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1970 · AMC · United States

1970 AMC AMX: The Last Two-Seater Got Its Best Engine and Its Smallest Audience

The last two-seat AMX: a restyled nose, a 360 base V8 and a 325-hp 390. At 4,116 cars it was the rarest of the three two-seat years.

United States · researched through 2026-09-22

Brochure page showing a green 1970 AMC AMX with the 1970 power-blister hood and a driver, on a black background, with copy on the standard 360 V8
1970 AMC brochure page: green 1970 AMX with the new ram-air hood

Motor Trend's Eric Dahlquist ran the 1970 AMX in the magazine's December 1969 issue. His test car had the optional 390 V8, a Borg-Warner four-speed and a 3.54:1 rear axle. As reported by Old Cars Weekly, it reached 60 mph in 6.56 seconds, covered the quarter-mile in 14.68 seconds at 92 mph and topped out at 109 mph in fourth gear. Dahlquist called it “one of the better constructed cars around.” That was a strong review for a car in its third and final season as a two-seater. It was also the best-developed version of the idea, and it was about to become the rarest.1

American Motors changed a great deal for the last year. Old Cars Weekly describes a completely restyled front end shared with the Javelin's performance models. The grille now sat flush with the hood, and a large ram-induction scoop fed cold air to the engine. The car was about an inch lower and about two inches longer, at 179 inches, but kept the 97-inch wheelbase. Inside were new contoured high-back buckets with built-in head restraints and a redesigned instrument panel. The weight rose to 3,126 pounds, which Old Cars Weekly notes was only 29 pounds more than 1969. AMC's 1970 full-line brochure documented the AMX's four-speed power teams with both of the year's V8s.1

The engines changed too. The 290 and 343 were gone, and the new 360 four-barrel became standard at 290 horsepower at 4,800 rpm, a period gross-era rating. Its torque carries two published values. AMC's brochure prints 390 lb-ft, and Old Cars Weekly gives 395 lb-ft at 3,200 rpm, so the factory figure leads and the secondary figure is noted. The optional 390 was rerated to 325 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 420 lb-ft at 3,200, ten horsepower more than the 1968–69 rating. Old Cars Weekly gives both engines 10.0:1 compression. A Hurst-shifted four-speed was standard and the Shift-Command automatic was optional.1

Old Cars Weekly reports a base price of $3,395, $150 more than the $3,245 it gives for 1968; neither figure states its basis. The Go Package now cost $298.85 with the 360 or $383.90 with the 390, prices Planet Houston AMX rounds to $299 and $384. It bundled power front disc brakes, F70x14 raised-white-letter tires, Twin-Grip, the handling package, heavy-duty cooling, a space-saver spare and the functional Ram Air power-blister hood. Among the other options were air conditioning at $380, power steering at $102 and a $52 Shadow Mask treatment. Planet Houston AMX lists the Shadow Mask as an extra-cost paint option.1,2

Unlike 1969, the total is not in dispute. Planet Houston AMX's engine-and-transmission table, the weekly production series credited to Linn Barton and Old Cars Weekly all give 4,116. Old Cars Weekly names no source, so that agreement is one reported figure, not three independent confirmations. The table splits the total into 836 360 four-speeds, 747 360 automatics, 1,632 390 four-speeds and 901 390 automatics. With 4,116 as the denominator, the 390 went into 2,533 cars, about 62 percent, and four-speeds into 2,468, about 60 percent. The single largest combination was again the 390 with a four-speed. Buyers of the last two-seater mostly ordered the strongest engine and the stick.3,4,1

The option-installation table for 1970 is more useful for trends than for exact counts. It reports Ram Air on 2,875 cars, about 70 percent, power front disc brakes on 3,383 and the Shadow Mask on 982. Air conditioning went on 1,056 cars, and all 4,116 are listed with Rally wheels, 628 of them with machined rims. But the table's own transmission rows, 2,468 four-speeds and 1,464 automatics, add up to 3,932, not 4,116. Its automatic count does not match the engine table's 1,648. It also prints Twin-Grip at 340 even though Twin-Grip was part of the Go Package. The source does not reconcile any of this, so the figures are shown as printed.3,2

Comfort options show that not every 1970 buyer wanted a stripped performance car. Old Cars Weekly prices air conditioning at $380 and power steering at $102, and the option table counts 1,056 air-conditioned cars and 2,869 with power steering out of 4,116, roughly a quarter and seven in ten. The table also lists 823 tilt columns, 1,139 center armrests, 728 luggage racks and 56 heated rear windows. Radios split among 2,568 AM sets, 482 AM/FM units and 556 AM/8-track units. The two-seater was still a sports car, but many of its last buyers ordered it as a comfortable, well-equipped one.1,3

The color story shrank with the car. The Big Bad colors carried over, and Planet Houston AMX and JavelinAMX.com agree on 114 blue, 74 green and 122 orange 1970 AMXs, 310 cars in all. That is fewer than half of 1969's Big Bad total. In the interior, leather still commanded attention. The compilation counts 98 black-leather, 181 red-leather and 487 saddle-leather cars, and blue came only in Ventilaire vinyl. Black vinyl, at 1,701 cars, was the common choice. Old Cars Weekly gives the 1970 dash plate numbers as 014469 to 18584. No factory breakdown of the regular paint colors has been published, so the Big Bad counts are again the only color data available.3,5,1

Better equipment did not bring in more buyers. From 8,293 in 1969 by the engine table, production fell to 4,116, a drop of about half, even with more power and a stronger review. Ate Up With Motor records the internal argument that followed. Styling chief Dick Teague pushed hard to keep the two-seater as an image builder. President William Luneburg decided that the cut-down car's sales did not justify the production complications it created. The 1970 car was therefore the last AMX built on the 97-inch wheelbase. Old Cars Weekly calls it the rarest of the three two-seat editions, and the production table bears that out: 4,116 against 6,725 and 8,293.3,6,1

The name survived the car. For 1971 AMX became the top model of the redesigned Javelin, which by Ate Up With Motor's figures had a 110-inch wheelbase and a 192.3-inch overall length. It was a four-seat pony car, not a short two-seater, and Old Cars Weekly counts 2,054 of that first Javelin AMX. The three two-seat years add up to 19,134 cars in Planet Houston AMX's table. The 1970 car accounts for just over a fifth of them, and it was the one Motor Trend praised for its construction. AMC had built its best two-seater in the year it decided to stop building two-seaters.6,1,3

Red 1970 AMC AMX with a white C-stripe, 390 fender badge and 1970 grille, on display behind stanchions in a museum lobby
1970 AMC AMX in Matador Red with white C-stripe Photo: John Sulu, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Rear three-quarter of a red 1970 AMC AMX showing the full-width taillamp panel with AMX lettering and dual exhausts
1970 AMC AMX in Matador Red, rear view Photo: John Sulu, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The 390 V8 in an orange 1970 AMC AMX, with blue engine paint and the ram-air ductwork
Engine bay of a 1970 AMC AMX 390 Go Package in Big Bad Orange Photo: Christopher Ziemnowicz, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Period advertisement with the $3,395 price headline and a red 1970 AMX seen from the rear
1970 AMC AMX advertisement: "A sports car for the price of a sporty car."

Fact sheet · 1970 · United States

The numbers

1970 AMC AMX — The last two-seat AMX: a restyled nose, a 360 base V8 and a 325-hp 390. At 4,116 cars it was the rarest of the three two-seat years.

Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-22.

Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.

Key facts

  • 1970 AMX production 4,116: 360 four-speed 836, 360 automatic 747, 390 four-speed 1,632, 390 automatic 901.3,4,1
  • Big Bad colors on the 1970 AMX: blue 114, green 74, orange 122.3,5
  • Go Package price: $298.85 with the 360, $383.90 with the 390.1,2
  • All 4,116 cars are listed with Rally wheels. Machine rims appear on 628.3

Production

Totals
What was countedCountBasisStatus
AMX, all engines3,4,1 AMX · 2-seat fastback coupe · US production (Kenosha) Old Cars Weekly agrees but gives no source. Treated as one reported figure. 4,116 built, model-year Reported
Engine transmission
What was countedCountBasisStatus
360 V8, four-speed3 AMX · 2-seat coupe · 360 V8 · 4-speed manual · US 836 built, model-year Reported
360 V8, automatic3 AMX · 2-seat coupe · 360 V8 · automatic · US 747 built, model-year Reported
390 V8, four-speed3 AMX · 2-seat coupe · 390 V8 · 4-speed manual · US 1,632 built, model-year Reported
390 V8, automatic3 AMX · 2-seat coupe · 390 V8 · automatic · US 901 built, model-year Reported
Paint
What was countedCountBasisStatus
Big Bad Blue3,5 AMX · 2-seat coupe · US 114 built, model-year Reported
Big Bad Green3,5 AMX · 2-seat coupe · US 74 built, model-year Reported
Big Bad Orange3,5 AMX · 2-seat coupe · US 122 built, model-year Reported
By package or option
What was countedCountBasisStatus
Shadow Mask paint option3 AMX · 2-seat coupe · US 982 installed, model-year Reported
Ram Air3 AMX · 2-seat coupe · US 2,875 installed, model-year Reported
By engine
What was countedCountBasisStatus
360 V8, all transmissions (AMC tally sheet)7 AMX · 2-seat coupe · 360 V8 · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha Equals 836 + 747 in the enthusiast engine-transmission table. 1,583 built, model-year Reported
390 V8, all transmissions (AMC tally sheet)7 AMX · 2-seat coupe · 390 V8 · US, Canada and export market; built at Kenosha Equals 1,632 + 901 in the enthusiast table. 2,533 built, model-year Reported

The four engine-transmission rows are the source's partition of 4,116.

The option table's 1970 transmission rows (automatic 1,464, four-speed 2,468) sum to 3,932, not 4,116. The engine table's automatic column sums to 1,648. The two tables are not reconciled by the source.

Option and paint rows are separately scoped. Do not add them.

The two AMC tally-sheet rows (sheet-*) restate the 4,116 by engine; they are not additional cars. The sheet total for row 7030 is also 4,116.

Prices when new

ModelPriceBasis
Base price, AMX1 $3,395 base price as reported by Old Cars Weekly (basis not stated), 1969-09
Go Package with 3601 $298.85 option price as reported, 1970 model year
Go Package with 3901 $383.90 option price as reported, 1970 model year
Shadow Mask paint2 $52 option price as reported, 1970 model year
Power steering1 $102 option price as reported, 1970 model year
Air conditioning1 $380 option price as reported, 1970 model year

Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.

Engines

EngineFactory ratingAvailabilityBuilt
360 V8 4-bbl1 360 cu in · 4-barrel 290 hp @ 4,800, 395 lb-ft @ 3,200 (period factory advertised (gross era), as reported by Old Cars Weekly) standard 1,5837 Reported
390 V8 4-bbl1 390 cu in · 4-barrel 325 hp @ 5,000, 420 lb-ft @ 3,200 (period factory advertised (gross era)) optional 2,5337 Reported

Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.

Transmissions

TransmissionAvailabilityBuilt
Four-speed all-synchromesh manual, Hurst shifter1 standard 2,4683 Reported
Shift-Command automatic1 optional 1,4643 Reported

Options and packages

CodeOptionPriceInstalled
package Go Package: 360 or 390, power disc brakes, F70x14 white-letter tires, Twin-Grip, handling package, heavy-duty cooling, space-saver spare, Ram Air with power-blister hood2,1 $298.85 Not yet sourced
option AM radio3 — 2,5683 Reported
option AM/FM radio3 — 4823 Reported
option AM/8-track radio3 — 5563 Reported
option Clock3 — 2,2583 Reported
option Air conditioning3,1 $380 1,0563 Reported
option Power steering3 $102 2,8693 Reported
option Power front disc brakes3 — 3,3833 Reported
option Twin-Grip differential3 — 3403 Reported
option Machine rims3 — 6283 Reported
option Tilt steering column3 — 8233 Reported
option Heated rear glass3 — 563 Reported
option Luggage rack3 — 7283 Reported
option Stripes3 — 2,5663 Reported
option Ram Air3 — 2,8753 Reported
option Center armrest3 — 1,1393 Reported
option Shadow Mask paint2 $52 9823 Reported
option Command-Air ventilation3 — 5973 Reported
option Quick-ratio manual steering3 — 3193 Reported
standard equipment count Standard (manual) steering3 — 9283 Reported
standard equipment count Standard manual drum brakes3 — 5563 Reported
option Power drum brakes3 — 1173 Reported
option Tinted glass, all windows3 — 1,6963 Reported
option Tinted windshield only3 — 8893 Reported
standard equipment count Clear glass, all windows3 — 1,5313 Reported
option Rally wheels3 — 4,1163 Reported
option Remote-control driver mirror3 — 2,4043 Reported
option Right-side passenger mirror3 — 1,1083 Reported
option Electric windshield wipers3 — 3,4283 Reported
equipment count No radio3 — 5103 Reported
option Bucket seats, genuine leather — Not yet sourced
option Power brakes — Not yet sourced
option Rear speaker, with radio — Not yet sourced
package Convenience Group (6): remote-control left mirror, visor vanity mirror, electric clock, glove box lock — Not yet sourced
package Visibility Group (includes Convenience Group, electric wipers and washers) — Not yet sourced
package Light Group (7): glove box light, parking brake warning light, lights-on buzzer, low-fuel warning light, map light, front door switches (trunk and courtesy lights standard on AMX) — Not yet sourced
option Bumper guards, rear — Not yet sourced
option Undercoating — Not yet sourced
package Handling package, V-8 (heavy-duty springs and shock absorbers) — Not yet sourced
option Heavy-duty engine cooling system (included with air conditioning) — Not yet sourced
option 70-amp battery (60-amp standard on 360 and 390) — Not yet sourced
package Cold-start package: 70-amp battery and 55-amp alternator (cars without A/C) — Not yet sourced
option Engine-block heater — Not yet sourced
option Fuel tank vapor emission control system (required in California) — Not yet sourced
option E70 x 14 Red Line tires — Not yet sourced
option F70 x 14 white-lettered tires — Not yet sourced
standard equipment Standard on AMX: vinyl bucket seats, dual exhaust, tachometer and 140-mph speedometer, sports steering wheel with rim-blow, mag-styled wheels with space-saver spare, simulated-exhaust rocker panel molding, E78 x 14 black fiberglass-belted tires — Not yet sourced

Paint

CodeColorBuilt
Big Bad Blue3 1143 Reported
Big Bad Green3 743 Reported
Big Bad Orange3 1223 Reported

Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.

Interiors

CodeTrimBuilt
031F Black, Ventilaire vinyl3 1,7013 Reported
031L Black leather3 983 Reported
033F Blue, Ventilaire vinyl (no leather offered in blue)3 2633 Reported
035F Red, Ventilaire vinyl3 1413 Reported
035L Red leather3 1813 Reported
036F Brown, Ventilaire vinyl3 3573 Reported
036L Saddle/brown leather3 4873 Reported

Specifications

MeasureValueApplies to
Shipping weight8 3,126 lb body 7039-7, as tabulated
Wheelbase1 97 in all 1970 AMX
Overall length1 179 in all 1970 AMX
Weight1 3,126 lb basis not stated
Axle ratio, 360 or 390 with four-speed floor (standard; optional) 3.54 (3.15 and 3.91) :1 AMX
Axle ratio, 360 or 390 with Shift-Command automatic on console (standard; optional) 2.87 (3.15 and 3.54); 3.15 standard with Go Package and automatic :1 AMX
Dealer-kit axle ratios 3.73, 3.91 (also factory option), 4.10, 4.44, 5.00 :1 AMX and Javelin
Engine compression ratio and bore x stroke 360 4-bbl: 10.0:1, 4.08 x 3.44 in; 390 4-bbl: 10.0:1, 4.17 x 3.57 in (premium fuel) by engine

Period road tests

TestCar testedResult
Motor Trend, 1969-1210-60 mph 1970 AMX, 390 V8 (transmission and axle not stated in the secondary report)as reported by Old Cars Weekly; original issue not read 6.56 s
Motor Trend, 1969-121quarter-mile 1970 AMX, 390 V8trap speed 92 mph; as reported by Old Cars Weekly 14.68 s
Motor Trend, 1969-121top speed 1970 AMX, 390 V8in fourth gear, as reported by Old Cars Weekly 109 mph

A road test result belongs to the one car that was tested, with its engine, gearing, tires, and conditions. It is not a figure for every car of the year.

Identification

Dash plate numbers
Old Cars Weekly gives 1970 AMX dash plate numbers 014469 to 18584.1
Interior trim code
Codes 031 black, 033 blue, 035 red, 036 brown. Trim F Ventilaire vinyl or L leather (no leather in 033).3

Decode a VIN →

Where the sources disagree

1970 360 four-barrel torque rating

  • 390 lb-ft
  • 395 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm1

Re-read 2026-09-23: the brochure's engine chart (PDF p. 24, 360 cu. in. V-8 4-barrel row) prints 290 @ 4800 and 395 @ 3200, which agrees with Old Cars Weekly. The 390 lb-ft claim traces to the comparisons file, not to the printed brochure. Lead with 395 lb-ft @ 3,200 rpm and keep the 390 claim visible as a transcription variant.

Identification

Read a 1970 AMC VIN

The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:

Same model year

Also in 1970

  • AMC Javelin Penske and Donohue brought the Javelin to Trans-Am, and the showroom answered with 2,501 Mark Donohue Javelins and 100 red-white-blue Trans Am Javelins, while total production fell to 28,210.
  • AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine AMC's intermediate supercar: a 340-hp 390, four-speed and Hurst shifter in the Rebel hardtop, first in white with red-white-blue stripes. Totals reported for the one-year run range from about 1,200 to 2,326.
  • Buick Riviera The 455 (370 hp gross) arrived with a restyle; production fell to about 37,300 with some 3,505 GS cars.
  • Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX Buick's GS went to a 455 rated at 510 lb-ft, the Stage 1 option added 10 advertised hp, and a mid-year GSX package was built 678 times in two colors.
  • Buick Wildcat The final Wildcat, Custom trim only, with the 370-hp 455; 23,645 built.
  • Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The year the Chevelle Super Sport split into RPO Z25 SS 396 and RPO Z15 SS 454, with the LS6 454 rated at 450 gross horsepower.
  • Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Last year the source engine table lists the big-block (as 402) in the Nova. Enthusiast-compiled production: 307,280 cars; Super Sport 19,558.
  • Chevrolet El Camino SS The Malibu/Custom El Camino could carry either RPO Z25 SS 396 or RPO Z15 SS 454, including the 450 hp LS6; the El Camino share is not separately published.
  • Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS The first Monte Carlo, with the SS 454 as RPO Z20: 3,823 of 145,976 Monte Carlos per Chevrolet-report-derived tables.
  • Dodge Challenger Dodge's first pony car arrived as a 1970 model with nine advertised engines, base, SE, R/T, and R/T SE hardtops, two convertibles, and a one-year Trans-Am homologation special, the T/A.
  • Dodge Charger The last year of the second-generation body: a new full-width grille, three series (Charger, 500, R/T), the 440 Six Pack added to the R/T, and production roughly half of 1969's.
  • Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The final Coronet-based R/T and Super Bee: the R/T fell to 2,615 cars, while the Super Bee added a 3-speed manual and kept its Six Pack and Hemi options.
  • Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon With the GTS gone, the Swinger 340 was the only performance Dart; it kept front discs, Rallye suspension and a twin-scoop hood and sold about 13,800 beside the new Challenger.
  • Ford Fairlane The last Fairlane year: the name survived only on the Fairlane 500 beneath the new Torino, with a mid-year Falcon sharing the body at the bottom of the range.
  • Ford Maverick Grabber The Grabber appearance and tire package arrived in mid-1970 on the new two-door Maverick; no Grabber count for 1970 was found.
  • Ford Ranchero GT The Torino-based Ranchero GT could take the 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet; reference counts give 3,905 GTs, while Barn Finds rounds the GT figure to about 3,600 of 21,640 Rancheros.
  • Ford Thunderbird The 429 at 360 hp was the standard and only engine listed in the 1970 catalog.
  • Ford Torino A new, longer body on a 117-inch wheelbase; the Torino Cobra became its own model with the 429, offered in 360, 370 (Cobra Jet) and 375 (Super Cobra Jet) horsepower forms.
  • Mercury Comet and Cyclone A new, longer Montego-based Cyclone in three versions: the 429 Cyclone, the small-block Cyclone GT that outsold both others, and the Ram Air 429 Cobra Jet Cyclone Spoiler.
  • Mercury Cougar The last first-generation Cougar moved to the 351 Cleveland, kept the Boss 302 as an Eliminator-only engine, and built 2,268 Eliminators.
  • Mercury Marauder and S-55 The second and last year of the 1969-70 Marauder: production fell to about a third of 1969's, with the X-100 near half of it.
  • Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 got a standard 455 rated at 365 hp, the W-30 went to 370 hp, and the small-block W-31 moved to the Cutlass and F-85 coupes.
  • Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda The E-body redesign split the line into Barracuda, Gran Coupe, and 'Cuda hardtops and convertibles, put every Chrysler performance engine through the 426 Hemi on the order form, and added the one-year AAR 'Cuda for Trans-Am homologation.
  • Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 Plymouth's new Valiant-based fastback coupe arrived with a 275 hp 340 performance model priced at $2,547; the Standard Catalog lineage counts 24,817 Duster 340s among 217,192 Dusters.
  • Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite Now hardtop-only, the GTX fell to 7,748 cars while its 440 Six Barrel option cost just $119.
  • Plymouth Road Runner Production halved from 1969, the 440 Six Barrel became a regular option, and the winged Superbird was built as a Road Runner hardtop to put Plymouth back on NASCAR superspeedways.
  • Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A late-arriving, coupe-only second generation: 48,739 Firebirds, 3,196 of them Trans Ams, and 88 Ram Air IVs.
  • Pontiac GTO A new Endura nose, a 455 added beside the three 400s, and GTO production falling to 40,149.
  • Pontiac Grand Prix The SJ took a 370 hp 455, Hurst built the SSJ, and production fell to 65,750.
  • Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The T-37 and GT-37 bring budget performance to the Tempest.