AMC: made by AMI

This includes some classic examples of US muscle, like the AMC Javelin, AMX and Matador X, all built here in surprisingly large numbers. Over 250 Javelins were sold over a five-year period.
AMI assembled AMC product here from 1954 until 1978. In Australia these cars were always marketed as Ramblers, even after that brand name had been deleted in America in 1969.
There was even one AMI-assembled Gremlin, making it the only ‘Rambler’ Gremlin in the world. This car is now in America where it has been restored to exactly how it came out of the AMI factory. 

Over the years AMI also assembled the Rambler Classic (3012 sold), Rambler American (2453 sold), Rambler Ambassador (45 sold) and Rambler Rebel (2678 sold). Ramblers were used as police cars in several states. One 1966 Classic is known to survive in original police trim.
The various motors used were all manufactured by AMC. V8s ranged in size from 290 cubic inches to 401.
Of special interest to US muscle fans are the 24 AMX models built here in 1969. This was a compact sports version of the Javelin but promoted as a separate model, fitted with the 390 cid V8 and four-speed gearbox. The Australian-made cars were identified with an AMI badge and available in a choice of three colours: White, Safety Wattle or Signal Red.
AMI promoted one at Bathurst in 1969, as can be seen in the main image on this page. Whether the model would have kept up with any of the Monaros or Falcons competing that weekend had it competed is immaterial as it wasn’t made in large enough numbers to qualify for series production racing. These cars cost about twice as much as a local muscle car but are very desirable today. 
Rambler Hornets were assembled here from 1970 to 1975. They were all six-cylinder, four-door models, with 1825 sold. A small run of Matador X coupes was less successful. AMI imported 160 in CKD format in 1974 but then decided they were too busy mass-producing Toyotas.
According to legend, they left the Matadors out in the weather hoping for an insurance-damages claim, but only 70 eventually qualified as write-offs and were crushed. They ended up building the other 80, keeping another 10 for spares.

Life story

Here’s proof that at the end of the 1960s there were four makes of muscle cars being made – or in this case, assembled – in Australia.
This ad for the Rambler Javelin appeared in the Australian edition of Life magazine in July 1968 when Australian Motor Industries announced that it was assembling them in RHD format with enough Australian content to satisfy local regulations. It was claimed that local content would eventually reach 60 percent.
“Now in Australia – the great challenger…” claims the copy.
This must have been the launch ad because the Javelin shown here is an American LHD version, with special ‘go’ stripe, vinyl roof and wheel trims.
Motor magazines were excited by this new ‘Australian-made’ muscle car. Modern Motor put one on the cover of their October 1968 edition – describing it as “the sensational AMI Javelin” – but were less excited when they actually drove it.
The ad claims that the 343 cubic inch (5.6 litre), 280bhp V8 would cover 0 to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds. But the automatic ‘Shift Command’ gearbox, which could also be operated manually, meant that it was slower than it looked… “the best we could manage over the flying quarter mile was 108mph,” noted the Modern Motor tester.
The new Valiant Pacer 225 launched in early 1969 was just as fast over the standing quarter.
Magazine testers recommended that the manual gearbox available in the US should be included ASAP. And maybe that 390ci V8 engine as well, thanks.
Power steering was standard, as were front power-assisted disc brakes.
What should have been a contender in the muscle car market failed because of its excessive price. At $7495 the Javelin was nearly double the price of a Monaro GTS 327 ($3790 in 1968).
Still, AMI sold 90 Javelins in 1968 and 261 in total over the next five years. In 1973 they sold 48 of the new ‘hump guard’ models similar to the one Jim Richards has raced in the Touring Car Masters. Surviving examples of the ‘Australian-made’ Javelins are now in big demand.