36K-Mile Rust-Free 1976 AMC Matador Brougham

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It’s almost always cheaper to buy the nicest, most rust-free example of any vehicle that you can find, rather than restoring it yourself. TV reality shows would have you believe that it’s quick and easy to restore a vehicle, but as many of you know from experience, it’s not. This 1976 AMC Matador Brougham is listed here on eBay in Norwalk, Ohio and the current bid price is $8,900, but the reserve isn’t met. Thanks to T.J. for sending in this tip!

This car appears to be in amazing condition. We don’t see any underside photos but the seller says that it’s as solid as the day it was built and I believe it. This car reportedly has just under 36,000 miles on it, the seller is the third owner, and he has had it for a decade. Oh yeah, and they say it’s rust-free, the two best words in all of autodom, in my opinion. We recently saw a Thunderbird with the famous/infamous “Bunkie Beak” and there were a few comments about whether that was the best design or not. How about this one?

AMC offered the Matador from 1970 for the 1971 model year until the end of 1978, the perfect era for a car with Brougham in the name. I’m trying my hardest to not look up what men’s fashions were in 1976, but many of you remember it well. Feel free to share photos of your ride in 1976 – or one of yourself. The second-generation Matador was made from 1974 through 1978, coinciding with the Matador Coupe. There was a two-door sedan, a two-door coupe, a four-door sedan, and a four-door wagon available.

This car truly looks almost perfect. I don’t see any rust on it in any of the (VERTICAL?!) photos, it just looks outstanding any way you look at it. The seller bought it from someone who intended to make an Adam-12 tribute police car out of it and as much as I’m an Adam-12 superfan, I’m glad that never happened. The interior looks basically like new, the seats are perfect but we don’t see a full photo of the back seat. I have to assume that it’s at least as nice as the front seats are. As expected, the trunk also looks great.

This isn’t the standard 258 six, but the top displacement for the year, an AMC 360-cu.in. OHV V8, which with a two-barrel carb would have had 140 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. A four-barrel, dual-exhaust version was optional with 180-hp. This engine sends power through a column-shifted three-speed Torque-Command automatic transmission to the rear wheels and the seller says it’s been gone through extensively and can be driven anywhere in comfort with cold AC. This has to be the nicest one left, what do you think about this ’76 Matador sedan?

Comments

  1. Butch Smith

    Yeah, I’m not a fan of the “Jimmy Durante” nose of last Matadors. But where else are you going to see another one!

    Like 13
    • Frank

      On the 71 Mercury Montego, a gigantic snout.

      Like 4
    • RICK W

      Wonder how many replies even know Jimmy? Or they just talking about the car? 🤔 Well, Goodnight Mrs Calabash, WHEREVER you are! 🎩

      Like 11
      • luckless pedestrian

        Or more unlikely knows who “Mrs Calabsh” is…

        Like 2
      • Richard

        You’re rright, many younger people wouldn’t know who Jimmy was. That’s sad.

        Like 2
      • RICK W

        Inka ,Dinka,Dink,! Ka Dinka Do!

        Like 0
  2. Jason

    I had a 75 AMC Matador Brougham I loved that ugly car, rode nice, drove well, and took quite the teenager beating and kept on running. I wish I would have kept it.

    Like 0
  3. Owen F

    I love the lesser known, somewhat undesirable oddballs. Would love to own this but I almost feel like it’d be too much responsibility keeping this car in good shape… it could easily be the best surviving example of a ’76 Matador out there and I’d want it perfect!

    Like 1
  4. Jay Martell

    It’s a time capsule.Well preserved although not worth a ton of cash.

    Like 16
    • Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

      I think you’re right, Jay. Just imagine what a Javelin or even a Pacer wagon would be worth in this same condition! This car would sure draw a crowd at any car show.

      Like 16
  5. DW

    Never could get past how ugly these cars were with that big snout of a front.

    Like 10
  6. That AMC guy

    Ah, yes that snout! It’s so ridiculous that the only reason I can think of that AMC would have spent the money to tool it up would be to meet frontal crash standards. (I have no idea if that’s the case but it would make sense.)

    The final year 1974 Ambassador had a much smaller snout that actually didn’t look bad. However that car already had a longer front clip due to its longer wheelbase, all of which was ahead of the cowl. So it would not have required as long a proboscis in that scenario.

    Like 7
  7. Cam W.

    It’s often said that car collectors appreciate the cars they wished for when they were young. No young people ever wanted one of these……..

    Like 15
    • David E

      Believe it or not, I did. I especially loved AMC because they were an underdog and helped add competition to hopefully push the other American manufacturers to work harder (unfortunately, it was the Japanese that forced them kicking and screaming to improve).
      I finally talked my dad (who did not like AMC) into taking me to Central AMC/Jeep here in Nashville in 1978. I liked the Matador sedan (especially the Barcelona II) as well as the first ever Concord and Jeep trucks. I even remember the name of the awesome salesman who showed me around (Mac McKoin).
      I eventually owned a ’69 Javelin during my single years.

      Like 2
      • John H.

        You should have stayed single then… 😖 imagine you styling around in a 69 Jav today. 😁

        Like 0
    • Midway

      I remember the AMC dealer that opened in 1969 in our town, should have worked 3 jobs and ordered the Machine with all the works, then undercoat and drive summer months only. Wish in one hand

      Like 6
    • Ken

      I did!

      Like 0
    • Neil R Norris

      That’s a whole bucket of classic ugly.

      Like 1
  8. Nelson C

    Scotty, you never cease to bring the most unique vehicles to these pages. These always looked like a mastodon to me. Ugly then and ugly now but just like every dog it still deserves a loving home.

    Like 8
  9. Zen

    I always thought these were the ugliest of big cars, but I kinda like this one. It’s in beautiful shape, the only lux option missing is electric windows. I’m sure it’s fun to drive, a 4 bbl and dual exhaust would wake it up a bit, but then it wouldn’t be original. If the owner is reasonable, it should find a good home.

    Like 6
    • William

      AMC didn’t offer power windows until 79 or 80 or so so this is probably pretty much loaded.

      Like 0
      • C DICKINSON

        incorrect. AMC had PW optional as far back as the 50s, but they were never common, even on Ambassadors. Check the sales literature if U doubt it.

        Like 2
  10. ClassicP

    Nice ultra conservative car

    Like 4
    • Robert

      Old man gold to boot. We had a few of these in our company fleet back in the day. I remembert they were poor handling and I almost rolled one when the pavement turned to gravel. It may have been the tires. The ones we had were bare bones strippos. The Torinos weren’t much better in base dress.

      Like 0
  11. angliagt angliagtMember

    There was a lady who drove one of these in our town.
    It was Green,& it’s the only one I remember seeing there.

    Like 2
  12. Rex Kahrs Rex KahrsMember

    I love it. The gold is great. I graduated high school in 1976, I remember these. As 1976 car designs go, this one is actually pretty svelte.

    Like 9
  13. Richard

    I always liked these. You wouldn’t find a nicer example of the last big AMC sedan. The “Beak” gives it a certain kind of charm.
    This car is the last of a long line of Nash/Hudson and AMC vehicles. I hope that the new owner preserves it as it deserves to be.

    Like 13
  14. Darren Stafford

    Fortunately,the creators of Adam-12 never used this version of the Matador. I always thought it was ugly, just like the “Bunkie Beak” on the Thunderbird.

    Like 3
    • That AMC guy

      Actually on at least one Adam-12 episode I remember seeing one of these. I think it was a backup support station wagon though, not a patrol car.

      Like 1
  15. Sean Howard

    The high bidder has a over bid on this; he wants it really bad. The seller needs to take the money and run.

    Like 4
  16. RICK W

    Always had a soft spot for AMBASSADOR, but when it was dropped The Matador became the flagship. Not sure if last AMBASSADOR shared this ugly front end. BUT recall a commercial. Matador is Magnificent! To each his own! But AMC really tried to make a silk purse from…….?

    Like 3
    • William

      The one year only 74 Ambassador had a similar front with dual small headlights and a good looking, much less dramatic but similar nose.

      Like 1
    • That AMC guy

      Last year for the Ambassador was 1974, the year the snout was introduced on the big AMC cars. That treatment on the Ambo was much more moderate and it had 4 headlights. Not nearly as bad looking as the Matador.

      Like 0
  17. JACKinNWPA JACKinNWPAMember

    Beautiful? perhaps not but a handsome and even manly family sedan.

    Like 5
    • RICK W

      That’s a new one for me! A MANLY sedan? Guess it’s not too far off. Years ago a guy at my gym parked the family VAN a block away when he drove it to the gym instead of his Pickup! 😃

      Like 3
  18. TorinoSCJ69

    This truly is in beautiful shape!
    And that large numbered, EZ to read instrument panel!

    That paint, body & interior are like new – but bids are low on this beauty.
    Underhood looks it’s age but the 360 is a welcome sight.

    Really like this gem.

    Like 10
  19. EJ

    The seats look like the ones in the 1977 AMC brochure.

    Like 4
  20. Howard A Howard AMember

    Ugly? Here we go again, if a Ford or a GM, that had “beaks” of their own, what beautiful cars( T-bird, GP, Mercury) but on an AMC, nooooo, well to that I say, um, better not. To be clear, Adam-12 used ’72 and ’73 Matadors until the end of the show in 1975, even though, L.A. went back to Plymouths. These were just the best cars. All the best parts, ironically some FROM the competition. TorqueFlite trans, that GM P/S, York A/C, Bendix brakes, Motorola electrics, their own stout motors, all in a convenient package, the Matador. What’s not to like? Proof positive, when it comes to cars, some should look beyond what their old man said. Lord knows I have.

    Like 2
  21. Big C

    Here’s the car your spinster Aunt Ethel showed up in, at family get togethers. I think AMC purposely sought out the lower tier of auto body designers. Didn’t have to pay them the big bucks.

    Like 6
    • Nelson C

      Maybe just passing crash standards was enough. Heaven knows that mfgs with more resources couldn’t make a bumper anyone liked either.

      Like 3
    • luckless pedestrian

      Dick Teague… seriously?…

      Like 6
      • Big C

        The AMC Marlin. Seriously?

        Like 1
  22. JLHudson

    Disc brakes, A/C & cruise control. all loaded up by paw-paw! i wonder if it has the square vacuum gauge too.

    Like 1
  23. luckless pedestrian

    Always wondered what was going on in the final styling committee meeting that gave the OK for that nose….

    Like 1
  24. George Kushner

    My late father bought one of the Matadors as a company car for his business. The best I can say about it is that it would get you from point A to point B, reliably and pretty much un-noticed.
    It was your basic econo-box. Ok mileage, for the time, and not one to worry about being stolen or the salesman using/abusing to impress the ladies or friends.

    Like 2
  25. Doug

    I worked for an AMC dealer as a lot boy in 77 after high school and everyone I ever saw come into the shop had a 6 cylinder and was used to pull a trailer. Must have been some engine

    Like 7
    • Richard

      The 258 six was one tough engine. Many Jeeps had them, too.

      Like 7
  26. Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

    Auction update: this one sold for $10,000.

    Like 1
  27. MRF

    By 1976 the Matador sedan was getting a bit long in the tooth since it was around since 1971, technically 1967 since it was originally the Rebel and all new 74 coupe “what is it?” “It’s a Matador” for all of its odd quirky charm was just more modern. AMC actually had plans on the drawing board in Kenosha to replace it with a four door version of the new coupe. After their last model year in 1978 they wisely dropped the Matador, getting out of intermediate sized cars and focused on the new Concord, Spirit and groundbreaking Eagle.

    Like 1
  28. Mark

    My high school girlfriend’s parents had a burgundy 78 Matador 4 door. She was 1 year older than me, so she had her drivers license before I did. We’d ride around in that car, she even let me drive it on a country back road. It didn’t have enough power to even do a one wheel peel. She’s now my wife, it’s been a marvelous 40 years together with her. I showed her this listing, she laughed and said Ewww, no!

    Like 2
  29. Scotty GilbertsonAuthor

    Auction update part II: as often happens on eBay, the high bidder at $10,000 must have been a scam so the seller had to relist it and it now says sold at $9,500. #$% scammers.

    Like 1

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