AMC (American Motors) Javelin History
AMC's answer to the Mustang — a sleek semi-fastback pony car (1968–1974) that won three SCCA Trans-Am titles.
Photo: “1970 AMC Javelin (17728102184).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
History
Styled by Dick Teague and launched in August 1967 for the 1968 model year, the Javelin was AMC's entry into the pony-car class the Ford Mustang had created. Its smooth semi-fastback roofline and competitive pricing made it a credible rival to the Mustang, Camaro, and Barracuda, and it gave the economy-minded AMC a genuine performance image.
The Javelin became a Trans-Am racing standout. With Roger Penske's team and driver Mark Donohue, the redesigned 1971 second-generation car dominated SCCA Trans-Am competition, taking championships in 1971, 1972, and again in 1976. From 1971 the high-performance AMX package was offered on the four-seat Javelin, carrying the AMX name forward after the original two-seater ended.
Production ran through 1974, when the 1973 oil crisis, tightening emissions and insurance costs, and AMC's pivot to the Pacer ended the line. The Javelin remains the brand's best-remembered performance car.
Generations
First generation · 1968–1970
Photo: “1970 AMC Javelin (17728102184).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
The original Teague-styled semi-fastback pony car; the basis for the 1970 Mark Donohue and Trans-Am homologation editions.
1968 Photo: “1968 AMC Javelin SST Hardtop (13577585864).jpg” by Sicnag / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1970 Photo: “1970 AMC Javelin (17728102184).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Second generation · 1971–1974
Photo: “1971 AMC Javelin SST (27363881095).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Restyled with flared 'humped' fenders; the Penske/Donohue cars that won the 1971, 1972, and 1976 Trans-Am titles, and the home of the AMX package after the two-seater ended.
1971 Photo: “1971 AMC Javelin SST (27363881095).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1972 Photo: “1972 AMC Javelin (27782334835).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1973 Photo: “1973 AMC Javelin AMX (9678164080).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
1974 Photo: “1974 AMC Javelin (30042773086).jpg” by Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA / Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0. Cropped to 16:9.
Body styles
- Two-door hardtop
Notable special editions & performance variants
Mark Donohue Javelin
2,501 SST-trimmed cars built to homologate a ducktail rear spoiler for Trans-Am racing, each carrying Donohue's signature on the spoiler.
Trans-Am Javelin
About 100 street cars in the red/white/blue racing livery, priced at $3,995, replicating the SCCA team car's look.
Javelin AMX
The high-performance package that moved the AMX name onto the four-seat Javelin after the two-seat AMX ended.
Related models
Collect the nameplate
Find a scale model of the AMC (American Motors) Javelin
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