I may have answer this once before, so bear with me. I have a 71 Javelin SST with the center console and a automatic. I do not have the hidden ashtray on my car. The car was built in September of 1970 which would make this an early model Javelin for that year (model run). From my view point this makes that the vast mority of the Javelins built were open faced ashtrays. With 26,000 71 Javelins built that would make for about 2100 cars made for each month. The debuts of the new models was usually early September which meant that AMC would need about 2 or 3 months lead time to ensure that the dealers had the cars on the lots in time for the debut. This is my thinking and is not based upon any known fact that I am aware of.