust or major issues and it looks straight. The chrome, glass, trim, and racing stripes look presentable as well. And speaking of racing stripes, the seller doesn’t mention it, but this AMX appears to have been ordered with the popular “Go Package” that included the stripes, a four-barrel carbureted 343-cu-in V8 (and by mid-year an optional 390-cu-in V8), front disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension, dual exhausts, E70x14 red-line tires mounted on chrome-plated “Magnum 500” styled road wheels and more. Those aren’t the original wheels, but I like the looks of them and they compliment this AMX very well.
Based on the car’s exterior, a well as the interior, this AMX has been garage-kept and taken care of. I like the sporty vibe and design of this tan interior and it looks pretty well preserved for its age. There are no mentions of any seat splits or the condition of the headliner. The console shows the floor shifter for the Shift Command 3-speed automatic transmission, and since the AMX was basically a 12″-shorter wheelbase Javelin with no back seat, there’s nothing but tan carpet behind those two bucket seats.
This AMX has the 390-cu-in, 315 horsepower V8 with 79,000 listed on the odometer. It’s not shared if those are the original miles and all the seller says is that the AMX “runs and drives, lots of power.” Listed upgrades include: “aluminum Edelbrock 401 heads, Edelbrock intake and carb, new aluminum radiator, heater core, and water pump.”
Only 6,725 of the first-year AMX were produced and AMC promoted them as the only 2-seater U.S. sports car costing less than $3,500. The other 2-seater sports car produced at the time was the Corvette, which was bigger, faster, and more expensive. The AMX was aimed at drivers who wanted a sporty 2-seater for a much lower price. It was also part of AMC’s desperate strategy to shed its economy car image and try to bring in younger, more performance-minded buyers into their showrooms. Sure, there are lots of questions to be asked, but on the surface this ’68 AMX looks like an original, solid survivor.
Woah look at that “blank” center stack! It’s almost “cheap” looking, tho I guess AMC was all about delivering on a budget…
Heck, who else was still making cars with vacuum windshield wipers in 1968? :)
Heck even my 1971 base model Javelin has vacuum wipers. The SST and AMX had electric. I’m not sure of what else may have had them after that. This AMX is nice and little rust is a big bonus, I think that 31 K is all the money.
Almost as old fashioned was the lower dash mounted handpulled parking brake, & hood prop rod on the sporty ’70 maverick – thru ’77, especially considering that the frumpy boxy ’69 falcon had a foot operated parking brake & a hood that stayed up by itself!!
Even crazier is how many modern very very expensive cars have a hood prop rod!
the AMX dash plaque is on the glove box instead of the center speaker pad, which means its one of the 1st 50 off the assembly line. And disc brakes from the factory, were power.
If the plaque is original it should be #1001
Possibly, there are other date clues you can find on the car to determine if it was in the early 100 or so build group (November-December 1967). The glove box plate is a possible clue, but not definitive as the numbers were not sequential. The original engine would have a build tag on the pass side valve cover which indicates the engine build date. Also, there was a date stamp on the inside of the interior windshield pillar covers. There are other clues if you check out Scott Campbell book on AMX restoration.
It was a safety item. Not being cheap. So if you get thrown around in the car in an accident you don’t loose your teeth.
Oh dang I wish sellers wouldn’t say “original” when the car has a replacement aluminum radiator, Edelbrock heads, etc. That does NOT mean the car is “original”! And an automatic – Yuck.
I looked at a listing today for a car that was advertised as “completely original” followed by: “the car was completely disassembled and painted about 4 years ago and the convertible top canvas and motor were replaced.”
Seems like I always get stumped looking at old AMC’s. So this car has been equipped with the go pack which gives you front disc brakes but they are not power assisted? What was the option that gave you the simulated wood on the center area of the dash and I be a clock? The one I work on has the 343 with the go pack, PB, PS, A/C, wood application on the center dash area and console, and a clock on the left. It was a real challenge to get the factory tach work with the HEI distributor and MSD since the tach works off of the coil pos. Lead. Of all the AMX colors this one is the least appealing.
wood center dash was in ’69. in 68, the clock would be to the left in the gauge pod, but an AMX should have a small tach there, and no clock. and yes, the tach is hooked up in a weird way!!
Joe
A little negativity in this message. The green color looks good to me.
With all that empty space to the right of the driver, what was the designer(s) thinking, putting the heater/defroster controls to the left of the driver. The radio should have been moved up higher too.
I wonder how many lbs are saved over a similarly equipped Javelin.
If I remember correctly, the AMX was a mid-year offering. I think they came out in February ’68. I have to say, that must be the rarest color, as I have NEVER seen one, EVER.
They showed up in November 1967 a couple of months after the Javelin introduction. AMC called this color Laurel Green. I have a 68 AMX 390 4-speed this same color. It was built in December 1967 and probably one of the first 100 or so AMXs constructed.
I was just looking at this and I looked at the license plate…THIS is my old car that I bought NEW in 68 right out of the service… I have a picture of it and the plate is MY old plate……I cannot believe it!!! my email is audio_ron@msn.com… I bought it in San Jose
The opportunity of a lifetime. Really.
Wow Ron, maybe it was meant to go back to you, especially the fact that you are a Barn Find reader. Contact the guy through his ad on Craiglist. Just click on it. Sheesh!!
Yes very nice, wish it was a manual.
I actually went to the dealer and optioned one out, I liked the looks, but was low on performance. You could quickly get in the cost of a 2 year old Vette. I bought a Harrell preped 427 Nova for less money.
Great car. Make an offer asap Ron.
Oh, MAN I wish I had chosen to make lots of money instead of careers in the military and public education. What an amazing car these first gen AMX’s were.
Very cool kelvinator. Looks fast sitting still. I’d prefer a 4 speed. The Torque Thrusts look killer on anything! Ron Go for it!!
cheers
GPC
VERY fast Car when bought…outran CHP in 68 on I 280 when 1st opened.
Best barnfind ever. Original owner Ronald confirms he evaded the Highway Patrol in California Bay area soon after purchasing ’68 AMX.
I miss those days.
wish I had the money…sighs
You do realize the 396 in the Chevelle anyone of the 3 hps, the Corvettes in both 327 and 427, Road Runners and other Chrysler 383 or 440, 426 Hemi, Shelby Mustangs, plus Olds, even Buicks and Avantis were much quicker. In fact, it was slower in the quarter than any muscle car of the era.
Still a nice car, that I would me proud to own, then and now.
Once again, inaccurate statements accompany an AMX: 390 Go-Pac was available from the introduction of the AMX. The 390 was not available in other AMC cars until after the AMX was introduced in February of 1968. This particular car is not Go-Pac unless someone removed the P/B and put in an un-boosted master cylinder that looks like a drum brake unit. Very early AMXs had just a badge with ” AMX” on the glove box; later cars had the badge with a number on the glove box and the badge was then moved to the center dash overlay. Most road tests for the AMX resulted in a 14.5 quarter mile time at around 95 mph. Most of the other “muscle” cars of that era needed 4.10 gears, or better, to beat that time. The AMX typically had 3.15 or 3.54 gears with automatic cars usually having 2.87. The 390 & 343 engines were in a low state of tune: mild cam timing, small carburetor & restrictive exhaust.In the late 1980s, my AMX had a warmed up 390: a little more cam, cheap headers & a 700 cfm carb. With a 4 speed & a 2.87 axle (not original axle) i looked for motorcycles……not Road Runners, GTOs, Chevelles, Mustangs etcetera.
I agree JL, just some GM fans spouting nonsense. I do not think this is an original Go Pac car as you pointed out as there are power brakes and not mention of and the Twin Grip. My early 68 AMX has the Rally-Pac with the early AMX plate on it and a glovebox AMX numbered plate. I am pretty sure it was built in December 1968. I think the first run of AMXs for the dealer delivery was in November 1967.
I meant to say it was built in December 1967.
I had a Chevelle 396/375 hp, a tri-power 427/435 hp Corvette, and a Nova 427/450 hp that you couldn’t touch without Nitrous. And a Honda Magna, that could have beat you in a quarter, stop, turn around, and met you before you finished. It was not stock. The Nova had .456 gears, the others .410. I have no knowledge of the bike gearing, but only the V-Max could run with it,v both scared me, honest.
I am very impressed with what you were able to improve the performance of what most thought a weak car, and even more impressed with the depth of your knowledge. Thank you for sharing.
Folks can type anything, someone may talk about a sub 7 second Vega.
When talking about “Bone Stock” muscle cars and 1/4 mile times, it’s very easy to go back and check nearly all the Automotive Magazine Road Test’s of the 60’s and 70’s Muscle Cars. If you do your home work, you will find that when the road test’s are of cars with similar gear ratios, the AMX was right there in the middle of the pack during that time. But when you take into consideration that EVERY manufacture offered much larger V8’s than AMC’s 390, then the slightly lower ET’s some of those car’s turned isn’t so impressive. As a long time fan of the Studebaker Avanti, I’ve never seen a quicker 1/4 mile time posted than a 360 or 390 AMX. Personally, the most radical “Stock” muscle V8 would have to be Mopars 340, in my opinion.
the ’71 only sc360 hornet with 4bbl is no slouch either