Car: American Motors Corporation (AMC) AMX
Year: 1972
What makes it special: Javelin is a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-dood hardtop manufactured and marketed by AMC across two generations, 1968–70 and 1971–74. Styled by Dick Teague, Javelin was available in a range of trim and engine levels, from economical Pony Car to Muscle Car variants. In addition to manufacture in Kenosha, Wisconsin, Javelins were assembled under license in Germany, Mexico, Venezuela, as well as Australia, and were marketed globally.
What made it famous: Slightly redesigned taillights distinguished the 1972 AMC Javelin AMX 401 externally, but there were more important changes under the hood. The AMC 304 cu-in V8 became the standard Javelin AMX engine for ’72. Most opted for the larger 360. This engine was down to 175 horsepower with the 2-barrel, 195 with a 4-barrel and single exhaust, and 220 for the 4-barrel with dual exhaust. Compression was down to 8.5:1 for more efficient use with the unleaded fuels that were now required. Included with the 360 were E70×14 Goodyear Polyglas tires and other features. The 401 V8 remained an option and was now rated at 255 horsepower at 4600 rpm. The optional “Go” Package was on the options sheet, featuring Cowl-Air Induction, heavy-duty suspension, E60x15 Goodyear Polyglas tires, racing stripes, Rally-Pac instrumentation, hood T-Stripe decal, and related appearance/performance features.
Why I would want one: It’s among the cooler, performance offerings from AMC, which was a cool departure from their normal economy inspired models.
Fun fact: Like their Motown rivals, AMC was scaling back performance by this time under pressure from increasingly stringent exhaust-emission standards and oppressive insurance rates.
