This is likely the reason that so many people have overlooked AMC’s performance models for so many years. To most people, “American Motors” meant Gremlin or Pacer; when the conversation turned to muscle cars, American Motors was generally left out completely. Only recently have mainstream collectors cast an eye toward the products of American Motors. But because most AMC cars were produced in much smaller numbers than comparable GM, Ford, or Chrysler models, demand for some of them has already outstripped the number of surviving examples.
The red, white, and blue 1970 Javelin SST Trans-Am edition is one example; only 100 cars were originally produced and few survive. Another hot collectible in recent years has been the 1971 Hornet SC/360; only 784 units were originally produced and fewer than 200 are known to exist today.
Low production combined with decades of limited collector interest has done little to raise the bar on AMC restorations. A lack of easily accessible restoration information hasn’t helped either, especially in the days before the Internet. Although GM, Ford, and Chrysler muscle cars have long enjoyed a strong aftermarket, as well as specialized periodicals and restoration support, AMC owners have had to make do with scarce, often conflicting or confusing information and relatively few reproduction parts. The result is a lot of amateur restorations using mismatched or incorrect parts pirated from various AMC models or years.
With the price of AMC muscle cars finally on the rise, there is an urgent need for a concise, easy-to-follow blueprint for accurately restoring an AMX, Javelin, or other AMC performance model. That is the mission of this book. However, because the value of a restored AMC car generally trails that of a comparable GM, Ford, or Chrysler model, it is not difficult to spend much more on a restoration than the car will ever be worth, at least in our lifetime. That is one reason I do not profile a 1,000-point rotisserie makeover, ending up with a car that is too perfect to even drive.
The other reason, of course, is that AMC workers did not stand the body shells upright to carefully paint the underside! You will discover how these cars were originally built so that you can accurately duplicate their factory-new appearance. You also won’t be bogged down seeing every step involved in rebuilding an engine or transmission. That book has already been written. In fact, if you’re doing a stock rebuild, everything you need to know for assembling the drivetrain is in the AMC Technical Service Manual (TSM) that corresponds to the model year of your particular car.
Since there is no need to rewrite the TSM, this book is intended to complement it; it fills in the details needed to restore a car rather than just repair one. In these pages you will find the nuts and bolts information needed to perform a real-world rolling restoration with the goal of it being a show-quality, stock-appearing, drivable car that you will be proud to own and display for many years to come. But first, you will find useful information designed to help you find, evaluate, and purchase a project car.
I cover the disassembly process, some basic as well as more advanced restoration steps, the reassembly phase, and final detailing. All major systems are covered: body and paint, mechanical, and interior. Some aspects of a high-quality restoration require hands-on training followed by months or even years of practice in order to hone your skills, but having a better understanding of these operations will give you a greater appreciation of what you might pay someone else to do. Who knows? You may be inspired sufficiently to get your hands on some equipment and give it a try yourself. The more you can do, the less you will spend.
A variety of AMC models and years were used to illustrate this book to present as much original restoration detail information as possible. The two primary vehicles featured are a Matador Red 1968 AMX with a 290 V-8 and automatic and a Bittersweet Orange 1970 base model Javelin with a 390 V-8 and 4-speed transmission. These two cars provide a nice cross section of 1968–1970 restoration information.
Although the main focus of this book is the early two-seat AMX and similar four-passenger Javelin, most of the restoration information can be applied just as easily to second-generation 1971–1974 Javelins and Javelin AMXs, as well as Hurst SC/Ramblers, Rebel Machines, Hornet SC/360, and even 1972 and newer V-8–powered Gremlins, AMC’s “mini muscle car.” All AMC cars built during the muscle car era were assembled using the same basic procedures and assembly sequence. Whenever possible, photos of original unrestored parts and other details are included, rather than replacement parts or parts that are already refinished.
When restoring any car you find that some things go even easier than expected, and naturally there are some setbacks along the way as well. No major project is without a few of those! However, in the end all of the trials and challenges that are part of restoring an AMC muscle car will be worth it because car show spectators will stroll past the rows of common Mustangs and Camaros just to check out something a little different. Let’s get started!
You’ve decided that it’s time to find a muscle car project of your own, and your desire for something less expensive, or a little more uncommon than a Ford, Chevy, or Mopar, has pointed you in the direction of American Motors. If you haven’t already chosen a favorite model there are several great muscle cars to consider.
American Motors began to get serious about performance cars following the introduction of the modern V-8 engines late in 1966. Although the 343-powered 1967 Rogue was a great performer, American Motors upped the ante for the next model year.
Although it looks fairly rough, this 1968 AMX provided a wealth of original information both before and during its teardown. Driven for years, even through Ohio winters (note the snow tires!) and then parked for decades in a barn, this one-owner, 66,000-mile car was nonetheless deemed worthy of a complete restoration.
1968
Featuring a Carter AFB 4-barrel carburetor, forged crankshaft and connecting rods, the high-compression AMX 390 V-8 was the company’s largest and most powerful engine to date. Also arriving for the 1968 model year was the sporty Javelin pony car and the two-seat AMX sports car, which was introduced mid-year in late February.
The new Javelin was a Mustang competitor, and as such it was compared directly to Ford’s offering in AMC’s print advertising. Available in only one body style, a semi-fastback, the Javelin offered the choice of a thrifty 6-cylinder or powerful V-8 engine coupled to either a manual or automatic transmission. The Javelin SST was a more upscale version with nicer interior appointments including fully reclining seats, as well as full wheel covers and additional exterior brightwork. Following the mid-year introduction of the AMX, the 390 V-8 became the Javelin’s top engine option.
With the new AMX sports car, American Motors had an image changer on its hands. Available only with a 4-barrel, high-compression V-8, dual exhaust, traction bars, and a pair of fully reclining bucket seats, the new AMX was intended to be a “halo car,” lowering the median age of visitors to AMC showrooms; in that role it was a major success. Sales success, however, was not realized. Although high volume was never planned for the AMX, one advertisement stated that just 10,000 units were planned for the first year. Actual production fell short of even that goal. A two-passenger muscle car was not a good fit for everyone, but many Javelin sales could certainly be attributed to customers who had been lured into AMC dealerships by the hot new AMX.