Tag Archives: Javelin

Spoiler Homologation Special – AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue Edition

The AMC Javelin was AMC’s iron in the Pony Car fire to compete against the Mustang, Cougar, Camaro, Firebird and the last entries into the Pony market segment the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda on offer from the big three in Detroit, it was styled and developed by Richard A Teague and launched in 1968.

AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

Short of resources the Javelin was developed from the 1966 AMX and AMX II concept cars and only offered with the two door semi fast back body style powered by one of three engine options all of which could be specified to burn either regular octane or premium octane fuel.

02AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue_8516sc

Despite not having a competition department, any technical support, performance parts or even a test facility of any kind AMC approached Ron Kaplan and Jim Jeffords of Kaplan Engineering to run two Javelins in the SCCA Trans Am series, in 1968.

AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

The team with drivers George Follmer and Peter Revson who got replaced half way through the season by Lothar Motschenbacher finished a commendable 3rd with an enviable record for getting their cars to the finish.

AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

Kaplan ran the team again in 1969 with Ron Grable and John Martin who like Revson was replaced mid season by Jerry Grant, things between AMC were not so smooth second time round which was compounded by budget cuts that saw Kaplan take all of AMC’s inventory from their workshop to AMC’s zone office in El Segundo, California at the end of the season.

AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

AMC did a deal with Roger Penske for the 1970 season who with the aid of Mark Donohue picked up the pieces and developed them in Pennsylvania into a more competitive package.

AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

In order to run with the duck tail spoiler Mark had developed for the Trans Am race programme AMC built 2,501 Javelin SST Mark Donohue Editions that included the spoiler, a 5.9 litre / 360 cui motor and a variety of other options that makes these cars easy to replicate and difficult to verify in the absence of a specific vehicle identification code.

AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

Mark was joined by Peter Revson and the team finished 2nd to Bud Moore’s Ford team in the 1970 Championship, before going on to win both the 1971 and ’72 Trans Am championships with the second generation Javelin.

AMC Javelin SST Mark Donohue, Goodwood Festival Of Speed,

Today’s featured 1970 Mark Donohue edition belongs to Klass Van Dijk who was so impressed with a 1974 AMC Gremlin he bought in the 1990’s that he founded the Rambler AMC Museum in Berlikum, Holland which now houses more than 50 AMC’s, a small collection of Chevrolet Corvair’s of the type his father drove and an eclectic mix of other vehicles.

Thanks for joining me on this “Spoiler Homologation Special” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again tomorrow. Don’t for get to come back now !

Share

Bristol and South Gloucestershire Stationary Engine Club Rally Details – Coalpit Heath

A couple of weeks ago during the course of one of my Advanced Driving lessons I observed a hand written sign reading “Bristol and South Gloucestershire Stationary Engine Club Rally Coalpit Heath Today” and made a mental note to go and visit it once my lesson was over.

Jowett Javelin, Bristol and South Glos Stationary Engine Club Rally, Coalpit Heath

A the stationary engines in this case were all petrol driven if various sizes and used for powering farm equipment, generators and pumps. There was also a display of vehicles that included the 1.5 litre / 91.5 cui flat four powered 1951 Jowett Javelin above designed by Gerald Palmer who was also responsible for the design of the MG Y Type and ZA Magnatte.

Douglas, Bristol and South Glos Stationary Engine Club Rally, Coalpit Heath

Built just down the road in Kingswood Bristol was this 1924 Douglas motorcycle.

Fordson Major, Bristol and South Glos Stationary Engine Club Rally, Coalpit Heath

Regular readers may remember that pairs of Fordson Major tractors were used to build the amazing Doe Double Drive.

Hillman Aero Minx, Bristol and South Glos Stationary Engine Club Rally, Coalpit Heath

The cockpit above is that of a 1933 Hillman Aero Minx.

Ford Escort , Bristol and South Glos Stationary Engine Club Rally, Coalpit Heath

It’s a dawg’s life sitting in the boot / trunk of a 1972 Ford Escort.

Wolseley 16/60, Bristol and South Glos Stationary Engine Club Rally, Coalpit Heath

The Wolseley 15/60 was the first of a range of badge engineered mid sized British Motor Corporation models designed by Pinin Farina launched in December 1958. The 16/60 was the last of the Pinin Farina designed midsize models to go out of production in 1971, three years after the Austin, MG, Morris, and Riley variants had disappeared during rationalisation enforced by the newly merged British Leyland Motor Corporation.

Thanks for joining me on this “Bristol and South Gloucestershire Stationary Engine Club Rally Details” edition of “Gettin’ a li’l psycho on tyres” I hope you will join me again for Maserati Monday tomorrow. Don’t forget to come back now !

Share