The car Kevin Strub drove in high school was a 1971 AMC Javelin.
“I always wanted to get another one,” Strub said.
While living in Virginia during the mid-1990s, Strub found a 1972 Javelin for sale in a used car booklet like the ones we all used to buy at news stands before the internet took over the world.
Strub bought the Javelin from the car’s second owner who happened to be related to the original owner, so Strub has the original bill of sale for $4,300 from Triangle AMC in Winston-Salem, NC.
The car had been customized in the late-1980s with the current paint job, a factory AMX cowl induction hood, AMX rear spoiler, and power seats and mirrors from a Ford Thunderbird.
“Over the next 15 years, I causally looked for parts and got it all back to original, and plan to someday re-paint it close to the original color which was Metallic Green,” Strub said. “I also took 10 years or so to build an AMC 401 that is currently powering the car. It was originally a 304.”
The Javelin has a 727 TorqueFlite transmission with an aggressive shift kit.
“Someday it would be nice to put a Gears Vendors overdrive unit in it so I can lower the rpm while going down the highway!” he said.
Strub has performed several upgrades to the Javelin, including:
- Widening the factory rally rear wheels
- Adding a Posi-traction rear end
- All new suspension bushings
- New springs
- New beefier front and rear Addco sway bars
- Subframe connectors
- Factory-style front spoiler below the original front valance
- Era-correct AM/FM 8-track player (We spotted Ted Nugent and REO Speedwagon 8-track tapes. Rad.)
Strub also added 1971 taillights because he liked the look better than the ’72 version.
“The car handles really well and I plan to run in some autocross events eventually,” he said.
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An AMC Javelin, especially one this clean looking, is a rare sight. We appreciate Strub’s coolness about us randomly shooting photos of it and for his generosity in sharing its back story.
It’s an awesome car as you can see for yourself:
I had the same car in highschool and always look and admire the javalins tgat have survived the years of custom work add ons. You go a find and brings back great memories
My friend has a 72 AMX with a 390/V8~727Trans. Cheesy car but it does have a lot of”Snot”! They were so cheap looking but it was compensated by those International/Contenetal Truck Engines {304~401}
This AMX would flat out get it. 390ciV8/4bbl.carb./ mild cam/ factory Headers with dual exhaust. I had to do a tune-up on it when she first bought it, turns out they had 2 plug wires crossed!& still had guts! After the tune- up that bad boy would SING! (P.S. Almost loss my fingers due to where they placed the Power Steering Pump. What a piss~ poor design,thank God the belt was loose, but still it hurt like anything.Scary too!)
I had the pleasure of owning a 72 AMX back in the 70’s it was candy red with white leatherette interior. It had 3.42 posi and a very effective 360 HO that was built by an aircraft engine expert. The transmission was the 3 speed auto likely a 727. Nice dual exhaust and turbo type mufflers. It always got a lot of comments as I had the only one in my city. It was lightweight and could put accelerate my Dads 327 Corvette. Finally sold it to a young guy down our block, he kept it really well so I got to see it often. That car was a good example of AMC not being the grocery getter that everyone thought when people talked about American Motors cars. It’s aero design was also stable above 120 mph and it had lots of revs left to pass anyone.
When I lived in California through the 80s I had a 72 SST red with white stripe with a 401 and a 904 torqueflite when I had the engine out freshening it up I took the long block why was on the engine stand painted Orange turn it upside down to a fish net over it and shot it with black it turned up looking like a leopard because of the emissions testing at that time if it came out with a 2 Barrel carburetor that’s what you had to keep on it during testing well I took a 550 Holly play 850 metering Block in it and some real nice size Jets I’m not going to say it’s scary fast the mail is never late