When AMC Got the Point

Mechanically, the Javelin is closer to a catapult than a javelin—heavy duty and pretty much unbreakable

by Rob Sass

Some people claim that AMC invented the muscle car with the Rambler Rebel of 1957. Even if we give them that, they certainly came late to the pony car craze of the mid-1960s. Plymouth and Ford were first with the Barracuda and Mustang in 1964, followed by the Chevy Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, and Mercury Cougar in 1967. AMC didn’t have a real entry until the Javelin appeared for the 1968 model year.

It was worth the wait, as the chronically under-funded underdogs in Kenosha, Wisconsin, came up with a car that was arguably better than its Big Three competitors—AMC fans could point as proof to Roger Penske’s all-conquering Javelin Trans-Am team that starred Mark Donohue.

Replacement for the goofy Marlin

After a half-baked attempt with the goofy Marlin, Dick Teague really got things right with the classic long hood/short rear deck Javelin. However, it differed from its competitors in the details. Where pony cars from the Big Three...