1971-1974 AMC Javelin

The early Seventies might be the time when most people think muscle cars went into decline, yet one manufacturer still managed to keep the faith. Enter stage left, AMC’s Javelin…

American Motors for 1971 launched their second generation and last design for the Javelin. The car would cease production in 1974, being replaced by the Matador. These ‘later’ models have never captured the car collector’s imagination and been somewhat forgotten; which is a good reason for including them in this column, as I think they deserve some better press.

The Javelin first appeared in August 1967 and went on sale to the public on September 26 of that year as a new model for ’68. The cars were built to rival the Mustang, Barracuda, Firebird and Camaro and were a wonderful creation by AMC’s head designer Richard Teague. Within five months and hot on the heels of the Javelin came the AMX, a two-seater smaller version of the Javelin and one of the best-looking cars of 1968. Both these cars gave AMC a more youthful image and positioned them well in the muscle car market of the time – and, more importantly, they were extremely well priced against the competition.

So, back to 1971 and the newly designed Javelin, which was another Teague creation and boasted a very radical design. The new Javelin became longer, lower, wider and heavier than its predecessor; however it kept some of its ‘killer’ V8 power plants, including the high compression 401cu in with forged steel crankshaft and con rods and which was capable of revving to 8000rpm with no problems! A Hurst floor-shifted Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual gearbox, driving through a ‘Twin-Grip’ limited slip diff would complete the very potent muscular ’71 Jav! All you had to do was tick the ‘Go Package’ box.

In the looks department Teague had pushed through a very innovative package and even by today’s modern automobiles the Javelin is a zany, individual design. The new Javelin boasted exaggerated front and rear wheel opening bulges which were part of the racing heritage of the car and could accommodate over-size wheels and tyres; this gave the car a formidable look and a ‘European’ (to American eyes) type of stylishness. One of the oddest features of the car was an integral roof spoiler which was more akin to a spaceship than a pony car (trunk lid and front nose spoilers were also options).

A wrap-around dashboard gave the driver a clear vision of the gauges and might have been just a little bit too far ahead of its time, yet somehow it felt right within the car. For 1971, AMC incorporated the AMX into the four-seat Javelin line, calling it the Javelin/AMX; this ended the AMX as a stand-alone model, which most agree was a real shame.

Another interesting point about the fresh Javelin is that it made history by becoming the first two-door highway patrol vehicle in the United States. The Alabama Highway Patrol used Javelins as regular patrol vehicles and they were the first pony cars used by a police department. The police evaluated two versions supplied by a local dealer, Reinhardt AMC of Montgomery: an SST with a 304cu in V8 and a Javelin/AMX with the potent 401cu in V8.

When the trial had finished the police department ordered base model Javelins with heavy-duty ‘fleet’ equipment, ‘machine’ wheels – which were five-slot steel wheels with bright centre caps shod with Goodyear tyres – and a rear duck tail spoiler which displayed ‘State Trooper’. Over two years a total of 132 Javelins were purchased for highway pursuit duties and the last was only retired in 1979. To date, 16 of the Alabama Highway Patrol cars still survive.

Other states followed suit, including Georgia, who assessed two cars and decided against the police Javelins, but in Wisconsin the town of Muskego used ’73/’74 base models all with 401cu in engines; however, none have ever surfaced and may not exist today. If you track down the 1973 film Payday starring Rip Torn as a not so nice country singer, you will find footage of an original State Trooper police pursuit Javelin painted in silver with a cherry top on the roof!

Production figures for the year were: base model, 7105; SST model, 17,707; AMX model 2, 54 and the aforementioned police cars.

In the racing stakes the ’71 Javelins did just as well as the previous year’s AMC entrants, with just the one entry, a factory-backed AMC/Penske Javelin. Mark Donohue dominated the 1971 series, winning the Trans Am championship by taking seven victories out of the 10 races. You could argue that after the 1970 series which saw Ford, Dodge, Plymouth, Chevrolet and Pontiac withdraw, things were always going to be a little easier, but remember you still have to turn up and win! The Javelin again reigned supreme in 1972 and for the next two years – quite an achievement considering the small budget that the factory allowed.

All in all, the ’71 to ’74 Javelins make for great cars with plenty of racing heritage, innovative design touches and a distinctive feel all of their own. There are plenty of the last model Javelins still around today, with more than 100,000 built from 1971 to ’74. However, they just don’t seem to get the recognition they deserve – maybe we can change that! ★