AMC AMX 3 1970

One of the coolest limited production cars in my opinion started off as a concept and went on to be made in only 6 copies. It even featured a rising rear spoiler which wouldn't be seen until many years later. The AMX/3 debuted at the 1970 Chicago Auto Show. Engine-less and fashioned in fiberglass, the original AMC/3 prototype was a show car only.

American Motors placed an order for 30 operational cars. The AMX/3 body mold was sent to Italian manufacturer Giotto Bizzarini, whose factory in Turin hand made drivable mid-engined, steel bodied cars. Built on a 105.3-inch (2,675 mm) wheelbase, the Bizzarrini prototypes used the AMC 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 and an Italian OTO Melara four-speed transaxle. Road testing was done by BMW where it is rumored that the test drivers declared the AMX/3's chassis one of the stiffest and most neutral handling they had ever tested.

 The steel Italian cars differed from the original AMC design in having fewer but functional rear decklid louvers, louvered hoods, and, in some cases, hood scoops to direct fresh air into the heating-A/C system.

Five completed cars were produced before the $2,000,000 program was cancelled. Escalating costs and pending bumper regulations put a stop to the mid-engined AMX/3 The remaining extra parts were used to assemble a sixth car.