Beholder Beauty: 1974 AMC Javelin
There are examples every day that proves the adage “Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder”. Me, for example. I think I’m relatively handsome – but few others seem to agree. The same is true of practically any 1970’s AMC vehicle, including the wonderful 1974 AMC Javelin found here on eBay.
This 44-year-old AMC survivor looks to be in remarkable shape – and is a tribute to the much-maligned vintage brand. Make no mistake – I never grew up an AMC fan, but as so many of our auto offerings become more and more homogeneous, models like the Javelin, the AMX, the Pacer, Gremlin, and Hornet now seem like a wonderful and unique blip in design history.
This 1974 Javelin represents the models last year, with AMC making two generations of Javelins – the first from 1968 to 1970, and the second from 1971 to 1974. It’s the second generation that few remember as both a muscle car and impressive race winner. It was a red, white and blue beauty that won the Trans-Am race series in 1971 – and a Javelin that won in 1972 as well. The Javelins speed also got the attention of highway police agencies, and the Javelin was used as a standard vehicle on various highway patrols.
The shining California sun helps highlight this car, but I love that it looks to be a Buy and Drive collectible. The seller details what’s pictured by saying “You could buy this car and drive it home across the country with no issues. It has the super reliable 6-cylinder motor. All the brakes, lights, gauges, controls, wipers, turn signals, doors, windows, seats, trunk & hood work as they are supposed to.” So if you’re looking for a “get in and go” 1970’s survivor – consider this car that author Keith Martin’s includes in his Guide to Car Collecting as one of “nine muscle car sleepers.”
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Comments
Been watching this on ebay all week, $7600.00 is getting up there for a 6cyl but low rust with a manual helps ALOT. I don’t like them….I love them. this is mine.
The six might let this car down, but no one will know while you are driving it. Just keep the hood down at the car show.
I love these things!
A six-banger Javelin? Why not?
A few bolt-on bits from the likes of Clifford Research can liven up AMC sixes; of course, such additions can later be removed for someone wanting originality.
Six cylinder Javelins are bargains when you can find them. Here’s another 74 for less than 10K.
https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/dealer/amc/javelin/1845386.html
Great looking car. A 6 cylinder is not a negative for me as long as it’s running OK. Looks like something you could take the family out for ice cream in (long as you don’t have too many kids or grandkids).
Hope whoever gets it enjoys it as it should be.
In 79, when I got engaged, my wife was driving a similar 74 Javelin. Hers was also a 6 cylinder with a floor shift, manual 3 speed, but hers was blue with a white side stripe. I gave it to one of my step brothers, and bought her a 74 4 speed Corvette.
It wasn’t a bad little car. They must have been fairly common, because one of her girlfriends had a green one with a gold stripe, and the same 6 cylinder, 3 speed combo.
I have been watching this one too. Very nice looking car. The 6 would have to go for me though. I have access to a 390 and 4spd!
I see this car, and I’m like “OOH! OOH!” then I scroll down, see the 258, & my world comes crashing down. I mean, they’re pretty bullet-proof motors, but with this car, it’s kinda like putting a bikini on your dog. Who’m I fooling? I’d still take it in a second.
Worked at an AMC dealer while going to high school in 74′ Had a chance to drive one of these with a 401 in it Fast yes, but my buddies 73′ Z28 was much more of a blast to drive. Ahhhh the 70’s ! ! !
I’m with Rabbit, seeing the 6. Still a sharp car here, and truth be known, I bet a large percentage of these Javelins were sedate cars, but if you are going to have AMC’s swan song, make it count, son. 401, 4 speed, spoiler. Get that one for $2g’s, and for under $10g’s, you’d have the best of the best. At the AMC reunion, there was a whole section of these 2nd gen Javelins. Looked mighty impressive.
I have a friend who tells a great story of he and his wife car-shopping and being “talked into test-driving” a ‘74 black-on-black, 401 4-speed, with a spoiler no less, that the dealer was “having trouble moving”. They took it on a road known for its straightness and it’s flatness… The story ends with his wife making him leave it behind after the ride of their lives. Best of the best indeed! Couldn’t imagine having something like that being available “off the shelf”. The ‘70’s weren’t all malaise.
Mid 70’s every body dragging Main on the 4th of July.Along comes the most beautiful 74,orange with black stripes,kid always kept it immaculate. Some body lites a roman candle an a fire ball shoots across the street and enters the passenger side window and exits the driver side with the car moving. No one hurt,no damage to the car, but the kid was HOT! He was going to whip some body,just couldn’t figure out who.I can see the whole thing like it was yesterday.
my first car was this cars almost exact twin! mine had a 360 and tan interior though. in all my years I have never seen one just like this in white with the gold side stripe! and I have seen a lot of Javelins!
As Disco dawns and Nixon ends, this beauty arrives! Nifty car, different styling, perfect for a cruise or a car show
Last yr for these swansong. They Crappy Pacer replaced these…AMC’s downfall.
LOVE this car. Sweet. The faux wood over the instrument cluster doesn’t match the faux wood panel on the doors. No original door panels?
Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder. Thinking back and still today I am surprised at the absolute gorgeousness of the woman who were attracted to me. I mean to tell ya……. KNICE ! So much so that if it were up to me I’d be celebate. But I aint so thank you ancestors. This Javelin is nice but I really prefer the 1st gen. ones only because I had one that I bought cheeep, $ 100.00 bucks . It needed a r/f fender & a quickie white enamel paint job to sell for $2500.00 it was a 290 with a 3spd . stick. Nice car, toooo bad I got screwed out of it when my scumbag kid sister wanted it as a trade-in for her ’73 Dodge B100 Van. Can’t say no to Mom !
Got to give AMC credit, offering the 401 until the end of these, while Pontiac Trans Ams with 400 was only thing close. Camaro – 350; Mustang, Cougar – 351, until the II came out; Barracuda, Challenger – 360. Always hated the goofy front fenders on these, anyone else seen the HOT ROD magazine article on the AMX Prestone special the Ring Brothers built? Better proportions. Would this have the 232 or 256 six? Wonder what the red one in the background is like?
Garr, correct me if I’m wrong, officially it was the Javelin AMX that won the Trans Am series, ditto Alabama SHP.
If you would like to see an altogether different vehicle, which shares the same name, and was just as radical in its heyday……
Google: >’Jowett Javelin'<
These always looked bigger than they needed to be to me.
After the first generation of this car, this model is a monster.
Auction ended. Reserve not met at $8570.
I had a 71 with a 351 in it. Yellow with black interior. Also machined dash. Cool car in 79. Got second hand. Raced Vetts with it . Brother wrecked it killed me to lose that car. What memories..