This quirky muscle car was a revelation in the 1970s.
In America’s classic muscle car era, Ford and General Motors were the leaders in straight-line speed. The fourth U.S. carmaker, American Motors Corporation, was often overlooked. But tuning company Ringbrothers hopes to make a difference with this stunning 1972 AMC Javelin. It is powered by a 1,100-plus Hellcat engine. Jay Leno also wants to show some love for AMC on his YouTube episode of Jay Leno’s Garage.
First, this car is not a flashy project car that has fresh paint and an engine swap. The AMC Javelin was cool. However, it was awkward due to its long nose and extended length beyond the front wheels. Ringbrothers actually moved the front wheels six inches forward to create this car. This allowed for a longer wheelbase and eliminated awkwardness. Ringbrothers custom made the entire front section of this car, including the fenders and grille. This styling inspiration comes from the 1970s Plymouth ‘Cuda.
Another tribute to Chrysler, or Dodge in this instance, is the Hellcat V8 engine crate engine that was installed in the engine bay. The mill received a huge Whipple supercharger, which has a displacement capacity of 4.5 liters. 707 horsepower is not enough. Although the engine was originally thought to produce over 1,400 horsepower it has been lowered to just 1,100. The team turned to General Motors for an automatic four-speed transmission in order to manage such power. You can also find the GM connection under the custom front end. This is where the forward frame from a 1969 Camaro was used. This AMC Javelin could be described as a hybrid, but not the gasoline-electric type. Prestone anti-freeze was the company that built the car. This is why the Prestone decal appears on the front. The car seems to be remarkably well-mannered for street usage, which is good since it is scheduled to participate in the Hot Rod Power Tour, which spans the United States.
We love to see custom-built cars of all makes and models. But Jay Leno’s video speaks volumes about creativity in the car community. He said, “I like ’32 Fords but not 1,500 of them.” It is unlikely that you will ever see 1,500 Javelins, even at a Javelin-specific meeting. We are certain that you won’t see another like it.