70 AMX SHADOW MASK

The 1970 AMC AMX offered a blackout hood treatment called Shadow Mask. If you have a 1970 AMX, you can determine easily whether this car originally came with a shadow or not. 
On the metal door trim tag, the paint code will have a code behind the number. 

This code is a 8.

For instance, this is a GLEN GREEN 70 AMX with Shadow Mask. 

This is a BIG BAD GREEN 70 AMX with Shadow Mask.

 

The Shadow Mask was a $52.00 option on the AMX.

 

982 of the 4116 70 AMXs built had a Shadow Mask. See Production Figures.

 

The Shadow Mask included a "blacked out" engine bay area of the AMX. This included all 360 vehicles, not only the 390. It was a difficult paint to apply then with it's "satin like" finish. The original Ditzler Automotive Paint finishes PPG code for this "low gloss black" is R-110 LOW GLOSS BLACK Code 9372 for use on hood and scoops according to their chart. A fine silver stripe 3/8" size (and available reproduction from several AMC Vendors ) was used to separate the vehicle color from the blacked out treatment. The blacked out treatment was done when the vehicle was still a shell, so no engine, brake lines, wiper motor ect, these would be added later.

 

Possibly the biggest problem with the Shadow Mask is few 70 AMXs have it reapplied correctly as it is a difficult paint to maintain. At the dealership where my dad worked, it was one block from the seawall. So a seagull dropping a doo, a stray rain shower, even people stopping by the dealership after closed, and sitting their Coke can (which the cans were metal then) left a imprint. The stray shower was the worst as it would leave the car looking like it had chicken pox. So many people now choose to go with gloss black, or a different mix of paint. However, should you decide to go with a concours type paint job with your 70 AMX, here is two Concours' examples of a the unusual Shadow Mask Option on a Matador Red 1970 AMX, 360; and a Big Bad Orange 1970 AMX, 360. What better way to describe it than in photos. Special thanks to Ed Buscis for the photos.

Matador Red AMX