The 1968-70 American Motors AMX was a nice niche vehicle that played the role of halo car for the entire AMC lineup. It was convenient to produce the two-seater because it was based on the Javelin pony car. However, by 1970, sales were sliding like many sporty and performance cars in the industry, so this would be the final year of the AMX as a two-seater. Among the 1968-70s, ’70 may be the one to have due to an interesting mix of available options, which is why this 1970 AMX is our Pick of the Day. It is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in St. Charles, Missouri. (Click the link to view the listing)
AMC advertised the 1970 AMX as saying, “We made the AMX look tougher this year because it’s tougher this year.” Under the hood, the 290 was tossed and the 343 was upgraded to 360cid, with the 390 being the sole option. The 360 was rated at 290 horsepower while the 390 was upgraded to 325 horses. Both were topped by a new hood blister that could be made functional with the Go Package, which also included power front disc brakes, F70 x 14 white-letter tires, handling package, Twin-Grip differential, and heavy-duty cooling.
Taillights were tweaked, still maintaining the full-width theme but now segmented and not wrapped around the sides. Up front, a new grille included parking lights, while the bumper cavities where they formerly resided now functioned to cool the brakes. If so inclined, you could add a side stripe sweeping from the C-pillar to the nose, or perhaps the Shadow Mask would do the trick. Inside, you’d find a redesigned instrument panel plus high-back bucket seats available in vinyl (both standard and “Ventilair”), corduroy, or leather. AMC certainly wasn’t lying about the improved AMX.
As 1970 would be the final year for the two-seater AMX, the above updates made it quite a unique vehicle compared to the 1968-69s. Our featured 1970 AMX is painted Matador Red with the Shadow Mask, which gives it a vintage custom look. The original 390 has been upgraded to a later 401 for added power, while shifting duties are handled by a console-mounted three-speed automatic with 3.15 Twin-Grip gears. Dig the Mark Donohue spoiler! Inside, you’ll find the standard vinyl buckets and, of course, no rear seat.
Other features include side exhausts, standard 14-inch mag-style wheels, power front disc brakes, power steering, upgraded stereo and, for you comfort mavens, air conditioning. If you were going to look up 1970 in the dictionary, this vehicle would appear as it does a good job of defining the style of the time. With a low 48,838 miles on the odometer and a $59,995 price, your zeitgeist-on-wheels is waiting for you.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Re: 1970 AMC AMX: Must be a Labor of Love. It must have taken a million hours of work to cherry that
thing out to the amazing condition it is in. For $60K, no one is making any money on that price.
Your right about nobody making any money because no one is going to pay $60,000 for a 1970 AMX, no matter what condition it’s in.
If you’re looking to buy to make a profit, then you’re not a car enthusiast. There’s always someone who loves the car for it’s looks or what you remember in the day.
Its always treat to see a true muscle car that isn’t a camaro, Chevelle, mustang, or mopar from the same timeframe. Go to a car show, and there is no shortage of the above mentioned cars, and you can see them on almost a daily basis on nice days-very nice cars for sure, but fairly common as muscle cars go. Seeing an AMX, 442, or Buick GTX is a treat to me from a point of rarity. Either way, I believe ’65 through ’72 was the high-water mark for some of the greatest cars of my generation.
GTX is Plymouth, GS (Gran Sport) is Buick.
The 70 AMX is the best looking year of the three years that the 2 seater AMX’s were produced. I own a BBB Shadow masked 70 with a 360 Go Pack, 4 speed T-10 l, 3.54 rear end twin grip factory a/c, power steering, leather seats. The AMX featured here is a pristine example of a fine AMX. And a 401 to boot!! What’s not to like?
Diego, I gotta agree with Darrell, and I’m a GTO guy. ’70 AMX is ridiculous cool. Thanks for the pick!
That is an absolute beautiful car. I would be interested….but not at 60K. Thank you, JP.
You are welcome to reach out to the seller and discuss.
My first car was a 1968 AMX with the 290 engine. It was a blast to drive and I still remember cramming 3 or 4 other kids in the back of it to go to places to eat while we were in high school in the 70s. Good times… This seems to me like a fair price for an AMX in this condition.
I owned a 1968 Javlin brand new. It had the AMX 390 7 months before it was introduced in the AMX. It was a factory X vin as it had that motor. It was posl traction, three speed automatic with a shift kit. Very reliable automobile.
Great AMX..looks fantastic.. beautiful color
Got one love another AMC