Simultaneously being a contender for the pinnacle of practicality while also being nearly 180° from the mainstream is no easy feat. I’ll argue here we have one example that may lay claim to that title. This 1980 AMC Pacer Wagon was sent in by Barn Finds reader, Jim J., who found it here on craigslist in Ormond Beach, Florida. The selling dealer is asking $10,500.
The Pacers fell into 2 unofficially separate generations – “early model” and “late model.” The early models (1975-1977) had a horizontally straight grille, while the late models (1978-1980) had a hump in the center of the grille that extended to the hood, mirroring that of the headlights. Perhaps surprising to just me, the wagon variant of the AMC Pacer outsold its non-wagon counterpart each of the 4 years both were offered. The final model year, 1980, was one of scant production, as only 1,746 Pacers rolled off the assembly line – 1,341 of those were wagons.
Claiming to have averaged less than 1k miles per year since new, you’d expect this Pacer to be in tip-top shape. I’d say it is. The lighter shade of blue paint is exactly the kind of color I’d expect to see on a car from 1980 and it shines bright here. I thought they were reserved for the “early models,” but the Magnum wheels are a welcomed sight on this otherwise plain-looking wagon. If you find the cargo space behind the backseat inadequate, there’s a roof rack on top.
I find it so interesting when I see original cars that you’d expect to see heavy use by family-types to show little more than driver seat wear. That’s the case here as the driver seat shows some stretching of the fabric or, perhaps, wear of the cushions, but the rest of the seating surfaces, cargo area, and carpet, while showing sun fade, look unused. Needless to say, the light blue cloth upholstery looks to be in great shape and all surfaces have survived the past 40 years admirably well.
It’s always nice to see under the hood of a vintage car, especially one with a claimed 36k original miles, but we’re not afforded that luxury here. The seller lists this as a 6-cylinder, so I’d assume it’s a 258 cubic-inch inline-six, but that’s merely speculation. The selling dealer tells us they have driven it, but no other detail is given.
I’m sure there aren’t many people lining up to buy a 1980 AMC Pacer wagon. If you are, however, this claimed original low-mileage example may be the one you’ve been waiting for, even at a five-figure price.
I knew I had seen this car previously, within the last 10 days. Turns out I was correct in that searching “Pacer” in my web browsing history, turned up this.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1980-AMC-Pacer-/224059705979?hash=item342affca7b%3Ag%3ACOcAAOSwiOpe9yHF&nma=true&si=UeJSTiG5GJ1rFCoG4%252FRAQll4020%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
The Pacer is a minor footnote in AMC history, significant as it was the last all-new passenger-car platform developed by AMC domestically. After an initial strong start, sales fell every year that followed. All new AMC passenger car designs that followed were based on Renault platforms adapted for the US market (Alliance and Encore).
And AMC needed the production line capacity in Kenosha to build all-wheel-drive Eagles, the ahead-of-its-time precursor to the modern CUV.
Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be first-to-market..
AMC was an interesting place especially from 1970 onward. From Gremlin to Hornet, to Matador to the Pacer they had a lock on the odd but sensible car market.
The 258 was the only engine used in the 1980 Pacer. The wheels on this car are shown in the 1980 AMC brochure as “spoke-styled wheels.”
I have never seen “Willie Wonka” but I can picture this car being driven by him.
I had a ’78 wagon with 232 and 4 speed stick. One of my most favorite cars ever.It was a brighter blue than this and had Keystone Classics all the way around. A lot of room in the back for camping gear and got 30 mpg on the highway. No a/c and I went camping in Florida in August. Great car though.
That s a pretty blue car. Too bad it does not have the matching passenger side exterior rear view mirror. $10,500.00 is a lite steep for me.
One could argue that this was the first, or one of the first, cross-over SUVs.
Good looking car, I think, but kind of pricey.
Oh boy that is a real beauty? NOT!!!
yup, wagon only 1 to have. Would U want a CJ or a Scrambler? Same. F*^K the garth reference. I’d take it, back seat would never B up, some one on my right – 2 X a yr., may be…
B-I-L hada smack his up (in the 70s)…oh well…
I’d also try’n get the denium or SoWest influenced uhplosrty in it. B a kick…
Surprised ths is not ‘a Scotty write-up’ (small, quirky). Good on ya Johnny (not our 2nd from Oz R ye?)
IF I ever wanted a Pacer this would be the one. Love the color and wheels and especially the blue cloth interior.
The 304 V8 was also available in 1980. A friend in college had a gorgeous khaki colored coupe in Limited trim with the V8. Wonderful car!
When I see the cars AMC put out in the 70’s (Pacer, Hornet, Matador, Gremlin, Ambassador, javelin, etc), I can only surmise the death knell came when Renault bought the company and destroyed it.