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89-901: The AMC Javelin is an American front-engine, rear-wheel-drive, two-door hardtop automobile manufactured by American Motors Corporation (AMC) across two generations, 1968 through 1970 and 1971 through 1974 model years. The car was positioned and marketed in the pony car market segment. Styled by Dick Teague , the Javelin was available in a range of trim and engine levels, from economical pony car to muscle car variants. In addition to manufacture in Kenosha, Wisconsin , Javelins were assembled under license in Germany, Mexico, Philippines, Venezuela, as well as Australia – and were marketed globally. American Motors also offered discounts to U.S. military personnel, and cars were taken overseas. The Javelin won

178-412: A 343 cu in (5.6 L) V8 in regular gasoline two-barrel or high-compression premium-fuel four-barrel versions. Racing driver Gordon Johncock said the Javelin had "a nice, all-round blend of features", that it "stacks up as a roomy, comfortable, peppy and handsome example of a so-called "pony car" and that after his road test, he "wanted to take it home." With the standard straight-six engine,

267-499: A chemically hardened outer layer. It was produced in Blacksburg, Virginia , in a refitted plant that included tempering, ion exchange, and "fusion process" in new furnaces that Corning had developed to be able to supply to the big automakers. American Motors changed the engine lineup for 1970 models by introducing two new V8 engines : a base 304 cu in (5.0 L) and an optional 360 cu in (5.9 L) to replace

356-483: A concern that U.S. federal safety regulations would be onerous for pillarless models to pass. The ascendancy of monocoque construction also made the pillarless design less practical. Some models adopted modified roof styling, placing the B-pillars behind the tinted side window glass and painting or molding the outer side of each pillar in black to make them less visible, creating a hardtop look without actually omitting

445-426: A convertible look and padded nylon or cotton was applied over the roof contributing to the soft-top appearance. Two-door hardtops became popular with consumers in the 1950s, while the two-door sedan body design fell out of favor among buyers. In 1955, General Motors introduced the first four-door hardtops. Following the pattern established by the two-door variants, GM utilized the same special sub-designations for

534-474: A cross-ram manifold. Champion spark plugs provided their dyno room. Towards the end of 1968, Kaplan enlisted help from Dan Byer, a retired engineer from AMC, to develop a new block casting. Using AMC 390 engineering drawings, they added more mass for four-bolt mains and improved the oiling system. A run of 50 blocks was contracted to Central Foundries in Windsor, Ontario. Because this was a small run, and there

623-554: A fleet of long-term test cars at their headquarters in Los Angeles, California . The majority of the Motor Trend editors are each assigned a car, and their duty is to drive that car on a daily basis and report on what's happening. Each month, one to two new vehicles are added to the fleet, to replace the one to two vehicles leaving the fleet. Each long-term test lasts approximately one calendar year . Not every vehicle receives

712-605: A genuine hardtop sedan with its Laurel . Toyota introduced a genuine four-door hardtop with the Toyota Carina ED followed by the Toyota Corona EXiV . Mazda marketed its Luce and Subaru from 1989 until 2009 with their Legacy / Outback sedans and station wagons as a pillared hardtop. A detachable hardtop is a rigid, removable roof panel that is often stored in a car's trunk/boot . A retractable hardtop (also known as coupé convertible or coupé cabriolet)

801-460: A longer hood in standard smooth version with twin rectangular stripped bright trim pieces or with a prominent center bulge with non-functional dual air intake trim or a functional Ram Air system with the Go-Package. The previous taillamps with side fender lenses, dual backup lamps, and a center reflector with a Javelin emblem were replaced with full-width lenses, a single central backup light, and

890-426: A printed update each month, though the vehicles are still there. This section is typically located towards the end of the magazine. Other types of articles are sometimes featured in the Motor Trend magazine . There is typically one special feature per month. For example, in one issue of the magazine, there may be a special feature about Motor Trend ' s "Real MPG" testing. For these tests, Motor Trend measures

979-444: A response to America's newly discovered fondness for sportier looking cars that resembled a convertible, but had the comfort and convenience of a two-door sedan." In one instance, stylists added faux ribbing to a hardtop roof to make it appear to be like a convertible top, By the mid-1960s, optional vinyl roofs became widely available in virtually all model lines, reinforcing the convertible look in hardtops. A pillarless hardtop

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1068-429: A rigid form of automobile roof , typically metal, and integral to the vehicle's design, strength, and style. The term typically applies to a pillarless hardtop, a car body style without a B-pillar . The term "pillared hardtop" was used in the 1970s to refer to cars that had a B-pillar but had frameless door glass like a pillarless hardtop. In limited cases, a hardtop roof can be detachable (often designed to store in

1157-482: A section of Motor Trend itself. It became the stand-alone publication Truck Trend in 1997. Truck Trend magazine ceased production in December 2019, as one of the nineteen magazines that Motor Trend Group ceased publication during that month. Motor Trend Classic included articles about significant classic cars from around the world made during the last 60 years. A total of 23 issues were produced. The first run

1246-438: A sports-style steering wheel, and bright exterior trim for the drip rail and rocker panel. The Javelin's instruments and controls were set deep in a padded panel in front of the driver, with the rest of the dashboard set well forward and away from the front passenger. The car's front end had what AMC called a "twin-venturi" look with a recessed honeycomb grille and outboard-mounted headlamps, and matching turn signals were set into

1335-486: A stainless steel trim ring. The interior received new door panels and upgraded carpeting. Instrumentation featured a 0–8,000 rpm tachometer that now matched the speedometer in style. Late model-year production received a cowl over the instrument panel directly before the driver. The "Mod Javelin" Package was introduced mid-year in 1969. It included a " Craig Breedlove " roof-mounted spoiler , simulated "exhaust" rocker trim, and twin blacked-out simulated air scoops on

1424-551: A top speed approaching 120 miles per hour (193 km/h), and could run a quarter-mile in 15.4 seconds. The largest engine in the first few months of 1968 production was "a 5.6 litre V-8 that delivered 284 SAE bhp, which made the car dangerously fast." In mid-1968, the new 390 cu in (6.4 L) engine was offered as part of the "Go-package" option with a floor-mounted automatic or manual four-speed transmission. "Its impressive 315 hp (235 kW; 319 PS) and 425 pound force-feet (576 N⋅m) of torque could send

1513-462: A two-door hardtop body styles, with the latter "rendered as a premium quality personal car." Subaru introduced a new compact coupe as a genuine two-door hardtop with the Subaru Leone in 1971. The pillarless hardtop models were more expensive and luxurious than the sedan versions. In the 1980s, Toyota continued the design with a pillared four-door hardtop Mark II , while Nissan again offered

1602-610: A variety of hardtop-like body styles dating back to 1916. Chrysler Corporation built seven pillarless Town and Country hardtop coupes as concept vehicles in 1946, and even included the body style in its advertising that year called the Town and Country Custom Club Coupe . In 1951, Plymouth offered the Cranbrook Belvedere as a low priced hardtop two-door until 1953. Mass-production of hardtops began with General Motors , which launched two-door, pillarless hardtops in 1949 as

1691-450: Is a type of convertible that forgoes a folding textile roof in favor of an automatically operated, multi-part, self-storing roof where the rigid roof sections are opaque, translucent, or independently operable. Motor Trend Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles published Motor Trend until 1998, when it was sold to British publisher EMAP , who then sold the former Petersen magazines to Primedia in 2001. Motor Trend bears

1780-450: Is an honest-looking car with a dramatic flair." Total production for the 1968 model year was 55,125. Minor changes for the second model year included revised side striping, an altered grille with a bull's eye emblem, and trim upgrades. An optional side-stripe package consisted of a C-shaped graphic that started behind the front wheel openings. The optional (standard with the "Go-Package") five-spoke Magnum 500 steel road wheels now came with

1869-614: Is inherently less rigid than a pillared body, requiring extra underbody strength to prevent shaking. Production hardtops commonly share the frame or reinforced body structure of the contemporary convertible model, which is reinforced to compensate for the lack of a fixed roof. The hardtop design received criticism that its roof structure may not provide adequate protection during a rollover crash. However, subsequent research reported that rates of serious or fatal injury in hardtop models (both two- and four-door versions), as well as four-door station wagons, were significantly lower than sedans while

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1958-462: Is itemized as a separate $ 58.30 option separately from the "Go Package" and other equipment on the Monroney sticker . Moreover, some Donohue Javalins cars came through with significant differences in equipment from the factory, while some dealers made their versions. This makes it easy to replicate and correspondingly difficult to authenticate a "real" Mark Donohue Javelin. American Motors celebrated

2047-477: The Buick Roadmaster Riviera, Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, and Cadillac Coupe de Ville . They were purportedly inspired by the wife of a Buick executive who always drove convertibles, but never lowered the top. The Kaiser-Frazer 1949 Virginian was an early example of a four-door hardtop albeit with a removable thin, chrome- and-glass 'B' pillar held on by five screws. The car was designed to have

2136-607: The Chrysler and Dodge 880 lines. Throughout the 1960s, the two-door pillarless hardtop was the most popular body style in most lines where such a model was offered. Even on family-type vehicles like the Chevrolet Impala , the two-door hardtop regularly outsold four-door sedans. Some car lines (such as the 1957-64 Cadillac and 1965–69 Corvair) only offered pillarless models with no pillared sedans. So prevalent were true hardtops that Popular Mechanics had to describe that

2225-552: The Ford Consul Capri (355) which, unlike American models, sold fewer cars than their regular center pillar saloon versions. A New Mini two-door sedan has been marketed as a hardtop in the U.S. includes a structural B-pillar on the inside that is disguised on the exterior by a black border on the fixed rear windows. The Mercedes E-class coupe W213 from 2016 is an example of a modern pillarless design. In July 1965, Toyota introduced Japan's first two-door hardtop in

2314-581: The Golden Wheels Award for a while in the 1970s and having given rise to Truck of the Year and Import Car of the Year , as well as SUV of the Year . Nevertheless, it is still coveted by manufacturers and is usually covered by the mainstream press as the most important distinction awarded in the American auto industry. The magazine releases a special edition every September and October listing

2403-679: The Trans-Am race series in 1971, 1972, and 1976. The second-generation AMX variant was the first pony car used as a standard vehicle for highway police car duties by an American law enforcement agency. American Motors' Javelin was the company's entrant into the "pony car" market. The segment was created by the Ford Mustang even if Ford's car was not the first entry. The Javelin's design evolved from two prototype cars named AMX that were shown in AMC's "Project IV" auto show circuit during 1966. One

2492-566: The vehicle identification number (VIN). Also new was the "power blister" hood, featuring two large openings as part of a functional cold ram-air induction system; this was included with the "Go Package" option. Many buyers selected the "Go Package," with the 360 or 390 four-barrel V8 engines. As in prior years, this package included front disc brakes, a dual exhaust system, heavy-duty suspension with an anti-sway bar, improved cooling, 3.54 rear axle ratio, and wide Goodyear white-lettered performance tires on styled road wheels. The interior for 1970

2581-606: The "first 1,000 Javelin buyers was 29 – a full ten years under the median for all AMC customers." The Javelin's marketing campaign, created by Mary Wells Lawrence of the Wells, Rich, and Greene agency was innovative and daring in its approach. Print and TV advertisements broke with the traditional convention of not attacking the competition, and some compared the AMC Javelin to the Ford Mustang side by side, as well as showing

2670-477: The "real-world" fuel economy of a vehicle in a number of conditions, and then compares their results to the EPA estimated fuel economy that manufacturers provide dealerships, who then provide it to their customers. One of the earliest and most enduring of the magazine's creations was its Car of the Year award, given almost continuously since 1949, although the phrase itself would not become entrenched until well into

2759-468: The 1950s. It predates the European Car of the Year award begun in 1964. The first winner was the 1949 Cadillac , which featured an innovative overhead valve V8 engine ; while the company initially turned down the award from the brand new magazine, it now proudly references its COTY wins in publicity materials. The award has gone through several splits and permutations over the years, being called

AMC Javelin - Misplaced Pages Continue

2848-489: The 1969 model year was 40,675. American Motors entered the Javelin in dragstrip and Trans-Am Series racing. Carl Chakmakian was the primary contact for the AMC racing program. In 1968, AMC contracted Kaplan Engineering (Ron Kaplan and Jim Jeffords) to campaign two AMC Javelins in the SCCA's Trans-Am series. For the 1968 season, three cars were prepared: two for racing and one for shows and demonstrations. The first year of

2937-433: The 1970 Javelins, but they now came with regular chrome front and rear bumpers. A new front suspension featured ball joints , upper and lower control arms , coil springs , shock absorbers above the upper control arms, and trailing struts on the lower control arms. The 1970 Javelins also introduced Corning 's new safety glass, which was thinner and lighter than standard laminated windshields. This unique glass featured

3026-407: The 290 and the 343 versions. The top optional 390 cu in (6.4 L) continued. However, it was upgraded with new cylinder heads featuring 51 cc combustion chambers and a single 4-barrel Autolite 4300 carburetor , increasing power to 325 bhp (330 PS; 242 kW) at 5000 rpm and maximum torque of 425 lb⋅ft (576 N⋅m) at 3200 rpm. The engine's code remained "X" on

3115-415: The 390 cu in (6.4 L) V8 engine with heavy-duty and performance features along with the front and rear spoilers, and were also painted in AMC racing team's distinctive Matador Red, Frost White, and Commodore Blue "hash" paint livery. The Trans Am Javelin had a significant advantage because of its 2,850 lb (1,293 kg) weight, versus the 3,060 lb (1,388 kg) Chevrolet Camaro and

3204-399: The AMC program was a success; journalists described the team as a "Cinderella" team. American Motors placed third in the over-2-liter class of the 1968 series, and established a record as the only factory entry to finish every Trans-Am race entered. During the 1968 season, the team consistently improved and suffered only one "did not finish" (DNF) because of an engine problem. The race program

3293-481: The AMC styling team led by Dick Teague penned only one body style, "a smooth semi-fastback roofline that helped set Javelin apart from other pony cars." The Javelin was built on AMC's "junior" (compact) Rambler American platform only as a two-door hardtop model to be a "hip", dashing, affordable pony car , as well as available in muscle car performance versions. "Despite management's insistence on things like good trunk space and rear-seat room, Teague managed to endow

3382-553: The Camaros and Mustangs. That was not going to happen, so they were allowed to run. However, problems with the SCCA would continue until the parts could be homologated. AMC eventually assigned a part number. For 1969, the season began with Ron Grable (#4) and John Martin (#3). This time, it was Martin who was released mid-season. Jerry Grant replaced him in the No. 3 car. At this point, Kaplan approached AMC management and proposed modifying

3471-523: The Ford Mustang scaling up to 3,442 lb (1,561 kg). The Javelin was one of the lightest racing competitors, and "since everything was paired perfectly, a nimble performance car that could rule the streets, just like it did on the Trans Am racing circuit." Marketed to promote AMC's successes in SCCA racing, the Trans-Am Javelin's retail price was $ 3,995. Hardtop A hardtop is

3560-538: The Hardtop Taunus models had no B pillar and provided an open-air feel inside the car when all the windows were rolled down. DKW was the only German manufacturer that offered pillarless two-door windows, as well as wrap-around windows in the back of the glasshouse from 1953 (3=6 F91) on and with a wrap-around windscreen since 1959 (1000 Coupe). British pillarless hardtops included the Sunbeam Rapier and

3649-420: The Javelin cruised at 80 miles per hour (129 km/h) when equipped with an automatic transmission. In comparison, those with the base 290 cu in (4.8 L) V8 had a top speed of 100 miles per hour (161 km/h). A three-speed "Shift-Command" automatic transmission was optional with a center console-mounted gear selector. Forward settings included "1", "2", and a "D" mode that was fully automatic, and

AMC Javelin - Misplaced Pages Continue

3738-403: The Javelin emblem moved to the right corner of the trunk lid. The side marker light design, now shared by other AMC cars, was more prominent and rectangular, with reflector sections in amber at the front or red at the rear. The exterior rearview mirror featured a new "aero" design. The housing was chrome or matched the car's body color. The three "Big Bad" exterior paints continued to be optional on

3827-482: The Javelin from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in the seven-second range." American Motors supported the AMX and the Javelin muscle versions with a range of factory-approved "Group 19" dealer-installed performance accessories. These parts included, among others, dual four-barrel cross-ram intake manifolds, high-performance camshaft kits, needle-bearing roller rocker arms, and dual-point ignition. The average age of

3916-426: The Javelin with what he termed the wet T-shirt look: voluptuous curves with nary a hint of fat ." The Javelin debuted on 22 August 1967, for the 1968 model year , and the new models were offered for sale from 26 September 1967, with prices starting at $ 2,743. The car incorporated several safety innovations, including interior windshield posts that were "the first industry use of fiberglass safety padding", and

4005-482: The Javelin's interior as the roomiest with good visibility except for small blind spots in the right rear quarter and over the large hood scoop, while also offering the most trunk capacity of all, measuring 10.2 cubic feet (289 L). It was a close second to the Camaro in terms of ride comfort, while the 360 cu in (5.9 L) engine offered "terrific torque." The Javelin with the four-speed manual transmission

4094-484: The Mustang being beaten to pieces with sledgehammers . The car was longer and roomier than the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro , but not the size of the larger Plymouth Barracuda . Comparison testing of six 1968 pony cars by Car and Driver described the Javelin as having "a clean understated appearance that is not marred by phony vents, power bulges, mounds or bizarre sculpturing of whatever variety. The Javelin

4183-410: The SCCA agreed to let them run, they started last, but within ten laps, they were chasing Donohue, and the time differential was narrowing rapidly. After the race, the SCCA asked to see the engine, but he had already sent the cars home. At Lime Rock, the SCCA wanted to tear down the engines before they could start the race. Kaplan bought some time by countering the challenge that they also had to tear down

4272-530: The acquisition of a majority stake in TEN by Discovery Communications , it was announced that its U.S. cable channel Velocity would rebrand as Motor Trend Network later in the year. In Italy , the channel Motor Trend began broadcasting on April 29, 2018 at 6:00 am with the Car Crash TV in place of Focus , whose brand has meanwhile passed into the hands of Mediaset . In 2009, Motor Trend introduced

4361-492: The automotive field and racing. The two new employees did not enter the parts into the official AMC parts system and submit homologation papers. Kaplan sent the first car to run at the first race of the 1969 season in Jackson, Michigan . It was one of the older 1968 cars with a new engine, but because they were late and had not qualified, the team had to do some consensus-building among the other racers to permit them to enter. When

4450-477: The back and a trunk capacity of 10.2 cubic feet (288.83 L). There were no side vent windows. Flow-through ventilation extracted interior air through apertures in the doors controlled by adjustable flap valves at the door armrests' bottom. All Javelins came with thin-shell bucket seats and a fully carpeted interior. The SST model added appearance and comfort features, including reclining front seatbacks with upgraded upholstery, simulated wood-grained door panel trim,

4539-407: The bumper. A pair of simulated air scoops on the hood and the windshield was raked at 59 degrees for a "sporty overall appearance." Road & Track magazine compared a Javelin favorably to its competitors on its introduction in 1968, describing its "big, heavy, super-powerful engine" as "an asset in such a small vehicle", and the styling as "pleasant". Motor Trend , putting the Javelin at

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4628-451: The concept behind the 1969 contract. He suggested that AMC should not compete in the actual races since the new engines were not recognized and the old engines needed to be competitive. Kaplan suggested that they instead go to the tracks on the subsequent Mondays and run a developmental program using Sunday's winning times as the benchmark. AMC disagreed, and Kaplan ran the year with the engines on hand. The results could have been better because

4717-639: The current Bentley Continental GT , the 2008 Bentley Brooklands , the 2001-2003 Renault Avantime , the Rolls-Royce Wraith , and the 2012-2017 Ford B-Max . The 1958-1964 Facel Vega Excellence is one of few four-door hardtops produced in Europe. German pillarless hardtops included cars from Taunus, a Ford subbrand. Namely the Ford Taunus P5 and Ford P7 including both P7A and P7B versions. They had regular coupe versions with B pillars, but

4806-479: The deck on the new block by about 5/8-inch and heavily modifying the ports. The new cross-ram manifold was installed, and Kaplan would add his specifically designed pistons, a shorter throw crankshaft, and a new camshaft. While a few engines were lost during testing, the design proved reliable. In the intervening period, AMC replaced Kaplan's race program contact with two new men (Chris Schoenlip and John Voelbel from Lever Brothers, who still needed to gain experience in

4895-487: The development of a dual-carburetor cross-ram manifold and (looking ahead) a new engine casting. The development of the Watt's linkage rear suspension came first. The front anti-dive geometry followed quickly. Kaplan copied the basic design of the inner fender components from a Mustang. He added two more degrees of anti-dive to the Mustang's 4 degrees, made the drawings, and sent them to the factory. Central Stamping constructed

4984-525: The doors and the rear glass frames are removable and stored under or behind the seats. In the late teens, Cadillac offered a sedan with removable "B" pillars. Another form of early pillarless hardtop is the "California top", originating in Los Angeles and most popular from 1917 to 1927. These were designed to replace the folding roofs of touring cars , to enclose the sides of the car for better weather protection. One objective of these aftermarket tops

5073-484: The driver could choose to shift manually through all three gears. The optional "Go Package" included a four-barrel carbureted 343 cu in (5.6 L) AMC V8 , power front disc brakes , heavy-duty suspension, dual exhausts with chromed outlets, broad full-length body-side stripes, and E70x14 red-line tires mounted on chrome-plated "Magnum 500" styled road wheels. A 343 Go Pac Javelin could accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 8 seconds, had

5162-408: The factory fitted the cars with the standard 360 or 390 engines. The Javelins could be ordered in any color (including "Big Bad" exteriors), upholstery, and any combination of extra-cost options. American Motors did not include any specific identification ( VIN code or door tag, other than the factory-printed window sticker and dealer documentation) to discern them. The "Mark Donohue Ducktail Spoiler"

5251-503: The fall of 1969 and into the winter, Penske used the no. 3 Jerry Grant car for developmental purposes. When he acquired the 1969 cars, Penske found that Ron Kaplan had already done considerable work with suspension, but he felt the front suspension could be better. With Mark Donohue doing the testing, Penske's team lowered the front of the car and replaced the rubber bushings in the radius rods with heim joints . New roll bars were also developed. After several months of development, Donohue felt

5340-409: The featured vehicle, certain aspects of the vehicle, and what the readers can expect if the featured vehicle is purchased. There are two main types of Motor Trend vehicle comparisons. Regular comparisons usually compare two to three vehicles, looking at what each is like to own, drive, etc. On Motor Trend' s YouTube channel (titled "MotorTrend Channel"), Motor Trend puts up their best comparison of

5429-469: The flush-mounted paddle-style door handles. To comply with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) safety standards there were exterior side marker lights, and three-point seat belts and headrests for the front seats. The interior was devoid of bright trim to help reduce glare. American Motors marketed the Javelin as offering "comfortable packaging with more interior and luggage space than most of its rivals" with adequate leg- and headroom in

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5518-421: The heroic achievements of its Trans Am series racing by making an estimated one hundred "Trans-Am" versions. These Javelins replicated the appearance of the race cars prepared by Ronnie Kaplan. They were not stripped racecar reversions, but designed for the street by including features such as such as comfortable seating and power-assisted steering and front disc brakes. All "Trans-Am" factory-built Javelins included

5607-474: The hood. Optional "Big Bad" paint (neon brilliant blue, orange, or green) also became available from mid-1969. It came with matching front and rear painted bumpers, as well as two vertical rubber-faced painted bumper guards for the rear and a bright lower grille molding on the painted front bumper. This was part of AMC's targeting youthful consumers as they were "dumping the drab." These bright colors were available on all Javelins through 1970. The Go-Package option

5696-616: The latest new vehicles. The September issue looks at the latest cars ( sedans , coupes , etc.) for the next coming calendar year , whilst in October the magazine looks at off-roaders , MPVs and sport-utility vehicles (SUVs). Truck Trend magazine presented features and the latest news about the truck, SUV, and crossover segments. Additionally, the Readers' Rides section allowed readers to post images and information about their own vehicles. Truck Trend began in 1995 as "Truck Trends,"

5785-580: The lowest-priced lines. Chrysler also offered two- and four-door hardtops for every brand, from Imperial, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, and Plymouth. In 1956, the first four-door hardtop station wagons were introduced to the Rambler line by American Motors Corporation . The following year, the Mercury Commuter hardtop wagons became available in both two- and four-door body styles. Chrysler built four-door hardtop station wagons through 1964 in both

5874-643: The month on a series called "Head 2 Head," featuring MotorTrend editors comparing cars on YouTube. "Big Test" comparisons typically feature anywhere from five to seven vehicles, all being compared against each other. In a way, a vehicle comparison is like a large road test featuring many vehicles, rather than just one. The Trend provides readers with the latest what's happening in the automotive industry. This section may feature news about manufacturers, recalls, etc. "Newcomers" (recently redesigned or all-new models), along with short informative articles about them, can also be found in this section. Motor Trend keeps

5963-512: The name Southampton , Packard named them Mayfair , and Hudson's were Hollywoods. Nash used the Country Club moniker while pillarless Studebakers were Starliners, a name that was later used by Ford for its Galaxie hardtop. By 1956, every major U.S. automaker offered two- and four-door hardtops in a particular model lineup. General Motors restyled their new models and offered four-door hardtops from every division and nearly every series except

6052-467: The new full-sized 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont models even included a "pillar" sedan . The U.S. industry's last pillarless two-door and four-door hardtops were in the 1978 Chrysler Newport and New Yorker lines. Since then, no U.S. manufacturer has offered a true hardtop in regular production. Various European manufacturers have produced hardtops without B-pillars (usually coupes). However, they are rarely marketed as pillarless hardtops. Examples include

6141-635: The older-style engines were not competitive. There were also budget cuts. After the final race at Riverside, Kaplan dropped all of AMC's material at their zone office in El Segundo, California , and took a month to think about the following year. When he returned, he found that a deal was made with Roger Penske. Penske picked up the team cars and equipment from the El Segundo offices and shipped everything back to his shop in Pennsylvania. Through

6230-455: The parts that Kaplan incorporated into the cars as bodies in white. Other suspension parts were acquired through specialty manufacturers. The building of reliable and powerful engines took more time. The team started the 1968 season with two engines from TRACO. They worked to resolve oiling issues and develop as much power as possible; the single-carb layout and the basic two-bolt-main block were limitations. Kaplan went to Vic Edelbrock to develop

6319-424: The pillar. Some mid- to late-1970s models continued their previous two-door hardtop bodies, but with fixed rear windows or a variety of vinyl roof and opera window treatments. By the end of the 1990s, almost all hardtop designs were discontinued as structural integrity standards increased. Hardtops were typically more expensive than regular sedan models when new. They are more collectible than standard models of

6408-486: The pillarless four-door body types within all their brands in North America. The term de Ville was used for Cadillac, Riviera was used for Buick, Holiday was used for Oldsmobile, Catalina was used for Pontiac, and Bel Air was used for Chevrolet. Other manufacturers also designated unique names for their pillarless models. Ford called them Victoria, Chrysler used Newport, and their luxury division Imperial used

6497-417: The rates of any degree of injury for those same body styles were also significantly lower. A 1980 study for evaluation of rollover test devices reported that a greater degree of roof crush was associated with hardtop body styles, but severe passenger injury was not more frequent than in the other car body styles. The hardtop body style began to disappear along with convertibles in the mid-1970s, partly out of

6586-509: The right side. Designed for Trans Am racing, the rules required factory production of 2,500 cars equipped with parts used for racing. The original plan was to have all Donohue Javelins built in SST trim with the unique spoiler, as well as the "Go Package" with Ram Air hood, a choice of a four-speed or automatic transmission on the floor, and a 360 cu in (5.9 L) engine with thicker webbing that allowed it to have four-bolt mains. Ultimately,

6675-485: The same vehicle, which have a B-pillar. Early automobiles had no roof or sides, but by 1900, several cars were offered with fabric roofs and primitive folding tops. However, cars with fully closed bodies (i.e., with a rigid roof and sides) grew in popularity and soon became the norm. In 1915–1918, the first pillarless hardtop cars were produced, then called "convertible cars" (or "touring sedans" or "Springfields"). The Springfield design featured folding upper frames on

6764-556: The service, adding coverage of motorsports competitions such as Blancpain GT Series , Pirelli World Challenge , Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters , V8 Supercars , British Touring Car Championship , TCR International Series , FIA European Formula 3 Championship , European Le Mans Series , Australasian Safari , Motoamerica , Endurance FIM World Championship , Motocross World Championship , AMA EnduroCross Championship , and FIM SuperEnduro World Championship . In April 2018, following

6853-477: The tagline "The Magazine for a Motoring World". As of 2019 it is published by Motor Trend Group . It has a monthly circulation of over one million. Publication was monthly but changed to quarterly in 2024. The contents of Motor Trend magazines are divided up into sections, or departments. Motor Trend magazine provides its readers with written "road tests" of vehicles. These road tests are published in each issue and are meant to give readers information about

6942-448: The team now had a car that drove like it was on rails. At this point, Penske built all-new cars for his team and sold all the earlier Kaplan cars and equipment. Mark Donohue was in charge of selling off the inventory. The 1970 Javelins were a one-year-only design featuring a new front-end design with a broad "twin-venturi" front grille incorporating the headlamps, a new bumper design without air intakes, smooth front fender extensions, and

7031-535: The third generation Toyota Corona line. This was followed by several manufacturers offering the popular body style as a luxury car appearance. During the 1970s, Toyota produced the Toyota Crown in a genuine two-door hardtop, while offering a pillared four-door hardtop sedan. Nissan followed suit with the Nissan Cedric and Nissan Gloria but offered a genuine pillarless four-door hardtop along with

7120-466: The top of the "sports-personal" category in its annual "Car of the Year" issue, said it was "the most significant achievement for an all-new car" and "the most notable new entry in [its] class." Available only in a two-door hardtop , body style , the Javelin came in base and more premium SST models. The standard engine was a 232 cu in (3.8 L) straight-6 . Optional were a 290 cu in (4.8 L) V8 with two-barrel carburetor, and

7209-455: The trunk), or retractable within the vehicle itself. The pillarless hardtop (abbreviated as "hardtop") is a post-World War II car body designed with no center or B-pillar or glass frames. If window glass frames are present, they are designed to retract with the window when lowered. This creates an impression of uninterrupted glass along the side of the car. Even the smaller automakers like Packard introduced two-door hardtops in 1952 "as

7298-426: Was a fiberglass two-seat "AMX", and the other was a four-seat "AMX II". These offerings reflected the company's strategy to shed its "economy car" image and appeal to a more youthful, performance-oriented market. Sales of convertibles were dropping, and AMC did not have the resources to design separate fastback and notchback hardtops that were available on the Mustang and the second-generation Plymouth Barracuda , so

7387-503: Was also a one-year design featuring a broad dashboard (with a wood-grained overlay on SST models), new center console, revised interior door panel trim, and tall "clamshell" bucket seats with integral headrests available in vinyl, corduroy, or optional leather upholstery. A new two-spoke steering wheel with a " Rim Blow " horn was optional. Console-mounted automatic transmissions featured a new "pistol-grip" shifter. A comparison road test of four 1970 pony cars by Popular Science described

7476-474: Was also the quickest of the cars tested, reaching 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in 6.8 seconds. Capitalizing on the Javelin's successes on the race track, AMC began advertising and promoting unique models. The "Mark Donohue Javelin" was built to homologate the Donohue-designed rear ducktail spoiler. A total of 2,501 SST trim versions were made with the rear spoiler featuring his signature on

7565-653: Was available with the four-barrel 343 or 390 engines and continued to include disc brakes, "Twin-Grip" (limited slip) differential , red-line performance E70x14 tires on "Magnum 500" styled wheels, heavy-duty suspension with thicker sway-bars, and other enhancements. Starting in January 1969, the four-speed manual transmissions included a Hurst floor shifter (AMC's version of the Hurst Competition Plus model) to provide shorter throws between gears and make it feel firmer and more solid. The production total for

7654-581: Was eight issues: two undated issues in 2005, and six additional bimonthly issues in 2006. Several years later the title was relaunched, and that second run was fifteen issues: quarterly from Spring 2010 through Spring 2013, then a combined Spring/Fall 2013 issue, with the final Summer 2014 issue appearing a year later. Motor Trend On Demand is an online television service. It features television series from Motor Trend , Automobile Magazine , Hot Rod , Super Street and Four Wheeler , such as Roadkill . In 2015, TEN bought Torque.TV and integrated it into

7743-470: Was little factory support, it fell to Kaplan and his staff to clean up the blocks from the sand casting, hone the various passages, and, finally, send them to AMC's "Parts Central" in Kenosha. From there, they could draw on the inventory. The blocks were painted bright orange. Kaplan drew on about 12 special castings during the development program, two sold to customers. Kaplan's preparations included shaving

7832-454: Was supporting a company with no performance parts, test facility, or technical support for the program. Production cars Javelins had no anti-dive potential built into the uni-body and only single-barrel carburetor manifolds. The team's performance in 1968 was due to the efforts of Kaplan, his staff, and help from other West Coast manufacturers. Kaplan set out to resolve handling problems and fix engine oiling problems. Mid-season, he also started

7921-454: Was to bring the cost of the closed car nearer to the prices of corresponding open cars. Automobile dealers were encouraged to equip an open car with a California top to demonstrate that they were "cool and clean in summer, and warm and dry in winter." The hard tops were frequently equipped with celluloid windows that retracted like a roller blind for open sided motoring offering a low-cost compromise between an open and closed car. There were

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