Earlier this week, we reviewed the first year (1970) yellow AMC Gremlin and today we take a look at the final year of production. The main difference between the two models is the bigger engines available in 1978. The sunshine yellow AMC Gremlin is located in East Derry, New Hampshire, and can be seen here on craigslist. We appreciate Pat L sending this ad to us. The buyer is asking $7,900.
This Gremlin is equipped with the 4.2-liter inline six-cylinder engine and automatic transmission. With power steering, front disc brakes, AM/FM radio and air conditioning, the Gremlin is nicely equipped. The tan vinyl interior and bucket seats look nice with a little fading but no rips. The odometer shows 71,000 miles and the roof-mounted luggage rack features a rear air deflector.
The seller has clearly gone to great lengths to use NOS parts when the car was restored in 2006. Since prices for Gremlins are still reasonable, a restoration probably costs more than the car is worth. The carpet is said to be replaced but that was 14 years ago. The seller takes the car to area car shows and cruises and keeps the car garaged.
There are only eight pictured included in the craigslist ad but the car looks solid even the hubcaps look factory correct. While not a barn burner, this Gremlin probably gets a lot of attention at general car shows because you just don’t see that many. Over the 1970-1978 production history, AMC sold over 670,000 Gremlins. Would you like to join the Gremlin club?
Another neat BF’s exclusive, the 1st and last years of a certain car, the Gremlin. By 1978, the Gremlin had run it’s course. The car that turned America on to small cars, was obsolete. Imports were gaining steam, with features the Gremlin couldn’t keep up with. Far as Gremlins go, this was best of the bunch, with many features making it to the Spirit/Eagle, which was also a good car, probably the last decent AMC car made. AMC was losing ground fast, and the writing was on the wall, but this was a last gasp for a famous automaker that put Wisconsin on the automaker map. December 11, 1987 was a sad day in the Badger. It was the day Chrysler shut down AMC production, the last car made I believe was an Eagle.
I remember at the time that a member of one of the AMC clubs made arrangements to buy the last car off the assembly line, a 1988 Eagle wagon. I couldn’t recall the specifics off the top of my head, but a quick search turned this up this on Eddie Stakes’ “Planet Houston AMX” site:
http://www.planethoustonamx.com/stuff/last_amc_built.htm
Of course that was a long time ago and I have no idea what the current status is of this car.
While it may be true December 11,1987 was the end of AMC production at Kenosha, Chrysler brought in production of the M Body out of St louis,Mo and also brought in the L Body Omni/Horizon from Belvedere, IL I believe that lasted until late 1989.
Having owned many Gremlins I disagree that the last Gremlins (like this) were the best. It is true that the Gremlin had run its course. The 77 and 78’s were a mix of Hornet and Concord parts. The smog had these weezing down the road. More power. No way. I once owned a 78 Gremlin GT. Wish I had it now. Looked fast without a doubt. was not as good as my 73 258 X w/904 auto. Miss that too.
Looking at the above car what is up with the fit and finish of the drivers door. Wondering what kind of restoration was done?
I bought the first ’70 Gremlin sold in my town. 199cid with three on the tree. Deluxe red interior, vacuum wipers. Shifter sometimes hung up between first and second gears when shifting. And I’ve had several other years also. Just recently sold my ’73 Base, bench seat, rubber mats, power steering, brakes and factory a/c and 304 V-8.
I had a ’77 and played in a band and the larger hatch opening of the ’77 & ’78 models — and the later Kammbacks made loading a set of drums into the rear area easier than the ’70-’76, without the overly heavy hatch on the Spirit and SX/4. So in that way it was better.
Drivers door does look wavy. It needs new carpet again and the steering wheel looks fresh out of the junk yard.
Gremlins had issues with door sag (ala Pacer) – hinge pins wore and strikers (door latch) would get damaged too. I had both issues with my 78. I would agree 78 was the nicest with it introducing the modern and attractive 79-88 Concord/Eagle dash and instrument cluster which was much more upscale than the old one. All the mid 70’s -up AMC sixes suffered greatly from emissions castration
The Hornet-platform cars as well as the Pacer used nylon door hinge bushings so they all tended to have sagging doors after a while. The fix is to ream out the hinges for larger pins with brass bushings.
Howard:
How is this an exclusive if it’s on CL?
Not a sustainer
Final year in name only, for ’79 it became the Spirit Sedan with four headlights and larger rear quarter windows. It lasted in that form until 1982, with an Eagle AWD version for those last two years. The automotive equivalent of stone soup considering AMC’s (lack of) resources.
In Mexico it continued as the Gremlin.
Here is a 1981 model.
A friend had a Gremlin that I drove often- had the worst brakes ever, I have nightmares to this day of standing on the pedal and not much happening! The design has been growing on me though, and I am waiting for a rear engine fuelie, lol
A friend of mine traded his Studebaker Wagonaire for a Gemlin X in 73. Today he says he wishes he had the Studebaker. He never mentions the Gremlin.
Not sure what is meant by bigger engines in 78, my 1973 had a 258 (4.2L) in line six, same as this car ?
I had the 4.2 mated to a three speed standard with a button on the turn signals for a overdrive, never ever saw another Gremlin with the overdrive, this was a true overdrive bolted to back of transmission, loved that car, had A hooker Header on it with a ofenhauser duel port intake with a 650 holley carb, thin copper head gasket, oh would she get up and go and great fuel mileage as long as you keep your foot out of it lol.
Would love to find her and buy her back
I simply adore the early Gremlins. Many past experiences with them. I’m sure this car is probably a great car and more refined than the early ones. But just like the last run of the Pinto, it just doesn’t do anything whatsoever for me. The early ones were funky but cool funky. The style of the last run didn’t do a thing for me, especially the front end and tail light areas. Come to think of it, the last run of the Ford Pinto had more appeal. But I positively love the looks of th e early Gremlin. A true classic in its own right.
Can’t believe that package tray survived the whole run of the Gremilin production. It was a catchall for everything including dust and occasional sticky soda, but put the lower air outlets exactly where you wanted them on a hot summer day. Can’t remember if those were just for fresh air or also the AC ducting.
My ’70 Gremlin without factory a/c had just a package shelf with no air outlets. My ’71 with factory a/c had air outlets that were flat rectangular. Later a/c outlets were more round. But no air outlets on non-a/c Gremlins, at least none that I’ve seen.
During the early 80s when I was in the Navy my dad found a beige ’78 one from a neighbor for me too but. It had plaid seats at least LOL
I had a gremlin 76 with 304 v 8 4 speed with 9 inche posse it was a bad dude
A/C ducting,agree with the position of the ducts!