“The Ugly American”. You’ve no doubt heard the phrase, which describes the obnoxious, loud and frankly rude behavior stereotypes that a lot of foreign countries have about American tourists. Is it deserved? Sometimes, no doubt. Anyone who has gone on a tour abroad surely has a story or two about that one person who they wish would just shut up or stay away from the bar. They don’t bother with local customs, they yammer on and on like everybody cares. Does the phrase work in automobile racing? Yep. Take LeMans for example: the Corvette is a redneck attempt at a sports car and the Viper is as refined as an anvil. The Mustang is only useable as a population control device and anything else is an overpowered buckboard that has all the handling prowess of a freight train falling off of a trestle. Funny thing, though…America has been known to bring in a ringer or two that can put the racing world right in it’s place.

Did the AMC AMX do that? Look, I’m about fifteen years to young to know for sure, but the AMX did set records and surprised testers, who found it to be an extremely capable corner carver from the factory as well as flat-out quick in straight lines. Now, think like you’re in charge of AMC’s PR machine…you have a car that came out of a manufacturer that was always struggling to keep up with the big names, and you’ve just produced a solid winner according to everyone who has driven it. The shoestring budget is a real thing, yet you feel like taking a very solid swipe at everybody who downplays you as “the little guy”. Wouldn’t you get a little cocky with the advertising? Of course you would. Check out this television ad from 1969 and see if you can tell how many manufacturers AMC took a jab at with their over-excited driver!