1968 AMC AMX
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The American Motors Corporation didn’t receive quite as much fanfare as the Big Three during the muscle car era, but the Wisconsin-based carmaker still produced some intrinsically valuable stunners. Most notable of their big muscle lineup was the 1968 AMX. This GT-style two-seater was originally just one of two official two-seat sportsters at the time, the other being the Chevy Corvette.
What started off as a substantially less expensive alternative to Chevy’s Corvette would eventually become a highly recognized and award-winning muscle car (thankfully, with four seats) – a celebrated underdog in the racing circuit, to be sure. Part of the winning formula was a high-compression, medium block 390, delivering plenty of power at a comparatively affordable price. Originally introduced as a prototype savior for AMC in 1966, the “American Motors eXperimental” was a radically styled street cruiser boasting the tagline, “There is no hood longer nor deck shorter”.
source: Wikimedia
What made the AMX a show stopper though, was its immediate record-breaking streak. In January 1968, two AMXs set aw hopping 106 world speed and endurance records at Goodyear’s track in Texas. A marketing gimmick, to be sure, but one that was authentic and showcased the car’s performance before it was even available for sale. On top of its track prowess, the ’68 AMX managed an official land speed of 189 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats, with an unofficial run pegging over 200 mph.
Besides its power and aesthetic, the 1968 AMX introduced many firsts. The car “best engineered of the year” in the following two years, and its innovative fiberglass safety padding improved crash testing and passenger safety in collisions. Touted as the “only American sports car that costs less than $3,500”, the AMX was also one of the safest and most well-equipped.
The AMX’s features and cost garnered attention from the muscle community – enough so that AMC introduced three special editions for 1968: the “Breedlove” AMX, an exact replica of the record-setting car, a Hertz rent-a-car special (a la the Hertz Shelby), and the Von Piranha Edition, a rare and highly collectible AMX sporting both visual and mechanical mods. The former came equipped with a special red, white, and blue paint scheme and 4-barrel 290. The latter came replete with functional air scoops on each C-pillar, brake cooling ducts, twin hood bulges with cooling cut-outs, and a 950-cfm Holly three-barrel carb.
Between the AMX’s numerous accolades and custom one-offs, and its hyper-aggressive, big, and bulky body with power to match, this American Motors Corp muscle car earns a sweet spot on our list of 25 stunning muscle cars.
