Otis Singleton
The AMC AMX/III is a mid-engine sports car that was presented to the Italian press in March 1970 and was to be produced in Germany by Karmann starting in 1971. The AMX/3 was designed by Richard Dick Teague, and its body design was completed in the spring of 1968. The car was powered by AMC V8 engines mounted longitudinally in a mid-engine position, and it could reach speeds of up to 160 mph. Despite its impressive performance and styling, the AMX/3 never reached mass production, and only a handful of cars were built.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of car | Mid-engine sports car |
| Manufacturer | American Motors Corporation (AMC) |
| Designer | Dick Teague |
| Chassis design and development | ItalDesign, Bizzarrini, Diomonte |
| Chassis testing, component selection and enhancement | BMW Project E18 |
| Chassis construction | Autofficina SD in Via della Padula Livorno |
| Transaxle | ZF transaxle |
| Body and drivetrain development | AMC |
| Chassis and suspension development | Italian suppliers |
| Year of presentation | 1970 |
| Location of presentation | Rome, New York |
| Date of presentation in Rome | 23 March 1970 |
| Date of presentation in New York | 4 April 1970 |
| Auto show | New York Auto Show |
| Date | 5 April 1970 |
| Investment by AMC | $2 million |
| Equivalent investment in 2023 | $15,691,517 |
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What You'll Learn
The AMC AMX/3 was unveiled to the Italian press in March 1970
The AMC AMX/3 was unveiled to the Italian press in Rome on 23 March 1970. The AMX/3 was a mid-engine sports car produced by the American carmaker American Motors Corporation (AMC). The car was initially presented in front of the Colosseum in Rome, where promotional photos were taken.
The AMX/3 was designed by Dick Teague and was intended to compete with the similarly designed De Tomaso Pantera, which was marketed in the United States by Ford. AMC consulted and partnered with Italian suppliers to build the chassis and suspension, and the design was falsely attributed to Giotto Bizzarrini, although he only contributed specific components. Italdesign and Autocostruzioni S.D. were also involved in the development of the car.
The AMX/3 was a further development of the AMC AMX/2, which was a show car with no prospect of series production. The decision to produce the AMX/3 in series was made in the autumn of 1968, and it was to be produced in Germany by Karmann starting in 1971. However, after only half a dozen vehicles were built, AMC abandoned the project without giving any official reason.
The AMX/3 was powered by AMC V8 engines mounted longitudinally in a mid-engine position between the seats and the rear axle. The engine block was made of grey cast iron, and the engine produced 340 hp (254 kW) at 5100 rpm and 430 lb⋅ft (583 N⋅m) of torque at 3600 rpm. The car featured a central camshaft and a forged crankshaft with five bearings. Despite its impressive specifications, the AMX/3 never reached mass production after the official presentation.
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The AMX/3 was a high-performance sports car with a mid-engine
The AMX/3 was presented to the Italian press in Rome on March 23, 1970, and to the American media in New York on April 4, 1970. The car was designed by Dick Teague and built in collaboration with Italian suppliers. The body and drivetrain were developed by AMC, while the chassis and suspension were constructed by Italdesign and Autocostruzioni S.D. The engine of the AMX/3 was an AMC V8 mounted longitudinally in a mid-engine position, producing up to 340 hp.
Despite its impressive design and performance, the AMX/3 never reached mass production. AMC abandoned the project after building only a handful of vehicles, without providing an official reason. However, it is believed that escalating costs and pending bumper regulations contributed to the decision. The AMX/3 remains a unique piece of American automotive history, with surviving models occasionally changing hands among collectors.
The AMX/3 was intended to compete with the De Tomaso Pantera, which was also in development at the time. The Pantera was to be distributed in the United States by Ford, and AMC aimed to challenge its rival with the AMX/3's similar design and performance. However, despite AMC's efforts, the AMX/3 did not achieve the commercial success or brand impact that the company had hoped for.
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The AMX/3 was designed by Dick Teague
Teague was a noted automobile historian who collected classic and rare vehicles and other auto memorabilia. He was a four-wheel-drive enthusiast and had owned several World War II models. Over his lifetime, he claimed to have owned "400 or 500" cars.
Teague's design process for the AMX/3 began in 1968, with the creation of a clay mock-up crafted in a design studio leased by AMC. The detailed work was done by Vince Geraci, Jack Kenitz, Chuck Mashigan, and Robert "Bob" Nixon. The AMX/3 was designed as a mid-engine sports car, with a top speed of 160 mph (260 km/h). It was intended to compete with the similarly designed De Tomaso Pantera, which was marketed in the United States by Ford.
Teague was instrumental in moving the car to production at a reasonable cost, but upcoming US bumper regulations and other issues would have inflated its price beyond volume viability. Unfortunately, the AMX/3 never reached mass production, and AMC abandoned the project without giving any official reason. Despite this setback, Teague's work on the AMX/3 is considered one of his most substantial efforts and a favourite design concept.
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The AMX/3 was developed to counter AMC's marketing and business difficulties
In the latter half of the 1960s, AMC attempted to refocus its image by targeting younger buyers with sportier variants of its models. The pony car Javelin, introduced in 1968, was one such attempt. However, despite receiving good reception as a muscle car, the Javelin fell short of sales expectations.
The AMX/3 was a further attempt to change the company's image and attract a younger demographic. Management had been pursuing the goal of adding a high-performance sports car with a mid-engine to the model range since 1968. This was triggered by the motor racing successes of the Ford GT40, which Ford used for advertising. The marketing opportunities also prompted General Motors to develop the 1968 Chevrolet XP-880, or Astro II concept car.
The AMX/3 was designed in the US, built in Italy, and refined in Germany. It was presented to the Italian press in March 1970 and was to be produced in Germany by Karmann starting in 1971. The body and drivetrain were originated and developed by AMC, and Dick Teague designed the car. The design was falsely attributed to Giotto Bizzarrini, who contributed specific components, including the innovative, fully independent suspension system.
The AMX/3 was powered by AMC's most capable engine, a beefed-up version of the AMX's 390-ci (6.4-liter) V8. It was also equipped with a four-disc braking system, which was later replaced by a more robust ATE system after testing by BMW. Despite its promising design and performance capabilities, the AMX/3 never reached mass production, and AMC abandoned the project without giving any official reason.
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The AMX/3 was displayed at the New York Auto Show in April 1970
The AMX/3 was a mid-engine sports car produced by the American carmaker American Motors Corporation (AMC). It was designed by Dick Teague and developed in partnership with Italian suppliers. The car was initially presented to the Italian press in Rome on 23 March 1970, and then to the American media in New York on 4 April 1970.
The following day, on 5 April 1970, the AMX/3 was displayed at the New York Auto Show, alongside its primary rival, the De Tomaso Pantera. The AMX/3 was a near-production model, intended to give the AMC brand a sporty image and to counter AMC's business and marketing difficulties.
The AMX/3 was powered by AMC V8 engines mounted longitudinally in a mid-engine position. The engine block was made of grey cast iron, with a forged crankshaft and five bearings. The engine had a central camshaft and was short-stroke, with a displacement of 390 cu in (6.4 L). The Machine version featured a four-barrel carburettor from Carter, and the compression ratio was 10:1.
Despite the car's attractive design and impressive specifications, AMC abandoned the AMX/3 project soon after the New York Auto Show. No official reason was given for this decision, although it is speculated that accounting and business considerations may have played a role. The AMX/3 never reached mass production, and only a handful of prototypes were ever built.
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Frequently asked questions
The AMX 3 was initially designed in the spring of 1968.
The AMX 3 was presented to the Italian press in Rome on March 23, 1970, and to the American media in New York on April 4, 1970.
AMC completed six cars, and Bizzarrini completed a seventh using leftover parts.
With 340hp and a healthy amount of torque, the car could reach 160mph.
Union strikes, difficulties finding a suitable builder, and the high cost of production all contributed to the car never reaching mass production.
