Mild Project: 1974 AMC Javelin AMX
The AMC Javelin was designed by Dick Teague as an effort to shed AMC’s staid economy car image and begin attracting younger buyers. A true “pony car” fashioned in the long hood/short deck style, the first Javelin was introduced in 1968 with four seats and a selection of engines from six to eight cylinders. The Javelin was sized between the Mustang and Plymouth’s Barracuda, and its styling was praised for a clean sporty look, free of gimmicky scoops, grates, trim, and spoilers. “Big Bad” colors arrived in 1969; the bright orange, green, and blue shades kept the car geared to the youth market. Aside from its sales success, the Javelin collected plenty of wins in Trans-Am from the git-go. Tony Primo found today’s Javelin, hailing from the last year of production. It’s the top trim level for the series, and though it has a few needs, it’s priced reasonably.
A hallmark of the pony car phenomenon was the marketing prowess that sold the cars: almost every pony car was available with an economical six-cylinder so buyers could enjoy the halo without high insurance and gas costs. But for performance hounds, manufacturers dished up a variety of V8s. AMC followed suit. By the time the second-generation Javelin arrived in 1971, engine options included a couple of six-cylinders and three eights. This car’s 360 cu. in. V8 is said to need a rebuild though it runs. The brakes have been serviced and the master cylinder is new. The transmission is a four-speed console-shift manual. The seller notes that the electrical system may need a new fuse box.
The front seats are in good condition, as are the steering wheel, glass, and door panels. The seller notes that the rear seats need new upholstery. The machine-turned dash has a tiny dent just below the radio. Aftermarket gauges are mounted under the dash, though the car is equipped with the Tic Toc Tach (a clock inset into the tachometer) with a new lens – looks great! A host of original literature accompanies the sale.
Midstream through 1968, right after the Javelin’s launch, Teague penned the AMX, a two-seat performance car on a short wheelbase. The AMX was a pure sports car, equipped with a choice of V8 engines and a robust suspension at a premium price. Unfortunately, the new model didn’t last long as AMC continued to suffer financial constraints. To imbue its late-model Javelin with a sportier image, it resurrected the AMX nameplate to denote a performance trim level. The Javelin AMX has a fiberglass hood (this one is slightly damaged) and a rear spoiler. Just visible in this photo is a patch of peeling clear coat, evident on other panels as well. If you’re up for a 1974 Javelin AMX with a few needs, this one is available here on craigslist for $9500. Best to put her on a trailer to bring her home from Apple Valley, California. What do you think – is this vintage pony car appealing?
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Comments
I owned a 69′ AMX Go Package 390ci Cleveland with a B&M Hydro 3sp transmission called The Blue Max out of San Jose. When the bigger Javelin-AMX came out they were a joke. AMC had all kind of designer issues, would you believe GOP Mitt Romney’s Father was running the show. A Javelin is a Javelin, a Javelin AMX a more souped up model. The shorter 390ci or 360ci AMX is what you want, the one without a backseat. Many don’t know the original prototype of the AMX was Italian designed and looked like a Pantera and even talked ofa mid-engine desgn. Bit then Romney got ahold of the idea snd that idea went up in a puff of smoke. AMX’s in decent shape can fetch up to 60k in today’s vintage market, a well preserved Javelin AMX much less. jv smashpalace
This guy needs to put down the crack pipe, lol…I have never seen so much misinformation in my life.
A good friend of mine lives in cleveland, but his area code is 351
Serious BS’ER, nothing he stated is true.
Once you kill those brain cells, they will never grow back.
I just thought he meant he put a Ford 390 on it and went drag racing, especially if it was an automatic with B&M parts
No. AMC had their own 390.
That 1969 AMX with the 390 was 7 seconds 0 to 60, not as exciting now but it was at the time.
There are WAY too many errors in your comment to even cover them all. But let’s focus on one of them, shall we? George Romney was a VERY successful CEO for American Motors, but he stepped down to run for Governor of Michigan in 1962, and was successful. Well before the AMX/Javelin was even a thought. Get your “facts” straight before you comment. You aren’t impressing anyone.
I got to say JAMES is a total Slime!
The AMX was designed, prototyped, and displayed at shows , before the Javelin. It is a common misconception, as with many others pertaining to AMCs. I got into what turned into a heated argument (we parted on a friendly basis) over the 390 being a Ford engine. A gentleman with over 50 years in the biz insisted the AMX 390 was a Ford product. That is how ingrained the mythology surrounding AMCs , is. It is also a large part of the draw ,for me, to these cars. Of course, IMO, the gen 1 Javelins are the nicest design of all the pony cars.
I am not perfect, but I am not an imbecile.
So the Pontiac 428 was really a Ford too! I knew it!!!🤣🤣🤣
Some of you guys are real dirtbags here!
Precollision design front bumper sadly appears to have been called on to function as a bumper.
Still, a good looking car and tribute to the fact AMC occasionally did release lookers/decent performers
Great looking car from AMC. Of course they were Trans Am racing with what may have been the swoopiest car this side of the Pontiac. We had a ’72 at the dealership about 20 years ago. 401, automatic with manual steering. Took a little effort to turn those wide ovals at low speed but it sure moved in a straight line.
Those seats aren’t correct, missing all of the wheel trim. Is it a 3 or 4 SPEED. What’s the original color?
I love these cars. Just so different, and in my mind, outright cool in a funky sort of way. I’ve written it before: where I grew up as a kid (Kitchener, Ontario), there was one of these are tricked out with mags and side pipes etc. But it had this crazy candy multi-tone green fish-scaled paint job with the name “Travellin Javelin” down the sides. For a 10 year old car nut, it was the bee’s knees……
best
bt
Seems like a great buy. Under 10K in 2024 doesn’t buy a lot of car.
Needs way more and better pictures in order to be sure of what you are getting.
JE JE JE you must read your comments on this site. It can be brutal. Not so much for bad spelling or missing words but facts are important and you will get checked. Check your info before you post if you can.l know I’ve over stated a fact or two myself and these guys are pretty sharp. Stay cool man.
Thing I love about this site is all the stuff I didn’t know. AMC had some pretty stout motors from what I read. When I was growing up though, they seemed to have issues with aesthetic appeal and junky plastic interiors. Too bad they didn’t improve on that appeal – They might still be around and owning the Chrysler corp instead of the other way around.
My grandmother had one of these. It was bright purple with large, white fender stripes on the sides, a white vinyl roof and white bucket seats in the interior. The car seemed rather cave like inside and ponderous on the outside. You couldn’t miss this car coming down the street. It was rather embarrassing. In fact, I thought that it was clown like. However, it ran well and served her for several years. She thought that it was sporty. I do like AMC vehicles though. The 1978 Concord was my favorite traditional car but the Alliance coupe in the DL trim looked great and road really well. It got great gas mileage too. Are there any alliance cars left?
An Alliance and Concorde look better than a Javelin?
There’s a first time for everything, I guess…
Looks like a decent car. 360 4 speed is rare. Contrary to the authors claim, Trans-AM javelins did not win from the “git-go”. 68&69 Javelins did not win any races. A few second place finishes were the best they could do. 1970 saw a ton of money spent to bring in Penske & Donohue. Even then, the Javelin was struggling to keep up with the Boss Mustang until later in the season. Then Donohue showed his talent and ended up finishing one point behind Parnelli Jones for the Driver’s championship.