When the American Motors Corporation (AMC) introduced the Javelin in 1967, it was set to rival the other "pony cars" in the current vehicle market, the most notable being the Ford Mustang. In the past, AMC was viewed as more of a conservative manufacturer, with the emphasis on economy as opposed to performance. Then the AMC Javelin changed all that.

When it was introduced in August of 1967, it had several features that helped it stand out from the competition. The flush handles on the doors were paddle-styled and became a specific styling feature for these vehicles. Aside from its sporty style, it gave passengers plenty of room in both the front and the back, along with plenty of luggage space in the trunk.

Upon its release, the media considered the vehicle to be both pleasing in looks as well as performance. It was at the top of the list for its category in Car and Driver's Car of the Year issue. While it was only available as a two-door hardtop, the SST was considered to be a premium model. It offered additional options including front bucket seats, a sports style steering wheel and different engines.

The AMC Javelin went through a redesign that lasted only a year in 1970 with a new front-end design as well as changes to the back lights. The Mod Javelin package continued to offer the three Big Bad paint options. Neon brilliant blue, orange and green made up the Big Bad color choices that customers could choose from. Again, most consumers saw the vehicle as having much roomier interior than other cars in its class.

The second generation was introduced in 1971 and was lower, heavier and longer than previous years' models. The goal was to give the car a unique look without being too much for the average consumer. It included a spoiler for the roof as well as front fenders that were much wider, in part to accommodate racing tires. Now, the AMX Javelin was the high-performance option that included several other modifications for racing.

In 1972, AMC was the first car manufacturer to offer a warranty for the vehicle. Called the Buyer Protection Plan, the manufacturer offered to repair anything that went wrong in the first year of operation or 12,000 miles. In order to change with the public's demands, the AMC Javelin moved from being a performance-centered vehicle to offering more comfort and luxury options to customers. For 1972 and 1973, a special version of the Javelin, with an interior design by Pierre Cardin, was offered.

1973 saw the continuation of the manufacturer's warranty and sales reached a record high. Advertisements insisted that the Javelin was backed by the automaker because it was built better. But in 1974, with government regulations increasing and the cost of gas rising, the Javelin began to decline in both popularity and functionality.