The 1970s and AMC go together for me like no other decade and car combo. This classic 1970s car, a 1977 AMC Hornet Sportabout, is on Craigslist in Atascadero, California with an asking price of $2,000. Thanks to Pat L. for sending in this tip!
The word “classic” has different meanings, of course. I don’t mean to imply that this car is a classic in the rigid definition set by The Classic Car Club of America or the Antique Automobile Car Club of America. I mean classic in the looser sense, as in, “Oh man, that thing is so classic!” In that sense, the 1977 AMC Hornet Sportabout is “so classic!”
The word “condition” also has different meanings and they’re even harder to pin down than personal definitions of the word classic. Someone’s “good condition” is someone else’s “Good grief, what a beater.” The seller doesn’t say anything about the body condition on this car and when you look at the photos you’ll see that it’s in somewhat rough shape. Even without a lot of visible rust, there are dings and dents and fading and broken lens covers and other things going on.
I don’t know if this car is original or not and it’s always hard to tell with a white car, at least it is for me. I’ve been burned when buying white cars that looked perfect in online ads and when they arrive they’re riddled with painted-over rust and other things like that. 1977 was the last year for the AMC Hornet, at least in name. For the 1978 model year, AMC gave the world the updated and luxury’ified Concord which was basically a Hornet that was a bit more upscale, quiet, and solid.
There is no engine photo, unfortunately. The day that I become president I’ll make that a requirement of all online sales listings: “Must include engine photos, underside photos, trunk and/or cargo area photos, detail photos, etc.” If a seller is taking photos anyway, pop the hood! They say that it’s “In great running condition fires right up”. I’m assuming that the engine would be a 258 cubic-inch inline-six. The interior does look good but the next owner will be calling salvage yards for parts and pieces; best of luck on that. The back seat is also nice but there are no photos of the cargo area. Their final comment is, “Interior is in decent shape and everything about this car is cool …” I would have to agree. This car is cool and the 1970s were cool if you made it through them without too much photographic evidence of your looks or your activities.
You blinked, Scotty, the ad’s gone..!
In the 1970s, I’d have never given an AMC Sportabout a second glance. Now, I’d probably be happy to own one – must be old age, eh?
That’s the problem with Craigslist. They only have the ad up for what seems like a few seconds, and, before you can even blink, it’s gone! I’ve never understood why Craigslist does that. Did the car sell that fast? What’s the story?
Craigslist doesn’t do it, the lister (seller) takes down the ad when it sells. Once a deal is publicized like this on Barn Finds and thousands of people are exposed to it, someone pulls the trigger and buys it. 50% of the cars featured here I click on and they are already gone.
I had a ’75 AMC Sportabout with three on the tree plus overdrive. It was far cheaper to operate than my ’70 Olds 442, but could not pull my trailer in the mountains.(I know, pull a trailer with a 442!!, the difference is I still have the 442 but sold the AMC & the trailer).
The Sportabout was a great little car and I could flip the backseat bottom forward and my dog rode in there.
I had a ’75 Sportabout as well, actually just a few years ago, six-cylinder automatic. Even with some bumps and bruises this one looks in decent enough shape and is well equipped with AC and optional decent seats. No surprise it went so quickly at that price, hard to go wrong unless it’s a total rust-bucket underneath. (If some flipper picked this car up, look for it to surface again in exactly the same condition for three times the price.)
At twice the price it probably would have disappeared just as quickly.
Mom drove one these in the early ’70’s
before Dad put her into a new Chevy
Caprice 4-door HT. They sold the wagon
to my grandmother, who used it to carry
baked goods to local supermarkets in
the area. Grandma drove it until her
health forced her to quit driving in the
late ’80’s. Even bougjht one myself after
my wife and I were married in ’82.
That was 1984, and our car wasn’t as
nice as Grandma’s though. Ours had
well over 225K on it and the 232 6
cylinder engine was verrrry tired and
the body was full of rust. But as long
as I sweet talked that old 6, the car
would take us anywhere. A year or so
later, the car rusted in two but not before
we picked up a ’74 Pinto wagon. In fact,
My wife and I DROVE that poor car to the
junkyard! That damned car just wouldn’t
die! Would like to buy another one like it,
but you just don’t see ’em here in Florida.
Last one I saw was my FIL’s ’72 wagon
over 30 years ago. Great find! Somenody’s gonna get a good deal on
this car
agreed, Scotty, more pic’n as a wagon guy I’d add @ least 1 extra w/the seat laid dwn.
I could use this AMC (like the Eagle for the 4WD, tho) even w/reduced capacity frm the ‘fast back’.
these are neat cars and it looks like a deal at 2k. even looks like it has tilt wheel! if only it had a 304 and it was in my garage! it would make a cool S/C 360 mutant!
@68Custom, I think you meant S/C 360 “clone” or “tribute” car. Regarding Craigslist posts going away quickly — keep in mind, the whole point of CL is for sellers of goods/services to get the word out quickly and make it easy to remove a post once they get the result they were seeking. That is why the respectable sellers write something like “if the ad is still up, the car is still available.” It’s the lazy, non respectiable sellers that keep their ad up beyond the 45 day limit, take pictures of dirty cars in dark garages with trash everywhere, and renew time and time again just to keep people calling.
I owned a ’75 Sportabout and absolutely loved it. One small note: the 1977 version was known as the Hornet Station Wagon with NO Sportabout badges anywhere on the vehicle. The “Sportabout” badging was only used on the 1971 through 1976 models.
I’d take this old beauty over any 500hp modern suv or crossover on the market. Love the looks, love the versatility, and those sixes are almost indestructible. If I ever win the lottery, one of these is definitely on my list of must-buys.
Now, this is a practical car…one I would like to have. Ad deleted by author. Oh, well, hope the new owner is happy.
Back in the 1970s my neighbor owned one in medium blue with the factory stripe and rally wheels. It was a well equipped car and I always thought it was a very sharp looking car for what it was.