- Seller: David B (Contact)
- Location: Middletown, Connecticut
- Mileage: 73,000 Shown
- Chassis #: A8A167N316413
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 360 cui V8 2-BBL
- Transmission: 3-Speed Automatic
Some collector cars attract attention because everyone knows exactly what they are. Others are interesting precisely because nobody remembers the last time they saw one. This 1978 AMC Matador Barcelona Edition falls firmly into the second category. With its 360 cui V8, reclining velveteen seats, two-tone Sand Tan finish, padded landau roof, and unapologetically enormous proportions, it may be one of the most entertaining ways to arrive at a cruise night without parking beside three identical cars. Located in Middletown, Connecticut, this Matador shows 73,000 miles, carries a clean title, and is offered as a Barn Finds Classified for $10,500.
The current owner is a collector of “orphan” makes, with cars from marques including Nash, Kaiser, Packard, Studebaker, and DeLorean passing through the collection. He purchased this Matador roughly three or four years ago because he had never owned one of AMC’s big coupes and wanted to experience it. Now it is time for someone else to take a turn.
The Barcelona was the upscale Matador offering, and the interior may be the single best reason to want one. The seller describes its reclining Velveteen Crush seats as being about as large and comfortable as Grandma’s sofa. Special embroidered inserts, unique door panels, and a Barcelona-specific headliner helped distinguish these cars from lesser Matadors.
Equipment includes air conditioning, cruise control, plush carpeting, power steering, and power brakes with front discs and rear drums. Under the hood is AMC’s 360 cubic-inch two-barrel V8, backed by a three-speed automatic transmission and 2.87:1 gearing intended to make the big coupe a relaxed highway cruiser.
The Sand Tan exterior wears the model’s padded vinyl landau roof, contrasting paint, and striping. The seller notes evidence of paint touch-up, so this isn’t being represented as an untouched survivor. The photos nevertheless show a complete and very presentable example of a car that has nearly disappeared from everyday roads.
When the Matador entered the collection, it reportedly needed little mechanical work. The fluids were changed, a fuel filter was replaced, new tires were installed, and other safety-related items were checked. The 360 starts easily, idles smoothly, and produces what the seller describes as a pleasant low rumble. One known engine-related issue: a slight exhaust manifold gasket leak on the right side.
On the road, the seller compares the experience to a yacht leaving the dock. The Matador floats along while its driver looks across an expansive hood from what may be the closest thing AMC ever installed to a La-Z-Boy. Most of the electrical equipment works, including the horn, lights, turn signals, AM/FM radio, gauges, wipers, and blower fan. The air conditioning and cruise control are currently inoperative. The seller suspects the cruise issue may be vacuum-related, while the A/C will require attention.
The body and underside are described as rust-free apart from minor surface corrosion on suspension components. There is, however, an unusual rust hole through the right side of the rear bumper. The dashboard is uncracked but slightly warped after a previous owner installed a protective carpet cover over it.
This AMC doesn’t need to become a concours restoration to be enjoyable. Repair the exhaust leak, give the car a serious cleaning and polish, and it can be driven while the next owner gradually tackles the A/C, cruise control, and rear bumper. The Matador Barcelona may never command the attention of a Hemi ’Cuda or LS6 Chevelle, but that is also why it is interesting. At $10,500, it offers V8 power, outrageous 1970s luxury, and near-guaranteed exclusivity at the next local car show. If you want your classic to start conversations before you even open the hood, this big AMC may be the answer.
I would love to own this Matador Barcalounger. For many years there was a pristine burgundy/red example in my town that the owner cherished and kept it neat as a pin. I think I prefer this color combo over the red.
Buying an older car out of a road salt state would require a long look in the nooks and crannies for the hidden corrosion. Remember, kids- Rust never sleeps!
This car has only been in CT for a few years and never driven during the salt months during that time frame.
I have an additional 350 photos of the car, including about 70 of the underside, so you can see that it is rot free.
Feel free to reach out and I’ll get you the link.
I believe this is the Barcelona I owned in the early to mid 2000s. I bought the car in Indiana drove it to Central Illinois had it for a few years and then sold it to a man in Texas. It has the same over spray in the engine compartment as well as the same location for the rust bumper. If it is the one that I had the two Opera Windows have a crack in the lower corner with a bad repair job not done by myself.
It would be difficult to replicate that rust hole in the bumper. and there is a repaired crack in the landau top on the left rear window surround .. sounds like the same car.
The current owner got it out of South Carolina
Beautifull rare example. If the A/C compressor is not seized up it could be an easy fix for a good a/c shop of parts are still avail. What is that metal bar or something on the rear seat ???
That’s the trim for the right front fender
The folks at AMC who would have been responsible for paint/ trim/ upholstery at this time must have had a fun job. This Matador is pretty much over-the-top in these areas, which is what makes it interesting and unique today.
Pretty cool, though I prefer these with the original rear side windows rather than the opera window treatment. Coming from a state that experiences copious quantities of road salt in the winter you’d want to really go over this thing – that rust hole in the bumper didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
That 360 V8 will be pretty badly emissions-strangled but these days there are plenty of ways to wake up the engine to make decent power.
The air conditioning systems on AMC cars are very basic. Unless there’s a problem with the evaporator or expansion valve under the dash it should not be too difficult to fix. A good upgrade while at it would be to replace the York “paint shaker” two-cylinder compressor with a more efficient Sanden unit.
Unfortunately this is one of the cars (along with the Pacer) that put the final nail in AMC’s coffin as far as remaining an independent company.
Thanks for sharing your AMC knowledge. Recently bought a 1981 Spirit that had the good suspension parts from a 1979 AMX transplanted, as well as an earlier V-8. Slowly accumulating American Air parts, to mimic a dealer installed a/c system. Recommendations on the Sanden or know who makes a kit?
And Bob: Not sure if you remember the NASCAR tie in with this model? Penske decided to cover up the gaping hole of the regular coupe quarter window, an attempt to make it more “‘aero”.
My father had a AMC matador that he drove to Florida when they moved down there then my son found one at a junk yard that was in good shape but was nodriveable
I’m representing this Barcelona edition for the owner.
I have several hundred additional photos, several videos and a complete write up available.
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out, or ask here.
Thanks for the interest and the comments.
Talk soon,
Boy, this was a product out of desperation. To start with, AMC should never have built this. They did not have the money. They wasted their money on this body style frame, etc. They needed to update the hornet or come up with a brand new generation of hornet. Hornet was their bread and butter car. It’s where they made their money. Dick Teague designed this Matador. It was. bazaar in 1974 and didn’t age well. Instead of having a permanent classic grill, it had two great big headlights. Instead of having a formal greenhouse, it was a fast back. It was absolutely what America did not need, and what AMC could not afford. My brother had one of these. his was not the Barcelona edition, but a much more plebeian edition. I remember that rusted. I remember that he couldn’t wait to get rid of it.
We need close up pictures of that padded vinyl top. Those could be absolute nightmares for causing rust underneath. From the pictures presented, I might be seeing some bubbling under that top and if there is some bubbling visible, then there is A LOT of rust not visible. Ask me how I know.
Contact me through the button above and I can send you the link to 350+ photos of the car, including close ups of the top and close ups nearly everything else.
I don’t think I can post the link here, unless Josh says it’s OK.
Just wanted to say that it’s never easy to be the “go between” when selling or buying classic cars, however you have done all that could be done. You did it with style, grace, additional pictures, and no emotional outbursts. That’s often hard to do when everyone is questioning not only the car and its attributes, but often the truth in what you have said or implied. Kudos to you for offering proof in pictures as everyone calls into question not just the car, but also how it is represented. I know that there are many issues with a cars location, but after the 20th time you offer to send proof photos, one might think that issue was put to rest. Maybe it’s people not reading the comments before they begin the typical rants about the salt road states, but you handled it perfectly. Have a great weekend!
I basically bought all the cars in the family and made sure they looked at several makes before buying. When we saw this car, I was about 16 and all I could say was what were they thinking? And then we sat in the car and the reclining seats were amazing. Most of the AMC cars that were DL and above had great interiors. Alas, we never bought one. For 10K this could be a great buy to get into the collector car fun with something very interesting.
This is a very presentable car. It’d be the only one at Cars & Coffee.
Lovely car. I’ve always loved the AMC Matador. My favourite has always been the 4 door sedan and wagon. But this is nice. I hope whoever buys this enjoys it and takes care of it.
U…..G…..L…..Y. and it ain’t got no alibi
I always thought the styling of these was………unfortunate.
There’s an Adam-12 episode where Officer Pete Malloy proudly pulls into his partner Jim Reed’s driveway to show off one of these, his brand new cars. He brags that it gets 17 mpg, which was good for a big car back then. It was the later years where AMC was providing the patrol cars (Matador sedans) as well.
“I’m sorry, you”ll have to forgive him, he’s from Barcelona”
Hi everyone,
Thank you all for the comments, questions, etc.Thank you Mr. Quick as well.
The Matador has just sold and will be going to eastern PA.
and thank you BarnFinds!!
I have a feeling that the chrome railroad ties were not on the original design sketches of ghe Matador. I wonder what it would have looked like had the original concept been allowed to be built.