There’s an old adage in real estate that says that you are better to buy the worst house in the best street rather than the best house in the worst street if you have limited funds. There are motoring enthusiasts out there who will subscribe to the same theory about classic cars, but I’m not 100% convinced that it’s always right. Take the AMC Pacer as an example. It spent years as the butt of more jokes than I care to remember, but it has now developed something of a following. A desirable muscle car will command a premium price, regardless of its condition. That makes it potentially the automotive equivalent of the worst house on the best street. A pristine Pacer won’t sell for anywhere near the same price, so I guess that makes it the best house on the worst street. However, both will attract the same amount of attention at a car show or a Cars & Coffee. So who has gotten the best value for their money in this case? If you do feel something for the quirky little AMC, would you be interested if you had the chance to buy one with less than 2,000 genuine miles on the clock? That is what is on offer here. That odometer hasn’t rolled over, and it is showing 1,884 genuine miles. The Pacer is now set to go to auction, meaning that someone has the chance to secure what is almost certainly the lowest-mileage Pacer in existence today. It is located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and has been listed for sale here at Mecum Auctions. It is set to go under the hammer in mid-May, but you can jump onto the Mecum’s website and register for this auction now.
As a manufacturer, AMC deserved to not only survive but to become an automotive powerhouse. I readily admit that some of their offerings were slightly odd. Some of them missed their mark, but many of them had two characteristics that are worth noting. The first is that they grabbed the public’s attention. The second was that their cars tended to be bold and daring. The Pacer encapsulates those two values better than almost any car that they offered…although the Gremlin would have given it a run for its money! There were senior executives within AMC who gave the motoring public an inkling of what was coming before the covers had even come off, warning that the Pacer’s appearance was going to polarize potential buyers. The company marketed this radical design as “the first wide small car,” which referred to the fact that while it was as wide as many average family sedans, its length was only around the same as your average compact. The car’s defining characteristic was its glasshouse, which was enormous compared to almost anything on offer from other manufacturers. At 5,615 square inches, the glass surface was nearly 20% greater than what was on offer from its competition. On paper, it sounded like a winner. In reality, this groundbreaking car was not enough to save AMC from oblivion.
This Pacer is finished in Medium Blue, and it presents as well as you might expect from a car with less than 2,000 miles on the clock. The paint shines beautifully, with no evidence of flaws or defects. The panels are laser straight, and the gaps are tight for an AMC of this era. There is no evidence of rust, and when you look at the comprehensive collection of photos that the owner supplies, there isn’t even any surface corrosion to note. The wheels are free from stains and damage, while the tinted glass is flawless. That tinted glass is something of a blessing in a Pacer. The enormous surface area means that untinted glass can allow in higher levels of UV rays and heat. This can have a nasty impact on plastic and cloth trim, and it isn’t that pleasant for vehicle occupants on a blazing Summer’s day. Tinting was an optional extra, but in sunnier locations, it felt more like a necessity.
When you look at the mechanical configuration, you realize that the Pacer was a car born of compromise. It features a very short hood, and this was designed to cover a compact engine bay. AMC had planned on slotting a Wankel rotary engine into that space. These tiny motors can produce extraordinary power levels, but they can also drink fuel like there is no tomorrow, and reliability in the 1970s was questionable, at best. When their supply contract for rotaries from GM collapsed in 1974, AMC had little alternative but to engineer their own motors to fit into the engine bay. They eventually offered both six-cylinder and V8 versions, with this car featuring the 258ci six. It is backed by a 3-speed automatic transmission, while the original owner also ordered the car with power steering and power brakes. When it was first released, the AMC 258 was a reasonable performer. However, by 1980, it was being strangled by tightening emission regulations. This car would have 100hp at its disposal, which would be enough to allow the Pacer to cover the ¼ mile in a relatively leisurely 20.3 seconds. Top speed and fuel consumption figures were equally as poor. Give the Pacer enough space, and the speedometer needle would crawl past 100mph (just!). Drive it normally, and you will struggle to better 17mpg. That final figure proved to be a rude shock for any potential buyers in 1980 who were buying their Pacer intending to own an economical commuter. With only 1,884 miles on the clock, this Pacer should have plenty of life left in it. We receive no information on the car’s history, why the mileage is so low, or whether there is even documentation to verify the claim. We also don’t know how well the AMC runs or drives, and I find all of this to be highly frustrating. It is to be hoped that the auctioneer can furnish answers to these questions so that anyone considering bidding can make an informed decision.
If the mileage claim can be verified, then the Pacer’s interior condition is not surprising. I have been trying to pick faults with it, and I have struggled. I finally realized that the faux chrome around the gauge cluster is worn from where it has been wiped and cleaned over the past 41-years. The rest of the plastic is perfect, with no signs of wear or the sort of deterioration that can result from UV exposure. The blue cloth upholstery and headliner are spotless, as is the carpet. There is no wear on the wheel, while the dash and pad are perfect. The original owner ordered the Pacer equipped with air conditioning, power locks, and an AM/FM radio. All of these features remain in situ, and there have been no aftermarket additions.
Classic wagons and hatchbacks have one known Achille’s Heel, which is the trim in the cargo area. Groceries and other items can slide around, which scuffs and wear the carpet. If these unrestrained items collide with plastic trim, they can leave scratches, scrapes, and gouges. There are none of these problems in evidence here, which might go some way towards supporting the mileage claim. It is a long way from conclusive, but it’s a start.
The story of AMC can probably best be summed up by one of the lines in the introduction to the cult TV series, Star Trek: “To boldly go where no man has gone before.” That is what the company did, but their points of difference were not enough to save the company. The Pacer was in danger of fading into oblivion, but a starring role in movies like “Wayne’s World” undoubtedly breathed new life into it as a quirky collectible. Interestingly, this is not the only low-mileage Pacer that is on offer at this auction. There is also this 1980 Pacer DL Wagon that will be going under the hammer. If you would like a Pacer in your garage, you could hedge your bets by bidding on both of them. Who knows, but you could come out as a winner twice.
I have read several articles about AMC and the Pacer and it always amazed me how scrappy a small Automotive company like AMC was. They must have been really convinced the Wankel was a sure bet from GM. AMC was no stranger to relying on Ford and GM for some of other automotive components but the Wankel was definitely outside the box.
Of all the engine swaps I have seen in the AMC I have never seen anyone swap in a 13B from a Mazda. If I were to own a Pacer I might attempt to create AMC’s vision of the Pacer. I would use a power adder such as a turbo as the Pacer is not a light car and a NA Wankel would be a struggle with its lack of low end grunt.
Every body gap is absolutely horrible on this car! My gosh, the passenger door is in at the top right, and out on the bottom left. It didn’t leave the factory like that! Typical Mecum
Door hinge bushings are nylon on AMC’s small cars and those will deteriorate causing the doors to sag over the years (decades). It’s particularly bad on the Pacers due to the weight of the doors. On those that saw a lot of use once the hinges were metal-to-metal they could wear so badly doors could come completely loose from the car.
I’d love to stuff a 401 into an ugly Pacer. What a sleeper, nobody would expect a Pacer to blow their doors off.
AMC made a kit to install in worn door hinge pins. Pacer had a passenger side door that was 3-4 inches longer than driver’s door to allow easier access into the back seat. These were great cars that didn’t get the appreciation they deserved.
I hate to admit this but I drove one of these for a while and it was amazing. It was smooth, comfortable, the AC in it was incredible and it had enough power to get out of it’s own way. Underneath that odd exterior was a pretty damned good car.
Should be in a museum to be remembered for what not to produce.
they grabbed the public’s attention
-and the public immediately said “We do not want that”
I don’t understand how anyone would want the worlds ugliest car.
You mean a 2021 Ford F150? Me either.
Or the Fords with the C-shaped headlights that are on high beam all the time.
No offense to anyone intended, but to me, the new chevy/GMC pickups are amazingly ugly. Like they went out of their way…
Steve-it took Ford 10 more years to come out with the Taurus, which also utilized “fishbowl” design to allow more inside passenger room.
Wasn’t the pass door slightly longer than the driver’s door?
Yes, the idea being that it would be easier for passengers to get into the rear seat from the curb side, at the same time giving more clearance from oncoming traffic on the driver’s side. On the few that were sold in RHD versions overseas the body was not changed so this arrangement had the opposite effect.
The door Bushings on AMC were nylon and the Pacer doors would sag within a year .
Check the Speedo carefully as these were easy to ‘spin’🙁
No only did the Pacer not save AMC from oblivion, it could be argued that it drove the Company there. In hindsight, AMC’s scarce funds should probably have been spent on updating their obsolete core products. AMC spent a fortune (by their standards) on designing and tooling up the Pacer. It shared nothing but the already-existing drivetrain with other models so those costs had to be paid for by Pacer sales alone.
The first two years, 1975-1976, things looked good with brisk sales. Shortly thereafter the newness wore off and word of the Pacer’s very poor acceleration and gas mileage circulated. Sales in 1977 dropped by 50%, and continued to drop by even more each year. The ugly raised hood and grille on the later Pacers was an attempt to increase sales by making the car look more conventional and making room for a V8.
It didn’t work. By the 1980 model year the Pacer was dead model walking with only about 1700 sold. Production ceased in December of 1979. Sales probably didn’t even pay the tooling costs, let alone turn a profit. The Pacer was the last all-new platform developed by AMC as an independent company, there was no money left for new models. (Cue Renault…)
An in-house four-cylinder, a proper job of converting the Hornet -> Concord sedan to 6-window so it could be offered in that form without a vinyl top, a redesign for the Sportabout wagon so its’ hatch opened all the way to the load floor…
I always get more excited seeing one of these “throwaway” cars in mint condition than I do a Mustang or Camaro. Cars such as this are so rare, I only hope whoever gets it appreciates it!
Great write up on an amazing find. Who could ever forget this car once you have seen it zipping down the road. All that glass. Did you mean “greenhouse” not “glasshouse”?
“Party on Wayne.” “Party on Garth”.
In 1981 I spent some time in south Florida and my daily driver was a Pacer with a black vinyl interior, no air conditioning, no tinted glass and three on tree. I could feel myself cooking in that car by seven o’clock in the morning thanks to all that glass. A real runner though!
Just amazes me that this thing was not driven into the ground.Amc built some of the most unique cars and this and the Gremlin were at the top of strange. My guess is good drugs to smoke in the design studio.
“Give the Pacer enough space, and the speedometer needle would crawl past 100mph (just!).”
Quite a trick with an 85 mph speedometer!
If we are casting votes for UGLY cars make sure you include the Pontiac Aztek from model years 2001 /2005!!!! It is a shame that you could not come up with the history of this amazing piece. Would like to know where it was sold, and why it has so few miles on it.?
I am glad we are not casting votes. Seems the people who own and maintain their Aztek do not think they are ugly. Quite the opposite.
I owned a Pacer Wagon, tricked out with a manual. My wife loved it and it was passed on to a nephew for his first ride when he was 16. Very few “risk takers” left in any facet of our country. Only, soulless, timid beancounters where greed is the ultimate goal. Too bad. We had quite a ride for a few years.
Sort of like preserving a turd.
Bob,
How do you really feel? Please give us a list of non-turd cars that you like.
Especially in the late 70s and early ’80s. Most of the cars were deadly ugly. The AMC cars were a breath of fresh air.
Had one. I bought it as a “winter beater” for $150 needing a clutch. I replaced the clutch, drove the wheels off, and grew to love it. I found the ride to be very comfortable and roomy. I later sold it to my Brother-in Law. He drove that car for EIGHT more years. They may look a bit weird, but I’d love to have another one. Fun car.
I bought a Pacer Wagon in 74, all tricked out with a manual. My wife loved it and it was passed on to a nephew for his first car. It was reliable, roomy, and fun to drive with the manual. We need more “risk takers” today, like AMC, as we are being buried by soulless, greedy beancounters. We did live in the golden age of rides. I wonder if that will ever occur again. Too bad.
Mark–Pacer introduced for 1975 Model year. Wagon introduced in 1977.
AMC Pacer aka Inverted Fish Bowl! Wonder why this car never was produced for a long time? One look and I figured out why.
If it were free with zero miles, I still wouldn’t want it.
Mark,
GoodForYou.
One of the things that made all of AMC cars so odd looking, was that huge gap between the car and the bumper. AMC never put any fillers in, like most “normal” cars. Throwback to the 1940s
The premise was to take a Cadillac and build a car around the interior. AMC intended to build an all new car the big three didn’t have.
There were many things going on on in the design of a Pacer. No they simply didn’t design a car to replicate a lemon. There were mandates that stated a vehicle had to have roll over protection. These were later dropped by GM crying about it. Just as they always have when the government starts telling them what to build. AMC was too far in the process to turn back. So every Pacer has roll over protection. Side door beams standard and the passenger door is longer in order for passengers to enter and exit safely on the passenger side of the car. It was the last blank piece of paper design of a truly new car. In 1978 and 79 was offered with a V8 as an option.
NO the Pacer did not kill AMC. It was a combination of things related to and including market conditions. The Matador Coupe certainly played a part. The Concord and Spirit were new and for 1980 the Eagle was introduced. The first four wheel drive car. After Renault got involved AMC was never stronger as a company when Cryco came courting in 1986 wanting to buy the company.
Excellent. I certainly agree, they were ahead of their time with the concepts they developed.
Had a Chrysler Van about that year, doors fit like crap, tight in the middle and 3/4 gap top and bottom. Drove the Pacer, nice vehicle, myson had one, had to replace the pass. hinges twice, door was too heavy. Nice town car, park it anywhere…about
I would drive it
My kids liked them, called them “egg cars”. VW bug was a “punch buggy”, if you called it first you got to punch whatever kid was along in the bicep, motorcycles were “kickstands” and you got to kick them, and Pacers were “egg cars” and you got to knock them on top of the head. I liked them then, and I still like them now.
i think he Renault Fuego was the ugliest car ever. This car is in amazing shape and i bet the wagon and the hatchback are from same family. the wagon for the wide and the hatchback for the husband, he didnt drive in his much probably let the old lady drive him lol
really like these – if waggy.
This motor is great too. And like the cj – there’s just 1 model in both – stretched. The CJ-8 (scrambler) but they both have the 258.
AMC is an abonimation of what an American car should be. I am a GM kinda guy, I mean a Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac and Oldsmobile. Fords and Mopars are cool too! Be them family crusers, grocery getters or Great American Muscle! “Rice Burners” are not in my book.
We get it. You were one of those GM guys who feared AMC.
Nope. They were absolutely horrible. Supposed to be “big inside”, yet the rear seat was completely between the wheels, hence about a foot narrower than the exterior of the car. The straight six in ours ate its valve train at 30K miles. The bench front seat actually broke off and laid flat as I drove down the highway one day. Our Ontario winter rotted it to lace in 2 years. It was slow and guzzled gas. Other than that, a sweet ride.
These were a sensation when they came out. They were all over the news and sold very well until everyone that wanted one got one.
There was a certain charm to a Pacer before they revised the grill.
I thought the Pacer was a neat looking car back then, still do for that matter.
I h assd a 76 Pacer in 1980 I loved that car, my first car i wrecked it 6 months later I still to this day would own another one. Remember pacer backwards is,a recap.
It may have a bit on the awkward side when it comes to looks but at least they had a design and aren’t the cookie cutter copycat cars that GM and Ford built in the late 80’s/90’sand now into the 21st century what cars they still build they are “designed” to look like the EURO-TRASH cars since and are now ceasing to even bother as no one wanted them!!! Chrysler at least still puts out great looking cars with performance to boot which is also something the Blowtie and TURDs is missing!!!! Style is a lost concept to the larger automotive corporations!!!!
To: Tim Nelson: WELL SAID!!!!!