AMC : Why The AMX Was Forgotten

While AMC was no slouch in its ability to offer high-performance V-8-powered cars, most car buyers in the 1960s saw the AMC company as being focused on economy and thriftiness, not on flashy displays of power.
But on the heels of the Mustang's stunning success, AMC (American Motor Corporation) , like every other American manufacturer at the time, was forced to recognize that small, sporty cars had a place on dealer lots, not just on the showroom turntables. Sure, doctors and lawyers could buy Corvettes and Thunderbirds all day long, but now college students and secretaries could look forward to driving something with a little more guts than the average family AMC sedan.
So, for a brief span of about five years, AMC totally devoted itself to capturing the youth market. AMC first responded in September 1967 with the Javelin. Given the pony car-mad public, they knew it would sell, but with Dick Teague's urging, the company decided to go one step further with the AMX in February 1968, the only mass-produced American two-seat sports coupe aside from the Corvette, and at $3,245, more than $1,000 less expensive than its honored competitor.
A lot of people saw the AMX as a 12-inch shorter derivative of the Javelin, given the shared body panels and chassis. Yet AMC engineers and stylists designed both the AMX and the Javelin on separate tracks at the same time. By February 1968, with concept versions of both vehicles running the show circuit, AMC decided on the single platform for the production versions of both cars.
1968
American Motors promoted the mid-model year launch of the AMX to automotive journalists at Daytona to emphasize its sports car performance, as well as with a marketing agreement with Playboy Enterprises.
This is the history of the AMC AMX

[tommythomason]

The American company with the least money made the best of what they had and manufactured some of the most striking looking and reliable vehicles.

[beyond_the_infinite]

AMC had just won the 71 Trans-Am championship and I bought a 70 AMX 360 4-speed with Go Package with 3.73 posi. It was burn-out machine and quick. I remember buying many sets of tires and installing a few clutches. Car drew lots of attention and respect from owners of Mustang, Camaro, and even Corvette. Most fun car I ever owned.

[jimowens]

That AMX with the 390 was an absolute beast!!

[stevenlucas]

Had a few friends back in high school that had these. They were a lot of fun. Now many decades later, I decided to get one. I recently purchased a cherry, low mileage (118, 000)1969 with the go package, Matador Red with white stripes. The car drives like a dream and is very quick. I've never owned a car that gets compliments like this one. Everywhere I go, it attracts people. Many have questions because they have never seen or heard of the AMX. I get several people a week that even take pictures. It's nice to see they are finally getting some recognition. A good time to purchase one as the value has been going up steadily the last few years.

[christopherkraft]

I always thought that the AMX was an exciting car that was very underrated!!! They were actually good cars!!! 👍👍🙂

[gregvarner]

I had forgotten how bad ass the AMX really was. The 1970 was probably the best looking but they all were great.

[garygray]

I have a "68" black on black - 401ci STR-11 dual quad 4 spd. It gets alot of thumbs up and ohs and ahs at the shows. Highly photographed.
Good report on the AMX

[Skull-in-the-house]

I owned a few AMCs in Chicago,
What I noticed most about them was the body never seemed to rust nearly as often as other American cars
It was a very durable car in every way

[johndavis]

In 1972 I worked for an AMC/Jeep Dealership that sponsored a drag racing car completely built by the service department and body shop. The donor car was a 1969 AMX. The body shop finished it in purple metal flake with white metal flake racing stripes and prepared the car's interior for competition. The service dept mechanics built a 402CI V8 for the car and went to the track as a crew. The car was raced locally at Lions Drag Strip in Long Beach, CA. It did well in its class but most of all it was fun to watch! Everyone remembered that paint job!

[valengreymoon]

In 1990 I had a 69 model. Bronze / black, 390, 4-speed and go-pack. I only paid $600 for it, but it was fairly rough, even though it was all there and ran flawlessly. Sold it about a year later for a huge profit, but looking back, I should have kept it.

[stevehaas]

I've owned my 69 AMX, 390 go pack since 1975. Told the wife it would be a good investment, and that we'd sell it later to help with the kids college tuition (yeah, right). It's been a nice hobby restoring it and keeping it running. Kids ask me, what is it, who made it, but they've never even heard of AMC.

[jclark]

Great video! The AMX has never gotten the respect it deserves, it was nothing strange for SuperStock AMX’s to shut down Superstock Hemi Barracudas, COPO cars, and Cobra Jets, but there was only 53 1969 Superstock amx’s produced. When I saw an amx at a car show years ago, I had to have one. I now own a hunter green 69 amx 343 go pac car with the stripe delete option that was offered in 1969.

[audieconrad]

Boca Bros. good job with this vid!! Well done - informative and accurately factual. What AMC did in the performance arena - [muscle, strip, street and track] in the short time they did it is remarkable. Long live AMC muscle! 💪

[piskac]

I had a 1983 AMC Eagle SX4 Fastback decked out with every option. Truly a great 4WD vehicle. I was buying cars as far back as the 1960s and really regret not checking the AMX and its related editions out. My younger sister bought an AMC Pacer. She never stopped being in love with it. I could see the design made no sense except as a sci-fi fantasy car.

[AMCmachine]

Believe me, they haven't been forgotten! 🙂 Good comprehensive summary of the two-seater's proud, exciting and accomplished history. 👍 A story that continues to this day.

[Rusty]

I owned a '69 AMX 343 manual transmission (blue with white stripes) and it was an awesome car. When I told my much younger 'gearhead' little brother it had a 343, he balked and said it was the 390, since they didn't have a 343. Thanks for the vindication.

[mikedrake]

I thought I liked the 68 AMX best, but after seeing this video the 70 AMX would be my favorite.

[p.oinonen]

I rode to a Jefferson Airplane concert in a modified one in 1972. Picked up a delighted hitchhiker with a "J.A." sign at the freeway entrance, got to the show in a hurry. Later tear gassed by the police as a mass disturbance occurred. Several JAs arrested. Start off your night in a car like that, who knows what will happen ???

[Trenton-omqs]

My dad has a restored 1969 AMC AMX. Its a shame it is so forgotten because Its such a cool car

[mwyatt]

lve had a 68 and 69. Had a 390 amx in the 70s and bought a fully restored 68 w/ low miles l have now . lts a lesser known 290v8 model but l love it and its plenty fast still.