(first posted 8/6/2013) I’ve already reported on the Canton, South Dakota Car Show, but I felt the need to place a spotlight on this very original 1974 AMC Javelin. Since it was the last year for the Javelin, perhaps someone felt the need to save it for posterity. This initial view shows the car includes factory correct body color, stripes, and wheel covers.
The interior also appears to be factory original. Any owner who did not value a bone stock appearance would have replaced that ugly steering wheel the day after purchase!
But here’s the absolute proof of originality- A single barrel, push-rod actuated, 258 cubic inch, straight six. Look closely- Even the oil filter is branded “AMC.” Thanks to this pedestrian motor residing in a hot pony car body, this Javelin merits the title, “Curbside Classic.”
I like it!
To pick a nit: so they went to the trouble of finding a NOS oil filter, but they didn’t use a factory-spec battery?
Another car from my youth! My friend down the street with the Studebaker family came down one day to tell me that his mom had gotten a new car. The white 1960 Lark VIII was gone, and in its place was a bright red 72 Javelin AMX. Buckets, console, black seats with red inserts, and a 360.
I liked the car quite a bit on the outside, but I remember being less than thrilled with the inside. Big molded plastic panels screamed of cheap, and the back seat was quite claustrophobic (even compared to the old Lark).
Then, two years later, my friend’s grandmother was ready for a new car and she got one just like her daughter’s, only a 74. Grandma’s choices in cars must have either been about bad timing or a desire for the very last of something, because before the 74 Javelin, she had a blue 64 Studebaker Daytona hardtop.
I liked the details on the 72 Javelin better than the 74. particularly the taillights. Truth is, though, Grandma’s Daytona was my favorite of all four.
Real nice and with a 6 I didnt realise that was available all the Javelins Ive looked at were V8 and likely imported so would have been specced up to justify the high prices, A mate o mine painted AMC cars on the line in Thames he never mentioned any Javelins coming thru.
The pony car choice for the young virginal midwestern librarian!
Male or female librarian? Oh wait, the car maintains the virginal status for both sexes, and any sexual orientation!
So what you’re saying this car is perfect for an automatic tranny?
Back in the early ‘80s I was going to buy a ‘72 Javelin – the test drive changed my mind.
Always like the styling of 1968-1970 Javelin, the 1971-1974 was probably the most over-styled car of the ‘70’s. I do admire how original this blue CC is.
That steering wheel IS hideous, but the rest is great. My sister had one of these in about ’77. Drove it into a ditch. I remember sitting very low to the ground in the passenger seat, with a lot of dashboard in front of me. Was about ten at the time.
My congrats to KiwiBryce for using any punctuation! First time I got through one of your comments without mentally running out of breath! 😉
Clean as a whistle. Looks like I’m visiting the AMC dealership all over again in 1974. After gas crisis I, lots more sixes starting showing up in dealer inventories of all cars available with them, although in my youth, riding my bike to the AMC dealership with all the cars lined up, hoods open, most of the straight sixes were in Matador coupes! To the guy who owns this: keep it, preserve it as is lest some yahoo gets it and carves it up to make a faux AMX . . . .
If it had been a California car, the big huge air injection pump would been there taking up space.
Come to think of it, (I can’t see because of the shot with the air cleaner in the way), this one doesn’t appear to have power steering OR power brakes . . . . bet they’re drum all the way around too. A sleek cruiser . . . don’t ask it to do too much. Perfect for not-too-curvy stretches of highway. No A/C – a tad warm for the humid mid-west, I’m sure.
Wonder if this well preserved one was an order cancelled and the dealer was stuck with it and sold it at a huge discount to it’s original buyer . . . .
I admire the originality of the car. Although this is coming from a guy who if he had a straight 6 Mustang or Slant 6 Dart I’d end up as a member of one of those forums where they try to make insane power from 6 cyl. 😛
I would have wanted it this way. The 258 six was a performance tractor engine. Had one in a Gremlin, with three-on-the-floor…it moved, and asked a minimum of me in shifting.
It’s an excellent reference as to what the late 1960s WERE…not what we wanted them to be, but what they were.
People in AMC circles like to call the 1971-74 Javelins “humpsters”. Stupid, but probably accurate.
There are a few I-6 Javs like this that show up semi-regularly at cruises here (Kenosha, where else?). They all seem to be 3-speed floor-shifted manuals.
The featured car is very nice. Kudos to the owner for showing tremendous restraint; I don’t think I could look at that steering wheel for long.
Humpsters…. This generation of Javelin always reminded me of a love child born to a 69 Javelin and a 68 Corvette.
Nothing wrong with a pony car having a 6,very nice.I had a 69 secretary’s special which was very reliable and not to bad on gas.The 68 and 69s were better lookers, the big block cars were beasts, they were the first pony cars used by the Police.On the race track Javelins put one over on the big 3 a few times like Rocky with racing cars.Seriously under rated and overlooked cars
Ignoring the fact that I think Teague & Co. messed up the clean lines of the original Javelin with the automotive equivalent of false nose and glasses, I like this.
I particularly like that 258, I had several in the 1980’s. Just look at the distributor access! However, if the float sticks in that single barrel Carter you get a cascade of fuel onto the hot exhaust manifold which can be quite exciting!
+1 the early ones were just right like so many American cars,then they”improve” them!
About 25 years ago a good friend of mine had a 1974 Javelin.
He told me that people often asked about his dented front fenders, and they also asked how could he have dented them without scratching the paint….
The Javelin. The greatest ponycar that might have been.
It should have made it. Lighter than the contemporary Mustang; sportier than the cruiser Camaro of those years. Notice the lack of bumpers? AMC got a one-year variance exemption.
It was to allow the Javelin to sing its death song. There would be no next year.
Sadly, AMC was starting to breathe with the death rattle by this time. There were rumors abounding that the car line would be discontinued in favor of a Jeep-only store; and while Gerald Meyers dismissed it flatly to Popular Mechanics, there clearly were thoughts and considerations of costs and benefits.
The tragedies of this era, starting with DeSoto and Edsel and on to Plymouth and Oldsmobile…so much lost; so many missed opportunities. So much wrongheaded stipulations and requirements; demands that left the customer alienated and unsatisfied.
AMC had actually muddled through to 1974 in relatively good shape, and even had a pretty good year in ’74, because the energy crisis increased demand for small cars. The public associated AMC with small cars, and they had at least two models in the showroom that fit Americans’ definition of “small car” at the time, in the Gremlin and Hornet. AMC withdrew from the ponycar and fullsize markets after 1974, but the ponycar market was on life support at the time, and AMC had never had more than a token presence in the fullsize market (which would recover, but would never again be what it been before ’74).
What really doomed AMC’s car operation was the the changes in the U.S. auto market after 1974 brought about by the energy crisis and the Japanese invasion. The industry was swept by downsizing, and by the early ’80s small cars were expected to not only be smaller than before but to have 4-cylinder engines and front-wheel drive. Over the long haul AMC seemed to lack the resources to develop anything fundamentally different than what they had been selling since the ’50s. As the market evolved but their products didn’t, their passenger car operation gradually withered away. Aside from withdrawing from certain markets that no longer made sense for them (full-size cars, ponycars, intermediates), the cars AMC was selling in 1980 were basically the same cars they had been selling in 1970. That just didn’t cut it anymore.
”Over the long haul AMC seemed to lack the resources to develop anything fundamentally different than what they had been selling since the ’50s. “
But… the Pacer?
Sure, mechanically it wasn’t so modern, but that wasn’t for lack of trying.
The bumpers do have the big rubber extensions on them, so that must have been done as some level of compliance. Mopar E-bodies and 73/74 Chargers got by the rule with their unchanged 70/71 bumpers in the same manner.
Never seen a Jav’ with a ‘base’ steering wheel like that. Most had the upgrade ‘sport’ wheel.
In Hemmings, there was an article about the Alabama State Police buying a bunch of ’72 Javelins for highway patrol. Some had 401’s, most had 360’s. AMC got the order being ‘lowest bidder’, and the Jav’s were cheaper than Matadors. Someone wanted the ‘cheapest’, but looked like ‘coolest’ police car to me.
I’m surprised that met the 5 mph requirement with that tiny bumper. most other cars I recall went to those cow-catchers in 1973.
No, there was a special exemption crafted out, at AMC’s request. Two-door hardtops made in America did not need to meet the 1974 bumper standards until 1975. I don’t know why AMC was so hot for an exemption when they knew the Javelin was dead car rolling…but, whether to use up parts inventory or whatever, they were.
The rubber blocks on the front bumper probably were there to meet the interim 1973 standards.
That must have been the case with the E bodies too. I didn’t know about these exemptions before.
I recall reading about this exemption in (I believe) Consumer Reports at the time, and that it was limited to vehicles with wheelbase of 115″ or less, which neatly matched the outgoing Charger/Satellite two-doors.
Was just checking out the 1979 Spirit on the other site and I came here to this!
I can remember tons of these things growing up. Of course, I wanted the AMX, or at least any Javelin with the V8 in it. This is a really neat time capsule, but not what I would go for. But for the owner, I applaud his decision to keep it stock. We need reference cars like this, so in another 20 years our kids and grandkids don’t get the idea we all drove around in the highest sport version possible of every car line…
Who would preserve a 6 cylinder Javelin ? The same type of person who would keep a 17K original 1978 AMC Pacer wagon with just about every option that I was able to identify. Even new, I never saw Pacers fitted out this nice…
Rear
How much would a Pacer with all the options cost?I would think it would be quite expensive and something better value and more desirable could be had.How was your trip in that lovely Imperial Craig?
Seventies’ federal mandates did a great job of killng AMC (and nearly Chrysler, too). There was no room for mistakes and every domestic made lots of them. Given their shoestring budget, AMC actually lasted much longer than they probably should have.
The Javelin was a clean little car when it came out in ’67 as a ’68. Imagine how well it might have done if AMC hadn’t fooled around with the goofy Marlin and brought the Javelin out a few years earlier.
I wonder if AMC had any cannibalization problems cutting into Javelin sales (like Chrysler and the E/A bodies) when they came out with stuff like the ’69 SC/Rambler, ’70 Rebel ‘Machine’, and ’71 SC/360 Hornet.
AMC only lasted as long as they did because of Jeep. That said, their 258 six WAS a killer engine, as were their post ’66 V8 engines.
Owned a 78 concord with that 258. Wish I could buy it new today. Acceptable mileage and enough torque to pull stumps. Mine was geared tall for the highway and a really excellent road car. Of course the closest comparison for me was the 77 Olds Starfire that I dumped to buy it. No comparisons. When it came to being able to choose between the 231 v6 in the olds or the 258 in the concord AMC won every time. If it had been a 232 it still would have won.
if I had to draw a car it would be one like that. At the risk of being thought an anachronism I don’t care much for most of what I can buy. If the minivans had come out in 84 with a slant six I think it would have married the best of both eras. Now I could go for that.
Gen3 minivan with the 3.3 and a manual gearbox.
Be unbeatable.
Since that didn’t and won’t happen…just for giggles, get a Hornet two-door or Gremlin, drop the AMC-based Jeep four into it…and you’ve got a modern economy car to rival many mid-sizers in gas mileage. Unique styling – and if it’s got 1970-71 vacuum wipers, that’ll really confuse anyone who looks.
Leave the Jeep 5-speed on it, too. Not a bad gearbox; none too rugged but okay for street duty.
AMC had a whole lot of good hardware; it’s just that it didn’t come out all at the same time that there could be a “best of the best” off the line.
Great article and big kudos to the owner – obviously a real AMC fan – can’t commend him/her enough for keeping it original (but agree the battery is an oversight).
I prefer the Gen 1 Javelins but these Gen 2 versions are certainly unique and have that great Dick Teague look – like nothing else built at the time.
The whole time I was in junior high and high school, there was a very sad looking ’74 Javelin parked in the front driveway of one of the many run-down apartment buildings I walked past on my way to class. It sat on two flat tires, had a huge accumulated oil stain on the concrete under it, and the front end was slightly boffed.
Not long after I graduated the car vanished. I didn’t think much of it at the time. I figured either someone finally rescued it, or it got hauled off to the scrap heap.
Imagine my suprise when, just a few short years ago, I spot this very same Javelin behind a locked gate at an old, semi-abandoned auto repair shop in South-Central L.A. I recognized it immediately- same hideous mustard yellow paint with turd brown vinyl top color combination ( with the vinyl now falling off ), and the same bashed-in front bumper and missing grille. It was sharing lot space with a sky blue 71-72 Gremlin, a yellow small-bumper Pinto wagon, and a lowered mid-70s Chevy C10 shortbed in primer with the glass removed.
It was clear that this shop wasn’t open for business, but I did see people milling around in there.
Interesting car. AMC had an assembly operation in Australia, which included Javelins however they had unique interior trim over here to reflect their more premium price. They even did a small run of AMX’s, but things were waning by the time this Javelin came around so I dare say they were limited in number too.
I saw one of these (71-74 model) a while ago with the custom registration number “IMACAR” (I’m a car) no doubt to answer ‘the’ question (what is that?) when the owner was not around.
that car is a survivor car its been in our family since it was made. It won the best of show in the javelin stock class at AMO convention Denver 2007. we have been to over 170+ car shows and have won about 150+ trophies. Oliver and Lu Buehner are the current owners of the car.
I just swooned. I would love a ’74 Javelin *exactly* like this one. I wouldn’t be buying one to race. And I like that steering wheel – even if it looks a little “Play-Skool”. 🙂
We need more AMC on CC!
Wow, you learn something new at CC every day!
My best friend growing up had a couple of these ’71 thru ’74 Javelins; ultimately taking the best parts of about 3 cars and bringing them together to make one very nice ’74 with a 304 V8 with 3 on the floor.
As he was building this car, he drove around in a beater of a ’72 with the 360 and riding in that car was quite scary! A Fred Flintstone mobile with a powerful engine and not much else did not give one much confidence as a passenger. Fortunately, he did not keep this car long.
What I learned today at CC: That you could get one of these with a straight 6. I had no idea, but it totally makes sense. My friend never had a 258 or 401, but he had that 360 beater and a few 304(s) from which he built his good car. I always thought the 304 was the smallest Javelin engine.
One of them had THIS INTERIOR… SHAZAAM!!! (and yes, this interior was transferred to his good Javelin – and I helped! The headliner was the trickiest part.) The 70’s were a special time….
Daan is right. I found one a few years ago and wrote it up here.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/car-show-classic-1972-amc-javelin-pierre-cardin-no-really/
Oh yeah, I knew it was the Pierre Cardin. Some enthusiasts at the time were mad at my friend Jeff for taking this interior out of the original Pierre Cardin and moving it to his better Javelin, but it was ultimately easier that way.
His Pierre Cardin was a basket case mechanically (seized engine) and its body was in bad shape, but the interior was nearly perfect. The car he chose to build was the better Javelin all around, so it made more sense that way.
Anyway you look at it, he saved the rare interior, even though he didn’t save the actual Pierre Cardin car. He painted his bright orange, and I mean blindingly bright. If you look closely at the Pierre Cardin interior, orange is represented there, as is white, and he had that as an accent stripe around the back window and going back to a point on top of the rear fenders. I wish I had some pictures of his actual car to share, as the look was quite striking.
That would be a “Pierre Cardin” edition interior
https://www.cardinjavelin.com/
AMC was the first automaker to get “high fashion” designers to make interior trims, long before “Eddie Bauer” Explorers…
I grew up 2 towns over from Kenosha, so AMC’s were everywhere. It wasn’t until I moved away, to realize how few of them really were on the road…
That steering wheel!! Was it supposed to have an airbag in it? This one would look so much better!
Looking at this car again it seems to me that the 71-74 Javelin may be one of the most sensitive ever when it comes to wheel and tire choices. These just look completely wrong with any combo of whitewalls and wheelcovers I have ever seen on one. But when you slap on some beefy white letter tires and some of the sport wheels they are transformed.
I’d suggest the same observations would apply to the Hornet hatchback and the ’74 Matador coupe as well.
These really need the optional styled wheels and larger tires, thanks to the “fender humps” over each wheel. The humps draw attention to the wheels, but also make the standard wheels look too small.
In retrospect, it’s too bad that AMC didn’t bring out what became the 1979 Spirit as the “downsized” Javelin for 1975. The basic shape already existed as a 1974 show car, the Gremlin G-II.
Makes me remember my Dad’s ’72. Now his was an AMX, loaded, with the 401 so I’ll bet this would disappoint me behind that totally wrong steering wheel but I still like the looks. I have fond memories of that car. The way when you backed off on the throttle the tinny clink when the vacuum baffle on the hoot scoop closed. The funky spare tire that folded in on itself, hopefully to expand to full size when you pulled the pin on the inflation cartridge. The time my Mom looked at the AC controls and noticed it has a position labeled “desert only” – being in the wilds of Nevada at the time she put it there, promptly froze up the condenser, and ended up spending the night in Tonopah. And the weirdest thing, it had the console with the automatic on the floor. When you changed gears the ring on the steering column, where the standard shifter would be, rotated. All the linkage for the column shift was still there – and connected. AMC cut some of the strangest corners.
My cousin’s first car was a Javelin, I think it was a ’70, in an awful brown bronze with white stripes. It had the 258 six and an auto. I was never so disappointed with a car before I rode in it to get dinner or lunch. Just weak. It had endless issues with electricals and the A/C, so in late ’74, he traded it for a TAN Camaro. Like the Javelin, it was a six cylinder stripper with no options except A/C and an aftermarket radio. His buying weirdly optioned and usually gutless cars continued for decades until he somehow wound up with a 360 powered Jeep Grand Cherokee. Sadly, his adventures in adequate power didn’t last too long as the GC was eventually replaced by a Subaru of some kind, in boring silver, and just recently an Outback which I don’t understand his love for at all. His wife and him both drive them, her’s is white, and their daughter drives one too. Their son is immune to the Sub Love, and drives a black Camaro SS.