The AMC Matador, perhaps best known as Reed and Malloy’s black-and-white in the final three seasons of Adam-12, presented its protruding proboscis to the marketplace for the final time in 1978, and that marketplace reacted by buying 4,824 sedans, 3,746 wagons, and a mere 2,006 coupes. Yes, it was a sad ending for the car that conjured up daring Spanish bullfighters, so it’s appropriate that this ’78 Matador doubles down on the metaphor: It has the luxurious Barcelona package. Barn Finds reader Sam61 found it on Marketplace in Columbus, Ohio, with an asking price of $8,000 (which is negotiable). The seller is “trying to help [his] Grandpa sell his old Matador”; he says it has 60,629 miles, but it’s going to need some carburetor tuning (and probably a bath).
Being that the Matador is being posted by a grandson who most likely doesn’t have much interest in his grandfather’s old AMC, the pictures only show a potential buyer enough to let them know that the car’s worth seeing in person, but there’s this: Barcelona’s “individual reclining seats in velveteen crush fabric with woven accent stripes.” Yes, this was the height of luxury at your American Motors showroom in 1978, it’s original, and if you like ’70s kitsch, you must be at least a little intrigued.
The Barcelona package was a $699 option in 1978, and aside from the wild seats, you also got the following: unique headliner, black trunk carpet, rear sway bar, GR78x15 white sidewall tires, color-keyed slot-style wheels, two-tone paint (autumn red metallic on claret metallic on this example), full vinyl roof, dual remote control mirrors painted body color, “Barcelona” badging, and 24-ounce carpeting (whatever that means).
Drivetrains in the Barcelona were standard Matador, a base 258 and this optional 360-cubic-inch two-barrel V8. For 1978, it made 140 horsepower and 278 lb.-ft. of torque while breathing through a Motorcraft carburetor. This one has air conditioning, power brakes, and power steering, but given the car’s status as a dusty garage dweller, there’s little information about the status of the mechanical bits.
Although I’ve studied automotive history my whole life and know the story fairly well, I’ve recently been watching Joe Ligo’s PBS documentary titled The Last Independent Automaker: The Story of American Motors (which is also being released on YouTube at this channel). It must have been sad to work at AMC or be an AMC fan during that final decade of production, when there just wasn’t enough money around to update cars like the old Matador. That is, however, what makes them collectible today; they’re uncommon and they have a story to tell. Honestly, this Matador is a real find for Kenosha fans. Is $8,000 too much? Probably. But if you could negotiate a reasonable price, this will definitely be one of the stars of the next AMC meetup.
I like it a lot. It looks complete and in pretty nice condition. It would make an interesting and quirky cruiser. It would be nice to know if the motor spins.
The ad says that the carburetor needs adjusting, Rex, so it must run. I’m going to guess that the gas is just old; you can’t determine a car’s tune with three-year-old gas in the tank. If I were interested, I’d probably ask the seller to not start it again until I got there, and maybe I’d just start it for a minute to make sure there are no expensive noises. Then I could clean the fuel system when I got home.
Hello Aaron, I actually went up to look at car today and was pretty happy with the visit. These cars just didn’t last here in WV due to the salt during the winter. Plus once they hit trade in time the value was gone and they went into beater life.I always liked them even more so then the 2 dr’s. There is still a tan one running around Beckley driven by an older couple.I’ll be bringing it home within week.
I was looking up stats on the car when I found your website. About dropped my laptop when I saw it was the same car. Enjoyed the article and the comments. Thanks, Jim Akers
I love 1974-78 ANC Matador sedan and wagons.
I looked at the car a while back. It started and ran fine. The grandson took me for a ride for about 2 miles. It ran smooth, and he got it to 40 mph with no issues. So, the transmission and engine both function properly. The tires are older, so we decided to not go faster. It might cruise down the freeway just fine, but that should probably wait until there are new tires on it. There appeared to be some oil, probably from a slow leak somewhere. Nothing different than any other old car that hasn’t been restored. I think it’s presentable as a survivor car, but the passenger side was damaged at some point, and body work and paint are not top notch. It looks ok from a distance. The carburetor was flooded when I got there and they had some difficulty starting it. I told him just to hold the pedal to the floor and crank it until it starts, then let off quick. He did that and it started and ran just fine once the excess gas cleared the engine. I think it would be a cruiser without needing a lot of mechanical work
A lovely car with a face only a mother could love. This would be an terrific cruiser.
Beautiful looking car. Although I was way too young at the time to drive a car, I remember cars like the AMC Matador. My parents had a 1974 Matador coupe. I don’t know what they’re like to drive or own, but my mom *hated* the car. She said that it was unreliable. I was skeptical to say the least. Just because *she* had problems with *her* Matador, that doesn’t mean that everyone who owned one had problems with theirs.
It might be a worthy project if it was priced in the neighborhood of $1,500. If a car is burried in a garage and the seller can’t be bothered to clear the area around, might run, but can’t be test driven why should a buyer take on the downside risk? Even on its best day this would be a hard sell at $8,000, even if the seller really is selling it for grandma. This Marador belongs to the class of car the competes on price, it doesn’t have a particularly strong following so it competes with every other car that doesn’t either, many of which have no mechanical or cosmetic issues.
Steve R
I agree. I’d be willing to pay between that and $5000 for a runner, provided everything on the car works like they should.
It runs and drives. See Stevo360’s comment.
A car that runs and drives is worth at least 4000. But after actual examination, the price could be negotiated further. Aaron makes this car sound interesting, so there’s that. Truth is, LA actually used these cars in the LAPD so Adam12 was staying authentic, plus that must’ve helped sales. I wonder if AMC had it’s own 360 or if it’s the Mopar one?
Believe it or not, two totally different motors. Even though AMC did use the Torqueflite for many of their models.
Billyray, an easy tell on an AMC 360 is the distributor; it’s up front and angled toward the driver’s side like a Buick V8’s (aside from the Nailhead).The Mopar 360 had a rear-mounted distributor, and the big-block Mopar’s distributor was up front, angled toward the passenger side.
You are correct Aaron about the engine info!
Good job Aaron. These cars never interested me in their day. But today, I enjoy seeing one. Like Rex says, “interesting and quirky.” Very late-70’s look, especially that cool upholstery. $699 in 1978 is $3400 today, so it was not an inexpensive option. I hope it goes to an appreciative AMC enthusiast.
Thanks Bob – I too was surprised by the cost of the package. It doesn’t seem to come with $699 worth of stuff.
Buy it,& scare the neighbors.
In the early ’90’s I had two Matador 2 door coupes, one of which was a ’78 Barcelona. Pretty loaded car back in its day. 360 2 barrel was reliable, if not a powerhouse.
8k for what I think is the uglier 4 door version is a little steep.
A wild offering from Wisconsin.
You mean me? :)
Lol you like that comfy interior and automatic Howard 👍
I love 1974-78 AMC Matador sedan and wagons.
A like 78 sold for $10k on BAT https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1978-amc-matador-barcelona-edition/
Looks cool to me.
This appears to be a fully loaded car, except it lacks power windows. Did AMC ever put power windows in any of their lineup of cars? Maybe the Ambassador?
Okay, treading lightly, an AMC post AND Adam-12, unless out to lunch, bound to hear from me. An apology of sorts, in order to the staff, and am limiting my windy posts, just in case.
A few things, Adam-12 did not use this particular Matador as the series ended in 1975 and used a 1972 until the end. Malloy did buy a ’74 Matador coupe, and all AMC cars on the show had a 401 including Malloys coupe. I believe they were the 1st LAPD cars to have A/C. It’s a shame the kid doesn’t see what grandpa saw, apparently that got lost somewhere, and these were wonderful cars. I heartily endorse this purchase. I’m sure power windows were offered, and appears to be the only option gramps declined on. Believe it or not, many didn’t trust “power” windows. The 360 was AMCs most popular motor, and for good reason. Probably made by my parents neighbors with pride.
I got my driver’s license on the Matador cousin 1974 AMC Ambassador station wagon, 304 CI engine, was a beast but a nice car to drive, always liked the looks of Ambassador/matador, the front end was sharp, interiors were real nice.
I know the seller of the car. Let me know if I can help answer questions. The factory rally wheels on this car are a desirable option.
Owned a 1971 Matador while in college. She was a beast; roomy, lumbering and safe given her size!
This car has a Motorcraft (Ford) carburetor (hello power valve issue) Saginaw power steering pump and box (hello General Motors ) Delco/Moraine (General Motors again) Brake master and. Booster. Autolite distributor, Kelley Hayes brakes & wheels. Harrison radiator, Torqueflite transmission (Chrysler) , etc.etc. When you were a parts guy in a local NAPA store. You needed you know these things in the late ’60s and early ’70s in order to supply your customers with the correct parts. (Some goes for International Harvester parts.) It wasn’t quite so bad for Studebaker parts as they didn’t chage suppliers in the middle of a production run. Many people said at the time, the worst parts from each manufacturer. I’m not sure I agree with them. Hard to fault a Torqueflite transmission or Saginaw steering parts, OR Delco/Moraine brake parts. But you need to know these things if you are doing your own repairs and you have to scrounge for parts. JUST SAYIN’
Oh, yes the engine is an ORIGINAL AMC assembly!
FYI 24 Ounce carpet means 1 square foot weights 24 ounces, or a pound and a half. Just saying 😌
I miss AMC.