Editing AMC AMX (section)

==Record-breaking==
[[File:1968 AMX Breedlove Records Champion Plug AD.jpg|right|thumb|AMX "shatters" speed records in an advertisement for [[Champion (spark plug)|Champion spark plugs]] ]]

To promote the new car, AMC's manager for performance activities, Carl Chakmakian, asked world land speed record holder [[Craig Breedlove]] to put the AMX through its paces before the new vehicles were even available for sale.<ref name="amx-perience">{{cite web|url= http://www.amx-perience.com/1968AMX_CraigBreedlove.php |title=A Record Setter, 1968 |website=AMX-perience.com |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121205070757/http://www.amx-perience.com/1968AMX_CraigBreedlove.php |archive-date=5 December 2012 |access-date=22 June 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hemmings.com/stories/article/carl-chakmakian |title=Carl Chakmakian: AMC's Sultan of Speed |work=Hemmings |date=23 September 2018 |access-date=22 June 2024}}</ref> In January 1968, two specially-prepared AMXs set 106 world speed and endurance records at [[Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company|Goodyear]]'s track in Texas driven by Breedlove, his wife Lee, and Ron Dykes.<ref name="gunnell15">{{cite book|last=Gunnell |first=John |title=Standard Catalog of American Muscle Cars 1960–1972 |year=2006 |publisher=Krause Publications |isbn=978-0-89689-433-4 |page= 15}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Is the AMX a True Sports Car? |magazine=Motor Trend |date=March 1968 |page=34 |volume=30 |number=3}}</ref> Breedlove's "Spirit of America" crew and Traco Engineering had six weeks to prepare the cars before they were to be displayed at the [[Chicago Auto Show]] in February.<ref name="amx-perience"/>

The [[AMC V8 engine]]s, such as the {{convert|290|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} engine in one car was bored out to {{convert|304|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} and the {{convert|390|CID|L|1|abbr=on}} in the other to {{convert|397|CID|L|1|abbr=on}}. The shop installed exhaust headers, eight-quart oil pans, oil coolers, hi-rise intake manifolds, racing camshafts with solid lifters and stronger springs, and larger carburetors. The cars had engine and rear-end oil coolers, as well as {{convert|37|usgal|L impgal|abbr=on}} cell-type safety fuel tanks. Engine components were [[X-ray]]ed and [[Magnaflux]]ed to check for cracks, as were chassis components.<ref name="amx-perience"/>

Chassis preparation included heavy-duty front and rear springs (part of the factory's optional handling package), rear spring traction control arms, heavy-duty shock absorbers, and a "[[Panhard rod|panhard]]" type track bar in the rear to eliminate side sway. Wide magnesium racing wheels and Goodyear racing tires replaced the stock road wheels and standard tires. The cars were aerodynamically modified: the front ends were lowered, the hoods were slanted down, and spoilers were installed below the front bumpers. The car interiors had structure-stiffening roll cages for driver protection, a stock bucket seat modified for additional support, and supplementary engine-monitoring instruments.<ref name="amx-perience"/>

Breedlove also took the AMX to Bonneville reaching {{convert|189|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}} in a [[United States Auto Club]] (USAC) sanctioned run,<ref name="stuffworksAMX"/> as well as an unofficial run of over {{convert|200|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="legendarycollector"/>