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.
Makes sense, understood.
The back seat was essentially useless except for children. The four cylinder didn’t come along until some years later. You’e actually summed it up quite well.
More here:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/curbside-classics-american/cc-classic-1971-amc-gremlin-small-car-comparison-6/
ORIGINAL “‘70.5” GREMLIN DID HAVE A STRIPPED MODEL WITH NO BACK SEAT, BUT ONLY THE ONE YEAR. ORIGINAL FRONT END QUITE SQUARE IN SHAPE, AND TOOK ANYTHING FROM THE 199 I-6, TO A 401 V-8 ENGINE. IN ITS LAST YEARS WHEN THE FRONT END GOT ANGLED BACK AND FUEL ECONOMY BECAME A BIGGER ISSUE, AMC USED A VW FOUR AND THEN A PONTIAC “IRON-DUKE” FOUR, BOTH ABOUT 2 LITRES, BUT THE AMC 258CID WAS HOW I THINK MANY WENT EVEN IN 1977 and 1978. THE BACK WINDOW OPENED, BUUT THAT WAS AS BIG AN OPENING AS YOU GOT. … HOPE THAT HELPS.
It was a hatch back, many of the cars of the time did not have hatches that opened down to the floor. Granted the lift over on these were the worst. You are right that it combined most of the disadvantages of a big car and small car in one package. You do have to keep in AMC sawed off a Hornet as a cheap and quick way to get a “sub compact” to market.
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.
Before I saw the Gremlin X that you mentioned, my thought / question was going to be: Why would the dealer put the most unattractive iteration of Gremlin on the showroom floor and not an X or Levi’s version? The Gremlin in the first picture just looks so unfortunate. The new, big bumpers, dog dishes adorning steelies with what look like giant, nondescript black wall tires. I never understood why automakers have to make the loss leaders look extra-unattractive. And I do sort of like the looks of the Gremlin at its essence.
That could be the front of a modern car…ahead of their time
…but only if they backed-up
I’ve always liked the trademark AMC door handles, i dont know why
They could be a bit “tricky” when they froze up. Recall seeing a few older ones with missing handles..
For some odd reason, the rear, passenger side door, rarely froze up on our “Rebel”.
The big problem was if the door gaskets froze up. You didn’t have anything to pull on, since the handle was already extended.
Ask me how I know…
I’m surprised the older couple isn’t “downsizing’ to the Hornet. Normal looking and just as economical as the Gremlin.
I WISH AMC HAD STRETCHED THE JAVELIN INTO A SEDAN AND WAGON, BUT, THEY HAD ALREADY SUNK THE $ INTO THE 1967 AMBASSADOR AND REBEL. AMC IS ONE OF THOSE “WHAT IF THEY’D ONLY…” COMPANIES. AT LEAST OUR FAMILY GOT A GOOD MIDDLE CLASS LIVING FROM MY DAD WORKING AT THE AMERICAN MOTORS ( CANADA ) LIMITED PLANT IN BRAMPTON, ONTARIO. ( NOT THE ONE STELLANTIS HAS NOW, BUT THE ONE THAT USED TO BE AT 350 KENNEDY ROAD SOUTH, IN BRAMPTON. DEMOLISHED 20+ YEARS AGO AFTER A STINT AS A WALMART CANDA DISTRIBUTION CENTRE
My cousin had a ‘73 Gremlin X with a 401 in it. Flat haul ass.
I had two Gremlins. A ’73 with a straight six and, a 72 Gremlin X. with the 304 V8. I loved them and wish I still had either one. They both served me well. After ’73 they started to evolve into looking more like the eventual Eagle with a squared off bumper and front end. Say what you will but, to me they were badass cars. With a full frame to boot!
I had a ’71 and a ’73 Gremlin. Loved them both, though not so good in MN snows. Courted my wife of 47 years in the ’73. Good memories!!
Over the years I have come to see that there should never have been an oil embargo. We didn’t need to buy oil from OPEC. All we needed to do was drill. Look at what our choices where. Pinto, Vega, Gremlin,ect. I forgot the Japanese cars. We allowed them to take over our car market. This is when it started.
I ordered my 1975 Gremlin X in October 74.. it was delivered April 75
Black w/Gold stripes.. 304 cu. In. three speed which I immediately changed to a Borg Warner Supper T-10 4 speed
W/a Hurst V-Gate shifter. In fact after I drove it for a week the engine and drivetrain came out!!!
1975 Gremlin X
110 mph 12.8 sec.
Holly track record holder
304 cu. in. Crain lifters & rockers
Borg Warner Supper T-10 4 speed
Hurst V-Gate shifter
5:11 posi with line lock
Plus much more!!
Holly Track Record Holder 110mph 12.8 seconds
My Gremlin was a 1974 model and runs like my 1988 jeep wrangler in modern days.
I had four (4) of these. When one died, ,I bought another, and stripped and saved parts.Sheet metal,mechanicals, etc. Drove them for 20 years. The last one had 225k on it. Drove Concords then, Drove an ’81 till 2001,put her to rest at 250k.
I bought a factory offical 71 AMX from Eastside American Motors silver black T stripe 401 go pack great car. Every one in Detroit asked why. I loved it you never saw another.