Let's talk about the mid-engine V8 American sports car dream by AMC (American Motor Corporation that you likely have not heard of. The American Super Car AMX/3 | The Bad Blonde Car History #AMX3 #AMC #SUPERCAR The ambitious project started in 1969 with dreams of mass-production that would not quite take flight. Let’s first start our story with AMC’s background and financial situation, AMC was the underdog of the American automotive scene. They had suffered significantly in sales during the 1960s but saw an opportunity in targeting the younger markets with sports options. They needed a halo car. Keep in mind the mid-60s were an era of baby boomers coming of driving age and the birth of the pony cars. 1968 AMC came out with the Javelin with great press fanfare but lackluster sales. The AMC executives decided they needed to sport up the image with the addition of a high-performance mid-engine sports car. First they would showcase the AMX/2, heavily influenced by the De Tomaso Mangusta. Though the AMX/2 would garner attention as a show car it had no prospect of production. At this time the De Tomaso Pantera was in development and AMC had clear sights on it for competition. Ford had a leg up with plans to distribute it through it’s wide dealer network. Legendary designer, Dick Teague along with Bob Nixon designed the AMX/2 which notably the AMC execs were pleased but not certain that the AMX/3 should be designed in-house. They arranged a competition between Teague and his team against Italdesign Founder and famed designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro. Under Giorgetto’s belt were designs such as BMW M1, Lotus Esprit S1, Delorean, Mangusta, and the Iso Grifo. Teague and his team were not playing around, they improved on their design completed a fully developed fiberglass mock-up and won. For financial reasons, AMC made the decision to outsource production and development to European operations. Thus hopefully keeping the production costs and sales price low. Initially, they considered German coachbuilder Karmann who had already been assembling Javelins for European markets since 1968. Then they had discussions with BMW. And then it gets a little muddled. Italdesign with Giorgetto Giugiaro was commissioned to manage the project. Salvatore Diomante, who was involved in the fabrication of the prototypes, remembers that it was Karmann who commissioned ItalDesign to manage the project and that it was, in turn, Giugiaro who commissioned Bizzarrini to develop the chassis for the first car. And BMW would jump back into the fold with development. My apologies if that is a fuddled explanation. Lots of talented ingredients in that soup. An AMX3 was tested at Monza reaching 170 mph, equivalent speeds to the Ferraris of the day. In 1970 AMC presented the AMX/3 to the press with acclaim.. Just to note, they debuted the car in Rome and in New York EACH day just one day before scheduled press days for the Pantera. Though despite of the strong press and public reactions to the AMX/3, AMC would pull the project. With an already struggling, AMC, they didn’t see the AMX/3 proving itself financially worth it. The AMX/3 reported target price was $12k, a few grand more than the Pantera… Which eventually Ford with all it’s financial backing wasn’t able to keep the Pantera on the market. In total nine chassis were constructed with six cars being completed, a seventh later on with leftover parts. The AMX3 #1 was found and is in the process of being restored, you can watch the process on a youtube channel called We the Committee