AMC AMX-GT

AMX-GT
AMX-GT
Overview
Manufacturer	American Motors (AMC)
Designer	Dick Teague
Body and chassis
Class	concept car
Body style	GT Coupé
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	97 in (2,464 mm)

The AMC AMX-GT is a concept car that was developed by American Motors Corporation (AMC) for the 1968 show car circuit. The design of the grand touring-type rear-wheel-drive pillarless coupe of monocoque construction with two doors and a truncated rear end treatment was influenced by AMC stylist Dick Teague.

Design development

The AMX GT was built by shortening the 4-seat Javelin coupé to a 97-inch (2,464 mm) wheelbase (the same as the production 2-seat AMXs), lowering, or "chopping", the roof and cutting off the tail. The one-off AMX-GT body used a fiberglass rear and featured side-mounted "macho external exhaust pipes."^[1]

It appeared in two versions. At the New York International Auto Show in April 1968 it was red with a white stripe on the sides that ran across the roof. It also had plain, flush wheel covers, generic all-black tires,^[2] a side-mounted exhaust, a ram-air intake hood, integrated roof spoiler and fixed rear side windows (quarter glass) with no support (or "B") pillar.

The wheels were soon replaced by an alloy five-spoke design with Goodyear white-letter tires.^[2] The hood and roof were repainted a contrasting dark blue. This color scheme, which followed the major character lines of the car, was applied to some of the early factory-sponsored race cars before AMC changed to bands of red, white, and blue.

Legacy

The AMX GT provided several clues to future production models and options. The most immediately available were the optional side exhaust pipes for 1969 Javelins and AMXs. A slightly modified version of the show car's hood scoop became part of the factory production "Go package" option on Javelins and AMXs for the 1970 model year. The flat black "shadow mask" paint treatment also became available on the 1970 AMXs.

The AMX GT's truncated tail treatment reappeared in 1970 on the Gremlin subcompact.^[2] The show car provided the general shape for the small Gremlin.^[3] The design, an example of Teague's approach to maximizing AMC's limited resources, resulted in a new version from an existing platform.

Stage prop

In AMC's 1969 annual report to shareholders, various AMX GT design drawings and proposals served as the background for pictures of top AMC executives. For the official photograph of the board of directors, the members posed with the second version of the concept car, this time with its hood and roof painted black.^[4]

Notes

^ Lawrence, Mike (1996). A to Z of Sports Cars 1945-1990. Bay View Books. ISBN 978-1-870979-81-8. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
^ a b c Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (8 November 2007). "1960s AMC Concept Cars". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
^ "How the Gremlin Lost Its Tail". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 134, no. 2. August 1970. p. 88. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
^ 1969 Annual Report to Shareholders, Detroit, Michigan: American Motors Corporation

[1] Lawrence, Mike (1996). A to Z of Sports Cars 1945-1990. Bay View Books. ISBN 978-1-870979-81-8. Retrieved 25 March 2022.

[howstuff-2] Auto Editors of Consumer Guide (8 November 2007). "1960s AMC Concept Cars". How Stuff Works. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2013.

[3] "How the Gremlin Lost Its Tail". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 134, no. 2. August 1970. p. 88. Retrieved 25 March 2022.

[4] 1969 Annual Report to Shareholders, Detroit, Michigan: American Motors Corporation