It is no secret that the price of old iron is rising by the day and the “cost of entry” for younger guys into the muscle car market is certainly not what it used to be. Every once in a while though a gem pops up and we think it would make an awesome first car for someone who wants to get their hands dirty and take a good thing to a great thing. This 1971 Javelin is a really good thing. The paint scheme, the steel wheels, the poverty caps, and the nice clean interior make this car a totally respectable cruiser right out of the box. The engine is a 2bbl 360 which is an awesome place to start on making horsepower because you are an intake and carb away from big, noticeable, gains in performance.
It is true that the Javelins (and everything else) got a little bigger, a little heavier, and a little more beefy in 1971 but we think that this car s a real looker. Call us crazy but those kick ups in the front fenders are pretty cool. We know that many people hate them but we think that they are pretty boss. The big win here is that a young guy who buys this really gets himself or herself into a nice car for a bunch less than $10,000 and there isn’t a single system on the car that would benefit for some good old fashioned wrenching.
Just think of the fun you could gave starting with a 4bbl carb and intake swap, moving to a set of headers then stepping up the ignition, cam, heads, and rear axle. Before you knew it, this unassuming looking hunk of AMC goodness would be making some real power and terrorizing the local strip and when you were done you’d have a car that would confound lots of “car guys”. Mustang? Camaro? Challenger? The best part of owning this car would be telling people what it is because the majority your totally miss it by a mile.
Maybe we’re crazy but we think that this car is really sweet and the enjoyment it could provide a young person getting into the hobby would be limitless.
My first car was a ’71 Javelin…304, 4 Speed! I wanted something other than a Camaro or a Mustang! That will be a great starter car for someone!
Thats a good loking car just as it is.