In 1969-70, American Motors Javelins were built in Germany. A few hundred of them, anyway.
At the Paris Motor Show in October of 1968, guests at the Karmann stand were treated to a mild surprise: the American Motors Javelin was coming to Europe. What’s more, plans were set to assemble the cars at the Karmann factory in Rheine, Germany, That’s a long way from Kenosha, to be sure, but the goal was to embrace the trade benefits of the European Economic Community, now known as the European Union.
Established in 1901, Wilhelm Karmann GmbH was an experienced manufacturer to say the least, lending its expertise to the Karmann Ghia, VW Beetle and Rabbit Cabriolets, assorted BMWs, the Merkur XR4Ti, and a host of others. The company was broken up in 2010, with part of its German operations acquired by Volkswagen.
For the Javelin, CKD (Complete Knocked Down) kits were shipped from Wisconsin to the Karmann plant—reportedly, 90 percent of the components came in crates from across the Atlantic. The rest came from Karmann, including the company’s own upmarket seats, interior fabrics, and paint materials. The six Karmann-only colors were White, Cherry Red, Bahama Yellow, Pacific Blue, Bristol Grey, and Irish Green.
The streamlined equipment list included the 232 cubic-inch six and a pair of V8s: the 290 CID engine with 200 hp, and the 343 four-barrel with 280 hp. The six and 290 were available with a three-speed manual or a three-speed automatic, while the 343 was offered only with the automatic. AMC’s largest V8, the 390 with 315 hp, was not on the menu.
All Karmann Javelins were assembled in deluxe SST trim with their own unique model name, 79-K. The K represented Karmann while 79 was the AMC body style designation, signified by a diecast emblem on each C-pillar. The cars carried Karmann rather than American Motors serial numbers, too, stamped on a metal plate attached to the firewall.
The story of the German Javelin is a fascinating tale, but it’s a short one. Between the start of production in January of 1969 and the finale in June of 1970, only 281 cars were assembled. It’s not known what the sales and production goals were for the 79-K, but we can’t imagine the effort was sustainable at that volume. It seems that maybe a dozen or two Javelins by Karmann are still in existence, scattered around Western Europe.
Fascinating. I hadn’t heard this story.
Interesting that AMC thought there would be a market for what was a very large and thirsty car (in the European market). Perhaps they wanted to sell in Europe against the Detroit competition. I wonder if the big 3 offered Mustangs, Camaros, and Barracudas over there at the same time?
Ford sold Mustangs in Europe. They had a special export number, but I can’t remember what it was right now. I knew a guy who was in the service that served in Germany and bought one while he was there. When he came back to the states, the military shipped it over for him. He still had it a few years ago before I lost track of him.
Mustang already was trademarked in Germany. The car was badged as T5.
Since when has buying a new car been a completely rational process no matter what we tell others and ourselves? LoL
Chrysler sold Barracudas and Challengers here in France. I had one. Chrysler owned Simca and used the dealer organisation to sell. Chrysler also sent over a number of Challengers as Complete Knocked Down and they were assembled in the Netherlands.
If the bodies were assembled by Karmann, then the other 250 likely rusted out completely!
Gott en Himmel, a long ways indeed. Automotive history seems to be riddled with these “cross-pond” attempts, none very successful. The Chrysler TC Maserati comes to mind. Our cars and European cars were just too different, for a number of reasons to have appeal in any numbers and aside from exotics, generally, Joe Lunchpail stuck with what they knew. I figure Jupp Lunchenbox weren’t much different. At that time, we, as Americans, were very sheltered as to what was offered around the world. I wonder how receptive Europe was to poor handling US gas guzzlers compared to what they had.
None very succesfull?!?
Chryslers and Jeeps have been manufactured in Austria at Graz factory since beginning of nineties.
Also here some people really appreciate the manners and looks of “US gas guzzlers” over what european(or japanese) manufacturers have to offer.
Here in Finland the taxing of US made “upper class” cars made them only available for quite wealthy people, or as companies representative cars.
Cross pond projects almost always are weak business ideas that make some theoretical sense with collaboration. If they were robust ideas, they wouldn’t need to be collaborations. One business would be able to raise the capital, design the product, build the facilities, and manufacture the product.
In the ’40s and ’50s, American cars were in high global demand because the USA had the production. By the 1960s in Europe, American cars were becoming luxury boutique purchases for affluent people who wanted something different to show off.
I have always loved the Javelin, from the very start I thought it was one of the prettiest cars of the 60’s, but I wasn’t fond of the second generation.
I have a 70 Javelin–owned for 50 years! I love the first generation Javelins. Some second gens are OK, just not crazy about them. I would love to find a Karmann Javelin over here.
I took factory delivery of a new white 1967 Karmann Ghia convertible at the Karmann plant in Osnabruck, Germany, drove it 3500 miles through ten central European countries and four weeks later, on a Friday afternoon, dropped it off at a VW shipping office in Brussels, Belgium. About ten days later, picked it up at the foot of John R. where it had just been off-loaded from one of VW’s ocean transports.
One (?) of Porche’s 1967 vehicles (911?) was also built at this plant
I have an original Karmann Javelin sales brochure. Today many US cars, especially muscle cars are being bought and shipped to Europe. There are car guys all over the world. I know a guy in the Netherlands who is having a 1963 Avanti shipped to him from Ohio as I write this. He just loves cars.