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Rare V8/4-Speed: 1968 AMC AMX

American Motors jumped into the “pony car” wars in 1968 with two entries. The Javelin was a direct competitor to the likes of the Chevy Camaro. But the AMX, which had a 12-inch shorter wheelbase, was more of a GT sports car that could be a Plan B to the Corvette. This ’68 AMX is rare because it comes with the smallest engine offered and is paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. From Negley, Ohio, the seller has too many cars and so little time, so this AMX needs to go. It’s available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $11,211.

The 2-seat AMX would turn out to be a three-year experiment. Total production between 1968-70 barely broke 19,000 copies, which must have been small even by AMC standards. In 1971, the AMX name would be applied to the performance edition of the 4-seat Javelin, ending the real AMX’s run. Just as the AMX was largely a Javelin with no back seat, AMC would repeat the process in 1970 by doing the same thing to the Hornet to create the quirky Gremlin. Of 6,725 AMX units assembled for 1968, just 525 would come with the 290 cubic inch V8/4-speed combination.

This car has been in the seller’s possession for about a year. It came out of an estate sale in Florida where it appears to have been taken care of over the years with just 84,000 miles on the odometer. The burnt orange was applied a few years ago which may or may not be the original color since the interior is burgundy (odd pairing to me). While the car presents well from a distance, the seller says the paint job was not done well and should be reworked, also eliminating the little dings that have followed.

We’re told the AMX drives good, but the car was sitting for several years before the seller got hold of it and should be gone through to be sure everything is up to snuff for more regular use. The drivetrain is numbers matching, another plus in the car’s favor. The buyer will be treated to all the original books and warranty cards that came with the AMX in 1968. Since far more AMXs were built with the 390 V8, this car is more like a Mustang with a 289. It even has Plain Jane wheel covers rather than chrome wheels.

Comments

  1. Avatar angliagt Member

    I’ve never seen one in that color.This would look SO
    much nicer in a different one.I think that a stripe down the
    center of the body would help.

    Like 2
  2. Avatar 370zpp Member

    I like the color.

    Like 5
  3. Avatar gbvette62

    I have to wonder if this car’s been repainted. I don’t know if it’s the lighting, the time of day, the exposure or something else, but that red just doesn’t look right. AMC used the same Matador Red for 4 or 5 years, which I remember being more of a pure red, while this car looks (at least in the pictures) more orangey red, like a tomato red.

    I’ve always loved AMX’s, and this looks like a nice, unmolested example. Unfortunately, the “rarity” of having the 290 with a 4 speed, probably doesn’t enhance it’s value, even with such low production numbers.

    Like 9
    • Avatar Michael Lee

      To gbvette62:
      The eBay listing answers your question about the paint.

      Like 4
  4. Avatar Carman

    No reserve????

    Like 2
  5. Avatar RedRiley

    Except that the Gremlin had a back seat and was a hatchback with a completely different rear end than the Hornet, so not really a good comparison with the shortened Javelin AMX.

    Like 4
    • Avatar karl

      The Gremlins had a pop up rear window with no hatch , until they became the Spirit. The Hornet could actually be had with a hatchback before the Spirit, in 1973. But yes ,the Gremlins did have a rear seat

      Like 0
  6. Avatar Motorcityman

    3 days left……I bet it sells in the $20,000 range, nice Clean one!

    Like 2
  7. Avatar Dannys Shebys

    mmn the next rare Muscle ?????????Im going to buy a dozen of them excuse me Dannys Shelbys….

    Like 0
  8. Avatar Howie

    Not wild for that color in and out.

    Like 1
  9. Avatar chrlsful

    soo tempting, one that is drivable “but needs going over”
    hahut…

    Like 0
  10. Avatar Kirk

    Funny before I read down to’ it’s not a great paint job’ I was already thinking of mentioning , having spent a few years working in an autobody shop, something just looks off like it was over sanded by hand or air sander rather than by being blocked out over every panel like a quality job requires. Hard to be sure without seeing it in person and not just looking at the pictures but cool AMX all the same. Have to drive it a bit 1st but I think I’d want to add about another 100 cubic inches to the engine bay to make good use of that 4 speed

    Like 0
  11. Avatar Gary

    Crappy repaint for sure and the wrong color most likely to boot and the smallest engine available. It needs a total restoration so to me it’s over bid already. You can buy nice drivers for 20k if you look a little you can find great ones for not much more. Pass on this one.

    Like 0
  12. Avatar Howie

    Sold, $14,877.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Motorcityman

      Great selling price for a rare complete pretty clean AMX!

      Like 2

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