V8/4-Speed: 1969 AMC AMX

Being forced to part with a classic car or a project build due to failing health is a bitter pill to swallow, but that is the story behind this 1969 AMC AMX. The owner has completed the hard work to return it to mechanically good health, but it will fall to the buyer to add the finishing touches. If you feel up to that challenge, you will find the AMX located in Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, and listed for sale here on eBay. Bidding has reached $10,080, but this figure remains short of the reserve.

When potential buyers are considering tackling a project build, there are a lot of factors that they must consider. One of the most important is determining what it will take to return the car in question to a rust-free and structurally sound state. That isn’t something that buyers will need to fret about in the case of this AMX because it springs a surprise. It seems that it has spent its life in California. That means that this baby is as solid as a rock apart from some surface corrosion where the sun has baked the paint. Sure, the Willow Green paint has seen better days, but the thought of leaving the grinder and welder packed away has to be an attractive one. The panels are pretty straight, meaning it could be an ideal candidate to attack in a home workshop. Some of the external trim may need to be restored or replaced, but there are no issues with the glass.

One aspect of this restoration that will require serious thought will be how to tackle the interior. The owner has already bought a new headliner, carpet set, and door trims that are included in the sale. He doesn’t mention the seats, and it is hoped they and the missing dash components are present. If the seats require restoration, this will consume a few dollars. Between covers and foam, the outlay will be around $710. The dash components that are fitted appear to be in good order, although interested individuals may need to contact the seller to establish what will need to go onto the shopping list. Once it has been restored and reassembled, spending time inside this classic with the factory air conditioning pumping away should be a pleasant experience.

The original owner ordered this AMX with the “baby” 290ci V8, a four-speed manual transmission, power steering, and power front disc brakes. All of these components remain intact, and in this guise, the AMX should be capable of covering the ¼ mile in 16.2 seconds. We’ve reached the point where we can earnestly discuss where the owner’s time and money have gone on this restoration. He recently had the V8 pulled and rebuilt, including a .030″ bore and new pistons. He also slotted in a new camshaft and lifters, a new flywheel and clutch, and proceeded to rebuild the peripheral components like the original carburetor, alternator, cylinder heads, and driveshaft. He then recored the radiator, completely rebuilt the front end, and treated the braking system to the same level of attention. He says that this AMX now runs and drives perfectly, and with the interior refitted, it would be roadworthy.

As you can see, this 1969 AMC AMX is a promising project. It is not a car that the entire family could pile into for outings once the work is complete, but it is one where the buyer could save some serious cash by undertaking most of the work themselves. One of the greatest attractions for these little cars is that even in excellent condition, they remain affordable. Values have only been creeping up slowly, so the signs are that this should stay true for a while yet. However, this could be a pretty sound starting point if you want to tackle one as a project build.