You can’t fault American Motors for trying different things to stay relevant. An example of this was the compact Pacer that was part of the AMC portfolio in the second half of the 1970s. With its bathtub-like styling, there was nothing else quite like it on the road. Today, most people remember the car for its role in the Wayne’s World movies of the 1990s. Offered here is not one but two Pacers of which one looks practically new while the other is strictly a parts car. Located in Fountain Valley, California, these cars are being sold as a pair for $15,500 here on craigslist. Thank you, BF Pat L., for your sleuthing once again!
The Pacer was about a half-foot too long to be considered a sub-compact when it debuted in 1975. Its dimensions were, well, strange, to say the least. It was the length of a VW Dasher but had the width of a full-size Cadillac. It has far more of its surface area devoted to glass rather than metal, a full 37%. The passenger’s side door was designed four inches longer than the driver’s side as to encourage spare occupants to enter from the cub side. And, because of its odd shape, the car would pick up all sorts of nicknames, like Hamster-Mobile, Fishbowl on Wheels, Bubble Car, Egg on Wheels, Glassmobile, and Pregnant Guppy, to mention a few.
Perhaps all these things led to one of them being cast alongside Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey in those Wayne’s World flicks more than a dozen years after the last one was built. Production would total more than 280,000 units in six years, with 72,000 of them emerging in the car’s first year, 1975. That’s the model year of the seller’s primary car here, although he’s throwing in a parts car that’s one year newer. The cars changed little over the duration other than a station wagon was added to the mix.
The seller’s car is a Pacer “X” which looks a lot like the car in the movie. “X” was a sport package offered through 1978 and it featured snappy appearance and convenience items like bucket seats, a sports steering wheel, and custom trim plus some functional things such as a floor shift and front sway bar. The “Pacer X” is identifiable by special ornamentation on the exterior.
This first-year hatchback looks like a beautiful survivor whose only fault may be that the material on the driver’s seat bottom has had a big hole worn in it. Hopefully, a competent upholstery shop can source replacement fabric without having to redo everything to match. But the rest of the car, including paint, seems to be quite nice, although it looks like you may need a broom handle to hold open the hatch. The seller is even throwing in a set of matching luggage.
The primary Pacer is likely powered by a 232 cubic inch I-6, although I think the 258 was around in those days. Later in the Pacer’s run, they could be had with a small-block V8, but not in the first year of the car. The parts vehicle may have once been the same color as the primary car, but its condition is bad, and we don’t know if anything has already been pirated for the benefit of the main Pacer. Because inquiring minds want to know, here’s a link to a story that alleges the current whereabouts of the Wayne’s World Pacer. These are not high-dollar cars today, and the seller has priced his wares at the top of the range, according to Hagerty.
Very pricey. Unless this is someone’s dream car, a motivated buyer should be able to find something interesting in similar condition for substantially less money.
Steve R
Would have to agree….and I like the Pacer. That would even seem high to me if the upholstery were in good shape, the steering wheel didn’t need a cover and the tailgate stayed up without a prop.
Peopleariums…
The Germans call them “Sard der Schlafenden Shönheit” or “Sleeping Beauty’s Coffin”.
Love the yardstick option holding up the rear hatch!
Hydraulic struts thingys fail on everything, those things cost about $30 a piece, my truck cap has a broomstick, it dosent fail and didn’t cost $60….don’t be uppety about it…and yes I carry a roll of duct tape too, no shame….
Party on Wayne…Party on Garth…
Perfect for a 6BT swap eh .. .
What might have been: the car was designed to use a rotary engine under development by, and sourced from, GM, hence the short hood. When GM dropped development of the rotary, AMC was left in the lurch, and shoehorned a conventional I6 into the engine bay.
In the beginning, this car was designed to have the rotary from Curtis Wright. Then GM elbows their way in with their rotary development. GM cancelled their rotary development and left AMC hanging, too late & costly to re negotiate with Curtis Wright.
I could almost live with the big hole in the seat cloth, but that furry magenta steering wheel cover is definitely a deal breaker for me, lol
Most everyone probably knows this by now but I have always thought that the longer length passenger door for ease of ingress/egress was a brilliant design idea for the times.
Yes it is pretty clean but overpriced.
The ‘Pacer’ logo is missing from the front left side of the hood. The air cleaner has been replaced by a ???, and you could get a 258 6cyl engine in 1975. I owned 1975 Pacer with the 258 engine for 6 years. The ad just states that it’s a 6 cyl…no specifics. These iconic cars are increasing in value, and are becoming more difficult to find in this condition. If I was in the market for one, and it had the right options, I would offer at least a third less than their asking price.
This is the most inspired American made (no pun intended) of the 1970s. and rendered with exclusive style. Shear perfection, that front end. in this architect’s eyes. Along with the rest. All hail the Pacer!
A clean, timeless design too, like the back end of an Avanti.
I like AMC Pacers for what they are, a car style that dared to be different. Wayne’s World references are a tiresome way of making fun of being different.
The Pride of Kenosha… My Brother lived in Racine, when visiting on a Sunday when the weather was nice you would be treated seeing dozens of Classic AMC Automobiles… Fun..
there’s a 1/2 doz, doz cars I like but only in the wagon. This is one. Seems 1,000% different (better).
I drove one of the first Flying Fishbowls at Mohawk Motors in Stamford, CT. I loved the style of the car. Unfortunately, I was singularly unimpressed with the driving experience.
“singularly unimpressed”
Somehow, I don’t think that you were their target demographic, Ed.