Javelin`s AMC

[69NovaYenko]

What model company decision maker do we have to kidnap and hold hostage to get one of the manufacturers to release a series of 1/25 American Motors Company Javelin`s.   Retail stores and builders stashes runneth over with G.M`s, Ford`s and Mopars`s while the long  defunct American Motors Company  cars are TOTALLY over looked as legitimate modeling subjects. There has not been a reissue of ANY Javelin since the long defunct Jo-Han released them as annuals/promos. The `68-70 share a lot of the same sheet metal and suspension so there would be a minimal amount of retooling to do the 1st gen (`68 thru `70) Javelins. I`m aware of this `cause I was bitten by the AMC bug when I purchased a 1:1 `68 with a blown engine in 1977 for $500.00. With the help of friends the engine was rebuilt and  a mint pair of hi-back Gremlin bucket seats from a salvage yard were dropped in it.  I proudly drove that puppy for ten years with zero problems. Christ I loved those cars!

In October of last year Satterwhite78  posted an exquisite `70 AMC Javelin SST Trans-Am car and a `73 Mark Donohue Trans-Am Javelin that drew quite a bite of attention. Why you ask...because it was something FRESH that car modelers don`t see frequently nor have the opportunity to build because the thimble full of original annual kits have become exceedingly scarcest. And, the kits that are for sale on on-line auctions sites are PRICEY as f**k ! And, lastly AMC`s are a drastic departure from the same old G.M., Ford, Mopar subject matter!

The Javelin`s sheet metal changed for the `73-`74 model years however, they were stylishly smart looking and I would not be opposed to seeing them reissued as well (I got your back on this one Dave Van).  Kit makers are looking for new and unusual subject matter that will strike a chord with car builders and sell.  Additionally, all the aforementioned Javelins if kitted have spin-off kit possibilities. There`s the stock option, SST Trans`Am versions  (i.e.the Mark Donahue car) and drag veneration's.  

The Jo-han bodies for the `68-`74 annuals are dead on the money...clone them  if you must to get the body dimensions correct. Mostly, bring the  the dated one piece chassis with the metal rods for the wheels into the 21st century. Heck truth be told the interior tube and engine from the original annual kits are pretty spot on as well.

 

 

Edited May 27, 2019 by 69NovaYenko

[Straightliner59]

I don't know what to say, other than, there are very few new tool announcements that would excite me as much as a '69 or '70 AMX/Javelin would!

[Snake45]

49 minutes ago, 69NovaYenko said:

There has not been a reissue of ANY Javelin since the long defunct Jo-Han released them as annuals.

Not true. The '71-'74 style (I"m not sure which year) was reissued through the '80s. 

[MrObsessive]

Having once owned a 1:1 '69 AMX, I'm right there with ya!

Unfortunately, unlike us lunatic fringers I'm not so sure there's a big enough market to warrant such a thing. True, Moebius took a chance and gave us that terrific '53 Hudson, but they're having their issues at the moment and I don't see even them doing any Javelins any time soon.

It is sad as like you said, Johan got the body lines spot on for all the Javelin/AMX's they did. Fortunately, I have a couple Javelins (a '69 resin and a very restorable '68 promo) and probably about half a dozen AMX's including a '70. I got to admit, I'm not a big fan of the '71 and later cars, I don't hate them......I just think compared to the '70 and earlier cars they appeared just a bit too heavy handed for me with their somewhat tall rear quarters.

I sure do miss my AMX though.........that thing could literally throw you back in the seat no matter what gear you were in with that 390!  

[Eshaver]

Ever since Chrysler got rights to the Jeep away from AMC , licensing rights got down right insane I think this is a major factor as to why we haven't seen any AMC model kits 

[StevenGuthmiller]

I agree as well.

I love to see anything different, which is why I've been so excited about Moebius' offerings over the past few years!

Without them, we just get more Camaros and Mustangs.

I'm sorry, but somehow the big kit makers have managed to make Camaros, Mustangs, 'Cudas, etc, boring!!

 

 

Steve

[Sluggo]

Like this?

 

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Model_Cars/1970-amc-amx/MPC00000814/product.php?s=0&t=11&u=1,2&pg=1&ppp=48&sb=stocknumber&so=a&sc=20

[StevenGuthmiller]

1 hour ago, Sluggo said:

Like this?

 

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Model_Cars/1970-amc-amx/MPC00000814/product.php?s=0&t=11&u=1,2&pg=1&ppp=48&sb=stocknumber&so=a&sc=20

Problem is, it's an oddball 1/20th scale.

 

 

Steve

[MrObsessive]

5 hours ago, Sluggo said:

Like this?

 

https://www.scalehobbyist.com/catagories/Model_Cars/1970-amc-amx/MPC00000814/product.php?s=0&t=11&u=1,2&pg=1&ppp=48&sb=stocknumber&so=a&sc=20

 

3 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Problem is, it's an oddball 1/20th scale.

 

 

Steve

Not only that, the front end on that model to my eyes simply does NOT look right.

I have the 1:20 MPC '69 and while I don't fret too much over scale, it  HAS to look right. I could fix it, but I already have a Johan '70 which needs a resto.

[64Comet404]

I would definitely buy some Javelins and AMX's if they were available. I've always liked the design (especially the 68-69 cars), even though I don't remember many of them on the roads when I was younger; probably all victims of the road salt that used to be endemic to Ontario.

[69NovaYenko]

13 hours ago, StevenGuthmiller said:

Problem is, it's an oddball 1/20th scale.

Steve

 

9 hours ago, MrObsessive said:

 

Not only that, the front end on that model to my eyes simply does NOT look right.

I have the 1:20 MPC '69 and while I don't fret too much over scale, it  HAS to look right. I could fix it, but I already have a Johan '70 which needs a resto.

I agree with both the above comments. The MPC 1/20th version is an oddball scale. Additionally, I had the MPC kit at one time and had a chance to eyeball it up close and personal, Mr Obvious is correct the body-lines don't look right. I eventually got read of it in a trade for two 1/25 scale kits.

In mid-year  2011 I had a brief email conversation with Moebius about AMC`s and Javelins in particular. I was told that the prospect of kitting  AMC`s sounded promising however, at that time they were heavily vested into doing Mopars, but would keep the suggestion of kitting the Javelin family (`68 thru `74) in mind. So much for that pipe dream. :-(

Edited May 27, 2019 by 69NovaYenko

[iamsuperdan]

Maybe there's hope. I mean, in the past five years, we've seen a couple of Pacer reissues and a couple of Gremlin reissues. 

I'd love a Javelin kit or two, and a reissue of the Matador.

 

 

[bobthehobbyguy]

What would go a long way in getting  javelin would be a well written proposal. How many varients can be generated? What about drag versions? I really don't see Revell or round 2 doing. Seems like a good possibilty for Mobeius but not sure if it would be possible since the sale. 

[Dave Van]

AMC Javelin kits were on one company's to do list.....but due to changes they no longer are. I supplied input to the project and was very excited........now even more disappointed. But I am bias.......

[Trendsetta68]

This is one of my most sought after models of all time .....

I love the AMC's ... bring them back !!!!!

 

 

[MrObsessive]

8 hours ago, Dave Van said:

AMC Javelin kits were on one company's to do list.....but due to changes they no longer are. I supplied input to the project and was very excited........now even more disappointed. But I am bias.......

Dave, I had heard through the grapevine that same word........hopefully they'll materialize as I do believe they can be decent sellers if done right. Multiple versions would be needed though. No way they can focus on just one model as soooo many others can be made from it. NICE looking Javelin BTW!

Trans Am racers anyone?

[69NovaYenko]

I whole hearty agree with MrObsessive..that `73 javelin is one sweet bitchin` ride and I`m absolutely digging on the color!!!

And, YES count me in to purchase a MINIMUM of 2 of those `73 Javelin Trans-Am racers!!!

Edited May 28, 2019 by 69NovaYenko

[Trendsetta68]

Trans Am racers, drag racing, factory stock, Police version, etc...

Lots of possibilities ..... chassis / power train minimal changes I would think .....

Heck, have fictional drag/ race teams for the kit and let the aftermarket guys (like myself) make the real factory team decals.

 

JM.02 ???

[Snake45]

You'd think one of the first-class resin shops like Motor City would repop the '68-'70 Javelin. But I don't think I've ever seen one (aside from funny car bodies, and the Jimmy Flintstone '70 Trans Am, body shell only). 

[69NovaYenko]

Even though I owned a `68 Javelin I have always kinda been partial to the `69 Javelin SST with it`s unique "roof" mounted spoiler as well as the `70 Javelin SST models.

Edited May 28, 2019 by 69NovaYenko

[MrObsessive]

Hard to see the whole car, but this is my sister and I standing in front of my Mom's then new '68 Javelin. I believe this pic was taken Easter Sunday of '68.

Someday I'd like to build one just like hers. I believe this car had a straight six in it. Mom later traded it in on a new '69 SST with a 390. She complained that the six in her other Javelin kept stalling for some reason and the dealer never could fix it right. She kept the SST till about '78 or so, then she traded that one for a new Grand Prix as her then husband HATED the Javelin.

BIG mistake as that Grand Prix had more trouble than you can shake a stick at!

 

[SfanGoch]

On 5/26/2019 at 11:34 PM, Eshaver said:

Ever since Chrysler got rights to the Jeep away from AMC , licensing rights got down right insane I think this is a major factor as to why we haven't seen any AMC model kits 

Chrysler didn't get rights to the Jeep away from AMC.  It bought out AMC in 1987, Jeep being the only AMC brand continued by Chrysler after the acquisition. Chrysler, and the successor companies including FCA, own and control licensing rights to the Jeep and AMC trademarks. The major reason for the dearth of AMC model kits is low interest.

Edited May 28, 2019 by SfanGoch

[Mark]

Being a former AMC owner myself, I hate to admit that the sales numbers for new AMC kits just wouldn't be there.  The main reason we got them when the cars were new, was that AMC wanted promotional models and shouldered the bulk of the tooling costs.  This was true even with the 1/20 scale AMX kit which was first offered as a mail-order deal and through AMC dealers before hitting store shelves.  

Jo-Han did a bunch of AMC promotional models that they never offered as kits.  They had to have known that they weren't saleable at the time.  On the flip side though,  they did do a couple of kits ('69 and '70 Rebels) that were not made as promos.  I'm not positive, but the '73 Javelin AMX may not have been a promotional either.  So Jo-Han did eat the costs of those conversions themselves, but the bulk of those kits existed as previous versions.

[69NovaYenko]

It is true that in the 1:1 world the big three (GM-Ford-Mopar) had the lions share of the U.S. auto market however, their products were no better than little guy AMC. The difference was the big three vested HUGE dollars into their marketing campaigns while AMC did not have the adverting dollars to  hype their brand in a similar fashion. But in spite of this AMC maintained a exceedingly strong and very loyal consumer base. The perception of being an old stogy Rambler/Studebaker that was only driven by your grandparents was changed with the introduction of the `68 Javelin and AMX models.

As a teen we cruised the McDonald's lots and hard core "street raced" for money $100 to $200 (this was at a time when gas was $0.35 a gallon & minimum wage was $1.60) on Friday and Saturday nights from 8:00 p.m. til 3: 00 a.m. EVERY week. I can attest to witnessing on numerous occasions an overly confident driver of one of the overly hyped big three brands sorely underestimating a light bodied, high horsepower, WICKEDLY QUICK Javelin, AMX, Rebel or Scrambler and having to pay (in cold hard cash) for a lesson in humility. AMC`s were the TRUE "FACTORY BUILT STREET SLEEPERS" of their era; in a large part due to what now-a-days is refereed to as "lack of brand recondition".

But I digress, while not one of the most celebrated U.S. manufacturers of  the sixties thru seventies muscle car era, the AMC brand still holds a exceedingly strong and very loyal consumer base in the 1:25 car builder world. AMC`s will be a very  marketable kit because they are unique and a drastic departure from the same old G.M., Ford, Mopar subject matter! I would suggest taking a page out of Revell`s book by making the kit a "Special Edition" limited run.

And yes..as my username implies I`m a dyed in the wool G.M. fanboy, BUT respect has to be given where respect is due..in my book AMC`s from the mid- sixties thru early seventies rock !

 

Edited May 28, 2019 by 69NovaYenko

[Bucky]

I, for one, would grab whatever AMC kit that comes out. I owned a '77 Hornet AMX hatchback when it was new. Would love to see that in scale!

The AMC cars, to me, were certainly as interesting as anything GM put out back then.

In my stash, I have Ambassadors, Rebels, Americans, Pacers, Gremlins, Javelin AMXs, even the '59 Wagon. I just have no Hornet (too costly these days).

I believe a newly tooled kit would sell well. The original kits have hefty pricetags on the online thing.

I'd buy a whole lot more of a new AMX kit than I would a brand X that's been re-issued umpteen times!