Swap Candidate? 1969 AMC Javelin
Usually, when we cover a pony car (Camaro, Barracuda, Challenger, Firebird, Javelin, Mustang) it’s the hi-po examples that get all of the press. Well, those weren’t the volume sellers, it’s the more pedestrian versions like today’s 1969 AMC Javelin that built the volumes. Of course, they didn’t get the respect that their hairy-chested siblings did, so many are lost to the ages. Well, today’s find, courtesy of Patrick S., is a plain-jane Javelin and I suppose you could call it a survivor because it still exists and didn’t meet an ignoble end. San Antonio, Florida is where this AMC’r calls home and it’s available, here on Facebook Marketplace for a reduced price of $8,250.
To cut to the chase, this Javelin is still running with its 145 gross HP, 232 CI in-line six-cylinder engine which makes the rear wheel connection via a three-speed manual, floor-shifted, transmission. The engine runs, but the seller adds, “has knock probably needs rebuilt or replaced“. He does mention that he has a 258 CI six-cylinder engine that he’ll throw in for an additional $250.
As for the exterior, the driver’s side shows better than the passenger side. The dark green finish is notably faded and the passenger side door, quarter panel, and lower edge of the roof are sportin’ a surface rust bloom. That said, the body shows as being straight and solid. The chrome bumpers still shine and the Magnum 500-style wheels are a nod to originality. This Javelin has a real bargain basement look about it and I must admit that I like it. This edition of the Javelin has stand-out lines while being wrapped in subtlety.
The big surprise is inside. Admittedly, it’s not photographed in great detail but what is revealed shows some extremely bright white vinyl bucket seats and door panels. It’s not stated in the listing but my assumption is that it’s a redo – it just looks too good to be 55 years old, especially when you consider this car’s exterior condition. It would be beneficial to see the rest of the environment but what’s visible is a sound opener.
AMC built about 40K Javelins in ’69, a shadow of what Chevrolet and Ford managed with the Camaro and Mustang respectively. Still, there’s no denying, at least in my mind, the fine styling job that AMC VP of Design, Dick Teague penned. So, now it’s what to do with it time. I think I would keep it as stock as possible but probably ditch the six, since it has problems anyway, and go for something a bit more robust, ala AMC V8. That’s my thought, what’s yours?
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Comments
I’d love to pick this up, but I have 2 projects already. Drat. Lol
I had the 1970 SST, 390, RAM AIR, HURST SHIFTER and it would lift the front wheels going first to second power shifting. I know of a 1970 w/360 in it, decent body, complete and original. Guy wants $5,000.00. located near Farmersburg, Indiana. He also has a ’69 Chevelle, Corvairs, and Fieros.
Whaaaaaat? A 6? Smelling salts, anyone? That’s right, a 6, and mighty popular, I might add. How one survived is the real mystery. We tend to think of the Javelin as this fire breathing muscle car from an unlikely make, and that was partially true, according to the ads, but in reality, the Javelin was not a very popular car, and need I say why? Starts with a R and ends with a r, Rambler. We never outgrew that image. Most Javelins I saw had a V8, and oily slugs, with rusted fenders, I might add, but the 6 did have a following, the stick will be the deal killer. Sorry, in my apt. complex parking lot of probably 30 cars, maybe 3 are a stick, my Jeep included. Vacuum wipers should be a nice surprise 1st rainstorm, and I’d keep the 6. A little rattle? What’s all the fuss? I’ve driven Ramblers with 6s that knocked, probably piston slap, for many miles. Couple cans of STP helped too. Nice find, a bit pricey, but will never be a high dollar collectible, as is, but a great car to just drive.
The Javelin and AMX were two of the earliest cars to wear the AMC badge. The Rambler name was long gone by then.
Actually 1969 was the last year of the Rambler. For 1969 it was renamed the American Motors Rambler. Remember the Hurst Scrambler Rambler?
Being an AMC fan, Javelin in particular as mine is a golden lime 1971 base model, this would fit right in here. AND if the engine was really unsavable I have access to a 4.0 fuel injected Jeep engine that I think would be a fine conversion.
with a T5 also…
You’ll the 3 speed replace it with a tremac…Junk the six and install a 390 or bigger….replace stock gears with something that will put some horsepower down per se 3.92.. Then you have a car that will get it on with the best of f them
👍 I’ve got a 71 sst w/360, blue on blue. Took me about 16 years of hounding a buddy to get it. ALWAYS wanted one. It hadn’t run in about 25 years. I would either beast out that 6 banger… turbo or S.C. Or drop in a 401 that a buddies been holding for me but doesn’t know it yet. Lol. Golden lime…I seen a sweet 68 AMX in what I think may have been golden lime. Not a green fan, but dayum that looked good in that color. I was drooling over it. Wanted it so bad! Lol.
Golden Lime was a 1970 color. What you likely saw was Scarab Gold, which can look like Golden Lime if not formulated properly.
H.O. 4.0L I6 with a Tremec T-5. Smoothest running sleeper, and you can keep the goldfish on the passenger seat.
They were good looking cars and I’d certainly take a Javelin from Florida. I would also keep the car original and ensure a six would continue living under the hood.
Original is nice but as Javelins don’t really bring big money when restored, put a nice 390 or 401 in it and enjoy the notoriety of have your local areas fastest AMC. Just my opinion but then I am a gear head from the 60’s.
Why just jump to V8? I would put in a 4.0 from a Jeep do a stroker kiton it, then turbo it. For the trans I’d put in a NV3550 from again the Donor Jeep. Beef up the rear with an 8.8 from a ford. It would be a lot of fun to drive, get good mileage, and surprise a lot of V8’s.
Way to go!
JL Golden lime was a 70 color but it was also held over for 71. I had a 71 401 Javelin SST that was the original color on it. Several writeups on the subject.
AMCFAN. Golden Lime was a popular color in 1970. Can not recall seeing a 71 in Golden Lime. Some of the AMC colors, besides matador red & frost white, were used for more than one year e.g.: Bittersweet Orange. This car is a no option car with the white vinyl interior and black dashboard. I parted one out a long time ago.
I had a bare bones 69 like this with a 290 and a stick was one of my all time favorites ,in my 60s now and I’ve had a lot of cars , got 30 mpg on the highway and as fast as a 302 ! Drove it to death only complaint was …… vacuum wipers may actually bid on this painted mine pearl white perfect color
My first car was a 1968 Javelin, 290 V8 with AT. The engine was nails, the transmission was garbage. Went out twice while I had the car.
I don’t know why everybody automatically gravitates to dropping a big block V8 in everything. I’m not that impressed by noise and 10-12 MPG. If I had the scratch to buy this, it would keep the 6.
Keep it as built. I’d rebuild the 6, paint it, and drive it regularly. The other pony cars also came with a 6. My BIL had a 67 Mustang with an Inline 6 and 3 on the floor. Unfortunately, very few originals like this exist. They have all had V8s swapped in or were used for parts for the higher end versions.
Located about an hour and a half from me. Going to try to go see it. The sellers claim of “legal” is a little bit of a stretch if only because Florida doesn’t do state inspections. Photos show no side view mirror.
If you lay eyes on it, can you share your thoughts? – if you don’t buy it that is. I’m 15 hours away…. Thanks!
I would leave it as is except get it a “Earl Schive” cheap repaint and do the engine rebuild to keep it number matching. Then just enjoy it! Mom worked at a AMC dealership and she ordered the cars so we all had at least one inline 6/3 speed and they ran forever. JC
came cuz it looked like an AMX in the thumbnail (2 dor, what kinda rear window)?
Not bad. Funny, my ’70 brronk tried to sport up the rig w/white buckets
copy @ oem.
Not bad @ all (for the ‘3rd’ company). But recent yrs have ruined me. “Only the AMX” has become my chant on AMC passenger cars. Whada vehicle !
Really high price.
I bought mint condition 1973 Mark Donoghue edition with rebuilt blue printed 401 ci engine for $2,000
You may have gotten a 73 Javelin with the Mark Donahue rear duck tail spoiler, but you could only get a Mark Donahue Javelin in 1970. When did you get your Javelin. The value on these has started to go up. If this car is solid with no rot, and with the interior the way it is, $8500 with a good 258 inline 6 is really not that high. If I lived closer it would be heading to my house.
As I had stated previously, My dad had been working at AMC for 38yrs, before he was forced into retirement. I used to work in dept. 836 welding at the Kenosha main plant. 1968 was the first production year for the Javelin and AMX,(the only difference between the AMX and the Javelin was the Javelin had a slightly longer wheel base, and had a rear seat, although not much of one).In 1970 AMC changed the body style to a wider and longer wheel base, with a different body configuration.
Was AMC so strapped for cash that they couldn’t afford to fit electric wipers, I can’t believe this the last car in Australia sold new was the 1958 Holden with vacuum wipers
304 V8, scuff it and shoot it over with matte clear for a patina look and just drive it. I say 304 because they are easier to find, they’re reliable and their AMC.
Neighbor had a 1968 Javelin with the same 232 six and three on the floor. I have a lot of respect for the “Rambler” after spending a few Saturday nights racing around the county in it…
My dad worked at AMC in Kenosha,WI for 38 yrs, worked his way up to position of supervisor in the paint lab at main plant in Keno.,lake front in Keno., and final assembly in Milw. He bought 1of the first 600 ’68 Javelin SST 343’s off the line! I got the car a year later. I sold it to my little brother 3yrs later. I’ve regretted it ever since. I really loved that car!! It would be a dream come true to aquire another ’68 or ’69 Jav. But, now I’m 72 and a disabled Nam vet living on SS and disability (which is not much). Would love to have the car, just isn’t in the financial cards for me. 😪
I’d love to get my hands on this! Swap in a 290 or 304 – although I believe it’s all the same block size all the way up to 401… That and a Tremec 5-spd. limited slip rear moderately geared in the lower to mid 3.0s… NICE interior. I’d keep it as original as possible. What’s great about older vehicles like this is NO computer control needed, you can put anything under the hood and it’ll work. I actually prefer this car over the Barracuda/Challenger or Camaro or Mustang. Parts might be a little difficult to locate though…
Some correction is needed…..once again. The difference between a Javelin & the AMX is more than just wheelbase and a back seat. The roof and rear quarters are totally different. The AMX chassis has different springs and torque links. Furthermore, changes in wheelbase and rear axle width occurred in 1971, not 1970. 1968-70 Javelin: 109″; 1971-74: 110″. Also, keep in mind that a V8 swap requires a front cross-member change & changing the rear axle to an AMC 20 or perhaps a Ford 8.8 or 9 inch unit.
I thought it was 1971, the guy was probably talking about when they produced them not the model year. More from a work perspective. I’m guessing the reason they discontinued AMX was because of extensive changes already required for the Javelin.
This would be a nice platform for keeping the six because it already has one and not the end of the world. Everyone already has a V8 in every denomination in their Javelin. AMC is really about making a choice to be different and unlike everything else.
Yes other pony cars were available with a six so this is not an anomaly. Yes automakers made vehicles for everyone’s budget.
One could have any variation of a 232 258 or 4.0 and be fine with this build A friend was an engineer in engine department at AM in Detroit and tested a 282 Mexican spec based 6. He spent time and tuned it. He proved it could be very competitive on the street and strip. Back when the companies let the guys in certain places do what they wanted. Tried to get the brass to release it in the US. They declined.
By adding a turbo would be very effective on an AM six and standard mods.
To get serious with a six one of the most powerful is a 2JZ Toyota. Not uncommon to make over 1000 hp. But the Japanese 4 cyl engines can easily make that now and weigh less doing it.