<—– BACK to 1977 Hornet AMX Registry
Registry & Bibliography
The 1977 Hornet AMX Registry
In an effort to learn as much as possible about this limited production, one year only model, I have been locating, tracking and documenting original Hornet AMXs since 1995. In doing so I collect as much information as possible for these cars. This includes location, major options, door tag codes and even the original selling AMC dealership if known. However in order to keep things simple here is a very general summary of the registry results.
A current summary of 190 registered Hornet AMX cars:
Engine: 97- 258 six, 91- 304 V8, 2- 232 six
Transmission: 131- Automatic, 59- 4-Speed
Exterior Paint: 95- Red, 43- White, 35- Yellow, 16- Green
Interior Color: 127- Black, 27- Black/White, 24- Brown, 4- Levi’s
To see if your Hornet AMX is included in these results, here are the last 6 characters of the VIN for all registered cars. Please use the Contact button on the left if you have any additions!
107934 168915 176166 185212 197350 202879 206599 210109 238227 251863
144196 169453 176676 186386 197357 202912 208202 213723 239439 252965
144197 169917 176687 186395 197369 205124 208253 215372 239445 252987
151044 169983 177349 186397 197418 205141 208257 215375 239494 253042
152095 170776 177365 186408 198957 205142 208293 215397 243657 255172
152968 172363 178173 186424 198986 205176 208315 219714 243662 255946
155106 172367 178216 189867 199649 205199 209599 227367 244471 258224
160946 172419 182096 189900 199721 205934 209971 228177 245470 258246
163414 173079 182921 193095 199743 205939 210002 228186 246427 259212
163412 173085 184045 193143 200878 205947 210032 231232 247252 259221
163421 173119 184052 193185 201496 205968 210089 231268 247267 263611
164157 173125 184058 197301 202185 206521 210090 233546 249020 263628
166303 175450 184564 197308 202819 206563 210096 233567 249054 264444
167134 175458 184636 197323 202823 206571 210101 233584 249655 267165
167164 175475 185193 197342 202864 206576 210102 233593 251839 271065
New additions: 129706, 164179, 164209, 173088, 176728, 178093, 178116, 178137, 178141, 178157, 185200, 189830, 189837, 189852, 193120, 197254, 197386, 197444, 197452, 199047, 199724, 205179, 205910, 208243, 208275, 210011, 210022, 210126, 213677, 216056, 219661, 230217, 231233, 231276, 231302, 243666, 247236, 249055, 258274, 261262
Lime Green is the rarest Hornet AMX color
Registry Observations
American Motors VINs were assigned as the cars were ordered, not built. They do however indicate approximately when a particular car was assembled within a certain model year. Since the Hornet AMX was a one-year only special edition, it is convenient to organize the registry entries using the last six characters of the VIN. When doing this certain build patterns emerge, especially early in the production run.
Because a red Hornet AMX was used in most of AMC’s promotional materials it is not surprising that most of the earliest registry cars are red. I’m sure that many of these spent time on the showroom floor. The first 10 cars documented are all red ones, with a single yellow car being the only exception. Then something interesting appears. The next 5 cars documented are all white, followed by 3 yellow ones, then 8 green cars. This in itself is significant as only 14 green cars are currently documented! The next red car appears well into December 1976 production, about the time that the hood and hatch decals became available. Following this, all four colors appear in fairly random order throughout the rest of the production run.
Not unexpectedly the four documented Levi’s interior cars also fall together by VIN in the registry. These cars were likely built together in a batch, although one of the VINs is higher than the other three by more than 100, the number of cars reportedly built. All four of the Levi’s Hornet AMX’s located so far are Alpine White; three are 258/1 bbl. cars with automatic transmission, while one has a 232/1 bbl. with 4-speed. The Levi’s Hornet AMX may have been for a commercial or regional promotion, however this much later one documented car is from Canada while the other three are located in the U.S.
Although many Hornet AMXs have moved around since production, some patterns of distribution can also be noted in the registry, such as small groups of cars from Canada, or several in a row from Pennsylvania for example. As more and more Hornet AMXs are included in the registry an even clearer pattern of distribution may appear.
Hornet AMX Bibliography
This is a working list of original AMC publications and promotional materials, plus period magazine road tests. While additional publications may include a mention of the AMX model, these are the best original sources for Hornet AMX information.
1976 American Motors Annual Report, announces the Hornet AMX model for 1977.
1977 AMC prestige brochure (trees on cover), first printing, hood decal is not shown and text mentions “targa band”.
1977 AMC prestige brochure, second edition, hood decal is shown and text mentions “roof band”.
1977 AMC auto show brochure, black cover.
1977 AMC auto show brochure, blue cover, hood decal shown inside.
1977 AMC mailer brochure, blue cover.
1977 AMC postcard, 4.25 x 6″ size with AMX shown in top left quarter.
Hornet AMX magazine advertisement, placed in various magazines between November 1976 and February 1977. A red car is shown along with the front corner of a yellow one (note incorrect bodyside molding on the yellow car).
Promotional photos, some are in color and show an early production yellow car. Some black and white photos include a (most likely) red car along with a 1968 or 1969 AMX for comparison.
1977 AMC owners manual, includes tips for the care of Hornet AMX parts.
AMC Technical Service Bulletin (No. TB 2, October 28, 1976), covers towing procedure and front spoiler installation.
AMX Technical Service Manual, Vol. 3, Supplement 1, with striped cover. Twelve pages of Hornet AMX information and illustrations, including maintenance, troubleshooting, wiring diagrams, exploded views, etc.
1977 Hornet AMX Illustrations and Part Numbers, blue cover with AMX shown. Six pages of exploded view illustrations with parts numbers. AMC Parts Division logo on front cover.
1977 AMC parts and accessories 16 pg. mailer, 5.5 x 8.5″ size with red AMX and AMC Parts Division logo on the front cover
1977 AMC Accessories brochure, 8.5×11″ with tan cover. Hornet AMX package is shown with a short description.
1977 AMC export brochure, large 11×11″ size with four cars in a line on the front cover. Dual text is written in both English and French
Many periodicals from late 1976 included the Hornet AMX with their 1977 model year introductions. However a few magazines actually road tested the car, with Car & Driver even featuring it on the cover. Period Hornet AMX road tests can be found in the following publications.
Car & Driver, February 1977. A terrific 6-page cover story includes color photos of a red AMX.
Popular Science, April 1977. A 4-page black and white feature which compares the Hornet AMX with the Cobra II, Volare Road Runner and Chevrolet Monza Spyder.
Cars Magazine, September 1977. A 2-page black and white comparison of two Hornet AMX’s. This article appeared very late in the model year leading me to believe the author expected production of an identical 1978 Hornet AMX.
Hot Rod, September 1977. A 2-page black and white article by Gray Baskerville features Randall AMC’s turbocharger kit for the 258 Hornet AMX. The article draws comparisons to a stock 258 Hornet AMX.
Motor Trend also liked the AMX
The Hornet AMX was also used in period magazine advertising for Goodyear GT Radial tires and Superior brand aftermarket wheels.
On Film
AMC produced a short introduction film for the Hornet AMX which can be found on YouTube. It featured a 1950’s teenager musical theme but was produced nearly two years before the release of the 1978 movie “Grease”. It shows a pre-production red AMX with Firestone 500 tires and no front bumper corner guards.
A red Hornet AMX can also be seen in the background of one scene in a 1982 film titled The Last American Virgin.
