30K-Mile Barn Find: 1969 AMC Javelin SST
I would guess that I’m one of the few here who would take this 1969 AMC Javelin SST over a similar-era Mustang, Camaro, or Barracuda. I like vehicles that are a little different and AMC knew how to do different very well. The seller has this formerly-hidden pony car listed here on eBay in the Queen City: Cincinnati, Ohio. There is no reserve and the current bid price is $4,650.04.
I really like the librarian look of this Javelin. It isn’t a mean monster muscle car or anything flashy at all, but this sort of half-hatchback half-notchback profile with full wheel covers and black wall tires is a killer look, I think anyway. The other side has a couple of issues, I’m not sure if it’s just the paint or if those discolored areas are dents or bodywork or what’s going on, but overall this car looks really good to me for being in a barn for 25 years.
1969 was the second model year for the Javelin and the SST package was a top trim level with reclining bucket seats and unique wheel covers. I lost so many wheel covers on my dad’s 1970 Olds 98 that I’d be tempted to take these off unless I was headed to a car show. There’s even a spare wheel cover on the spare tire in the super clean trunk! I don’t see any rust on this car other than maybe some surface rust and with only 30,000 miles and having been stored for the last 25 years, it has to be cleaner than most.
The charcoal vinyl interior is in nice condition other than the missing door panels. That’s unfortunate but maybe the next owner can track down a couple of them in a junkyard or online. This car has AC and you can see that everything looks like it’s in nice shape for being as old as the first moon landing. The back seat looks new. The driver’s side window is lying in the back seat, supposedly, as it fell off the track. I don’t see any rodent damage inside so I’m guessing that happened when they took it out of storage, not before it went into storage.
The engine is slightly upgraded from librarian spec, this is a 290 cubic-inch V8 which had 200 horsepower. It looks clean but the seller hasn’t tried to start it after pulling this car out of the barn a few days ago. I have no doubt that 99% of Barn Finds readers would have this engine running in no time and I sure like the sedate and classy look of this Javelin. Any thoughts on this one? Would you keep it original as I would, or would you modify it?
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Comments
I work on a fellows 68 AMX and while I like the car I prefer the early Javelin because the longer wheelbase gives the car a more balanced appearance. I’d be leery on this one until I could look underneath as Cincinnati climate is harder than most for classic cars. From what I see here this one has promise. Swap out the 290 for a 390 since it’s the same block and since there are no numbers matching AMC’s no big deal.
Looks like it had a vinyl top at some point.
I agree with the writer keep it stock. Nothing wrong with a 290 AMC V8. Mustangs made do with a 289, some even had the 2 barrel carb with 200 H. P. and that is what this should be. It wouldn’t be difficult to change the cam and intake for a 4 barrel carb with dual exhaust if a person just had to have more power. With a 390 transplant the transmission leaves a lot to be desired as the Borg Warner transmission was not the greatest transmission ever made.and would require changing the crankshaft to a 72 or so version in order to use a Chrysler 904/727 which AMC eventually went to (with the AMC bolt pattern of course)
The ’69 390 Javelin SST (which I had decades ago) came with the Chrysler 727 transmission . It was called ‘Torque-Command” though.
Was a Borg-Warner transmission to 1971,
A buddy back in 1970 swapped in a Holley 500 CFM carb with dual exhausts on his 1969 4-speed 290 Javelin… it was one of the more cost effective modifications I remember on almost any car I’ve known. In the stoplight drags it surprised quite a few people, and after he showed them the 2 barrel many just shook their heads walking away. Fun little car. He traded it for a 68 Galaxie 500 convertible with a 390/2 barrel and swapped that to a Holley 500 with similar results. Always had a soft spot for AMC’s, grew up north of Chicago so they were a “local” manufacturer.
Agree, a 904 would be plenty in this car with the 290 and a big improvement. They came behind 258 & 304; not sure that they were with anything bigger.
I like this car, clean, but agree with another post that we would need to see underneath it, but what’s showing looks pretty clean.
If that’s an SST it’s a stripper, because most that year had black stripes, black vinyl roof and a wood-trimmed dash. I know, I had one back in the mid 70s. Often they were ordered with a 390 as well.
Observations:
This one appears to have the vinyl top chrome over the quarters.
Years ago, I had several Javelins, and AMX’s. Into the 80’s, if you needed parts, there were Javelins all over the place for a couple hundred dollars. I have to admit I stripped my share of them.
Most car people dont realize , numbers-matching has no meaning with AMC’s . One of the upsides, is you can modify them, change their color, drive train, etc. and not hurt their value. In fact, if I bought this one , and converted it to a 390 4spd, its value would increase, dramatically.
Finally, in my opinion, the Javelin was the ONLY car of the era, whose appearance was improved by a vinyl top. It accentuated the beautiful lines of the car.
Add me to the list, Scotty.
The only negative I can come up with (and I thought this when the Javelin was first introduced) is the rear wheels sit too far back; perhaps to add the rear-seat room?
The early Javelins were nicely proportioned and well sculpted. A long rear overhang, imho, would make the car ungainly. Placing front and year wheels close to corners improved the andling.
IMO, one of the best looking pony car front ends, tho the stylish bumpers offer the least protection. Wish there were more of these early Javs left today or at least if there was a dynacorn body available.
Not sure if the color shade of the upholstery is correct.
$5,700 now with 3 days left, should go much higher.
Oh, this Javelin is definitely do-able and it looks like its 98% OEM parts already. I wouldn’t change anything major; just bring it back to original.These sports cars WERE an amazing addition to any FAMILY BACK then.
Never posted before, but been following this site for a few years. I spotted this before it was posted here, and was actually hoping it would not be shown here to keep the interest a bit lower. I have a buddy in Cincinnati, and he looked the car over today, and confirmed the lack of rot. So, I called the seller, and we made a deal, and I bought it. Ive always loved AMC’s. We had a 72 Gremlin when I was a kid, and it was the first car I ever drove. If I was younger, I would prefer the 390 with a 4 speed, but my racing days are long in the past. Looking forward to keeping this an original, and will be driving it as much as possible. Hopefully, it doesnt need much to make it road worthy after its 25 year slumber, and if the 30K claimed mileage is true, so much the better. No documentation was offered to back that mileage claim, and I didn’t even ask, but it doesnt look like a 130K mileage car when my buddy checked it out. I hope its as good as advertised. We shall see…
Thanks for the update AMCRush! Please update us when it arrives.
Auction update: this Javelin sold for $6,950 – congrats, AMCRush!
Stole that one, good on you