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The AMC Pacer was a quirky compact introduced in 1975. Its odd styling earned it the nickname “Flying Fishbowl” (along with others) and more glass and passenger room than anything else in its class. A station wagon was added to the mix in 1977, three years before the automobile ceased production in 1980. This 1979 wagon looks good and does run, though it has a gas leak that probably needs immediate attention. Located in Redding, California, this potential project is available here on craigslist for $5,000.
American Motors was known for taking chances with its product mix. Such as the AMX GT-style coupe (1968 to 1970) and Gremlin subcompact (1970 to 1977). The Pacer was introduced in the middle of the 1975 model year and would go on to sell 280,000 examples in the ensuing five years. Demand dropped off quickly, and just 10,000 Pacers were built in 1979, 70% of which were wagons like this one. Who remembers the movie, Wayne’s World?
Little info or photos are provided for this wagon. That includes what lies underneath the hood, which is probably an inline-six paired with an automatic transmission. This ’79 Pacer comes in DL trim, so it has more bling than the standard Pacer. The car may have 90,000 miles on it, but the seller is unsure.
The dark green paint and body look good, and the single photo of the interior also presents well. Once you fix the gasoline leak the seller says the car has, you might be good to go. Hopefully, it’s nothing more serious than a bad fuel line. If you’re inclined to search out odd or unusual vintage cars, would this Pacer fit the bill? Thanks for the tip, Tony Primo.
Idk about $5,000 unless you’re a collector of AMC Pacers. I like the ’75’s much better and the 79’s not so much.
Great article Mr. Russ Dixon!! Great find Mr. Tony Primo!! For someone looking for a simple and safe car at a reasonable price, this is a great find!! Looks like a winner!! Looks to be in good shape!!
Thank you Mister Mike!
What a chick magnet!!
🤣
I like how the 1975 front end looks instead of this style but i do like the dark green color . I would love to have this anyway.
The normal version of these look questionable at best, but the wagon is unacceptable. I’m sure it’s quite functional and aerodynamic and economical yadda yadda. I don’t know, maybe they were cheaper than other brands. But I couldn’t see myself buying one of these new.
The interior design seems to be pretty nice for that era. I’ll get the car that.
It might not be bad for someone into Pacer wagons, where are you going to find one. More and better pictures would be nice, but these are hard enough to find that serious potential buyers will contact the seller, the area it’s located in is dry so rust isn’t typically a problem.
Steve R
It must be AMC week here at Barnfinds. We started with a ’64 American wagon for 18 grand, then went to a ’69 Rebel for $8,500 and now the Pacer for 5 grand and right behind this is a ’50 Nash. I had a ’78 Pacer wagon in blue with a 232 and a 4speed. In ’78 and after all Pacers were D/L’s. My father had a ’77 wagon with a 258 and auto. trans. w/ air. His also had the wood paneling on it, but it was not a D/L. His didn’t have the door pull straps and a couple of other things I can’t remember. They were good cars and held a lot of stuff in the back, great when going camping. Hope you keep the Ramblers and AMC’s coming.
I recently owned a 1979 LTD Coupe
I have, in my head, that these AMC sixes, especially the 256 (258?) were good long-lasting engines, so this wagon could be a deal for someone who wants affordable transportation with lots of room. Definitely a grocery getter or a Home Depot hauler. Where is the gas leak, maybe something simple, but why not have it fixed before the sale? Other things to fix?
I used to live in N CA years ago and came back to climb Mt Shasta near there. I remember well sliding down the snowy slope on my butt to save time before dark. My new blue jeans were white in that area afterwards. It was on or around July 4th, 1977.
trying to sell it leaking gas. outstanding.
This Pacer is most likely a 258 straight 6. You could get the 304 V8 in 78 and 79, but only with an automatic and the auto was always floor shift. Not sure why as both took roughly the same transmission, but no column shift with the V8. Lastly, the hood change was NOT to fit the V8. It was only a styling change. I know a few people that have converted an older 6 cylinder to a V8 using factory parts and it fit under the early hood just fine.
That was supposed to go Brian, not Brin. Doh!
If I remember correctly the raised hood at the grill indicates a V8 lies underneath
Nope. Just a styling change. You could get either engine and have the raised hood.
One good thing about this car is that it has the optional front vent windows on it. I use to own a ’75 Pacer with the vent windows, and it vastly improved the look of the car by making the roof look lower in both the coupe, and wagon. It was all in the optics, and was mandatory if your vehicle didn’t have air conditioning.
These were also available with the AMC 304 V8
Wayne’s World featured a Pacer sedan, not a Pacer Wagon. I own a 1978 Pacer wagon. Good little car with the 258 auto.
super! AND the waggy. Never the sedan/coup. My BiL had the ‘denium’ or may B it was the S.Western Blanket-style they produced…
Same 4 me, dont like the hood bump (later model) and do the i6 (tq monster). Wrong Coast, close to right price…