In 1968, American Motors introduced a short-wheelbase, two-seat sports car called the AMX that many saw as a shot across the bow of the Chevrolet Corvette. Despite serving up reasonable performance (especially when equipped with the 390 cubic-inch V-8, rated at 325 horsepower) at bargain-basement prices, the AMX coupe never took off with buyers.
In 1971, the AMX (which stood for American Motors eXperimental) was discontinued as a production model, but introduced as a trim and performance package on the four-seat AMC Javelin. Since not many were delivered new, AMX coupes have seriously gained value in the collector car market over the past ten years.
Purists. then, won’t be impressed with Jimi Day’s interpretation of the 1969 AMX, built as a no-compromise pro-touring car. Under the hood is a Chevrolet LS3 V-8, shifting through a third-party transmission into a nine-inch Ford rear end. Why the odd mix of parts? In two words, reliability and convenience.
While AMC replacement parts are available, they’re nowhere near as common as parts for a small-block Chevy, which makes service and repair of Day’s AMXcess less of an issue when he’s on the road or at the track.
Though the car is stunning in appearance, it’s no trailer-queen show car: Day regularly tracks and autocrosses the car, and we can tell you from personal experience that he drives to win.
We’re not brand loyalists, so we’d give Day’s take on the 1969 AMC AMX two very enthusiastic thumbs up. What’s your take? Is the AMXcess the very definition of what a pro-touring car should be, or is it the assemblage of various parts automotive blasphemy?