Time is a cruel mistress. While all the world clamors over the latest BOSS 302 (5.0 liter) Mustang and it’s obvious call-back to the ‘Stang’s Trans Am heritage, many narrowly recall the car that persistently put off Penske and Follmer’s advances (so much so that both crossed battle lines to join the successful AMC team), namely the lowly AMC Javelin AMX and SST. The American Motors Corporation-built fastback pony car was drafted as a response to Ford’s Mustang, Cougar sibling and GM’s  Camaro and Firebird duo. In 1971, the Javelin was redesigned with a longer hood, shorter decklid, sharp, angular fender flares, and rear spoiler.

Right out of the gate in 1968, AMC campaigned the Javelin in professional racing. By mid-1970, the Javelin was a respected member of the field, staving off Camaros, Challengers, ‘Cudas, and most notably, Mustangs. Piloted by Mark Donahue, the Javelin effort was super successful, taking the Trans Am championships for 1971, 1972 and 1975. Donahue’s fame behind the wheel of the Javelin was so potent that AMC created a special edition series Javelin. First appearing in 1970, the signature Mark Donahue Javelin SST’s were produced in limited numbers, totaling 2,501 units and featured his signature, rear ducktail spoiler.

This collection of videos include an original short film about Donahue’s plight to take the win over Penske BOSS 302 driver and personal friend to Donahue, George Follmer, who would eventually leave the Blue Oval team and join Donahue behind the wheel of his own Javelin (see above). Following that video we included some other footage of restored and original Trans Am-equipped Javelins doing what they were designed to do, kick ass on the road course.

And as a little bit of fun, we wanted to include this Car & Driver road test of the all-new for 1971 AMC Javelin SST. Amazingly enough, as the pony car rolls and reels through the turns and squeals through the cone course, the narrator beams with praise. Oh, how times have changed. The stroked 390 – totaling 401 cubic inches – plant propelled the fastback pony car from 0 to 60 miles per hour in a then-respectable 7.1 seconds.