Original Block 390ci V8/Original Interior/Bitter Sweet Paint/Seldom Seen

1968 AMC AMX

In the 1960s the one thing American Motors needed was an attention getter, something to pull the younger “in crowd” into the dealer showrooms. After the Rambler Tarpon, a sporty concept car that evolved into the not-so-sporty Marlin, American Motors unveiled the AMX concept at the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) convention in Detroit at Cobo Hall in January 1966. The car made its public debut on February 18 at the 58th annual Chicago Automobile Show. The AMX displayed at that show, a two-door sports coupe with a rear “Rambleseat,” was a non-running fiberglass concept car.

For consignment, a rare one indeed this AMC AMX from 1968. AMX was supposed to stand for American Motors Experimental but was actually the name of a French WW2 tank! No tank here, just great design from American Motors which definitely brought the younger crowd into the AMC showrooms.

Exterior
Like life, this car is coated in Bittersweet Orange paint, which presents very nicely. Also, on this hood are dual stripes racing forward and rearward and are actually painted on in black just like the factory would have done. Upfront single round headlights are framed up top by the front quarters, and below by a shiny bumper. The original grille is noted with the horizontal ribs and an AMX badge on the driver's side. Steel panels are good and rust free, and gaps are well minded. All brite-work is maintained nicely with no rust or dulling, and a horizontal ribbed stainless rocker trim runs from wheel well to wheel well adding some bling to the bottom of the car. A fastback rear deck swoops downward and utilizes small flying buttresses from the B pillars to frame the rear window. On the very back is a horizontal strip of red which houses the taillights, and is framed below by another mirror like bumper. Also noted are big round bezels on the B pillar, and AMX badging in the center just in case you forgot! 14-inch Magnum 500 wheels are on all 4 corners and are wrapped in raised white letter BF. Goodrich radial T/A's on all 4's as well.

Interior
Original buckets and door panels are clean, door panels are wrapped in tan vinyl and have a stitched embossed forward-facing arrow pattern in them. The buckets, the only seats in the passenger compartment, utilize the same tan Ventileer vinyl and have a waffle pattern for the inserts and smooth surrounding bolsters. A simple centrally located console in brown, houses the automatic shift lever, and right above is the original dash in tan and brown. An original radio is seen in the middle. A trio of deep round gauges fronts an original wrapped steering wheel complete with the AM badge in the center of the tri spoked steering wheel. Headliner is nicely preserved and is a textured ribbed pattern, and flooding the floors below is gold carpet, which shows in good original condition. This also covers the rear cargo area in lieu of a rear bench. A shout out to the trunk which is covered with a smooth shiny black vinyl liner and topped with an original spare.

Drivetrain
Within a restored engine bay is the original turquoise colored block in 390ci V8 format. It is topped by a 4-barrel Holley carburetor, and backed up by a Shift Command 3-speed automatic transmission. On the rear axle is a 2.87 gear setup. Slight corrosion on a few parts, but nice, shiny and supple hoses all around, and very clean and nicely kept overall under the hood.

Undercarriage
Some slight areas of surface rust, but very minimal, and mostly sound floor pans, rockers and unibody construction underneath. Independent coil springs for the front suspension and leaf springs for the rear, as well as drum brakes all around. A stock exhaust is installed.

Drive-Ability
This 390ci V8 fires right up, and after a warmup period it was off to the test track where it was put through the paces. Here it performed well, with solid acceleration, decent handling, and good cruising.

Not often seen in these parts, this car had a short run as American Motors was in the throws of taking its last gasps, although this car was really a breath of fresh air. It's nicely designed small flying buttress rear fastback, slight bulbous rear, and pony car features, was enough to garner its fans with its contemporary shape of things to come. (See the ubiquitous Pacer!)

VIN DECODE
A8C397X290479
A-American Motors Corporation
8-1968
C-Automatic Floor Shift
3-AMX
9-2 Door Hardtop
7-AMX Trim Group
X-390ci V8 4bbl
290479-Kenosha, WI Sequential Unit Number

DOOR TAG
BODY R022424-Kenosha Body #
MODEL 6839 7-1968 AMX 2 Door Hardtop, AMX Trim Group
TRIM 832A-Tan Ventilear Vinyl
PAINT 50A-Calcutta Russet Poly