When American Motors rolled out the AMX in 1968, they were well behind the muscle car curve and needed to get good billing fast. AMC knew that they had a potent package on their hands, but proving that they had one needed more than good words from the Kenosha PR people. So, a month before the car made it’s debut at the Daytona International Speedway in 1968, AMC teamed up with then-current land speed record holder Craig Breedlove and laid out a plan that would bring the AMX out with cannon fire: a 24-hour endurance run at Goodyear’s test track in San Angelo, Texas. Two prepared AMXs would run: #1, a 390ci AMX that was bored out to 397ci, meant to compete for Class B records, and #2, a 290ci car that was bored to 304ci with aim set at Class C records. Any thought that these were just showroom stock vehicles with cages will disappear the second you hear them idling…these things were worked over. Driven by Breedlove, his wife Lee, and team driver Ron Dykes, the cars were lapped on the five-mile banked oval on February 4th, 1968. Setting an average speed of 140mph, the test earned fourteen FIA and USAC records and broke 106 national and international records, and gave AMC a great platform to stand on when it rolled the AMX out to the public.
As always, we AMC guys appreciate these posts. Thanks, Bryan!
Love the idle & sound of that 390. Grew up across the street from the AMC dealer in Steamboat Springs in the late 60s/early 70s.