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Hot Rod 1974 AMC Gremlin!

If you’re hanging out with a bunch of gearheads and mention the AMC Gremlin, the typical reaction will be laughter. Because of their strange name and looks, these cars were unfairly maligned from the get-go. They weren’t bad cars and AMC sold nearly 700,000 of them across eight years, making it one of their most successful products. This 1974 Gremlin would shock those same gearheads when you popped the hood because there is a six-pack 350 V-8 stuffed in there! This Gremlin has been in the same family for more than 25 years and can be found in Lincoln, California (near Sacramento). It’s being offered here on craigslist for $9,800. Thanks for another great tip, “eagle eye” Ikey Heyman!

So, what’s a Gremlin you may ask? Many people would say it’s a chopped off Hornet, but that would be shortchanging the car. AMC took a shortened Hornet platform and modified the back half of the car giving it a pronounced kammback tail, creating an economy car that would compete with the Chevy Vega and Ford Pinto, as well as the imports. The Gremlin would provide a temporary boost to AMC in 1974 after the OPEC oil embargo as sales increased by more than 50 percent from 1973, with most of them being equipped with an inline six-cylinder, although some folks opted for the 304 V-8.

At first glance, the seller’s car looks like an ordinary Gremlin with a crappy paint job. But you’d be wrong once you found out what was sitting under the bonnet. While the car has said to have been in the same family since long before Y2K, someone had the idea of souping it up in a big way. Rather than grabbing a crate AMC 360, a 350 Chevrolet engine was the mechanic’s choice. And not just any 350. This one has been balanced with 2.02 heads, roller rockers, an Edelbrock cam, and MSD distributor and box. The exhaust system is a Corvette derivative for maximum outflow and, to keep things cool, there is a BE-COOL crossflow radiator. To shift the gears, a Saginaw 4-speed was employed.

We’ve already said it doesn’t look like much, but what’s there is mostly solid. The seller tells us the floor pans are rust-free, but some has gotten into the A-pillars. You could fancy it up with some new paint or wheels, but then people would become suspicious as to what you really had. But, if new paint is a must, pick something tame that blends in with the crowd. The car has worked just fine the way it is for the seller, having driven it from California to Florida and back. Since the mechanical transition took place, about 12,000 miles have been added, but we don’t know the total miles on the car.

If this were an ordinary Gremlin in an ordinary condition, most buyers would likely scoff at anything past $5,000 for one of these. But the decision to hop it up makes it no longer an ordinary Gremlin. The seller has quite a bit of coin tied up in the engine compartment, but can he recover that cost in the sale? I guess it depends how badly someone wants a quirky little car that can kick some ass in the quarter-mile.

Comments

  1. Avatar Classic Steel

    Well someone evidently got this gremlin Mogwai wet, it looks wicked if your a AMC fan ….myself i love Javelins with 401’s..😉

    Like 5
  2. Avatar Engident

    With those stock rear wheels, the only ass it will be kicking is its own, and the buyer’s. Something about this reminds me of that urban legend about the guy who supposedly strapped a JATO unit to his Impala.

    Like 1
    • Avatar J

      As a driver and racer of a 1974 gremlinx 401 v-8. I can tell you we ran 315s on rear and could pick the front end off the ground. Band m wuicksilver and torker maigold holley etc it really would wheelie .. and did. We put 4 in the car and kicked the strip king green 68 Camaro off the northern lights Blvd from embarassment !!
      82-83 Anchrage Alaska !
      👍😎

      -had his GF w him and we ate his lunch!!

      Like 4
  3. Avatar That AMC Guy

    With the Gremlin’s extreme forward weight bias it can be tough enough to keep the rear wheels planted with a stock six or 304 V8. I have to imagine that slamming the loud pedal on this car would be an interesting experience to say the least.

    Like 4
  4. Avatar jimmyx

    There is no bonnet on an American made vehicle.

    Like 7
  5. Avatar Arby

    Why not change the name of this site to “Gremlin finds”?

    Who cares???

    Like 1
    • Avatar Robert Davis

      my not find a different site then if you dont like this one ? Oh thats right WHO CARES !

      Like 18
  6. Avatar Bob Roller

    Back in the day,I entertained the idea of a Gremlin with a Lincoln 460 and the C6 transmission.This one would be a fun car if it still runs well.

    Like 3
  7. Avatar ccrvtt

    These were not necessarily secretaries’ cars. Young guys coming into car-payment eligibility age in the early ’70s could get one of these with a 304 and a 4-speed and do 9 second 0-60s and 16.8 quarter miles.

    Faster than a 307 Camaro with a powerglide.

    And with no weight in the back you could lay a patch for a whole block. Maybe two.

    I saw one a few years ago with L60s in the back and a light bar with 4 6″ KC Hiliters on top. Totally Bada$$.

    Like 5
    • Avatar 69satellite Member

      In case you’ve never seen it there’s a 1970 (same year he made M*A*S*H) Robert Altman movie called Brewster McCloud that’s just as quirky as the Gremlin. Its worth watching just for the cars
      https://youtu.be/vBlV-Nt_3js

      Like 0
  8. Avatar qmmq

    A friend of my older brother had one, this was in the late 80s, have no idea year of car. But, it had a V8 of some sort. Had no problem running with Mustangs and Camaros that were 10 years newer.
    BTW, my brother’s Grand Fury (auctioned police car) regularly smoked his friends cars.

    Like 0
  9. Avatar Jcs

    Just curious, Russ….

    Why no mention of the 3 deuces in the engine description?

    Seems to be a fun little Gremlin.

    .

    Like 1
    • Avatar Jcs

      My apologies. I did just notice the mention of the six-pack in the first paragraph.

      Doh!

      Like 1
  10. Avatar shanahan

    With proper suspension, brakes, and tires this thing would be a blast at the local car shows.

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Stangalang

    If that 350 is anywhere near its performance potential then this is one heckuva car to hoon. Traction is definitely an afterthought lol..I’d be worried about frame twist unless its been strengthened and braced. I would definitely love to drop the pedal on this baby

    Like 4
  12. Avatar JoeNYWF64

    Not sure why the mirror is not on the door.

    Like 0
  13. Avatar Hollywood Collier

    Thumbs up to Robert Davis

    Like 0
  14. Avatar ramblergarage

    Gremlin was the best selling AMC model of all time.

    Like 1
  15. Avatar Johnmloghry

    I had a 74 Gremlin X 258 3speed on the floor. Decent enough transportation vehicle. Put a lot of miles on it driving through 9 western and southern states.
    God bless America

    Like 3
  16. Avatar Phlathead Phil

    IMHO, AmerMoCorp Blew a gasket when they FORGOT to make the little Gremlin a bone rattling overhead cam engine with the “Ragtop” Edition. I don’t know if they EVER thought of such a thing? It’s very obvious there was no way a ‘vert was possible with those high quarters.

    Well, maybe that’s why they failed. No vision for a truly great company.

    It seems it was a “Jello” company that never set well.

    And that’s history folks!

    Like 0
  17. Avatar Mitchell Ross Member

    So if was AMC powered it would be worth $5000, i guess one would subtract $3000 for the Chevy engine so $2000 is what it’s worth

    Like 0
  18. Avatar PJH

    Cool!
    Always admired these quirky little cars.
    Like the conversion in the power dept.
    But: It’s not a Gremlin without “The Gremlin” on the back!
    What happened to the Gremlin??

    Like 0
  19. Avatar Butch

    My 73 Gremlin with a Aluminum head 327 SBC, Hughes 200r4 and Fox body Mustang Trac-lock re & pwr steering disc brakes & AC is a blast! AMC purists hate it! More power to them, but it’s my car, not theirs, so they can kiss my grits.

    Like 0

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