Of all of the oddly shaped cars AMC gave us throughout the years, the Pacer may win the prize for the most unusual, earning it names such as the jellybean and the flying fishbowl. However, over the decades, these cars have developed quite a loyal following and a level of appreciation that wasn’t as apparent back in the seventies. Nice examples seem to have no problem exchanging hands these days, and I’m guessing somebody’s going to snag this 1976 model here on Craigslist pretty quickly, especially once they see what’s under the hood. This one’s in San Diego, California, with the $6,500 asking price not sounding like an unreasonable starting point.
Our thanks go out to reader Rocco B. for the excellent tip here! The ’76 Pacer gave buyers a choice of two inline-six engines, including the base unit measuring in at 232 cubic inches and the optional 258, with a V8 not appearing on the menu until 1978. Somebody decided a six-cylinder powerplant wasn’t good enough here, and in the bay now is a Ford 289 V8, along with a matching-era Mustang transmission. The seller says his AMC starts, runs, and drives, and also mentions some recent fuel system work, including a new carburetor, fuel filter, and a freshly cleaned gas tank.
It’s hard to spot in the photos, but the seller reports some body rust, specifically in the rear hatch and lower rocker areas. Fortunately, it’s already said to be a solid driver, but the next owner will need to address this if they want it perfect. The red paint still presents well, and the hood was modified out of necessity to clear the carb. The blacked-out trim is also a catchy touch, but I’m not so sure about the bumpers, as they sort of remind me of the safety bars next to the bathtubs in our house.
Inside, the seller states that a previous owner had the interior redone in Italian leather, and it’s said to be clean and in nice shape. A few custom components can also be found inside, including an aftermarket radio and a tachometer, plus a sunroof has been added above. For a car in this price range, the 1976 AMC Pacer seems to offer a lot, and I’m finding many of the mods here fun and well-thought-out. How about you?
Well, at least he fixed the main problem with this car. Someone in a free state could end up with an interesting “hybrid.”
This would have been sold if it was on my side of the country. Love it. Sick. My mother had one late 70s, and it was like sitting in a fish bowl from all the windows. I just sat in one a few weeks ago at a bike show. Nice tip, and write up.
Yes it must bring lots of attention. Nerf bars for bumpers.
Nah,,see, thing is, the Pacer is just a weird car to begin with, and any appeal would be one in original form, not some cobbled hot rod. Someone had good intentions, just missed the exit ramp.
A chopped roof would do wonders for a Pacer.
I’m surprised Calif didn’t find a way to prevent even the swap being done there.
You can do what you want, they have no way to monitor what someone is doing at the time they do it, you just can’t register it afterwards because it fails its smog inspection.
Steve R