Saw an "04 Alabaster Coupe today while getting some O2 for the shop. Went back to pass out some CICCI and .org info cards. Got to talking with the salesman about the cars and he says to me " want to see something really cool". So, I'm curious and follow him into a shop bay. Sitting amid a bunch of other stuff is a 1970/71 AMX!!!! That funky red-orange with a black top and interior. Curious, I asked how much...only $15K. Oh well. I've already got my play toy.

 

If the car was in really good shape that would be quite a buy. Would still need resto work, but in top condition I'd expect that to go for about 30. What would you think AMX1397? Maybe more?

 

I saw one awhile but, immaculant shape, needed not a thing, for 15k...it was tempting...I loved those old cars...

 

The problem, for lack of a better way to put it, with even near perfect examples of the AMX is that there aren't enough people who love them for them to be as valuable as you might think. It all comes down to market demand with collector cars - then add in provenance such as race history, etc plus accuracy of restoration, or level or originality - to see prices really go up.

If you got your hands on an original car that raced in the Trans-Am series you've got some serious cash, but probably still not as much as a TA Challenger, or a Boss 302 Mustang or a Camaro that raced in the same series. More people just happen to like those cars - that's not a bash against the AMX, it's simply a fact. Neither right nor wrong, just is. But the upside to that is that you can pick up a truly top line American Muscle car for relative peanuts compared to things like Olds 442s, Yenko Camaros, Hemi 'Cudas, etc. Certainly the lovers of the AMX don't love it any less than lovers of other muscle cars (or antiques, Euro sports cars, etc) do, there simply aren't as many of them. Supply and demand, really.

And after all that, $15k sounds a bit cheap for even just a "really nice" example.

 

Well put Mike.
The car that Smfrycruzr saw sounds like it was probably a 71/74 "Javelin" AMX, (going by his description of it having a black top). 68-69 & 70 "2 seater" AMXs were never offered in a two tone paint treatment or vinyl top (except for the Shadow Mask hood). But Javelins did come with an optional vinyl roof.
As for Trans Am Racing, The 71 Javelin AMX won the series that year, but never got much notariety because the era of "factory backed" Camaros and Mustangs ended in 1970. Actually the TA Javelins were the only real competition the Z-28's, and Boss 302's ever had, and for 1970, the Mark Donahue Javelin missed out winning the series during the last race of the season by just one point to Jones's Boss 302. Still, Mark D's sell for a fraction of the Cuda and Challenger TA cars, even though they never were much competion at all.
It's true AMC's never got much "lovin" during the muscle car ERA, and as Mike pointed out, resale prices have always been much lower compared to other "Muscle cars" of the same time period. Being an "Underdog" does have its disadvantages, but it also made every performance "victory" just that much sweeter.
Late 60's and early 70's AMC's were some of the best performance secrets of the time (like the Crossfire). But simply because most every automotive enthusiasts back then never took the time to do their homework because to them, they were just Ramblers.
My only regret for purchasing my AMX new in 1970 is purely financial. If I had been a Ford guy back then, there would be a $100k 67 or 68 Shelby Mustang sitting in my garage right now. If I had been a GM guy, there would be a $100k big block 67 Vette Coupe in my garage. And even though I WAS a Mopar guy back then, instead of buying a 68 Charger RT, or a 70 Challenger RT, I chose the AMX because I always was a two seater guy. Needless to say, don't ask me for financial advice.

Going by what I've seen, $15k should buy you an excellent example of a 71/74 Javelin AMX. Even very nice 2 seater X's are only bringing around $20k at BJ's auctions. But in the past, they have gone for twice that much. Maybe it's the sign of times as well.

 

I'm not an expert on muscle cars, especialy the AMX, by any means. But I did know to look to see if it did not have a back seat, which it didn't. This a web shot of the model I saw.


The salesman did say that the previous owner had just restored it "with only 1,500 miles since". Maybe tha's why it was black on top, I don.t know. I just thought it was cool to see an old muscle car like that, didn't mean to get a discussion started.

 

I had a buddy that rolled his back then...it was painted like Donahue's race car...slipped off the road in a drag race, rolled...little car held up well, and he walked away...that was the last AMX I ever road in. I liked it...but, he never took my Z...lol...

 

That picture is a 70 AMX which if it has the 390 was the most powerful of them all. It had the ram air and dog leg exhaust ports. I like the look of the 68-69 better (I had a 343 auto 68)

Les

 

smfrycruzr, when you said it was black on top, I thought you were speaking about the "TOP" or "roof" of the car, not the hood.
The photo that you posted has the black "Shadow Mask" HOOD option (that I mentioned) which only came on the last 2 seater, which of course was the 70 AMX.
If the car was in really nice condition, $15K was a very good price. Especially with the "Big Bad Orange" color option. (if it matched it's paint code #'s).
By the way, where was that car located? And thanks for posting about it.

 

Sorry, no, it had a black roof, not hood. And it probably has the smaller block, as it did'nt have hood intakes.
I was just showing the shape of the nose and body with the picture of the green, my bad.
As to your question of location, it's at a lot on the far west side of Oklahoma City, can't remember the name.
I'm going by there again this morning, I can stop by and get more particulars, if you'd like.

 

Wow, now I'm really confused. lol.
Sounds like it has some sort of custom paint job.
If ya have a camera phone, it would be great to see photos, but I'd hate to ask ya to go out of your way, because it's really too far away for me to be interested in it. I'd still enjoy seeing what it looks like.
My nephew lives just outside Memphis, and collects them, and is always looking for a new one to add to his collection.

 

if it is a 70 and restored like you say ,, i may want to buy it,, u said it was for sale correct and for 15000.00 i would like some pic and give me his Phone # oh and where can i go to see it. yes a good two seater will sell from 10 to 20,000.00 where as if this car had been built by ford or GM, you wouldn't have enough money to ever buy one. how about this one it is called AMX3 and 5 of them were built the last sale i heard was 250,000.00 jim http://www.google.com/search?q=amx3&...A&ved=0CDQQsAQ
AMX-3-1.jpg

 

Hey there AMX1397. Sorry for the delay.
I did find his website link to the car, but it's listed as a '69 not '70. Now I'm confused.
Here's the direct link(I hope)...Legends Auto Sales Inventory of Used Cars for Sale, Bethany, OK, (405) 440-0044
Listed as AMC-1
Hope this helps.

 

I always did like those cars. Very nice looking.

 

Thanks for posting it smfrycruzr.

 

yes thanks for posting ,,A friend is going by there with the money,, the car needs some work,, the dash has oil and water gauges that need to come out,,the seats are wrong the steering wheel,and some other stuff, to make it worth what a good amx would be worth, maybe 21,000. and one good thing about amc they put the CI in 1"letters on each side of all the V8's,, if the block has a 390 on it then it is a 390.it is under the motor mount on both sides of the block. , jim

 

Glad I could help. Hope it turns into a good deal.