AMC AMX

AMC AMX

The AMC AMX was a bold gamble by American Motors Corporation, a small independent automaker competing against Detroit's Big Three. In an era of pony cars and muscle cars, AMC decided to create something unique — a genuine two-seat sports car powered by an American V8. No other American manufacturer was offering such a car in steel-bodied production form.

The AMX was based on a shortened version of the Javelin platform, with 12 inches removed from the wheelbase to create a compact, 97-inch wheelbase two-seater. The top engine option was the 390 cubic-inch (6,393cc) V8 producing 315 gross horsepower at 4,600 rpm, making the AMX a genuine straight-line performer. The engine breathed through a four-barrel carburetor and exhausted through dual pipes.

The shortened wheelbase gave the AMX a nimble feel that was unusual for an American car of the period. The front suspension used conventional double wishbones with coil springs, while the rear featured a live axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs. A four-speed manual gearbox with a Hurst shifter was the enthusiast's choice, though a three-speed automatic was also available.

The AMX's styling was distinctive and purposeful, with a long hood, short deck, and rumble-seat-style rear panel. Functional front fender vents, a power bulge hood, and dual exhaust tips gave the car a muscular appearance. Inside, accommodations were snug but well-equipped, with bucket seats and full instrumentation including a tachometer.

The AMX also gained motorsport credibility. Craig Breedlove set 106 speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in a modified AMX, and the car competed in SCCA Trans-Am racing. These racing programs gave AMC a credibility boost that the company badly needed.

Only 19,134 AMXs were produced across the 1968-1970 model years before the name was folded into the Javelin lineup. Today, the AMX is appreciated as a unique piece of American automotive history — the forgotten muscle car from the manufacturer that dared to be different.