Gremlin & other ’74 models in the showroom.
’73 showroom, with Javelin AMX and Matador wagon on the left.
Vintage Dealers: ’73-’74 AMC Gremlin & Javelin AMX In The Showroom
– Posted on October 31, 2024
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Curbside Classics Archives
Those are Ambassador prospects, not Gremlin prospects! The salesman is wasting time and effort showing them the Gremlin’s engine.
That photo was taken during the 1974 model year. The first gas shortage began in December 1973, and continued through roughly March 1974. Many people who would not have otherwise considered a small car were looking at – and buying them – during 1974.
You beat me to it. They very much look like 1974 Gremlin prospects. And two years later they were back trading it in on a Matador sedan.
My parents bought their first AMC car from Bill Whiten in Ensley, Alabama in October 1974–a white Hornet Sportabout wagon. I remember the test drive in a Gremlin but my mom thought it impractical for the family. My mom had an Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser and she was concerned about gas mileage. We bought it late in the day and they did not have it ready for us to drive home so they gave us a loaner–a brand new Datsun station wagon from Bill Whiten Datsun which was across the street for the evening. The Hornet had many issues in it’s brief time with us but nothing beat the day the windshield wipers stopped working in a storm and my mom had to drive to the dealer with a towel in hand to wipe the glass so she could see. It was traded in on a brand new 1976 Matador wagon, also from Bill Whiten.
Ah yes 1974, the year of disappointment for me. I was 18, wanted to get a 71 cuda and this thing called a gas crisis came along and we all resorted to getting small cars with big ugly impact bumpers and this thing called a catalytic converter that started smelling like rotten eggs if you put regular gas in your tank.
I’ve never seen a Gremlin in the metal before, it’s an ‘interesting’ car. Ordinarily I’m quite susceptible to more individual designs but I’m unsure about the Gremlin. Is there a functional back seat? It seems odd to have an opening back window but not a hatchback. Looking at Wikipedia (the font of all knowledge) the smallest engine available is two litres. At face value it’s almost as if they managed to combine the disadvantages of a small car and a larger less economical car in one distinctive package. I’m more than open to change my opinion if there’s something good I missed.
It’s hard to explain. You just had to be there.
Wouldn’t it be fun to go back now as an adult and be able to walk into these showrooms featured on this site? I still recall how excited I was to be able to stop at any car dealers as a kid and walk into the showroom with dad. Not sure if it’s more about that time with my dad or the showroom itself. Or better yet, I’m sure both as a package deal. Either way, it wouldn’t be complete without the proper vintage new cars in there as well along with all the nicely dressed customers.
Sadly these weren’t economical on any level and they like most AMC products were not fun to drive either .
That last part is what killed the company more than the rest of their oddness ~ any old thing will sell itself if it’s fun or at least enjoyable to drive .
These had heavy and ponderous steering that made them IMO unpleasant to drive .
-Nate
Rich, don’t know how much time a day searching and compiling from the InterNet, but thanks……
Dave
I’d take the Gremlin X in the back any day; preferably with the 304 and Levi’s trim.