BUD LINDEMANN ROAD TEST 1971 AMC JAVELIN 401

I created this video with the KZbin Video Editor ( / editor )

[@jonathanlawson4667]

One of the best looking most underrated muscle car ever

[@vtr0104]

How does it sound SO good?...

[@charlies.5777]

I agree. I'm a Mopar fan, but I really like the javelin and AMX.

[@jonathanlawson4667]

@@charlies.5777 they are beautiful cars

[@jimlesperance9971]

when i was racing for amc in canada we had a 401 javelin on our team.it ran low thirteens in the quarter mile in pure stock.[no slicks or other modifications were allowed.] this car ran in d/s automatic.it ran against 440 powered dodges and plymouths,it seemed to win every week at the strip.when it was taken off the track i bought it for my son and he is now going to restore it and start driving it to car shows.

[@chadhaire1711]

Low 13's in a stock 401? LOL.....BULLSHIT.

[@dencocreations1701]

@@chadhaire1711 clearly don’t know jackshit about 401s lol, there are power differences between early and late 401s btw

[@patrickjohnson7801]

​@@chadhaire1711 I owned a 71 AMX, witch I believe that only around 435 were built and only the last couple of hundred had a 727 tork flight and a 4 speed was 95 percent of the time not going to be as fast, small block vets didn't have a chance, mine was bought from a friend of my brother and the girl that owned it her father was service manager at a dealership in Bellflower CA. Don A vee AMC it was on order for over a year, it had 5 less horsepower than a 455 trans am and would not come close to kicking the AMX ass 401 had some low end tork like a train, biggest problem was keeping the power to the ground and not blowing the tires, low 13 I believe it with the right traction rubber.

[@chadhaire1711]

@@patrickjohnson7801 no stick AMX ever did better than 14

[@journeymancellist9247]

Do you have a website? Or maybe you’re making your own KZbin vids? I’d love to see.

[@keithadams6706]

This is how car tests for performance vehicles should be done. Straight to the point. Well filmed for the time. I'm pretty sure I video taped the whole series.

[@markanthony3275]

Man I love seeing these huge old monsters wallowing around the track.

[@FasterNLouder]

It wasn't exactly huge. My '73 weighs in at 3160.

[@markanthony3275]

@@FasterNLouder Really? I find that hard to believe ...I mean, just looking at the size I would have guessed about 3800 lbs. Shows you how much I know! LOL!

[@FasterNLouder]

@@markanthony3275 I think a stock, fully loaded one with an auto might have been around 3500. I have aluminum heads, intake, lighter brakes, etc. I do have power steering, power brakes and A/C though.

[@slant6guy]

Gotta love those flush AMC door handles as they were used in ALL of their cars, it seemed like: used all the way to the Bitter End of AMC's legacy in the Jeep Wrangler TJ with its AMC 4.0L inline six + same flush door handles = AWESOME!

[@keithstudly6071]

I have seen the AMC door handles used by costomizers in other makes. They were a good "piece".

[@markanthony3275]

Yeah...they would wear out and break all the time. Lots of AMC owners climbing in to drive ...from the passenger side LOL !

[@will7its]

@@markanthony3275 Yeah they made the car look "Canadian"

[@crazykellywfo4240]

Remember watching this on speedvision when I was 14 or 15. This was my favorite episode, thanks John.

[@timmcdonald5825]

That year was the start of a 4 year run of the best/sexiest muscle car ever built. A 71-74 AMC Javelin will always be my lottery dream car

[@f2.8vidz4]

I owned a 71 AMC gremlin and swapped out the str 6- 232ci for a 401ci police interceptor damm that 401 was quick...not to many cars could beat me off the line...had to add traction bars to get any traction... FYI : the 401 went into the gremlin with lots of room after I swapped the 6cyl K-frame member for a V8 k-frame I found in a wrecked gremlin X with the 304ci in it.... Distributor were all front mounted in all AMC V8's so the firewall was never an issue if U wanted to swap from a small block 304 or 343 up to the 390 or 401 Cheers from🇨🇦 Luke

[@Trenchbroom]

My brother's near mint 72 Ford Torino had a very minor dash fire in 1982 when he was 17. His "friends" convinced him to swap his Torino for a 73 Gremlin X with a police interceptor. I sure did have fun for months playing in that car as an eight year old; it ran long enough to make it to our driveway on its first trip where it died, never to start again. It was towed away for the cost of the tow trip by the wrecking yard 18 months later.

[@vibingwithvinyl]

1st gen AMC V8's (250, 287, 327) had their distributors behind the carb.

[@beyond_the_infinite2098]

Awesome 401 swap. Your Gremlin must have been a burn out machine.

[@Shane661]

"..mild understeer sets in"...fortunately it is compensated with massive oversteer.

[@vtr0104]

For some reason, this comment amused me immensely. Thank you, good Sir =))))

[@royalerathcliff5703]

indeed

[@michaeltipton5500]

A set of today's tires would make a big difference.

[@justsumguy2u]

Yeah, but it also had way too much body roll, even when compared to other pony cars of it's day. This car could've used a rear sway bar

[@raymondparks4734]

Just a little modification and a set of 50's and it would pull the front wheels.

[@bilbobaggins4710]

@@raymondparks4734 hahahaha bull fuck

[@justsumguy2u]

@@RCH45ACP Then it needed thicker ones, because that kind of body roll is unacceptable....that's something I'd expect to see in a full size car from the day

[@crazykellywfo4240]

Set of Dunlops or BFGOODRICH.

[@keithstudly6071]

The AMC V8s were surprisingly good. Build quality was a problem IMHO. I used to get these cars from used car dealers for work and the trunks would be wet from leaks and the doors would rattle with screws coming loose from window regulators. That was in 1978.

[@sockshandle]

Used car nearly a decade since the javelin stopped being made if memory serves and if its only the trunk leaking and the doors rattling it sounds as If the build quality was quite good

[@markwegner6100]

I gently closed my neighbors new '78 Pacer door & the partially open window shattered! Shitty build quality.

[@sockshandle]

@@markwegner6100 I do believe the glass is made by a separate manufacturer if memory serves so it was likely a defect in the manufacturing of the glass (also was this the only issue with the 78 Pacer in question aside from fuel economy)

[@will7its]

I thought they were made on chrysler assembly lines if that tells you anything.....

[@FasterNLouder]

Build quality was trash from everyone in that era.

[@poky1958]

I had a 71. And I loved it. Except in the snow!! It didn't do well in the snow.

[@phillipanderson2607]

I think the AMC javelin set the looks for future cars in style. For all makes . The TV show 1 Adam 12 in the later episodes had a police car matador with 401cu badges on the front fenders. My favorite javelin was the mark Donahue racing version.

[@ztwntyn8]

Always been a firebird trans am guy but we had a 71 Javlin just like this at my dads body shop when I was 13 so 1990 and it was pretty cool. Even then it did look corvette from the driver seat and at angles cool at the fenders but a little awkward from the rear and looking perpendicular to front fenders. I would say this seems to be an even match for a 71 Formula 400 my favorite. Wicked review!

[@ss396rip]

Back in the day we had to do a Rockford in driver training.

[@jeremythompson9122]

Love this car. My favorite Javelin was either the 71 401-4 speed or a 70 Javelin Trans Am with the 390-4 speed

[@buzzwaldron6195]

This car would be awesome with different pistons, head porting, and a mild cam! Then they wouldn't be embarrassed to show the 1/4 mile time/MPH...

[@Doobie1975]

I can't help but think of a Ford Mustang of this vintage whenever I see this car.

[@will7its]

Cross between a camaro and mustang......

[@scdevon]

A 1971 Mustang was much better looking and better built. The sales numbers speak for themselves.

[@pl5624]

Bigger and fatter was in.

[@ACF6180T]

My father owned a 72, my brother owned a 71; Both had V8's, But not the 401. The both of them were very nice automobiles. I was still to young to drive, But I liked these more than the Mustang; As far as the styling.

[@deecee784]

AMC made my favorite pony cars. Javelins and AMX's are hardly seen on the road in my neck of the woods these days. Even 15 years ago ( before an imbecile totalled my 71 Jav ) people would ask what kind of car it was.

[@bilbobaggins4710]

AMX was sweet

[@joefahrenschon2437]

my uncle in Manitoba was the AMC Jeep dealer so my cousin kelly had a few Javelins in the 80s i remember a pierre cardin one and i think also a levi's edition also my cousins had jeep Honchos and my uncle had a turbo Fuego

[@markanthony3275]

Yeah... in the early 1980's I worked at Omega Autobody in St Boniface, right across from Canada Packers...and we had a Javelin at the shop with the Pierre Cardin interior that you mentioned . Unusual for it's day !

[@royalerathcliff5703]

with a 4 speed manual transmission the 1971 AMC Javelin SST and 360 or 401 v8 engine is a go job!

[@responsiblejerk2328]

Hilarious listening to them talk about great handling as your watching these heavy beasts rock like boats in a hurricane around the pylons at 40mph.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

the era needs to be considered

[@FasterNLouder]

The weight wasn't the issue--it was the suspension. My Javelin weighs 3160 with 1/3 tank of gas and full interior.

[@Nicktheguy24]

2:16 Lol 7 seconds back then was for the top of the line muscle car, now it’s for the average car lol. Oh cars have come a long way 👌

[@WPGinterceptor460Interceptor]

bias ply tires didnt hook.... CRAP CRAP CRAP! put newer steel belts on and these cars ran in 5 seconds or less

[@glennhansel9411]

@@WPGinterceptor460Interceptor no way 5 seconds 0-60 with steel belts. And I like AMC

[@WPGinterceptor460Interceptor]

@@glennhansel9411 Old muscle with the bias plys ran 13's low 14's... put newer tires on them they run 12's! put slicks they run 11's! What dont you understand??

[@busman2050]

Not true

[@karlooo79]

Love Javelin and camaro 71

[@DerwoodPFreen]

I had two. Wish I still had them.

[@skabootykat]

alabama highway patrol used these!

[@randymorobitto5453]

skabootykat - www.javelinamx.com/javhome/copcar/

[@DrOlds7298]

Yes,I remember them!! Big Blue 'Gumball Machine' on the roof and all!!! Each County got two,except for #1 Jefferson (Birmingham) #2 Montgomery #3 Mobile and #47 Madison (Huntsville......My Home at the time?)....they had four patrolling those counties? (Four largest metro areas. The numbers #1,#2,#3 & #47 are the registration codes on the licence plates....like 47-12345?)

[@culcune]

They had rear spoilers so they could stencil 'Highway Patrol' on them.

[@drjohnsonhungwell5115]

@DR X There's a retired Trooper in Dothan who said he never got out ran when he had his and that 140 + was no trouble for the Javelin

[@WPGinterceptor460Interceptor]

@@drjohnsonhungwell5115 yeah and the trooper cars had the special computer chips ion them that made them faster than anything on the road LOL.. THE STORIES OF THESE GET BETTER AND BETTER EVERYTIME.. even though there was nothing special with them compared to a reg javelin.. in fact a reg javelin would be a touch faster as it will be lighter as no police equipement!!!!!!!!!

[@thefreestylefrEaK]

Yep, just what I thought. About as nimble as an ocean liner on pavement.

[@caseyjones3684]

All Makes Combined = AMC

[@tskraj3190]

AMC : American Muscle Car ..... Mic Drop

[@VitoVeccia]

A Mexican car 😁

[@slant6guy]

A Mongrel Car.

[@lesterhankins5251]

A few years later, the TV show A-Team stole this music!

[@70nastyfish]

Had a chance to buy one back in 84 for $100. Walked away because I thought it was too much. I was only making $2.75 hr then.

[@philtripe]

minimum wage was 3.35 an hour back then... were you picking vegetables or something?

[@70nastyfish]

I was bagging groceries part time at

[@SquirminHermanthe1eyedGerman]

wow, in '84 I was 17 making $5 hr plus tips delivering pizzas in my '78 Ttop Z28 that I bought for $2000 cash! I had just sold my '76 Monte Carlo for $1200 & had some money saved up to buy the Z28 which I had until 1991

[@woestynkusdorp6554]

The early 1971 401 had high compression, but the late 1971 401 went to low compression.

[@mckessa17]

Best car AMC made other than the Jeep.

[@jeremywhitehorn1228]

These beasts were utterly majestic (but cornered like crap)

[@lonewolfmcquade1079]

I fucken love AMX n javelin s love them.

[@frankburns8871]

Some stickier tires and stiffer springs, and this thing would take a backseat to few modern cars.

[@deansapp4635]

Great looking car

[@MrSmartAlec]

Wow - it's almost as quick 0-60 as my 2016 Honda Accord ! The Javelin is a little cooler looking though. :)

[@tskraj3190]

Yes but you have to think about technology now and technology then. Carburetors don't have the ability to control oxygen and fuel like today's cars. I can assure you if the engine in the Javelin had today's technology it would be a beast and most likely spank the modern Camaros and Mustangs in performance. At the time this Javelin with a 401 V8 was competing with the Ford Mustang GT 500 with a 428 Cobra Jet V8.

[@MrSmartAlec]

@@tskraj3190 Really ? Modern engines are not exactly the same as 70s muscle cars ? I was trying to point out the irony of a boring modern family sedan being competitive with a 70s muscle car.

[@tskraj3190]

@@MrSmartAlec Sadly though a modern family car is competitive with an older muscle car and our modern muscle cars are faster than our older super cars. I would take a 71 or older American Muscle car over any Super or Hyper car any day. The only other country I would want an older muscle car from would be Australia.

[@MrSmartAlec]

@@tskraj3190 I would love to have my '78 Corvette back even if it was under powered and not that reliable. I still loved it.

[@Nicktheguy24]

“BIG FULL SIZE SEDAN”

[@damxgopak457]

Always wanted a. AMX

[@skipcampbell4226]

Super Sonic Transport!

[@jg300ascout1]

The driver is locking all four wheels during the brake tests, not the way to generate the best stopping. Tires look they could use a few more pounds of air.

[@scdevon]

I don't see how pegging the brake pedal into a 4 wheel lockup generates much heat or "pedal fade" either unless you were doing it multiple times in a row in an unrealistic way. The tires are scrubbing all the heat off, not the brakes during a lock-up. Threshold braking was well known back then, too.

[@pinkamenadianepie8609]

Would love to get one of these and paint it like the one from flat out

[@darthgrundle2349]

Love the old days and the cars. We have certainly come a long way. The cars we drive today, Camry's, Accords etc, family cars would put so called muscle cars of yesterday to shame now.

[@trillrifaxegrindor4411]

and look ugly as fuck doing it.....i know my choice

[@Lucille69caddy]

In good tune most old muscle cars would spank your Camry and Accord. Throw on a set of radial tires and it’s slaughter city.

[@darthgrundle2349]

I'm not so sure about that, lol. My GTO was pretty quick but my V6 Camry would definitely give it run...lol, yeah, I love the old iron and wish I still had it, especially my girlfriend at the time!!!...lol

[@82ghall]

nfl music ?

[@royalerathcliff5703]

i liked the slightly oversteering 1972 AMC Javelin SST better than most...js

[@Hot80s]

i think the test driver could haul all these cars in way better stopping timees & little lockup but it wouldnt look good on TV

[@danhoyland142]

Yeah these cars get ugly. I have a restored 72 GTO and even with all new tight suspension it’s hard to drive and does what ever it wants. Driving these old cars hard is like a game of chess.

[@sockshandle]

They at least look better and more interesting than today's cars (I.e the melted jellybean shape)

[@justsumguy2u]

At :57, the driver looks like he wants to hurl lol This car had way too much body roll (even for it's time), but the 401 mill under the hood would give some musclecars a run for their money

[@richbaca6324]

hey man, you drive like steve maquin?

[@philtripe]

@David H. yeah steve maquin... he was a butcher in brooklyn that drove a beat up buick while drinking beer... he would just floor the accelerator and never let off until he got to where he was going ... he would bounce off parked cars like they were there for him

[@skbuydens7717]

Needs a 4sp.

[@mattblack9344]

Body rollin.

[@Porsche996driver]

Pulling some sweet drifts there. Just replace the music lol

[@beyond_the_infinite2098]

That Javelin handles like a pig and the stopping distances are unsafe. The ride height is like a Jeep. I had a 70 AMX 360 4-speed Go Package. I lowered it with higher roll rate front springs and bigger sway bars with BFG tires. It looked cool and handled well.

[@23skidoo46]

the Javelin made the Vega and Pinto look like works of art.

[@knowbodiesfull5768]

209 feet from 70 mph? Yikes!

[@peteshea8010]

I agree, though my 2003 Honda Accord V6 (equipped with 4 wheel discs) required 211 feet t accomplish the same feat, per CAR AND DRIVER. And trust me, it felt like it. Amazingly poor brakes by 2003 standards!

[@shadowthesi]

Uh somethings up there. I have driven those accords and they stop nicely. Also motortrend clocked a 129 ft stop from 60 so I doubt it was that high from 70.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

@@shadowthesi when you double your speed ,quadruple the stopping distance is the general rule of thumb. Still, 200+ feet is shit

[@buzzwaldron6195]

These cars were faster in 1969 with the 390" engine... they won't even give the 1/4 mile time with 401" engine...

[@allencrider]

I was partial to the look of the older ones too.

[@Lucille69caddy]

401 lost two points of compression.

[@BuzzLOLOL]

@@Lucille69caddy - At least... GM still claimed 8-8.5:1 compression ratio in early 1970's engines, but most actually in the 7's...

[@johnzito125]

Comical. Looks like its being driven on oil. Hopefully the driver was smoking a cigarette to calm his nerves, as would also be period correct.

[@christianmotley262]

Egg sucking tires

[@shawnbeckmann1847]

I like my 69 AMX much Better

[@johndoe-fm9ne]

facebook.com/groups/131633717350604/

[@danielphilcox4658]

"Body lean did not seem excessive" >car is nearly fucking sideways lol Also nice jab at the corvette, but get real "bud", the vette would run circles around this clunker