Go to almost any Mopar show, and you will find a handful of American Motors Corporation vehicles among the rows of Chryslers, Dodges, and Plymouths. The 2026 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals was no exception.
While AMC always had a loyal following, it was not until years after the muscle car era had ended that enthusiasts fully embraced the brand as part of the Mopar family. Today, AMCs are a welcome and familiar sight at Mopar gatherings.
American Motors’ 1970 AMX advertising boldly proclaimed, “We made the AMX look tougher this year because it’s tougher this year.” It was more than just clever marketing. The 1970 AMC AMX represented the final year of the original two-seat body style and the pinnacle of its development.
Introduced in 1968, the AMX gave American Motors a unique entry into the muscle car market. Built on a shortened platform with a 97-inch wheelbase, it combined compact dimensions, V8 power, and impressive handling into a package unlike anything else built by AMC.
For 1970, the AMX received a significant facelift with a redesigned grille, integrated parking lamps, a new front bumper, and a full-width taillight panel.
One of its most recognizable features was the functional Ram Air hood, available as part of the Go Package, which directed cooler outside air to the carburetor for improved engine performance. Combined with revised trim and new wheel designs, the updates gave the AMX a cleaner, more aggressive appearance.
Under the hood, every 1970 AMX came equipped with a V8 engine. The standard powerplant was AMC’s new 360-cubic-inch V8, rated at 290 gross horsepower and 395 lb.-ft. of torque. While many buyers focused on the optional 390, the 360 proved to be an exceptional street engine. Its broad torque curve delivered strong acceleration from a stop and effortless passing power at highway speeds.
Contemporary road tests recorded 0-to-60 mph times of approximately 7.2 seconds and quarter-mile performance between 15.0 and 15.4 seconds at around 91 mph, placing it squarely among the era’s competitive small-block muscle cars.
Buyers seeking maximum performance could order the legendary 390-cubic-inch V8. Equipped with forged internal components, a 10.0:1 compression ratio, a four-barrel carburetor, and dual exhaust, it carried a factory rating of 325 gross horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.
Like many muscle car engines of the era, enthusiasts have long believed its actual output exceeded the advertised rating. Backed by a four-speed transmission and performance gearing, the 390 transformed the lightweight AMX into a serious performer capable of running the quarter mile in the mid-14-second range while reaching 60 mph in approximately 6.5 seconds.
Transmission choices included a Borg-Warner T-10 four-speed manual equipped with a Hurst shifter or an optional Borg-Warner three-speed automatic. Power was delivered through AMC’s durable Model 20 rear axle with ratios ranging from 2.87:1 to 3.91:1. The optional Twin-Grip limited-slip differential helped transfer power to the pavement during hard acceleration.
The chassis also received major improvements for 1970. The earlier trunnion front suspension was replaced with a modern ball-joint design that improved steering precision, ride quality, and long-term durability. Combined with a curb weight of just over 3,100 pounds, the AMX earned a reputation for nimble handling that compared favorably with many of its competitors.
The most desirable option was the Go Package, AMC’s answer to the performance packages offered by the Big Three. Available with either the 360 or 390 V8, it included a functional Ram Air hood, heavy-duty cooling system, power front disc brakes, Twin-Grip limited-slip differential, upgraded suspension, performance tires, and numerous other components designed to improve acceleration, handling, and durability.
More than an appearance package, the Go Package transformed the AMX into a well-balanced, factory-built performance machine that could compete with the best offerings from Detroit. Today, original Go Package AMXs remain among the most sought-after AMC muscle cars because of their rarity, performance, and distinctive factory equipment.
With production totaling just 4,116 units, the 1970 AMX remains one of the rarer American muscle cars of the era. Its one-year-only styling, improved chassis, strong V8 engine options, and outstanding driving dynamics have made it a favorite among collectors.
More than five decades later, the 1970 AMX stands as one of American Motors’ greatest accomplishments, proving that a smaller automaker could build a performance car capable of competing with the best Detroit had to offer.
George Tuchman of Carmel, New York, is one of the fortunate few to own a 1970 AMX powered by the standard 360 V8. He has been the car’s caretaker since 1988, but its story begins at Kobbey and Flattery AMC in Teaneck, New Jersey, where it was originally sold new from the showroom floor.
Little is known about the car’s first owner or its early years. At some point, however, the dealership reacquired the AMX with just 48,000 miles on the odometer and a damaged 360 engine. George Deorio, a New York AMC regional office manager, purchased the car with the intention of restoring it.
Tuchman was friends with Deorio and familiar with the car long before he owned it because he served as a New York zone technical trainer for AMC, as well as LeCar and Renault products, until Chrysler acquired AMC in 1988. He remained with Chrysler until retiring in 2008.
Although Deorio, with Tuchman’s assistance, got the engine running, it had jumped time, the restoration never gained much momentum. Some paintwork was completed, and new carpet was installed, but everything changed in 1988 when Deorio was transferred to California.
Rather than transport the unfinished project across the country, Deorio offered it to Tuchman, who eagerly accepted. Determined to return the AMX to its former glory, Tuchman removed the engine, transmission, and complete driveline before turning his attention to the body.
He painstakingly realigned each body panel, straightened the sheet metal, and refined the panel gaps until the body was ready for paint. The AMX was refinished in its original Mosport Green Metallic (code P86) using a modern basecoat/clearcoat system. As a genuine Go Package car, it also received the correct black side stripes, restoring its distinctive factory appearance.
Tuchman rebuilt the original 360 to factory specifications while simply cleaning and servicing the Borg-Warner automatic transmission and Twin-Grip limited-slip differential before reinstalling the driveline. With new suspension components in place, the engine and transmission were lowered back into the engine bay.
The initial break-in could not have gone more perfectly. The rebuilt 360 sounded excellent, oil pressure remained steady, and coolant temperature stabilized exactly where it should. With the break-in complete, Tuchman shut the engine off to make a few final adjustments, including fine-tuning the Motorcraft 4300 four-barrel carburetor.
Unbeknownst to him, a small check ball had fallen into the intake manifold. When the engine was restarted, it made a terrible sound before screeching to a halt. The freshly rebuilt engine had been seriously damaged after only minutes of operation.
The loose check ball bounced from cylinder to cylinder, damaging the outer edges of four pistons and collapsing the ring lands, which caused the piston rings to seize.
After replacing the damaged pistons, the engine was reassembled for the final time. Since completing the repairs and carefully fine-tuning the combination, Tuchman has enjoyed driving the AMX as it was intended.
The power front disc brakes and rear drum brakes confidently stop the lightweight car, while the upgraded suspension responds precisely through a steering wheel borrowed from an AMC Machine. A set of F70-15 Firestone bias-ply tires mounted on unique one-piece steel wheels completes the authentic appearance.
Tuchman does not hesitate to put miles on the rarest of all 1970 AMXs (1 of 747 with a 360 and an automatic transmission). He regularly enjoys it on pleasant New York days, has driven it to Carlisle, has made numerous trips to Michigan for the Cars of Michigan Mille event, and even won class at the Rhinebeck car show in Rhinebeck, New York.
More than five decades after it left the showroom, the Mosport Green AMX remains both a tribute to American Motors’ engineering and a testament to one enthusiast’s determination to preserve a unique piece of muscle car history.
