The "Faster N' Louder" 1973 401 Javelin AMX

I figured I'd finally make a proper project thread for the '73 Javelin AMX I recently picked up!

I've owned several Javelins over the years, with the most recent being a '74 Javelin AMX I sold via a classic car consignment dealer, and subsequently destroyed only 3 months after the last owner acquired it.



I'm in my early 30s now, but I've been into muscle cars my whole life, and got into AMCs when I moved to Kenosha when I was in high school. AMCs always provided that "X factor" that not many other cars fulfilled in my brain. Fast forward to earlier this year, and I was dreaming about getting another Javelin...or Gremlin, American, or maybe even a Pacer to just go full bore with and put a 360-based 383 stroker in it.

Unfortunately, I was also trying to get a business up and running, so the flow of expendable income was glacially slow. However, that didn't stop me from window shopping online! After looking at a couple over-priced, 70% complete, glorified parts cars, I came across something very interesting on Craigslist.

I came across what I would consider a "holy grail" car. I discovered a '73 Javelin AMX. And it had plenty of goodies like A/C, power steering, power brakes, functional cowl hood with air cleaner still intact, rally pack gauges, and most importantly...a 401. However, as previously mentioned, I had no money. The listing stated the car was in rough shape, had a seized engine, and was more than likely better off a parts car. It looked rough from the pictures, but I figured someone would be interested in fixing it up for the low asking price of $2500.



It was painful to have to pass up, but I felt better sharing the ad in hopes that someone would snatch it up and save it. Life goes on, and so did the window shopping.

Fast forward about 2 months, and I was ready to buy myself an affordable project car. After seeing the Javelin AMX, I decided I would be happiest pursuing a Javelin, and focused in on acquiring a worthy project. After putting up the bat signal on AMC groups on Facebook and the forums, I was made aware that a couple of good candidates were right in my hometown of Phoenix, AZ. As many of you are probably already aware, Dan Curtis runs AZ AMC Restorations here in Arizona, and contacted me about what he had available at the moment. One of which was...(drum roll).......the '73 Javelin AMX!



I checked out the car in person shortly after, and decided that despite it's rather dilapidated condition, it was totally worth taking on the project. Structurally speaking, the car was pretty rust free, with some minor areas that need some attention. I had also recently acquired my own personal shop space, so it seemed like it was meant to be. After working out a deal with Dan, the car was dropped of at my shop, which we affectionately refer to as "The High Speed Shop" (my brother and I are fiber optic technicians).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSb1Hjkg-LE

I have a little girl on the way, so I'm hoping that by the time she's big enough I'll have this car on the road so we can share the joy of cruising and hotrodding! I also decided to make this an ongoing series on my Youtube channel so that all AMC and muscle car fans alike can follow along with the progress. I'll update this thread with up to date videos and other progress I make on the car.


Edited by WhatISit - Sep/03/2022 at 11:23pm

Is the original color brownish bronze?   Was your old green car restored or so?

Edited by Red1975pacer - Jul/26/2021 at 6:56am

Red1975pacer wrote: Is the original color brownish bronze?   Was your old green car restored or so?

Yea, original color is Cordoba Brown. The old was was a '74 and was Medium Green. It wasn't restored, but it had an older paint job.