This is my 1971 AMC Javelin AMX
The car looks fast even when it's standing still. I bought it in November 2000 from Manchester. It had just under 44000 miles on the clock and like the Cadillac had been standing for a long time. It was used for drag racing but then for some strange reason someone decided to go for a bit of racing across a field.
Unfortunately that's when the original transmission blew and the car was left standing for 2 years. It was sold off to a guy who restores cars but he didn't know where to get the many bits it needed like new rear lights, grille, back window etc. It took 9 years of standing in his workshop before somebody pointed him in the right direction and soon the car was primered and taking shape.
Unfortunately the guy passed away and the car was sold to a mate in Manchester by the widow, he put it back together and put a new transmission under it and it was off to York Dragway once again. 6 Months later I bought it. The car is one of just 2054 made that year and I haven't heard or seen of another '71 AMX in this country so it is much rarer than the Mark Donohue specials of 1970 of which there are 3 examples in the UK.
I think the car may have a souped up engine, although it idles very sweet and has the cast manifolds, it has a frightening amount of torque when you pull away. I have done a 110mph with it at that speed the steering started to feel unstable therefore I slowed down but it is easily capable of doing much, much more. Originally the car was a no thrills package, it had the AMX option, tinted glass, 4 barrel carb (Standard 360cid 5.9 litre engine) and 8 track, they were the only options, no power brakes, no front discs, nothing else. Fortunately the previous owner managed to find a set of power disc brakes for the car which makes it much safer.
I love the old Trans Am racing series for which the car was designed therefore when it needed a respray I decided to copy the paint scheme of the 1971 ARA (American Racing Associates) Javelin team. Together with Mark Donohue in another Javelin/AMX They secured the championship in 1971 and again in 1972. Unfortunately I am not entirely happy with the respray as some rust is again appearing and there are some sanding marks on the car therefore this summer it is going to recieve some more attention and I'm toying with the idea of painting it red/white/blue and copy the 1972 RWR Javelin colors.
Quite a beautiful car!!!
Some more pictures of the original ARA Javelins from 1971
My future plans for the Javelin are to get a set of Minilite wheels, put a front airdam on it, strip the interior and put a rollcage in it and change the exhausts to exit in front of the rear wheels.
