The collector car market, in your inbox
Classic car news, hand-picked vehicles, and auction coverage. Choose what lands in your inbox.
The AMC AMX never drew the crowds that the Mustang, Camaro or Charger did, but in 1968 it was a two-seat coupe in a field of four-seaters, and AMC offered it with a 315-horsepower 390 V8. A restored 1968 AMX 390 is live on Hemmings with about five days left. As of publication, the high bid is $15,000, which is below the reserve, and only one bid has been placed.
What AMC Built in 1968
The AMX was based on the Javelin but rode a 97-inch wheelbase, 12 inches shorter, and dropped the back seat entirely. According to Over-Drive magazine's 1968 fact sheet, the base price was $3,245, more than $1,000 below a Corvette. The 390-cubic-inch V8 was rated at 315 horsepower and 425 lb-ft of torque. A Car and Driver test of a 390 car, as summarized on Wikipedia, recorded 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds and the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds at 95 mph.
AMC also made sure people noticed. In January 1968, two specially prepared AMXs set 106 world speed and endurance records at Goodyear's track in Texas, with Craig Breedlove among the drivers. AMC built 6,725 AMXs for 1968, of which 4,399 had the 390. Of those, 2,112 were manual cars and 2,287 were automatics, the same production figure the seller cites for this car.
This Car
The seller says the car is restored and retains its original powertrain, including the 390 and three-speed automatic. It has been repainted in its original Frost White, which the seller says matches the 72A paint code on the trim tag, and the red vinyl interior has replacement carpet and upholstery. Equipment includes power steering, power-assisted front disc brakes, an aftermarket Auto Meter tachometer in place of the original, and chrome Magnum 500 wheels with Mastercraft Avenger G/T tires. The engine is described as mostly stock, with a Pertronix HEI-type distributor. The odometer shows 81,013 miles, and the car is offered on a clean Pennsylvania title from Havertown. The seller says it "runs strong," and reports no powertrain, steering, suspension or braking issues.
The listing is upfront about what is not perfect. Bodywork history is unknown, the dashboard and instrument panel show trim wear, the steering wheel is cracked, and the carpet has some fitment issues. Hemmings charges a 5% buyer's fee, and as with any Hemmings listing, the details come from the seller and have not been verified by the auction house.
The Transmission Question
One detail is already being challenged. The listing describes the car's Command-Shift automatic as a version of Chrysler's TorqueFlite. A commenter pointed out that the 1968 through 1970 AMX used a Borg-Warner three-speed automatic, and that the Chrysler transmission did not arrive until 1971. The seller replied that the listing would be reviewed and corrected if needed. Wikipedia's AMX entry agrees with the commenter, describing the optional Shift-Command automatic as a BorgWarner unit, and Over-Drive lists it as a $269 option. It is a small point, but anyone bidding on a car with a particular gearbox should ask the seller directly for a clear answer and inspect the car.
Why It Deserves a Look
The AMX was a different kind of muscle car: shorter, lighter and priced to undercut the Corvette, from a company that was not the first name most buyers thought of. For more on what made AMC's muscle car different, see The 1969 AMC AMX Was Uniquely Glorious, this 1969 AMX with a 390 and four-speed manual and an untouched 1969 AMX drag car that came out of a Michigan garage. Motorious also has a look at an AMC collection full of muscle car drag racers.
This 1968 AMX is a first-year car with a 315-horsepower V8, a distinctive shape and a seller who is at least responsive to questions. Bidding on the Hemmings listing runs for roughly five more days.
