'66 AMC AMX Project; AMX

Masterpiece Musclecar

The '66 AMX project consisted of four cars; AMX, AMX 2, Cavalier and Vixen, serving public notice that AMC would become a maker of sporty cars. That year also AMC introduced it's all new lightweight V8 engine; the AMC V8. At this point in US auto history, each of the "big three" had added compact models to their product lines, encroaching on what was formerly AMC's forte in the Rambler days. The four AMX project cars displayed design ideas that can be described as "different", however most of the ideas show a dutiful attention to solve former design challenges universal to the industry, but according to sixties styling trends.

The AMX idea

Of course the idea that the AMX should be compared to the Corvette is obvious wrong information, save for it being a two seater only type of car. That comparison only serves to prove the AMX was smeared with false information, and that large numbers of people were completely misled, having that wool pulled over their eyes, unable to see the nearest competitor to the AMC AMX was the Shelby Mustang.

A complicated mixture of imputs contributed to the AMX idea. Many words have been applied to describe the AMX origin, but for some reason the Shelby Mustang is not considered, breaking the rules of obvious comparison, simile and analogy. Backed into it's own corner of manufacturing compact cars, AMC became fiercly competitive. Not to be outdone, the AMX took the Shelby Mustang idea to another level. Like the Shelby idea for the Mustang, AMC did it with the Javelin... engineered it, not aftermarket modification.

The sixties scene at the dragstrip was also another contribution to the AMX idea; the altered wheelbase cars. The shortened wheelbase allows for a quicker transition of the car's center of gravity to be placed upon the rear drive wheels for better traction, along with raising the front of the car, even the whole car's body, making the center of gravity more easily toppled rearward during accelleration, making good use of "popping a wheelie".

Define Musclecar

Perhaps a musclecar is a car that is not wimpy or arguably underpowered. There were no economy engines available for the AMX; V8 only. In contrast to most of the AMX's contenders, most AMX's came with AMC's 390 V8, as opposed to the maker's large engine being a rare option. But mainstream medias would have people think that any Mustang or Camaro is a musclecar. The vast majority of cars that are considered to be musclecars came equipped with quite mild performing drivetrain systems, such as an inline six Mustang, a slant six Dodge Dart or Challenger. But there were no wimpy AMX's, no exceptions, where it can be said the AMX is a true musclecar, unflinchingly.

All AMX's came factory equipped with the AMC V8 engine, dual exhaust, Borg Warner T10 four speed manual transmission, "heavy duty" suspenson (stiffer springs and shocks), front sway bar, AMC "torque links" (adjustable, override control arms for the leaf spring mounted rear differential), quick ratio steering and larger size tires. For 1970, the high compression 4bbl 290 V8 base engine was superseded by the 2bbl 360 for the base engine, either of them able to dust off most wanna be "musclecars".

AMX tailights are very handsome, especially in the eyes of the people who are fortunate enough to own these true musclecars!