1969 AMC AMX 390: History, Specs & Performance

1969 AMC AMX 390

1969 AMC AMX 390

The 1969 AMC AMX 390 brough some significant refinements to this developing model. A 140-mph speedometer was added, and you could order optional leather upholstery. More significantly, the shift linkage was replaced by a vastly superior one from Hurst.>

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Not known for high-performance cars, American Motors scored a coup
with the original AMX. Pictured here is the 1969 AMC AMX 390.

AMC also made an all-out assault on quarter-mile performance with the Super Stock AMX. At $5994, some $1900 over a fully loaded regular ’69 AMX, the SS/AMX ran with the 390 treated to twin Holley carburetors, 12.3:1 compression heads, a set of Doug’s headers and exhaust system, plus a host of other modifications undertaken by Hurst. It was rated at 340 horsepower by AMC, but the National Hot Rod Association ultimately rated the SS/AMX at 420 horsepower and shuffled it among various classes: SS/G, SS/D, and SS/C.

It could be ordered in all-white paint, or in the vertical red, white, and blue that banded the bodies of many AMC competition cars of the day.

Since a production run of 50 units was required in order to compete in NHRA events, AMC/Hurst built that number, plus two for good measure. So highly strung was the SS/AMX that it came without a factory warranty. Its best recorded quarter-mile was 10.73 seconds at 128 mph.

AMX production was up for ’69, but still came in at a disappointing 8293 units.

Engine Type
V-8/AMC
Displacement (cid)
390
Horsepower @ rpm:
315 @ 4600
Torque (pounds/feet) @ rpm
425 @ 3200
Compression Ratio
10.2:1
Bore (inches)
4.17
Stroke (inches)
3.57
Valve Lifters
Hydraulic
Availability
1968-70

Times*:

0-60 mph (sec)
6.6
0-100 mph (sec)
16.3
1/4-mile (sec)
14.8 @ 95.0 mph
Top speed (mph)
122
Axle ratio
3.15:1
Engine type
390/315

*Source: Car and Driver (1968)

Times*:

0-60 mph (sec)
6.56
0-100 mph (sec)
N/A
1/4-mile (sec)
14.68 @ 92 mph
Top speed (mph)
N/A
Axle ratio
3.54:1
Engine type
390/325

*Source: Motor Trend (1969)

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