Behold the New King of Vintage Muscle, the 1,036-HP AMC Javelin Defiant

It’s got a juiced-up Hellcat engine in there.

The AMC Javelin was absolutely the coolest ride ever to roll out of the American Motors factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin (as we told you last year), so it is perfectly appropriate that Spring Green, Wisconsin custom car builders Ring Brothers have built the ultimate Javelin in their creation “Defiant.”

In typical Ring Brothers fashion, Defiant has been utterly reworked, top to bottom. In this case that means a 6.5-inch stretch to the wheelbase, with the front suspension and steering now mounted to a Detroit Speed front subframe designed for use on classic Camaros (like Ring Brothers’ own ‘G-Code build) and adapted to the Javelin’s chassis.

Such a dramatic change demanded new bodywork, which was designed in Solidworks computer design software and created in lightweight carbon fiber and sprayed in BASF Glasurit “Jalop Gold” paint.

The Javelin’s original 390 cubic inch V8 was good for a respectable 325 horsepower back in the day, but Ring Brothers dialed 1-800-HELLCAT for a Mopar engine transplant. Then they bolted on a 4.5-liter Whipple supercharger that pumps up the hellacious Hemi to 1,036 horsepower.

Dubs are pretty much a requirement for modern show cars, so naturally Defiant rolls on 20-inch HRE Performance Wheels, with Michelin rubber and high-performance Baer disc brakes all around.

The Ring Brothers were able to turn around the intensive Defiant project in 12 months, thanks to underwriting by Prestone coolant, which debuted the car in its booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas.