AMX

A late entry in the Ponycar race, the AMX was a great combination of styling and performance.

AMC's first entry in the ponycar race, the Javelin, was an instant hit in 1968, but it didn't offer the performance of many other ponycars, leaning instead on its styling. For the more performance-minded buyer, the AMX was the clear choice. And while it didn't offer the power of some of its competition, it gained a devoted following for being solid in performance and standing out in the muscle car crowd.

The AMX introduced a new 390 ci V-8 meant to put it closer to some of the big block performers of the day. While it was rated at a relatively low 315 bhp, the tight suspension and four-speed gearbox in this two-seat coupe made it a fun drive

And if it didn't offer 400-500 horses like some competitors, that's not to say the AMX couldn't hold its own in terms of performance. In 1968, Craig Breedlove put an AMX through its paces at a Goodyear test track and set no less than 106 world speed records!

The best of the AMX line may have come in 1969, when the company released the "Big Bad AMX" option. Some 762 of these modified rides were built, and for even more performance, another 52 or 53 Super Stock AMXs were built for AMC by Hurst as special NHRA drag racing cars.

The AMX lasted only through 1970, and was never the big seller AMC hoped for. While it was around though, it gained a legion of admirers that still consider the car one of the greatest of the sixties. It may not have had the power of other muscle cars, and it didn't sell as well as the Mustangs or Camaros of the day, but for combined styling and performance, the short-lived AMX made a notable name for itself in the history of muscle cars.