Real Barn Find: 1973 AMC Javelin
Growing up as a car-crazed kid in the seventies, I experienced the good fortune of having an AMC dealership near our home, so my curious eyes got some pretty good exposure to the brand every time we drove by before even hitting my teens. The Javelin was one of those autos I always admired seeing on that lot, but it’s also got a sleek body style that I find myself appreciating more now than during the heyday of American Motors Corporation. The 1973 Javelin here on eBay was previously off the road since at least 1999 but it’s unmolested and seems like good project material, so if you’ve been looking for a 70s coupe to restore this winter perhaps this one’s worth checking out. The car’s located in Calverton, New York, with the no-reserve auction already up to $6,000.
Probably the first thing here that needs to be addressed is the seller initially calling his car an AMX, which he quickly clarifies that it’s not, just be aware that if it’s an AMX you’re hunting for this isn’t the one. He also mentions that the Javelin had been sitting in a barn for roughly a quarter-century before his acquisition, and other than one exterior wash it’s still just like he found it after the long hibernation.
The body lines show some fun sculpting along the sides and front fenders, and even with those safety bumper guards it has a sporty look from the back as well. Losing that luggage rack when the next owner decides to do a respray might help in the looks department, but it’s said to be a rare option so leaving it might be a smarter choice. The quarters are showing some rust and there’s an area up front on the driver’s side fender that needs repair, but the panels are described as pin-straight and I might have to spend a couple of seasons just enjoying driving this one before taking the exterior to a higher level.
Three V8 engines were offered in the ’73 Javelin, beginning with the 304 and going all the way up to a 401. Under the hood here is the middle-of-the-road 360, which produced a time-period respectable 220 horsepower right from the factory. The seller doesn’t specify whether or not this is still the original motor but does state it runs well and that the automatic transmission is also performing properly.
A couple of cool quirks can be found inside and geared more toward the passenger, with the unusually shaped dash layout featuring a small glove box and a vent cover oddly placed for easy access by the occupant instead of the driver. Overall the interior appears pretty good here, and other than some tearing in one of the buckets and a missing shifter handle everything else seems decently preserved. I’m glad this one finally found its way out of the barn and think it would make a nice driver without too much effort. What are your thoughts?
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Comments
Is it me or is that gearshift handle busted ?
“ other than some tearing in one of the buckets and a missing shifter handle everything else seems decently preserved”.
Yes, it’s broken. It should be a ‘horseshoe’ type, and ad says it is broken. How it happened, I’m curious…
How it happened, I’m curious…
Big Fun, probably on a date at the drive-in.
Yes, the center is missing. Pretty common. My 71 looks the same. Lol. BUT, I do happen to have a replacement. I’m going to do some experimenting with trying to make one from other materials. Although, now with 3-D printing available, I may check in to one of those.
Nice drivable Javelin . Love A.M.C. vehicles.
Nice looking car needing less than most we’ve seen here at (so far, anyway) a reasonable price.
GLWTA
I bought a ’73 Javelin new. It was metalic brown with a parchment colored partial vinyl roof and light tan interior. I ordered it without the full length stripe down the side. Loved that car! Dale
Javelins have that very unique body style problem is their full of AMC JUNK.
car needs stripped down & resto-modded
The Ring Brother’s Javelin is a work of art.
Go Ford or GM running gear & drop it on a full frame.
AMC parts are not easy to find & they take time to run down.
The SST & AMX spec Euro cars are Super rare – AMC had them assembled in Germany & I’ve seen a few for sale.
1 in Switzerland is particularly over the top pristine an SST with all the Euro spec options Higher spring rates in the valve train more RPMs hotter cam.
Guy wants 75k+Euro
A Blue AMX in Germany vanished quickly, there is a rough 401 4spd AMX in that awful sea green color.
Wildest thing about AMC is the AMX III it was built & designed tested here in Munich at BMW who still have the plans. Very hot car better than the Pantera.
Best thing about car in article??
it’s a worn out shell just what you need to not feel guilty about stripping it out.
English, please.
Luggage 🧳 rack 🙌
Kelvinator is hold court in the engine bay so I’m thinking it looks like a wife’s car
I’ve always liked the javelins, especially the amx variations, and I was kinda hoping this one had the venerable 390, as I’m not as well informed on the 360’s of the era. This one, imo, sports an unusual paint scheme, as I’ve never seen one decked out like this, and the luggage rack adds to that, never saw one of those either. I fell in love with these when I was in highschool, there was a guy who had graduated a couple of years before I arrived who had a dark green one with a big chrome ‘mailbox’ sticking out of the hood and big wide slicks in the back. I well remember the first time I saw it coming from the back of my Mom’s 73 Montego, and I was enthralled, and then I heard it roll by, just sounding angry like it might just bite the lesser Mercury as it passed. That thing sounded wicked! Just thumped the ground, and although I never witnessed it doing a smoke show, I dare say the ol’ boy enjoyed a bit of the white cloud treatment. I would love to get this one and treat it to some serious massaging under the hood, fix a few of the necessary accoutrements, and shine up that unusual paint job, and not much else.. and then just let the white smoke roll…
Alabama State Troopers bought some Javelins, SST models with the 401.
This car is out by me in long island..
The 360 base engine that came in the Mark Donahue javelin had 300 break hp. from the factory. They were tough as nails and run heads up with most 67 chevy 427 corvettes. At least mine would.
My first car was a 73 AMX Javelin, 360 go pac, auto trans, Fresh Plumb Metallic and full black vinyl top, and with the Pierre Cardin interior. Liked it so much I couldn’t get rid of it. Going on 29 years now.
This baby looks nice! I have had three 70 javelins. Two with 304s. One with a 3 speed manual that took a 390 Chevelle all the way up to 90mph. I used all blue streak ignition. My father was a dealer in mahnomen MN . I now have a go package that has been sitting in my shop for 20 years. I had to replace the 390 with a 360 as I lent the car out to a friend and blew the crankshaft. At that time no internet was available so put in a 360 as I couldn’t locate a crankshaft anywhere. It attracts attention massively and will sell. It needs bodywork. I just replaced the transmission seal and am looking for a pan gasket. It appears to resemble a 390 Ford according to AutoZone. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks. I also have a 69 rambler 2 Dr sedan and 2 1978 pacers. One with a 304. All for sale as I need to buy a second home due to work. Long live AMC/jeep/kaiser Willy’s and the seven main bearing six.
Allan,
Was your father an AMC dealer in Mahnomen? I had AMC dealerships in Rochester and Dundas MN. I would be interested in what you have to sell.
Yeah, yeah, they’re all “barn finds”…
I’m totally bias towards my 1970 SST Javelin by 73 the car’s design had become to radical for me. If you can get it for 10k or less it would be nice to own. What’s with all the oxidation under the hood is it me or the picture?
SOLD for $6,400.
Sounds like a good deal to me.
No 68-70 AMXs built in Europe. All 68-70 AMXs were built in Kenosha, except for a few knocked down cars that were assembled in Australia. All Javelins built in Germany were 343 cars. 1970 4 barrel 360 rated at 290, not 300. 390 motor not available after 1970. Second gen Javelins had 304, 360, & 401 V8s available.
Both my brother and I owned 74 Javelins. Unfortunately mine only had the 304 in it while my brothers had the 401 in it. That car would go sideways for two blocks. Mine wouldn’t even bark the tires. Nice looking cars though always like the interior. Always sporty looking. The Horseshoe style floor shift and bucket seats center console just make it for me. Too bad I didn’t see this one before it sold.