1972 AMC Javelin SST Alabama State Trooper

 

Look in the rearview mirror. We flashback a few years to take a look at Vince and Nancy Kolb's 1972 AMC Javelin SST Alabama State Trooper tribute car. I spotted the unmistakable blue and silver paint scheme associated with Alabama's highway patrol units at a local car show several years ago. The sparkling silver and blue Javelin was posted at the entrance to the show parking lot. Wary motorists passing on the main road slowed when they spotted the blue beacon atop the 1972 Javelin. Many were unsure of their speed or simply admiring a part of Alabama's highway patrol history as they passed the packed parking lot.

The Alabama State Trooper's office requested the large AMX rear spoiler on all Javelins because the highly visible space was needed for a large "STATE TROOPER" decal.

Big, bad, brute

Try to imagine pulling up behind a State Trooper Javelin in 1972. Unabashed style and intimidation. The giant rear spoiler emblazoned with STATE TROOPER shouts, "Back off!" "You don't want none of this!" A giant gumball light begging to be turned on. Waiting, ready for high speed pursuit. By no means do you want to pass any State Trooper on the highway for fear of getting pulled over for speeding. But a Javelin SST?

What would I do? In my youth-gone-wild days I might have tested this snarling beast. Now wiser, I know that a State Trooper in a Javelin is armed with an engine loaded for bear. Blasting the speedo needle deep into the triple digits to catch would-be highway racers was just another day in an Alabama State Trooper Javelin.


Alabama Javelin Highway Patrol History

In the early 1970s the state of Alabama, experiencing an economic crisis, found they could order budget-based patrol cars from AMC. The base model pony car Javelins equipped with 401 cubic-inch V8s were powerful enough to meet the Alabama Highway Patrols needs and cheap enough to keep the state happy. 

By the numbers

In 1971 the Alabama Department of Public Safety ordered 83 Javelins but only 71 were delivered before the 1971 model year ended. A total of 61 of the 71 were painted Quicksilver Metallic. The remaining 10 Javelins delivered on the initial purchase order were for the investigative unit and varied in color. 

That left 12 Javelins undelivered under the first purchase order. The everchanging marketing and production gurus at AMC decided to no longer offer a base Javelin on their 1972 models. The Javelin SST was AMC's plan to lure the upscale pony car market. The ADPS decided to stick with AMC and order more Javelin SSTs, which came with more options such as wood grain dash, rocker panel and fender trim (bright moldings), and SST emblems. ADPS ordered 62 1972 Javelin SSTs. The first order of 1972 models included the 12 remaining under the first order and AMC delivered those Javelin SSTs in the same Quicksilver paint color used on the 1971 models. When the state placed the second order, for 1972 Javelin SSTs, Quicksilver was no longer a paint option. Of the remaining 50 units ordered, 42 were painted Stardust Silver Metallic. The ADPS requested the hoods, decklids, and spoiler be painted Admiral Blue Metallic on the Stardust Silver Metallic Javelins. Eight Javelins were unmarked vehicles painted various colors. 

A 140 MPH speedo greets the driver of this 1972 AMC Javelin SST Alabama State Trooper car.

Details

All highway patrol Javelins were shifted by three-speed automatic transmissions. Borg-Warner had shifting duty in 1971. A Chrysler Torque-Command A727 was used for 1972.

A total of 133 were built for the state of Alabama. The Alabama Department of Public Safety kept the 1971 and 1972 State Trooper Javelins in service from 1971 until 1974. Very few remain road worthy. Even fewer are in show quality condition.

Update
Vince Kolb takes pride in the fact that his home state of Alabama was the first to utilize a pony car to track down speeders. He has since sold his two-tone 1972 Javelin SST State Trooper car but still drives his pristine 1972 Javelin State Trooper car in Quicksilver paint to shows around Alabama. A feature on that one-of-12 solid silver SSTs is upcoming. Stay tuned!

Final thought

I'm hoping more AMC Javelin State Trooper cars can be resurrected and find new highways to roam. Be warned, you may want to do a double take in your mirror if you find a AMC Javelin State Trooper sneak up behind you on the interstate. 

Jody Potter — Junkyard Life

 

When the State Trooper had to detain a suspect in a Javelin a backup unit was needed to transport them. On at least one occasion it was reported that a State Trooper placed their suspect in the AMC Javelin's trunk. 

The 401-V8 Javelin performed better than expected in high speed pursuit.

Alabama State Trooper decals are period correct on the 1972 Javelin SST.

1972 Javelin SST sail panel emblem on State Trooper car.

Admiral Blue Metallic paint covers trunk, rear spoiler and hood of the 1972 Javelin SST. 

The Kolb's Alabama State Trooper Javelin info display draws crowds wherever they show their car.

All marked Alabama State Trooper Javelins had bright blue vinyl interiors.

SST trim provided bright trim over wheels and along rocker panels on 1972 Alabama State Trooper Javelins.

Know a junkyard that we need to visit?
Got an unusual car or truck story?  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com 

Cars in Yards: 1970 Chevrolet Nova

Don't say it! Junkyard Life has found this… a 1970 Chevrolet Nova. There are so many things to mention about this car that was built for the common man. It came in so many forms, that most people could afford one. (Editor's note: Nobody said it was cheap. But...)

Shakespeare asked, “What is in a name?”

The Chevrolet Nova has a cool name. Nova. Translated to mean “bursting star”, this car was contrived to compete with other makers that honed in on America’s obsession to go to the moon before other countries claimed that giant orb. So we had to pretend to get there first!

Somebody grab a can of orange spray paint.

Correction: It Does Go!

The common story that we here at Junkyard Life have been guilty of retelling is the great name fail tale. The story about how the translation of “Nova” in Spanish speaking countries meant “it doesn’t go” and how when the car arrived in the market with that moniker the buyers froze and refused to purchase. Why buy a car that tells you right up front that it doesn’t go? Going is really what we need it to do. Well, when researching our feature car - we now find out that story isn’t true. Puts a monkey wrench in my Fun Facts, doesn’t it?

This Nova is pretty honest about what it is. It has two (possibly three) options that jump quickly into view. Can you spot them? See Fun Facts.

Options on the cheap Chevy

This Nova was adorned in GM paint code 25 known as Astro Blue in 1970. See that space theme we mentioned? It also had the standard bench seat, RPO Code 731 for you numbers guys, covered in black vinyl. What you see, is what you get. Before we get you too excited about the tough guy persona of the rugged “post sedan”, hold your bursting stars. We learned that this ONLY came in pillared sedan form. Which is fine by us. We at Junkyard Life adore post sedans. The structural sound "post" body style is preferred by racers in all classes. However, not much racing was done with this 307 cubic inch example. If there was, he probably didn’t win a lot. That small block power plant was made to do what it did… last a long time and not use too much fuel.    

In the 1980s a 307 emblem meant that you were driving grandma's car.

Granny was on a budget but packed her car with amenities like A/C.

The 307-V8 was still relatively new to the car buying world, having only been in the mainstream since 1969.

1970 Chevy Novas still had the clean, tucked-in bumpers. By 1973 the bumpers protruded away from the body to pass crash test standards.

Trim tag has details on the 1970 Chevy Nova.

Complete set of original 14-inch hub caps found inside Chevy Nova.

Don't let the wheels fool you

The only exception to my previous “What you see is what you get” is the Chevrolet Rally wheels. Although an option for the Nova in 1970, this example came with 14-inch wheels with a “Chevrolet Motor Division” hubcap outlined in the center. Very tasteful and economical. I may not have known that detail up front, but the owner told me he has the entire set of hubcaps. I also found them in the car under the removed back seat. Sadly, no build sheet was present.

(Editor’s Note: We have suggested therapy to Junkyard Life staff member Ron Kidd. He really likes hubcaps to an unhealthy degree)  

What would I do?

If this bursting star was in the Junkyard Life shop, my vote would be to yank the 307, add a fat rat motor, but keep the 307 emblems and the hubcaps. (Editor’s Note: See?) This is the perfect chassis for an incognito money taker. Unfortunately, it isn’t ours but an interesting car nonetheless.

Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life

Junkyard Life’s Nova Fun Facts:

• The Chevy II was introduced in 1962 to compete for the Ford Falcon buyers. Chevrolet was somewhat late to the game.
• The feature car is a 1970 model. The third generation for the Chevrolet Nova began in 1968.
• 1968 was the last year to have both “Chevy II” and “Nova” emblems. It was only known as “Nova” after 1969.
• The Nova was only built in two places: Norwood, Ohio and Willow Run, Michigan. The feature car was born in Willow Run. Yes, we love cowl tags at Junkyard Life.
• 1968 was a great seller for the Chevrolet Nova despite several options no longer available. Hello 1968 post sedans. Goodbye last year’s station wagon, hard top, and convertible. A bold move in the market indeed. 
• Chevrolet was late to the game AGAIN in 1967 with the introduction of the Camaro to attempt to regain sales stolen by the Ford Mustang since 1964. What does this have to do with the Nova? Rumor was that half way through the model year Chevrolet conveniently cut the high horse 327 from the Nova menu to boost sales of the new Camaro. Sneaky marketing!
• The top of the food chain power wise in 1970 Nova was the 375HP 396-V8 (which was actually 402 cubic inches).
• Hotly debated for years is the civil war between the hot new 350 LT1 borrowed from the Corvette and Camaro Z28 verses the 396 big block. Which was faster when installed in the 1970 Nova? Ginger or Mary Ann? Both hot.

(Editor’s Note: I don’t think “Gilligan’s Island” has ever been used for a Chevy II engine debate. We no longer allow Ron to write with the TV on here at the office.)

• The Chevy II was designed to be very economical. It was offered with a 4 cylinder engine for several years.
• The options we mentioned on the feature car we spotted were:
• The 307 V8 was an engine upgrade (three actually)
• The air condition was not standard, hence…an option.
• (Possibly) the side body molding may not have been standard. 
• The AM radio was one step above… no radio.
• The automatic transmission was relatively a sure bet to be there, but don’t count it for free… there was a manual three-speed tranny that could cost less.

Know a junkyard that we need to visit? Got a car story?  
Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com or Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net.