American automakers began entering the subcompact car market in 1970. Both Chevrolet and Ford had all-new cars for 1971, the Vega and the Pinto, respectively. Fledgling American Motors went a different route with the Gremlin, which was a chopped Hornet that made it the most interesting-looking of the bunch. But it came with an inline-6, so it was potentially peppier than the Chevy or Ford. The seller has a 1970 Gremlin that looks like a Levi edition, but it may be a tribute, as that option was not offered by AMC until 1973. Located in Palm Desert, California, this interesting runabout is available here on eBay for $12,000 OBO.
AMC found 671,000 buyers for the quirky Gremlin between 1970 and 1978. It was replaced by the Spirit in 1979, which was mostly the same car but with new sheet metal. AMC was always trying to boost sales by coming up with one gimmick or another, and the Levi Edition is an example. That included upholstery and other interior pieces with materials provided by the Levi’s blue jeans people. The car even wore the Levi logo on the front fenders.
We think we’ve seen this Gremlin before, but that was five years ago, and the car was in a different state. The odometer readings vary (78,000 then vs. 73,000 now), and both cars have white paint under the hood, indicating both listings reflect a car that had its color changed to yellow. And both listings say the car was in the movie “Blow” as a prop. The body stripes don’t quite match those in the AMC ads, suggesting they may have been added with the repaint, and the older Levi materials inside are admitted retrofits per the seller.
This interesting set of wheels is being sold by the brother of the owner, who has moved overseas and left the Gremlin behind. We’re told it runs great with a 232 cubic inch inline-6 and an automatic transmission. Some recent work was done, including replacing a variety of gaskets, the radiator, and a rebuild of the carburetor, along with some tinkering on the brakes. The body and paint have held up, though perhaps not at an award-winning level. Air conditioning vents have been added under the dash (the unit needs attention). And a few of the gauges don’t work. What we have here is Gremlin Déjà vu!
I like the little car. Seems like it make a good driver and get a lot of attention. The price seems a little high for a driver quality. But AMC‘s are hard to find.
Price seems very high for a Gremlin. As noted in the text this if this is a 1970 model it is not a factory Levis Gremlin. The interior would have been transplanted but looks a bit worn. (Maybe not out of character for Levis.) Outside looks great but also as noted the stripes are not factory correct.
It’s pretty well equipped as these go. As I recall for 1970 electric windshield wipers were an option as was the back seat and opening rear window. Aftermarket AC has been added with a more modern compressor than you would get from the factory.
Gauges not working could be due to a failed voltage regulator which is integral with (as I recall from my old Sportabout) the fuel gauge. This is a mechanical voltage regulator and when it failed on my Hornet killing the gauges, I installed a 5V solid state regulator wired into the fuel gauge. That fixed both the fuel and temperature gauges.
I like this. My folks had a very badly assembled 71 with 232, automatic, whitewalls, rubber flooring, red stripe, bumper guards and roof rack. $2600. And the dealer gave them a 13″ B&W TV as part of a sales promotion.
In 71, AMC dropped the second strut for the rear glass, to keep costs down I suspect.
That yellow [and shade] was not available in 1970 as well as the Levis option. The stripe was above the line pressed into the sheet metal.
It’s complete. Needs some sorting. What a great find.
Yes, the second strut was dropped as a cost cutting measure but was brought back later because too many people experienced the back window breaking when a gust of wind slammed it shut.
The fabric materials did not come from Levis. Real cotton denim wears far too quickly for automotive interiors, and a special synthetic fabric that looked like denim but was more durable was used.
And by the time my 79 CJ came out they had the look, but no Levi logo, cost cutting I assume
Neat car, bet it was fairly quick with the pre choked 6. Probably could outrun many malaise V8’s.
cool car. love the little gremlin dude. SOLD!
The rear end disappears in shame at the rear window.
Drove a ’71 to around110,000, 232 cu. in. stick. Wrecked it once replacing the dog house. Sold it to a guy who totaled it in a head-on on the crest of a hill in Southern Indiana with his three kids in the back seat. No one was hurt. It was a great little car!
Perhaps the AMC 6-L was too heavy for the Gremlin.
A version was offered for a while with a 4 cylinder, 2 litres Audi engine, but it are not easy to find.
The Audi/Porsche 4-cylinder engine was offered late in the Gremlin’s production run, I think 1977. Few were sold likely because it cost more than sticking with the default 6 cylinder engine and of course was slower. (That 4-cylinder engine was also offered in the Concord. Saw one like that in a junkyard years ago. Must have been incredibly slow.)
My ’77 college beater Gremlin had the Audi 4… with the 4 speed manual. It definitely wasn’t quick, but not all that different from most economy cars of the day in real world driving… certainly went further on a gallon of gas than those with the 6, and that was the point… Besides, and trust me on this, with that chassis, one didn’t want it to be quick.
There was a 401 Gremlin XR special from a dealer. Only 21 made. The 401 was the same size block as the 305 so it was an easy mod. It could run 12’s with performance parts from the same dealer, 13’s stock.
I believe that dealer was Randall Motors,in Arizona.
The built some really cool/interesting vehicles.
304 engine
My ex had the 73 Levi’s with a straight 6. It had a three speed stick with a push button overdrive, which didn’t work.
She owned it in 82-83 when we first met in college, and the Levi’s upholstery was already worn and torn. It was not fast, but fun to drive.
It was a much better car than Mother’s 71 Vega, which was a rolling pile of garbage.
My ex had the 73 Levi’s with a straight 6. It had a three speed stick with a push button overdrive, which didn’t work.
She owned it in 82-83 when we first met in college, and the Levi’s upholstery was already worn and torn. It was not fast, but fun to drive.
It was a much better car than Mother’s 71 Vega, which was a rolling pile of garbage.
The Levi’s interior was really cool, HOWEVER!; As a little kid I hopped in one wearing my swim trunks after a summer day at the springs and the back of my bare thigh hit one of those rivets that had been baking in the sun all day.
Yeee-OUCH!!!
I didn’t think it was so great after that.
A real levi edition in great shape with a good interior might be worth the asking.
My second 1800 Volvo had these seats in it and still may be in the upstairs of the garage from back in 1991. Fortunately the originals came with the 1800 too.
My very first car was a Gremlin… as a starving college student… it was the right car at the right time for me… dependable and cheap to maintain… will always appreciate it. $12k for this… ridiculous…
I remember these cars well and not in a good way. For the $12K ask I would add a little more and get that ’80 Corvette which was also featured on BF today, and which I can say with certainty I would enjoy MUCH more.
The odd thing about the Gremlin was that the passenger door was bigger than the driver’s door zz
That was the Pacer.
I don’t think the Gremlin had the unequal doors
You’re thinking about the Pacer
My first car was a ’73 Gremlin, white with the trademark dark blue stripe, and a light blue cloth-type interior. My dad added an “AhhOogah” style horn for me. Wish I had kept it when I got married. This one is cool and creates fond memories of a fun ride!
Nice car, but at that price those jeans on the doors better have come from a certain Ms. Sweeney.