How did the 60's - 70's AMC Javelin live up to its hype?

I know they were pretty hot but I don't know much about them. I only know that I was ping through SLC the first year the AMX was built, whenever that was, and I lost the clutch in my very hot 64 SS Malibu. I had a great uncle who lived their and worked in the shop of an AMC dealer so he took it to the shop and put a clutch in it for me. The people at the dealership wanted to race my Malibu with one of there brand new AMX's but I didn't have time. I wish I could have. I would have liked to see what that AMX could do.