The AMC AMX or American Motors Experiential as it was officially known made its first public appearance at a press review at the Dayton International Speedway in February 1968 and later that month at the Chicago Automobile Show. By March 1968 the car was available at AMC dealerships.

The AMX was the little brother of the four seat Javelin and due the weight savings of a shorter wheel base the car was a better performer that it’s bigger brother. Generally, the AMX was about a second faster for both 0-60 and quarter mile runs. The car also looked better that the longer Javelin.

The AMX was a bold attempt by AMC to change its image from a manufacturer of plain economy cars to a manufacturer of thoroughly modern and performance orientated automobiles. The AMX was the first new two seater introduced since the Thunderbird went on sale in 1955. The Thunderbird had grown to a much larger car in the mean time and had moved into the luxury market. The only other two seater was the Corvette and realistically it was in a totally different market. The Corvette was bigger, faster and much more expensive. AMC hoped the car would appeal to those that want a sporty car but couldn’t afford the ultimate American two seater.

Different Models

There were two versions offered in 1968 although one, the Craig Breedlove AMX, is very rare. The standard AMX was available with three engine options: a 225 horse power (hp), 290 cubic inch (ci), a 280 hp 343 ci and a 315 hp, 390 ci engines. The buyer got a 4 speed manual transmission standard and a three speed automatic was optional. For the enthusiasts, the “Go Pack” included a 343 ci engine, dual exhausts, power front disk brakes, E-70 wide profile tires, a handling package and rally stripes.

The Craig Breedlove AMX

Craig Breedlove established over 100 world speed records with a 1968 AMX at the Goodyear test track in Texas. As a result AMC created a AMX named after him. The car was a replica of the car he used in his stunning achievement. The cars were painted red, white and blue. They came with a 290 ci attached to a four speed transmission. The cars are very rare with only 40 produced.

Things To Look For

AMXs and Javelins have three major areas that are frequently rusted and should be checked out before purchasing one. The quarter panels, especially on either side of the trunk, due to debris build-up. The sill panels between the trunk lid and the rear window should be checked. Finally, the lower portion of the A-pillars, due to tiny drain holes that quickly filled up with debris tends to rust. He also notes the floor pans, the trunk pans and the troughs under the front fenders as other potential problem areas.

AMXs and Javelins shared their interiors, including bucket-only seating, from the front seats forward. Behind that, the interior quarter trim pieces are unique to the AMX. The armrests pose a large problem area with their plastic covers curl up at the ends and their mounting tabs are prone to breaking. The other problem area on the inside is the cheaply made head liners. They were partially prone to coming apart.

Market Place

The cars are relatively rare with a little over 6700 being produced. Fortunately, the car shares many components with the Javelin and this helps some. However, even with those additional resources parts are nowhere near as common as parts for other pony cars. For those looking for a challenge and for those with patience the AMX could be an interesting car to restore. Let’s face it, Mustangs and Camaros are a dime a dozen.

Values range from about $24,000 for a car in excellent condition to about $10,000 for a very good car that only needs a few cosmetic repairs. A good starter project should set you back $3,000-$4,000. Add about 30% for the Craig Breedlove AMX.