badger_javelin

1969 Badger Javelin

American Motors had many, many, "regional" promotions aimed at certain specific areas thru the years. Some are well known like the special 67 Rebel wagons: Briarcliffe, Westerner and Mariner. Others like 69 Rebel Raider, (here is uber rare photo) Pink AMXs, Star Spangled SC/Ramblers, and Badger Javelins also quickly come to mind. Others might have been one of one for certain dealership or Zone. I have a number of extremely rare press releases and ads on my site; click HERE. AMC was kicking some serious ASS in 1968 Trans Am racing. Peter Revson, driver, George Follmer driver, Ron Kaplan Cheif Engineer, Jim Jeffords Team Manager for JAVELIN RACING TEAM, along with Carl Chakmakian former race car driver hisself made Javelin a force to contend with. The Javelins were using a 304V8 in 68, a modified version of the 290V8, and pulling over 400hp which could do a whopping 160mph in the straights to a slow 25mph in the turns! This particular photo is a copy of my original, it shows the Illinois Zone Office, which come raceday at the track, had gathered 100 Dealers....and Javelins....for the race! Rows upon rows of brand new spanking shiny Javelins drew crowds all day. You will never see 100 Javelins all together like this, even at any national meet. I call this photo "field of dreams".

The Badger Javelin was unique to Wisconsin only, as were many of "regional" promotions aimed at certain markets. There were approximately 80 1969 Javelins built for this promotion. All were painted white with special red reverse "C" stripe and lettering on the doors. They also came equipped with the new for 1969 "roof spoiler" and "twin hood scoops" which was part of the MOD PACKAGE one could order on any production color 1969 Javelin......and you could get the MOD on any 232-6, 290V8, 343V8 or 390V8 equipped 69 Javelin. The MOD PACKAGE would be extended to 1970, however for 70, the twin scoops were gone....but like 69 you could also get it on a base 232 or new 258-6 Javelin up to the 390V8. The roof spoiler was NOT available on any Mark Donohue Javelin with the ducktail spoiler. But the Badger Javelin all sported the AMX 390 engine, and besides the Frost white paint, also had red interiors! Very striking indeed!

Dennis McQuade, rt, manager of Specker Motor Sales, Marquette, Michigan, and Alan F. Mitchell lf, AMC General Sales Manager, stand in front of 80 1969 Badger Javelins that were part of a driveaway promotion marking AMC's 15th anniversary in Milwaukee, before the driveaway, about 200 AMC dealers listened to William V. Lundberg, AMC President, at a breakfast meeting. Worth noting is that those dealers in the UP of Michigan were involved as part of a Wisconsin promotion!