The ’71 Javelin launched the car’s second generation with a totally new design. The new car was longer, lower, wider, heavier (now 3,244 pounds) and rode on a 1-inch longer wheelbase than before. The new design included cartoonish fender bulges like a C3 Corvette, and an integral roof spoiler. The looks were sort of love-it-or-hate-it polarizing. The interior was totally redone with an asymmetrical driver-oriented dash.
1971 AMC JAVELIN GO PACKAGE
Several performance upgrades were bundled together to make the Go Package, which was only available on 360 and 401 V8s with 4-barrel carbs. It consisted of heavy duty suspension with a handling package, “Twin Grip” limited-slip differential, power front disk brakes, heavy duty cooling, “Rally-Pac” gauges, raised white letter E60X15 Goodyear Polyglas tires on 15X7-inch slotted, styled steel wheels, a T-shaped stripe on the hood and the tail light panel was blacked out.
1971 AMC JAVELIN AMX
In 1971, the AMX ceased to be a stand alone model, and became an option package on the Javelin. It also ceased being a 2-seater. It became the premium high performance variant of the Javelin line. Called the Javelin-AMX, it had a fiberglass cowl induction hood, spoilers front and rear, and the steel mesh front grille was pushed out to the front of the opening, instead of being deeply recessed as on the Javelin. This was done to improve aerodynamics. The spoilers were said to contribute 100 pounds of downforce.
1971 AMC Javelin INTERIORS
1971 AMC Javelin ENGINES
1971 AMC JAVELIN ENGINE OPTIONS
The base engine was the 232ci (3.8L) inline 6 with 135hp. Next up was a 258ci (4.2L) 6-cylinder with 150hp. The V8s started with a 304ci V8 with 2-barrel carburetor and 210hp, then moved up to the 360 (5.9L) V8 with 2-barrel and 245hp, or 4-barrel and 185hp. The top engine was the 401ci (6.6L) V8 with 335hp. This engine had high compression, forged steel crank and rods and was built to withstand 8000rpm. It came with a Borg Warner T-10 4-speed manual transmission with Hurst floor shifter. A 401-equipped Javelin could run a mid-14 second quarter mile at 93mph on low lead, low-octane gas.
