American Motors had their work laid out for them in the early 1960s to try to shed their perceived public image as a builder of dull, stodgy cars for people who really weren’t enthusiastic about cars. An important part of their plan to attract the youth market was the two-seat AMX sports coupe. This first-year AMX is listed here on eBay in Beach City, Ohio with a current bid of $7,190 with 3 days to go. Thanks to an anonymous Barn Finds reader for the tip!
Ford caught their competitors napping when they introduced the Mustang in 1964 and the race was on for the rest of the industry to catch up to them. American Motors’ response came in the 1968 model year with the four-seat Javelin and later, the two-seat AMX. Other than Chevrolet’s Corvette, the AMX was the only two-seater offered by a US manufacturer at the time.
The seller of this non-running 1968 AMX says that it has been in storage since the late 1970s and that it received a repaint in its original Frost White. I like the gold metallic paint accents added, but I doubt that they were offered by the factory – maybe they were added later to personalize the car. I’m sure that our knowledgeable Barn Finds readers will know. The quality of the repaint may not be the best, with visible overspray in some of the photos.
Power comes from the base 290 cubic inch V8 that produced 225 hp and it is backed up with a desirable four-speed manual transmission. The seller states the carburetor on the engine is a two barrel, however, the standard factory offering was a four-barrel unit. This wouldn’t be difficult to swap out should the new owner choose to do so, but was the engine changed at some point in the past?
The red bucket seats look plenty inviting and the dashboard and other plastic trim in the interior look to be in serviceable condition, which is a very good thing since replacements may not be easy to source. The carpeting is gone and the seller mentions that there was red shag carpet inside the car which he removed for the photos.
This AMX could be the basis for a straightforward restoration and given their scarcity, it may pay off in the future as values climb. The downside is that it really isn’t a high specification car but scarcity -again- is on its side. Tell us what you think.
Put a 401 or 390 police interceptor in it and haul xxx er tote the mail. I like it.
I would clean up the interior, get it running and stopping then drive it as a daily driver.
And ruin a classic muscle car from the golden era of the species by driving it to work every day. You’re a genius.
Jett, I am retired I don’t drive to work any day! I maybe drive 2000 miles a year so how do you figure that I would ruin anything! LMAO
I drive my 69 mach 1 2 work every day, it’s not cherry & not sitting in a stupid barn or waiting 4 a car show. It’s a head turner & I like bangin gears, & is fun 2 drive. Don’t know if I’m genius or fool? Elmer Fud
Have to wonder why it was stored for 40 years. Looks like a cool car!
I like it! I want it!
But too many projects right now.
Some day I will own an AMX!
Half Cab’s idea would make the AMX a real tarmac scorcher; just leave the original 290 somewhere safe for the next owner to put back in, should he/she desire originality.
I feel for you, Wayne… ;-)
The price is at moment reasonable .
Needs to have the engine pulled / bored with oversized pistons and a four barrel installed . Shave the heads and port to unleaded then repaint and throw black carpet down .
If the car breaks 12 grand stop and find a 401 needing restoration 😉
CS, I agree except no 4 barrel, throttle body fuel injection and air ride. Then keep it and drive it forever, or at least until you can triple your money with a sale. .
Wasn’t the 390 the biggest engine for the two seater AMX’s? I believe the 401 came later when the car inherited the back seat
The 390 was the biggest motor for the 2 seater AMX. The 71-74 AMX’s are Javelins with an “AMX” trim package. The 401 debuted in 1971, but when it comes down to it, the 401 is a stroked 390 and all the AMC V8’s had the same outside block dimensions so swapping is easy as pie. So for most folks, swapping in the bigger, slightly more plentiful, with better flowing dog-leg exhausts is a easy choice.
The body looks good in the photos. Couldn’t see the door panels but the car has 69 wheels. Owned a 68 and a 70 and would like to get another…parts are very hard to find if you want to keep it original, but with a little work it could be a fun dd. Put the 69 red stripes back on it.
Sure is cool, not an AMC fan but this one looks sweet. Friend had a javelin with a 290, got beat in 1970 by a 4 dr nova with a Midnight auto parts supplied 350. The next morning the Javelin was in the shop with the 290 hanging from the chain hoist, 390 (allegedly from Midnight auto parts also) on the floor. Beat the nova on the rematch. Innocent and fun times that I never will forget. I had just gotten my License.
dodge hemi i might bid?
I helped a friend rebuild a 390 .30 over with a respectable full roller in it with a decent intake and heads, his car was a 4 speed manual and it made a darned potent little street runner. Had to be very on top of things though with that short wheelbase. This car has SO MUCH POTENTIAL!!!!
Back in 69 I was a young father and needed a back seat so I bought a Nova. Now I’m old, kids are all grown so I don’t need a back seat, besides I’ve got one of those big 7 passenger late model SUV’s that I really don’t need, plus my baby, my 64 Buick Riviera, Studebaker and old Ford trucks. So now might be the right time for me to start looking for an AMX. 68 or 69 only for me though with 4 speed manual, sometimes I still want to act like a kid.
It’s half done why not finish it put the 4 barrel back on it clean it up and drive it?
I’m surprised to see an AMX with the little v8 in it. This was ordered by someone who was down for the show but not up for the go. Probably why it survived all these years without being trashed
I’m pretty sure there are plenty of these cars out there stashed away in collections. I knew guys that had these back in the 80’s cruising days that drove them once in a while. Some really nice ones with the dark blue paint and 390, maybe even side pipes. I think they went the way of all those 1969 Camaro’s out there that got tucked away in garages. There are lots of cars out there yet, but people just put them away and don’t drive them anymore. Not sure why. Gotta get them out and drive em once in a while. Go to a car show or maybe a drive in movie. Come on, lets go!
Then there’s this 1969 AMX, one of the 52 Hurst cars made strictly for drag racing. This vintage race car was crewed by a group of Kearney (NE) high school boys who took it all over the country on weekends. Owned by and on display now at the Classic Car Collection in Kearney.
Wow, I didn’t know that! I lived in McCook for a couple of years and never heard about it! Then again I was trucking hard at that time!