Even under the best circumstances, your early teen years are challenging enough, but being dropped off at school in an AMC Gremlin and then learning to drive on it wasn’t exactly a self-esteem booster for me back then. However, the Gremlin is one of those quirky cars that’s far more appreciated now than it was in the seventies, and owning two as a package deal could be a great opportunity for the right AMC enthusiast. This pair features a 1974 and a 1977 model, and if the seller is correct, both are special editions. They are located in Penryn, California, and listed here on Facebook Marketplace, where the seller has set a firm price of $15,000 for both.
The main car is the orange 1974 Gremlin, which the seller says is an X model, although I thought the X appearance package included upgraded wheels. I suppose these could have been swapped for hubcaps in the past, and thankfully, it seems straight and structurally solid on the outside. This one is reported to have sat for about 12 years and was purchased by the seller after its previous owner passed away. Probably the best news is that there’s a factory V8 engine under the hood, which was not included in the X package, so it’s got some very good options. Even after hibernating for over a decade, the 304 reportedly started right up with no smoke after a new carb was installed, but this photo is as close as we can get to seeing it.
Only certain areas of the interior are shown, but it’s fun to find the orange-and-black buckets up front, which will need to be recovered. The condition of the dashboard and instruments remains a mystery, but hopefully, they’re at least satisfactory enough for a driver. After the seller acquired the orange car, they were given another Gremlin for parts, but here is where I beg to differ. The alleged parts car is a one-year-only 1977 California Edition, known as the Sundowner, and it features exterior accents like contrasting paint on its hood and sides. I’d consider getting both back on the road, but the buyer will have to decide the fate of the Gremlin Sundowner.
Unfortunately, no specific details are shared about the 1977 model, including whether or not it still runs. We also don’t get to see its right side either, but with the AMC Gremlin now considered somewhat collectible, I’d almost hate to see this one be torn apart. The ’74 is undoubtedly worth restoring, since it appears to have good bones and a factory V8, so this seems like a decent package deal. Is fifteen grand a reasonable price to consider spending for the pair?
Sorry to hear about the self esteem thing, in Milwaukee it would be an honor. Many of the kids parents worked at AMC. In fact, our Dr.Ed. cars in HS were all AMC cars. The Javelin went fast, but a Gremlin was the 2nd choice. Smart guys knew girls liked the Gremlin. Late arrivals got the Ambassador. The Gremlin wasn’t exactly sought after, but most were given as graduation presents or contest winners. For many, it was their 1st car, and served them well. Not mentioned, the Gremlin has the distinction of being the 1st US “economy” car of the 70s, introduced on April Fools Day, 1970, beating the Pinto by 4 months. It was also the cheapest car in America, at $1847, it beat the then cheapest car, the VW Bug by almost $100. Was our moment in the sun, but didn’t last long. Imports were hot on our heels, and Gremlin fell to the side, but not until 671,475 Gremlins were sold new, AMCs 2nd best to the Hornet. The Gremlin was a great car, good heater, good mileage, always started, I never heard anyone complain, until they fell through the floor, that is. Wonderful find.
Waiting for the BarnFinds History Book (leather bound edition) to be published. Here in Oregon territory it seemed like the Gremlin was a joke but fact has it, through testimonials like yours Howard, the Gremlin was a real life winner. Have learned much, and my memory has been refreshed, multiple times by what shows up here in Barnfinds. Thanks all and please keep the real facts about our 4-wheel friends alive. By the way, maybe I would drive a Gremlin now that I’ve “seen the light”.
Every ‘74 gremlin I’ve seen had 5mph bumpers, some type of Federal law thing they were doing back then.
Plus the rear bumper is ‘Frenched’ into the rear valance.
I’d guess it’s a ‘73.
I really would like to see the vin. I can’t really tell from the pictures, but it looks like it is missing the 5 mph bumpers that were a 74 requirement and the stripes don’t seem to be the 74 style- they resembled a hockey stick. Potential buyers- look at the vin- if a real 74x you should see an @a4 as the
first 2 numbers and an H for the 304 v8 later in the number, with the last 6 digits being the sequential production number.
I’m looking at mine and this one appears slightly different.
My 74 Gremlin X had the 258 inline 6 with 3 speed manual on the floor. It was a great little car that I put a lot of mikes on. I don’t see an X on the grill of this car and I’m sure all Gremlin X cars had the X in the grill. I think $15k is stretching a lot for these two cars. My estimate for both (both needing extensive repairs) would be not exceed $8k.
God Bless America