American Motors marketed the Javelin as offering "comfortable packaging with more interior and luggage space than most of its rivals"[19] with adequate leg- and headroom in the back and a trunk capacity of 10.2 cubic feet (288.83 L).

The car's front end had what AMC called a "twin-venturi" look with a recessed honeycomb grille and outboard-mounted headlamps, and matching turn signals were set into the bumper.

"[20] Road & Track magazine compared a Javelin favorably to its competitors on its introduction in 1968, describing its "big, heavy, super-powerful engine" as "an asset in such a small vehicle", and the styling as "pleasant".

Racing driver Gordon Johncock said the Javelin had "a nice, all-round blend of features", that it "stacks up as a roomy, comfortable, peppy and handsome example of a so-called "pony car" and that after his road test, he "wanted to take it home.

[25] The optional "Go Package" included a four-barrel carbureted 343 cu in (5.6 L) AMC V8, power front disc brakes, heavy-duty suspension, dual exhausts with chromed outlets, broad full-length body-side stripes, and E70x14 red-line tires mounted on chrome-plated "Magnum 500" styled road wheels.

The Go-Package option was available with the four-barrel 343 or 390 engines and continued to include disc brakes, "Twin-Grip" (limited slip) differential, red-line performance E70x14 tires on "Magnum 500" styled wheels, heavy-duty suspension with thicker sway-bars, and other enhancements.

Because this was a small run, and there was little factory support, it fell to Kaplan and his staff to clean up the blocks from the sand casting, hone the various passages, and, finally, send them to AMC's "Parts Central" in Kenosha.

As in prior years, this package included front disc brakes, a dual exhaust system, heavy-duty suspension with an anti-sway bar, improved cooling, 3.54 rear axle ratio, and wide Goodyear white-lettered performance tires on styled road wheels.

A comparison road test of four 1970 pony cars by Popular Science described the Javelin's interior as the roomiest with good visibility except for small blind spots in the right rear quarter and over the large hood scoop, while also offering the most trunk capacity of all, measuring 10.2 cubic feet (289 L).

[51] The original plan was to have all Donohue Javelins built in SST trim with the unique spoiler, as well as the "Go Package" with Ram Air hood, a choice of a four-speed or automatic transmission on the floor, and a 360 cu in (5.9 L) engine with thicker webbing that allowed it to have four-bolt mains.

[61] The strong participation by AMC in Trans-Am and drag racing served to enhance its image, and notable was that its motorsports efforts were achieved on a shoestring budget with the automaker racking up a respectable number of points against its giant competitors.

[70] The media noted the revised front fenders (originally designed to accommodate oversized racing tires) that "bulge up as well as out on this personal sporty car, borrowing lines from the much more expensive Corvette.

The base version included vinyl upholstered bucket seats in four colors, full carpeting, molded door panels with integral armrests, and full-length body side pinstripes.

In addition to the standard 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 engine, the AMX included engine-turned interior trim, sports console, dual outside rearview mirrors, rear spoiler, 14x6-inch spoke-style wheels with E70x14 fiberglass belted tires with raised white letters, a heavy-duty clutch, and a unique grille.

One commentator has said that "[d]espite the Javelin's "great lines and commendable road performance, it never quite matched the competition in the sales arena ... primarily because the small independent auto maker did not have the reputation and/or clout to compete with GM, Ford, and Chrysler".

[82] Performance figures conducted by Road Test magazine of a 1973 Javelin SST with the 401 cu in (6.6 L) 4-barrel V8 engine and four-speed manual transmission resulted in "respectable" quarter-mile (402 m) dragstrip runs of 15.5 seconds at 91 mph (146 km/h).

[83] American Motors continued its comprehensive "Buyer Protection" extended warranty on all 1973 models that now covered food and lodging expenses of up to $150 should a car require overnight repairs when the owner is more than 100 miles (161 km) away from home.

[91] However, because this was only a limited promotional "value added" marketing campaign, except as noted on the original window sticker, there is no VIN or door tag code to distinguish an authentic Trans Am-Victory edition car.

[104] Changes with the 1972 Javelins included AMC's switch to the Chrysler TorqueFlite transmissions, eight-slot road wheels replaced the "Machine" design, and all cars were SST models because the base version was no longer available.

[110] American Motors was active in foreign markets via exports of complete cars as well as joint ventures and partner companies to assemble knock-down versions of its vehicles.

[112] The Australian Javelins came with top trim and features that included the 343 cu in (5.6 L) 280 bhp (210 kW) V8 engine, three-speed "Shift Command" automatic transmission, and "Twin Grip" limited-slip rear differential.

The 1968 VAM Javelin featured the 155 hp (116 kW; 157 PS), 8.5:1 compression ratio 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6 engine with a two-barrel Carter WCD carburetor, a 3.54:1 rear differential gear ratio, 12-inch heavy-duty clutch, manual four-wheel drum brakes, quick-ratio manual steering, electric wipers, electric washers, 8,000 RPM tachometer, 200 km/h speedometer, AM radio, cigarette lighter, front ashtray, locking glove box, courtesy lights, day-night rearview mirror, padded sun visors, two-point front seatbelts, low-back reclining bucket seats, rear ashtray, dual C-pillar-mounted dome lights, dual coat hooks, sports steering wheel, driver's side remote mirror, side armrests, vinyl door panels with woodgrain accents, bright moldings on top of the doors and rocker panels plus hood and fender extension edges, wheel covers, 7.35x14 tires, protective side moldings, and front fender-mounted Javelin emblems.

Dealer-installed options included side decals, light group, map pouches, vinyl roof, locking gas cap, license plate frames, mud flaps, AM/FM radio, front disk brakes, heavy-duty adjustable shocks, trunk lid rack, and many others.

A mid-year change replaced the imported Borg-Warner T10 manual transmission with the Querétaro-produced TREMEC (Transmisiones y Equipos Mecánicos) 170-F four-speed model to comply with domestic content requirements.

The center pod had a 240 km/h speedometer, a range that puts it on par as an equivalent to AMC's 140 mph unit of the Rallye Pak, but the colors, graphics, and typography of the dial were the same as the standard gauges.

Mechanically, the car was the same as the year before except for a new engine head design with independent rockers instead of the flute-type shaft and the power steering system made standard equipment for units with the manual transmission.

[142] The introduction of the Javelin was an "image Buster" and evidence of AMC at work "reinventing itself — from a maker of small, plain economy cars to a full-line automobile manufacturer with a complete range of vehicles.

"[144] The Chicago Sun-Times auto editor Dan Jedlicka wrote that the Javelin, which he describes as "beautifully sculpted" and "one of the best-looking cars of the 1960s", is "finally gaining the respect of collectors, along with higher prices.

"[145] The first generation Javelin has also been described as a "fun and affordable American classic with a rich racing pedigree and style that will always stand out from the omnipresent packs of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler pony cars.

[150][151][152][153][154][155] There are active AMC automobile clubs, including owners interested in dragstrip and racing in vintage events, such as the National American Motors Drivers & Racers Association (NAMDRA).