Does this car look familiar? The photos have an eerie washed-out look to them but man, what a car! Yes, I’ve said that before about this 1970 AMC Hornet, it was featured on Barn Finds last July. Now it’s listed on eBay with a different seller and a sad story. There is an unmet opening bid of $4,000 and it’s located in Omaha, Nebraska – let’s check it out, again.
I know, a four-door AMC Hornet with painted rims and dog dish hub caps doesn’t usually turn too many heads, but this one is turning mine yet again. For the record, the last time it was featured and listed on eBay it had a $5,900 buy it now price, there is no buy it now price this time around.
I hate to hear such a sad story as is related to this sale. The seller is the son of the gentleman who bought this car last year to add to his AMC/Rambler/Nash collection. What a guy! Sadly, he passed away over the winter and now the family is having to sell off a few beloved toys such as this fantastic looking Hornet. This is the nicest one that I think I’ve seen since the last time it was shown here. The seller mentions that after his dad bought the car it was sent to a bodyshop to pretty much make it perfect. A few dings were taken care of and some surface rust was repaired and painted, etc. What a shame that the dad couldn’t enjoy the car.
The only thing that I would change would be to hopefully find some OEM seat material to make it more stock in appearance, and the steering wheel could use some help, but otherwise it looks great.
This is AMC’s 232 inline-six with 145 hp. The seller says that since being stored in the garage over the winter there isn’t a drip or a drop anywhere. I love this car even more at the starting bid of $4,000 but what a sad story. Let’s get out there and enjoy our classics and collector cars, folks, life is very, very short. Have a great weekend!
This ones not for me. I do appreciate the condition it’s in and someone will enjoy it without doing much work to it.
Sadly this will happen to all of us someday so let’s enjoy our passions while we can.
No idea why I want it, but I do. I’d go $1500.
Oooh I’d buy this car, if I hadn’t just bought a 66 Volvo 122, 4-door with automatic transmission. I plan to sort the car and drive it in the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix “Kickoff Rallye” on July 1st in Pittsburgh. PVGP.com
My folks had a ’72 Sportabout wagon this color and boy did it look great!
Mom drove it a couple of years before selling it to my Grandmother whose
’66 Classic wagon had just died from a case of terminal rustosis a few
weeks before. Grandma put it to good use hauling cakes for her bakery
business. She got at least 15 years use out of it before her health began
to fail. She passed in 1991 and the car was sold. whoever got it sure got
a good car for the money. Thanks for all the great memories.
Growing up in a still existing AMC household, I will always have a soft spot for anything from Oshkosh. At one time, my parents owned a burgundy ‘76 Pacer wagon and a silver ‘77 Hornet hatch, and we still have the blue ‘78 Concord hatch that Mom bought to replace her Pacer.
Oshkosh? Don’t you mean Kenosha?
It’s one of them injun’ names,,, :)
Another avenue to get into the old cars hobby for a very reasonable entry fee.
This is obviously not one of the “halo” cars, where performance and style (and a massive collectibility value which would go along with those) are features. But it does seem like a very affordable period ride, that someone could enjoy for quite a while without spending any real money beyond the purchase price.
You know why I love this site? It is because it often has some reasonable priced cars, that most of us can afford. Unlike the site that should be called “Bring your trust fund lawyer with grandpas checkbook” if you know where I mean. That site is full of car snobs who obviously mostly do not belong to the working classes, and a few more that tag along wishing they could belong to that group. I get tired of seeing Porsche after Porsche on display and for sale at unreasonable prices. Here I see cars we all grew up with. The people that run this site should pat themselves on the back for not become greedy and snooty..
Man, I love it. For what I need a car for, these days, this would fit the bill perfectly. OMAHA??? Why aren’t these things ever in Colorado Springs? The story bums me out too, and not to sound cold, but the old car hobby is based on someone’s loss is another’s gain, the condition clearly justifies the price, these were never kept, used and junked and I bet the old guy would be smiling down from the big car show in the sky if I bought this, I wouldn’t change a thing.
These weren’t cars for enjoying. These were for getting from point A to point B.
Does not change the fact that what was once viewed as a utilitarian machine might now be held and enjoyed for another purpose.
I was six years old when this Hornet was built. Still it is a good investment for point A to Point B.
Sometimes the trip is the point, not the car. A quiet drive on a country road to see the fall colors and get ice cream has great merit, and doesn’t require a hemicuda to do it. We all love our cars and driving, but that can’t be your whole life. Kind of like friends I have who own ultra high end audio and video equipment. They get so involved in the hobby of upgrades and fine tuning, they forget to enjoy the music and movies. Not saying that is wrong if it provides them pleasure, but they are missing the forest for the trees. All of life needs balance.
Yes Billy, well said!!
I have car-guy friends who only have fire-breathing Chevelles with 500 horse power, but they never drive them for obvious reasons. It’s all just posing.
Stock is the way I prefer my classic cars. The designers put a lot of thought into those designs, and any Nardi steering wheel or Panasports or Cragars aren’t gonna improve on that, in my opinion.
It’s like when they put chocolate in beer, or vanilla, or raspberry…is that gonna improve beer? No, it isn’t.
Spent money at a body shop but it looks to me that the brake pedal rubber pad is missing
Not too tough to source. That small thing does nothing to diminish the value of the car.
Wow,,, I was 7 years old , my aunt from Michigan came to live with us .driving a bronze color hornet 1970. I’m getting older I’m 55 thanks for the memories!😀
My friend needed a cheap car and was considering a clapped out 70s wagoneer. On the same lot was a government issue hornet four door with the 304/automatic transmission combo. it was pretty clean and even had desert only A/C. I told him this was the one to buy which he did and it was a good reliable runner for many years and won a few stop light races to boot.
A tip of the hat to the good old Hudson Hornets name.
Ended: Apr 08, 2018 , 10:59PM
Starting bid:US $4,000.00
[ 0 bids ]
I really am surprised.
I bought this car on August 9th…..Drove to Omaha and hauled it back to Wisconsin….I am glad I had the opportunity to meet the owners Son and talk about his collection with him….I it very sad the his Father never got to really enjoy this car….The condition of this car is amazing for it’s age….It is not without some cosmetic imperfections, but for the price that I paid it is fantastic…I was 15 when it was built, however, I Hired in at AMC in 1973 at the Kenosha Lakefront plant where this car was born….I worked on the same assembly line that it rolled down 3 years earlier…We plan on taking it to a classic car show on Sept. 6th….AMC is not represented in my area very well…I hope this fine car will draw some interest….