Take this into serious consideration if the car in question has a desirable paint color such as Big Bad Orange, or a leather interior. Always check under the carpet and behind the dash instruments for evidence of the car’s factory-original paint color. Many collectors prefer the patina of an original door tag that has never been disturbed because the possibility exists that a shiny new tag may not be an exact duplicate of the original.
The AMC door tag, when original to the car, can often be used to gauge the production date as well as to confirm how the car was originally equipped. Trim and paint codes can be checked in the AMC Technical Service Manual (TSM) that corresponds to the car’s model year. If the door tag is not affixed with star-shaped rosette rivets it has been removed, so inspect the car carefully before considering a purchase. Similarly, a tag that appears to be brand new may be a reproduction that does not exactly match the original.
An additional label was installed on the driver’s door of 1970 and newer AMC cars. However, decades later it is not uncommon to find it in poor condition or even missing altogether following a repaint. When present, this gray-colored label includes the car’s build date (month and year only) as well as the complete VIN. An original label in good condition should be carefully protected when restoring the car.
Beginning with the 1970 model year a gray-colored label was also affixed to the edge of the driver’s door that includes the complete VIN, plus the month and year that the car was assembled. Replacements can generally be created by a skilled print shop using sharp photos of an original label. Because this decal includes the car’s specific VIN and build date, new replacements are generally unavailable.
Nearly every 1968–1970 AMX has a dash-mounted plate containing a “production number” that actually doesn’t correspond to the VIN or sequence numbers. This plate was really nothing more than a marketing gimmick, but made the AMX one of the first numbered limited editions. However, the first few hundred AMXs were assembled with a simple “AMX” plate instead of a number, and some of the lowest number plates were held back by American Motors for potential celebrity buyers.
Most low and even numbers, such as “AMX 01000” were never even installed, but were instead kept as souvenirs by AMC employees. Because these numbers continued uninterrupted throughout the 1968–1970 production run, many late-1970 cars carry plates with numbers that are several thousand higher than actual AMX production. If an original, one-owner AMX still has its original plate it will provide a very general idea of when the car was built within the model year, but that’s all.
The 1968–1970 AMX dash-mounted production number was really nothing more than a sales gimmick intended to make the cars seem more exclusive. The location of this plate started on the glove box, moved to the center speaker cover during the 1968 model year, then returned to the glove box door for 1970 when the plates were larger with red and blue accents. Numbering continued over the three-year production run with some late cars bearing numbers that are thousands higher than actual AMX production.
An old joke in AMC circles describes a “numbers matching” car as one with the same engine size cast onto both sides of the block. That’s because unlike engines of other manufacturers, AMC V-8 engines are not coded to the car’s VIN. This means that, in most cases, there is no way to positively prove that an engine or transmission is original to the car. But it also means that a badly damaged or missing engine can be replaced with a similar one without adversely affecting the car’s value.
The only exceptions were cars built for sale in Georgia and Tennessee, where the law required all new motor vehicles to have the engine and transmission coded to the car in which they were installed. For this purpose the car’s sequence number from the door tag, plus the two-digit model year were hand stamped on the engine and transmission.
One other caveat involves the 390-ci V-8, because it was the only engine size carried over from 1969 to 1970, when better-breathing cylinder heads and other significant upgrades increased output from 315 to 325 hp. Be sure that when inspecting a 1970 model that the 390-ci engine is correct for the car’s model year.
AMC blocks, heads, and other components have a multitude of casting numbers and date codes, but the first ones to check when inspecting a project car are the aforementioned numerals spelling out the engine’s displacement. These large numerals can be easily seen on both sides of the block, right behind the motor mounts.
A trained eye can recognize the more rounded 1968–1969 “390” compared to the narrower digits found on a 1970 390 block. Some replacement blocks, however, were cast without any size identification at all, but these are fairly uncommon.
A small aluminum tag attached to the front of the passenger-side valve cover also identifies the engine size, its build date, and any factory overbore information. Many tags were lost, however, when aftermarket valve covers were installed, or swapped with covers from a different car altogether. Check also on the back of the driver-side valve cover in case they were switched side-to-side. If the tag is present, and appears to agree with the engine size as well as the car’s approximate build date, consider it a bonus because correct replacements are becoming hard to find!
Most AMC V-8 engine blocks have the displacement cast into both sides of the block behind the motor mounts in large numerals. Using a flashlight, these numbers can be checked from underneath with the engine installed. A 1970 390 block has numerals that are narrower than a 1968–1969 390 block, which has numerals that look like this 290 casting. This is good information to have when inspecting a car for purchase.
The V-8 valve cover identification tag was originally mounted to the front of the passenger-side valve cover. It identified the engine size (X indicates 390 ci here) and included the build date code and overbore information if applicable. Many of these tags were lost forever with the installation of aftermarket valve covers. Because they are not being reproduced at this time, having a nice original is desirable for an accurate restoration.
Most of the desirable performance and appearance options and equipment on an AMC muscle car are permanently documented between the car’s VIN plate and door tag. If you have found an original Big Bad Blue 1969 AMX with saddle leather seats, a 390 V-8, and console-shifted automatic transmission, the code for each of these options is unmistakably embossed for your inspection, and any missing equipment is a bargaining chip for negotiating a lower purchase price. However, many other important options are not coded to the car, including air conditioning, electric windshield wipers, AM/FM radio, rear bumper guards, and the high-performance Go Package.
Equipment included with the Go Package varied by model, but typically consisted of front disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension and cooling systems, Twin-Grip rear axle, and Space Saver spare tire, among other items.