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BIG MUSCLE [video]: A Badass Car w/ an Identity Crisis

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 1:00

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By Zack Klapman

We have filmed a lot of cars for the last two seasons of BIG MUSCLE. From 9-second beaters to a ‘55 T-bird show pony, to the cinematic dream machine, Eleanor. They’re all special to the owners, but a lot of them run together; A big motor here, some decent springs and nice seats there. As someone who grew up around hot rods I’ve enjoyed filming them all, but they didn’t all leave a lasting impression on me. But this car did.

The 1969 AMC AMX is not a car I consider pretty. It looks like they drew it up late at night after procrastinating with scotch and secretaries, taking the most basic elements of muscle car design, just slightly shrunk. The slanted back looks like a Nova. Two round headlights? Ooh, creative. The face of it is just a little odd to me. In the hierarchy of my dream garage, a stock AMX would fall somewhere near… someone else’s garage.

But that’s before I knew this car has no backseats, isn’t the size of a house (like so many muscle cars), and weighs only 3,000lbs. It’s the muscle/sports car hybrid, like breeding a Pit bull and a Whippet. The foundation is much more suited to driving (not cruising and burnouts), and that’s why it suits the owner, Jimi Day. He runs the Optima Street Car Invitational, and is a regular contender of the One Lap of America (he’s taking this AMX on it this year). He is a very skilled, fast driver. He spends his time around some of the best pro-touring and sports cars in the world. When it comes to performance, he has an excellent palette. Thus, he’s spent several years and lots of money making this car perform at a level that satisfies his high expectations. That’s why (as you’ll see) this car drives as well as it does. Even from the passenger seat I could tell how god damn good this car drives. It felt light, stuck to the road, and went like hell. It’s like a 911 with the noise and sensation of American muscle. Win.

Don’t take my word for it, let Mike Musto show you. Video after the jump.