What would you do, 74 Javelin AMC?

Hi Tom,

Good to see you back on the forum.


My answer is,

Depends upon what the owner wants to pay?


Assuming on the low end of the package scale - I'd


  2. Waterless wash with SONAX Glass Cleaner.
  3. Clay using normal clay.
  4. Machine buff using the BEAST with BLACKFIRE One Step or 3D Speed
  5. Machine clean the tires using a rubber/vinyl cleaner conditioner
  6. Machine polish the glass as I'm machine polishing the paint -same product/pad
  7. Also run the same product and pad over all the polished metal - bumpers and trim
  8. And machine polish those worn and neglected graphics - same pad and product



KISS - Keep it Simple Simon


There's actually no good reason to do a Package 2 or Package 3 for this type of car in this condition.



:)
 
Love these cars by the way,

70482d1597152617-what-would-you-do-74-javelin-amc-img_9981-jpg



Very cool in their time and even more cool today.


:)
 
Mike Phillips said:
Love these cars by the way,

70482d1597152617-what-would-you-do-74-javelin-amc-img_9981-jpg



Very cool in their time and even more cool today.


:)
Click to expand...

Nice to see one of these; what you got there is not just a Javelin but a (hopefully) true AMX w/ the cowl hood and the 401. Kinda big, lunky cars but they did reasonably well for in Trans Am racing for a year or 2 I believe w/ Mark Donohue and the Penske/Sunoco team. Could stuff a whole lotta tire in those back wheel wells. Got any pics of interior?

Brother had a '73 for a bit, albeit with a kinda weak 304ci engine.

As for what to do to bring it back, I have absolutely no idea but it's pretty cool to see one.
View attachment 70490
 
I'd probably do some Meguiars #7 and a good old school wax. I'd try to make the patina shine.
 
Derekstall---Test spot, what would you do or use?

Tom
 
Thanks Mike for posting...

Anyone have an idea what you would do if this car landed on your lap?

Tom
 
I am thinking of

1. Rinseless wash with purple towels.
2. Meguiars # 7. Apply 4 or 5 applications 24 hours apart with white terry cloth towels.
3. Decals? not sure. Maybe a small test using Meguiars #7
4. Meguiars Yellow Wax.
4. Tuff shine tire cleaner.

Tom
 
I wouldn't use anything abrasive on paint that old. #7 should give some nice gloss.
 
Just to clarify...

Car is in for mechanical work, not detail.

However, I'll see if I can get the owner of Bruno's to convince the owner of the car to have his paint "restored".

Tom
 
BudgetPlan1 said:
...what you got there is not just a Javelin but a (hopefully) true AMX w/ the cowl hood and the 401. Kinda big, lunky cars but they did reasonably well for in Trans Am racing for a year or 2 I believe w/ Mark Donohue and the Penske/Sunoco team.
Click to expand...

AMX's were built from '68 to '70 and had the 390 ci engine.

From '71 to '74 the car became the Javelin AMX and the 390 was replaced with a 401 aka "401 to Go" package, which is what this car appears to be. Penske and Donohue won the SCCA Trans Am Manufacturer's championship in '71 (there was no separate Driver's title back then).

I think I'd try to restore (and touchup) the paint but replace the "T-stripe" hood decal ... it's pretty far gone and replacing the decal wouldn't detract much if any from the value (whereas a car repaint would). Also, since there are cracks in the decal, I wonder if running a polisher over the cracks would catch the edges of the cracks and thus lift/tear the pieces ?


Edited: I had the wrong year for Trans Am win
 
I wouldn't remove/replace the striping. Some cars are worth more in original condition regardless of imperfections.
 
Dublows6---I agree!

Tom
 
The other weird thing right now in the collector world is that original barn find dirt is the Holy Grail. The dirtier the more prestigious in some cases. Some beat up original cars are worth more than their pristine restored counterparts.
 
Really!
Dirt more valuable than the car?? Grin.
Hummm...as for the Javelin, guess I would not touch it then. It’s got a couple old bird poop on it!!! Lol....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
DUBL0WS6 said:
I wouldn't remove/replace the striping.

Some cars are worth more in original condition regardless of imperfections.
Click to expand...


I completely agree. I machine polished the Screaming Phoenix using the Rupes 21 with their Diamond Ultra Fine Cut Polish and their White Ultra Soft Foam Finishing pad.

It peeled away decades of road film and dirt build up and restored a clear, bright colorful appearance to really complete the work done to this rare and valuable car.


BEFORE

watermark.php



AFTER

watermark.php






More BEFORE

Think about it - some of the pictures below show HOW BAD the paint was before I started. The Screaming Phoenix vinyl graphic was also just as oxidized as the paint. The previous owners didn't take care of the graphic over all the years and let the paint go to hell - the entire car went to hell.

watermark.php



watermark.php


watermark.php


watermark.php


watermark.php


watermark.php


watermark.php


watermark.php


watermark.php



watermark.php


watermark.php



watermark.php


watermark.php



Full write-up here,

Rupes and Antique Single Stage Oxidized Paint

And that is the Trans-Am on the cover of the RUPES how-to book I wrote.

300_4_book.jpg




So yeah - I would CAREFULLY machine polish the original, cracked graphics and with a simple polisher like the Porter Cable 8mm and a super soft foam pad my guess is you will remove years of oxidation, staining, dirt and neglect.

Might not work but you won't know until you try and I have the utmost confidence in Tom to have the skills, talent and experience to save the graphics and the paint on this car.


:)
 
Also....

The #7 Rub Down Technique would be a great approach. I tend to use it this technique on cars that have visible CHALKY paint from years of neglect but looking at the pictures of this car it would be a great plan of action.



And just to point out, there are some antique single stage paints that simply Do NOT like to be abraded. I don't think this will be the case with the paint on the Javelin, but it was the case on this 1973 Lotus Europa.

ALL the restoration work done to the paint on this Lotus was performed BY HAND (elbow grease), using Meguair's #7


1973 Lotus Europa oxidized original paint

1973_Lotus_009.JPG




Whatever you do Tom, I'm sure it's going to be a true EXTREME show car makeover.

I'm already looking forward to the after pictures.


:xyxthumbs:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top