In its prime, AMC was known for its reliable, small, inexpensive cars. Geared towards sports-car lovers and muscle car enthusiasts, the AMX was advertised as “the first American sports car for under $3,500 since 1957.” It featured a 97-inch wheelbase which made it just one-inch shorter than the Chevrolet Corvette, and its attainable cost made it a popular car to modify. As a result, original and unrestored examples of the car are nearly obsolete.

Located in Wonder Lake, Illinois, Mike Mast is the owner of a 1969 AMC AMX “survivor car.”

Mast tells Street Muscle Magazine that he found the car online with a listing advertising 53,000-miles. “It had only been listed for a few hours by a dealer in Maryland” Mast said, adding “it was advertised as a 53,000 mile vehicle and the dealer said they would sign off on it.”

Upon further inspection, Mast learned the car was one of just 2,183 produced with the “Go-Pack,” a factory performance option that included a 390-cubic inch V8 with “Shift Command,” an automatic Borg Warner transmission and “Twin Grip” 3:54:1 rear-end gearing.

With a curb weight of 3000 pounds and rated with 425-foot-pounds of torque at 2800 rotations per minute, the AMC AMX is nothing to scoff at.

According to Mast, his car is also one of “approximately 20-percent that had factory air-conditioning,” and it was once owned by Michael C. Coughlin of the Jeg’s racing family.

“The AMX was one of my all-time favorite cars,” Mast said. “They (AMC) never received the attention the other brands got. This car will hold its own, even against many current day muscle cars.”

Additionally, Mast says the car retains its original paint which is a prototype color scheme that was tested for the 1970 model year. While this particular scheme was never actually approved, a similar color option was available that become known as “Shadow Mask.”

“This car is largely a survivor,” Mast said, adding “the air conditioning still works with its original Blackstone radiator and date coded dryer.” He notes that it will “bark the tires” when shifting from first to second gear and “it’s just great fun to drive!”

Got an interesting story? Send us an email with photos and details on your classic ride. We would love to see more of what you folks are driving, and it might just end up as a Street Feature.