1968 AMC AMX Resources

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1968 AMC AMX  Facts – Body Paint Color Codes

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1968 AMX

1968 AMC AMX Facts and Specifications

General Year Information – 1968 AMC AMX Facts

The AMC AMX was a two-seat GT-style sports car produced by American Motors Corporation from 1968 through 1970. It was based on the 1968 Javelin, but with a shorter wheelbase and deletion of the rear seat. In addition, the AMX rear quarter windows remained fixed, making it a coupe, while the Javelin was a true two-door hardtop.

The AMX was introduced to the press at the Daytona International Speedway on 15 February 1968, just over four months after the Javelin.  Automotive journalist Tom McCahill summed up, “the AMX is the hottest thing to ever come out of Wisconsin and … you can whip through corners and real hard bends better than with many out-and-out sports cars.”

The AMX  was fitted with the standard high-compression 290 CID or optional 343 CID or 390 CID AMC V-8 engine. No six cylinder powerplant was offered. It was not expected to sell in large numbers –  automaker’s larger objective was to refocus AMC Corporation’s image on performance and to bring younger customers into its dealer showrooms.

A Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual transmission was standard, as were unique traction bars, dual exhaust system, and fatter tires for better traction. A “Shift-Command” three-speed automatic transmission with the capability of manual shifting was optional together with a floor console mounted shifter.

Engines
All AMX models came with four-barrel carbureted AMC V-8 engines in several versions: the base 290 CID 225 HP, or a 343 CID 280 HP, or a 390 CID with 315 HP. The 343 used larger valves than the 290 with a thicker block webbing and the 390 received a forged steel crankshaft and connecting rods, as well as larger rod bearings.

Go Package
A popular “Go-Package” option was available with the four-barrel 343 CID or 390 CID V-8. It included power-assisted front disk brakes, “Twin-Grip” differential, E70x14 red-stripe performance tires on 6-inch wide steel road wheels, heavy-duty suspension with thicker sway-bars, heavy-duty cooling, as well as other enhancements.  A wide range of specialized performance parts were also available through AMC dealers for installation on customer’s cars. These were known as “Group 19” parts because of where they were located in AMC Corporation’s parts books.

AMX and Corvette
As one of just two American-built two-seaters, the AMX was in direct competition with the one-inch  longer wheelbase Chevrolet Corvette – and for substantially less money. Sharing the market with do Chevrolet’s Corvette – since the 1957 Thunderbird. With a short, 97 inch wheelbase, the AMX was intended to be in direct competition with the one-inch longer Chevrolet Corvette. And the AMX model’s MSRP was  $3,245 was nearly 25% below and over $1,000 less than the Corvette’s.

Historical
The American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) would later name the AMX as the “best-engineered car of the year” in 1969 and 1970.  To introduce the AMX to its dealers, AMC held meetings at nine Playboy Clubs.In its introductory year 6,725 AMX models were sold, a solid start considering the saturated nature of the American performance car field at the time.

Racing and Promotional – 1968 AMC AMX Facts

Racing and Speed Records
To promote the new car, AMC Corporation’s manager for performance activities, Carl Chakmakian, asked world land speed record holder Craig Breedlove to put the AMX through its paces before the new vehicles were even available for sale. In January 1968, two specially prepared AMX cars set 106 world speed and endurance records at Goodyear’s track in Texas  with only six weeks to prepare the cars before they were to be displayed at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1968.

The AMC V  290 CID V-8 in one car was bored out to 304 CID and the 390  CID in the other to 397 CID.  They installed exhaust headers, eight-quart oil pans, oil coolers, hi-rise intake manifolds, racing camshafts with solid lifters and stronger valve springs, and larger carburetors. They  had engine and rear-end oil coolers, as well as 37 gallon cell-type safety fuel tanks.

Chassis preparation included heavy-duty front and rear springs using the factory’s optional handling package, rear spring traction control arms, heavy-duty shock absorbers, and a “Panhard” type track bar in the rear to eliminate side sway. Wide magnesium racing wheels and Goodyear racing tires replaced the stock road wheels and standard tires. The cars were aerodynamically modified. The front ends were lowered, the hoods were slanted down, and spoilers were installed below the front bumpers. The car interiors had structure-stiffening roll cages for driver protection, a stock bucket seat modified for additional support, and supplementary engine-monitoring instruments.

Craig Breedlove also took the AMX to Bonneville as well – reaching 189 MPH in a United States Auto Club sanctioned run. He also made an unofficial run of over 200 MPH

The Breedlove AMX
According to several sources, “Breedlove Replica” cars to commemorate the speed and endurance records were offered by AMC. It is estimated that 50 “Breedlove” AMX models were sold featuring the red, white, and blue paint scheme along with the standard 4-barrel 290 CID V-8 and with four-speed manual transmission. There is no clear historical documentation to clarify this account.

Playmate AMX
Playboy magazine’s 1968 Playmate of the Year, Angela Dorian, was awarded a specially painted “Playmate Pink” 1968 AMX.  It was powered by the base 290 -V8 with automatic transmission, air conditioning, tilt wheel, AM/8-track radio and optional rear bumper guards. Aside from the unique color, it differed from other AMX models with its dashboard number plate containing Dorian’s measurements, making her car AMX 36–24–35.

Von Piranha Edition
Thoroughbred Motors in Denver, Colorado, modified an estimated 22 new AMX models for select AMC dealerships to have ready-made racers for both the drag strips and road courses. They were named “Von Piranha” and the changes included the addition of two sets of air scoops on each C-pillar with ducts to cool the rear brakes and on the roof above the windshield that was reportedly functional to cool the cockpit on race-bred versions. The AMX twin hood bulges were cut open to increase airflow in the engine bay. The sales manager at Thoroughbred Motors at the time, Ronald Hunter, was a local racing legend, raced a Piranha at the Continental Divide Raceways and other events.

1968 AMC AMC Facts – Powertrains

• Engines
  • 290-CID four-barrel 225 HP V-8 was the base engine.
  • 343-CID four-barrel 280 HP V-8 was an option.
  • 390-CID four-barrel 315 HP V-8 was an option.
• Transmissions
  • Four-speed manual floor shift transmission was standard.
  • Automatic transmission was optional.

1968 AMC AMX Facts – Powertrain Options

• Transmissions
  • Shift-Command automatic transmission with floor shift and console ($269).
• Transmission Ratios
  • Four-Speed Manual Transmission
    • 290, 343, 390 V-8 Wide Ratio – First: 2.64:1, Second: 2.10:1, Third 1.46:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.55:1.
    • 290, 343, 390 V-8 Close Ratio – First: 2.23:1, Second: 1.77:1, Third: 1.35:1, Fourth: 1:1. Reverse: 2.16:1.
  • Three-Speed Automatic Transmission
    • 290, 343, 390 V-8 – Low: 2.40:1, Second: 1.47:1, Direct 1.00:1. Reverse: 2.00:1
• Rear Axle Ratios
  • 225 HP 290 CID V-8:
    • Four Speed Manual: 3.54:1, Optional 3.15.
    • Automatic: 3.15:1 Optional 2.87:1.
  • 280 HP 343 CID V-8:
    • Four Speed Manual: 3.15:1 Optional 3.54:1.
    • Automatic: 2.87:1 Optional 3.15:1.
  • 315 HP 390 V-8:
    • Four Speed Manual: 3.15:1 Optional 3.54:1.
    • Automatic: 2.87:1 Optional 3.15:1.

NOTE: Axle ratios available from 2.87:1 to 4.44:1 with some Dealer installed. Twin Grip axle available on all ratios. See AMA Specifications, page 17 for all available ratios – HERE.

1968 AMC AMX Facts – Significant Options

• Prices where known
  • “Rally Pak” gauge cluster.
  • Adjust-O-Tilt steering wheel ($42).
  • Air conditioning ($356).
  • Chrome steel mag wheels.
  • Individual adjusting seat ($49).
  • Manual steering, quick-ratio ($16).
  • Over-the-top striping.
  • Power discs brakes ($97).
  • Power steering ($84).
  • Radio, AM/FM push-button and antenna ($134).
  • Radio, FM push-button and antenna ($61).
  • Solex glass, all windows ($31).
  • Solex glass, windshield only ($21).
  • Stereo 8-track player ($195).
  • Turbo-Cast wheel covers, ($51).
  • Twin-Grip differential ($42).
  • Visibility Group package ($27).
  • White vinyl seat upholstery ($20).