The WHATIFX made it to the 40th AMX Anniversary Reunion Show at Daytona Beach, Florida on March 29, 2008. The picture above was taken at the Daytona 500 Raceway on March 30, 2008. The actual car show was held on the speedway infield. There were 42 AMX's and 99 total AMCs at the show. The car Stan Watkins (WHATIFX Builder(with Mark Scamard's expert paint and body help)/owner)was most interested in, was the 71 2-seater AMX prototype created by Ed Quinn and friends. The WHATIFX and Ed Quinn's prototype were positioned next to each other (Courtesy the local First Coast AMC club).
Pictured below is Stan between the two cars.
Ed's car has the Javelin AMX Cowl induction hood and 73 Javelin grille, while Stan's has the Dick Teague prototype hood scoop reproduction and 71 Javelin grille.
In the rear views of the cars, it can be noted that Ed installed 71 tail lights (sans the surrounding 71 Javelin rear end borders). Stan's car replaced the whole 68 rear end with a 74 Javelin rear end and Javelin AMX spoiler. Ed's car stuck with the 68 dash, while Stan's was modified, to replace the dash with a 74 Javelin AMX Air conditioner equiped dash.
Here the WHATIFX is on the actual Daytona Beach. It got lots of attention on the beach also.
The WHATIFX is Featured on Cover of AMC (American Motors Cars)Fall 2007 issue.
WHATIFX at the 2006 AMO Nationals in Dayton, Ohio
The WHATIFX was awarded the silver award at the 2006 AMO Internationals.
At the awards ceremony, on July 29, 2006 in Dayton, Ohio, the WHATIFX was awarded the silver (second place) award for non-stock AMX.
But where did the idea for the car come from? It came right straight form AMC. Dick Teague's 1971 AMX 2-seater proposal.
A photo of the WHATIFX at the Dayton AMO 2006 International showfield is shown below.
Road Trips for the WHATIFX
The WHATIFX has completed road trips, under its own power, (not trailered) to the following cities:
1. July 2006, Dayton, Ohio, 2006 AMO Nationals/Intrenationals
2. October 2007, Atlanta, Georgia, Peachstate 2007 Fall Regionals
3. March 2008, Daytona Beach, Florida, 40th AMX introduction anniversary
All trips were round trips (approximately 2500 total miles) were from Knoxville, TN and back with Stan Watkins driving the WHATIFX. The all-AMC driveline has proven to be durable.
The Concept Idea Behind the fabrication of the WHATIFX
What if Dick Teague's personal 68 AMX that he had modified for the proposed '71 AMX(rear view below)had been accepted for production?
Because the 73/74 Javelin was such a major change, Teague may have modified his prototype again for a proposed 73/74 2-seater AMX. What would that have looked like?
In June of 2003, I decided to build a 1974 AMX 2-seater concept prototype. Teague's 71 AMX 2-seater prototype was, definitely, the true inspiration and starting point for my car.
Major changes from Teagues 71 prototype 2 seater AMX are: the removal of the 1968 AMX rear body panel and replacement with a 1974 Javelin panel, the change out of the interior to 71-74 Javelin AMX interior, and incorporation of the 71-74 Javelin AMX spoiler.
Teague's car, sans hood scoop, was restored by Mike Spangler and is featured in the January 2006, Hemmings Muscle Machines magazine.
The pictures of the Teague 71 prototype 2-seater AMX, on my web page, are from the original, as-built, version. It had a hood scoop designed by Keith Goodnough. I talked to Keith at the 2006 AMO Nationals at Dayton Ohio on July 29, 2006. He confirmed that he designed it. He also stated that the reproduction was off some in that it was too flat near the back. His original scoop maintained a convex curvature further back. Keith posed for a picture, pointing at the scoop. See below
Another very special feature, of the WHATIFX, that both Bob Nixon and Keith Goodnough (as well as a unanimous portion of the show crowd, that I domonstrated it to) really liked, was the dual functional "AMX Circle" fuel filler doors. It seems everyone feels AMC should have had them on the AMX.
Since the Teague car was the WHATIFX's true inspiration, it should be noted that great pictures of the restored Teague car (minus original hood scoop)were featured in the January, 2006 Hemmings Muscle Machines article by Daniel Strohl.
I appreciate very much that Mike Spangler did such a masterful job of restoring the wonderful and significant piece of AMC/AMX history.
In early 2005, I planned to have my "WHATIFX" ready by the 2005 AMO Internationals in Atlanta, Georgia on July 23, 2005. Well, The car was not ready for the 2005 AMO Internats.
I went to the 2005 nationals without the WHATIFX but did get to see Mike Spangler's original Dick Teague 71 AMX prototype there. It was an AWSOME sight and experience! ! Actually being able to see Dick Teague's personal "dream machine". WOW ! ! !
Thanks Mike for bringing it to Atlanta ! ! ! Included here (and in the last part of the "My AMXs" page and the new 70+ AMX 2-seater page) are pictures of my "WHATIFX" prototype, as of various dates. Enjoy
Note the "WHATIFX" personalized plate and 74 Javelin AMX rally pack instruments.
The rear view above, illustrates the 73/74 Javelin grafted onto my 68 AMX #2990. I believe Dick Teague may have considered something like this as a proposal for the 73/74 AMX 2 seater, if his modified personal 1968 AMX prototype (of the 1971 AMX 2 seater), had been approved by AMC for production.
Since Teague actually made his 71 2-Seater prototype in 1969, it was too early to tell that the 70 AMX would have sales figures of only 1/2 the 69 AMX sales. I think he may have attributed part of the sales drop of the 70 AMX to the lack of the over the top "GO Pak" stripes and may have considered bringing them back as a 2 seater AMX icon. So, his redesign of his 71 prototype may have merged the new idea of the Javelin "Tee" stripe with the icon of the widened (as was the trend in the early 70s) dual stripes over the top. This creates what I call the "Split-Tee stripe".
Stan's WHATIFX, makes a stab at what the new "go Pak" stripes may have looked like. These are double wide stripes that diverge into a split "bumble-bee" hood stripe in front. This maintains a heritage link to the Javelin AMX "Tee" stripe.
While Teague's car still had to 68 style dash, his redesign may have incorporated the 71-74 Javelin AMX dash. Stan has incorporated this change, in his 68 AMX/WHATIFX prototype conversion. More detail of the 74 interior is shown in the fish-eye lense view below.
The details of Stan's WHATIFX airconditioner equiped, Javelin AMX, machine turned dash, with original "Rally-Pac" instruments, are shown in the view below.
For other comparisons of the 71 Teague prototype and Stan's 74 prototype concept, coresponding photos of each are included below:
Side Views
Front Quarter Views
Rear Views (the differences are most evident in this view)
The rear end of Teague's 71 prototype had a 1970 AMX/Javelin rear end, not a 71 Javelin rear end). It is much more difficult to "cut and paste" a 71-74 Javelin rear end on, than to simply change out the 68-69 AMX rear plate with a 70 AMX plate. There is an extra 3 1/2 inches of height (between the bumper and trunk lids) on the 71-74 Javelins than on the 68-70s.
Note the front end has the Dick Teague prototype fenders, grille (71 Javelin), hood, and hood scoop with the stripes going over the hood and diverging into a modified "bumble-bee" stripe at the front of the hood. Or the "Split-Tee" stripe.
This 3/4 left front mild down angle shot kinda puts the cars attitude all together.
Under the hood, my WHATIFX sports a stock bore 401 with 1971 AMC# ...291C heads, a mild cam, edlebrock air gap rpm manifold, edlebrock 800 cfm carb, headers, Cloyes (AMC Police package 401 Roller chain Cam Timing set),and a vintage Group 19 dealer installed option Mallory dual point distributer. These parts all seem to play together very well ! ! ! !
But part of the fun of having an AMC is taking part in activities with other AMCers.
In this view, the WHATIFX participates in a Red, White, and Blue shot at the Knoxville, TN Clinton Plaza free car show with Mark Scamard's 69 blue AMX, and Chris Daetz's 72 red Javelin.
But, She is not just a pretty face ! ! !
Here Stan's WHATIFX lunges way out in front of Mark Scamard's 1969 AMX with a race prep'd 401 at 411 Dragway on 8/27/05.
Here Stan celebrates with a big smile and "V" for Victory over Mark's car.
For comments or questions about the "WHATIFX" please e-mail me at RCWCFather@Juno.com
The light turns green and the WHATIFX is launched.
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