AMX Javelin: The $500,000 Muscle Car

Ridiculous Rides

DESIGNED in the late 60s by Richard Teague, the father of the Jeep Cherokee XJ and Pacer – take a look at the award-winning ‘Javelin’ car. Brothers Mike and Jim Ring are known for having dedicated 4,700 hours to a 1969 Dodge Charger. Now, they’ve taken their passion into doing major bodywork and horsepower changes to high-end muscle car 1972 AMX Javelin. “Too much horsepower in a cool old vintage car, it’s a freak,” Mike said. According to the Ring brothers, the Javelin is an unusual choice for car enthusiasts. “If you talked to all the Ford Mustang guys and all the Camaro guys back then, the AMX Javelin was probably the ugly duckling” said Jim Ring. This did not stop the Ring brothers, and they set about an epic year-long project that cost them a whopping $500,000.

Transcript

00:00The first reaction is, what is it?

00:06Too much horsepower and a cool old vintage car.

00:11It's a freak.

00:19When taking on a high-end muscle car customization,

00:24a 1972 Javelin may not seem like an obvious starting point.

00:29It's easier to get somebody to build a Camaro or Charger,

00:32but if you get somebody you want to do a Javelin,

00:34and they're like, no way, no way.

00:37If you talk to all the Ford Mustang guys

00:39and all the Camaro guys back then,

00:41the AMX Javelin to them was probably the ugly duckling.

00:45But that didn't stop the Ring Brothers,

00:48and they set about an epic year-long project,

00:51costing $500,000.

00:54There was a lot that was involved with that car.

00:56We lowered that four inches from where it was, factory height.

00:59There's a lot of different suspensions out there.

01:02We chose to use a Detroit Speed 69 front sub under it.

01:07But there's one modification that sets this car apart.

01:11An extended wheelbase,

01:13shifting the front wheel forward six and a half inches,

01:16with a completely custom front end,

01:19making this a Javelin like no other.

01:22From the windshield forward, it was all hand-built,

01:24and done in CAD, and then hand-laden carbon.

01:27Grill area bumpers were all machined

01:30out of several different pieces of aluminum.

01:32That was probably the greatest thing we did to change the look.

01:35I think that's why that car was considered ugly.

01:38People couldn't get past the front nose of that car.

01:41It was really awesome.

01:43I don't think anybody's ever seen a Javelin done to that level before.

01:47Customization complete,

01:49this vehicle is now owned by auto-chemical manufacturer Prestone.

01:54Today, company test driver Bam is taking it out for a spin.

01:59This car is just phenomenal when it comes to just getting after it.

02:13When you mash this one, you better be pointed straight,

02:16right in the right direction.

02:18Because if you're not, you're going to go for a wild ride.

02:22It's not a car that you can just turn loose to anyone,

02:30because the car will get away from you very quickly.

02:34This car will hang you right on the edge,

02:36and there's nothing there to pull you back.

02:39And that's no surprise,

02:42considering what's under the hood.

02:44A Hellcat 6.2-litre V8 engine

02:47is complemented by a Whipple supercharger.

02:50Pushing this beast over 1,000 horsepower.

02:54We had to almost detune it,

02:55because it was making way more than 1,000.

02:57So we ended up putting a bigger pulley on the blower

02:59to actually slow the boost down on that car,

03:02because it was just too much power for it.

03:04It's a light switch.

03:05It's either on or off.

03:06And the car is very drivable,

03:08unless you decide to put your foot in it.

03:09And if you do, you better hold on.

03:12All of the changes that the Ring Brothers have made to this car,

03:16you don't see it every day.

03:19The power of this car is just amazing.

03:22The whine of the motor,

03:24hearing that supercharger whine.

03:26That's what I like the best about this car,

03:28the noise and everything.

03:30It sounds like an old hot rod.

03:32A new car kind of helps the driver to drive it.

03:39This being an older car with a lot of power,

03:42you actually have to be a driver to actually drive it.

03:45It doesn't have traction control.

03:47It doesn't have all of the features that the new ones have

03:50to where it corrects itself.

03:52You have to actually correct the car.

03:55It's an experience like no other.

03:57It's like you're climbing in a race car that you can drive on the street.

04:00Best of both worlds.

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