In 1970, American Motors brought back the Hornet name from the 1950s and bestowed it upon their replacement for the aging American compact. It would last through 1977 after which the car transformed into the Concord. It was a great little vehicle and my parents almost bought one, but opted for a new Chevy Nova instead in 1970. The seller has a nice 1973 edition with the optional 304 cubic inch V8. Originally from Nevada, this Hornet is now in Waukesha, Wisconsin, and is being offered here on Facebook Marketplace for $4,800. Thanks for the tip, Hans H!
AMC had a good year in 1973, turning a tidy profit which usually didn’t come easy to the country’s leading independent automaker. Sales of the Hornet topped 133,000 units of which one of every five would be the 4-door sedan like the seller’s orange car. Hornets had a styling update in ’73, largely to accommodate larger bumpers fore and aft. Two six-cylinder engines and two V8s were offered, with the seller’s car having the V8 that was easiest on fuel (that would soon become a feather in its cap with the OPEC oil embargo and gas topping 50 cents per gallon – horrors!).
This AMC has a modest 80,000 miles but may have been sitting for a long time given the long list of parts that have been installed. They included the gas tank, fuel pump, and all hoses, it was given a tune-up, and all the fluids were changed along with the battery. So, mechanically the Hornet should be good to go and the seller is throwing in a set of newer tires for the buyer to install.
The body has a few little dents and dings and the upholstery in the front is nearing the end of the line. So, you should be able to drive it for a while before pouring any money into the automobile. The windshield has a crack in it, and that may be the first thing to call Safelite about. We’re told that a clear title from Wisconsin comes with the car though it was previously titled in Nevada (not sure why that’s important). So, for under five grand, you might have a decent vintage car here, unless four doors are two too many.
Nice write up. Thank you Dixon.
AMC in Wisconsin 🤔
The 8cyl Hornets were only available w the autoloader. Believe it’s the venerable Chrysler unit. Torq-flite. At just over 3000lbs, this car probably moves along effortlessly. 🐝
I like this Hornet. You typically see them with a six, so to see this one with the 304 is a nice change. It looks like its held up really well. I’m with Stan, this probably moves along really well with that 304.
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By the way, the AMC 304 and 401 have identical external dimensions, so a swapping in a 401 should be easy-peasy.
Today, 5 out of 5 would be a 4 door & you wouldn’t be able to see inside – even through the too dark tinted windshield(poor a/c these days? a lot of ugly people now? wanting to hide things illegal?)& would be only offered in the “colors” you see now – everywhere. I’m surprised tv shows didnt go back to black & white.
A lighter 2 door non emissions ’70 hornet with no a/c & the big 6 cyl would probably be as fast as this ’73 v8.
Spot on about window tint, Joe. Same goes for gray scale paint. Years ago color was everywhere. You knew everyone’s car by catching a glimpse from the corner of your eye, and you waved. Heck, when I got my license I couldn’t wait for people to see me behind the wheel. Those days are no more. People want the anonymity in their car that they have behind their screen. Well, all except those Jeep guys, but that’s a whole nother thing 👋
& 1 could tell EXACTLY EACH! year a ’55-’71 full size Chevy was from a great distance away! Today, when i walk around, i look down mostly so i don’t have to see all these ugly lookalike colorless 4 door things on the road. I’d rather see nothing but colorful rusted Vegas, Volares, Yugos, Pintos, Crickets, ’79 “Challengers”, Gremlins, etc.
The cops could make a fortune today if they started ticketing cars(even parked ones) with tinted glass where you can’t see clearly inside.
In the ’80s, a cop pulled me over & made me remove RIGHT THEN & THERE! a cool Chrome looking thin windshield tint band from JCW that said Camaro just at the top of my windshield! That 1st gen had no factory tinted glass even at the top of the windshield.
I had a neighbor lady she bought a brand new with a 6 cylinder I thought what a great looing car! She approached me and asked if I would clean her car every weekend. I jumped on the chance to be around a brand-new car. I was 13 and I only had to clean the interior and since she didn’t drive it much not a lot of work. If I had the money I would jump on this
I’ve owned Hornets and found them to be good cars overall, except the interior is a real letdown even by 1970s economy-car standards. The dashboard is a cheap-looking collection of ill-fitting plastic parts and the standard seats are about the worst back-breakers I’ve ever experienced in a car. (In a ’75 Hornet I owned years ago I installed the better seats from a junkyard Concord which made a huge difference.)
On the plus side these are reliable cars that are simple to work on. Today there are ways to wake up that 304 V8 from its emissions-choked slumber if so desired and of course as already mentioned the larger AMC V8 engines will drop right in if so inclined. (I’d want to improve the marginal standard drum brakes though.)
Being originally from Nevada is generally good news rust-wise, but depending on how long it’s been in Wisconsin you’ll want to check carefully for the insidious work of the tinworm!
No AMC fan here. But, this Hornet would be a great summer car. A V-8, low miles and it looks to be in super good shape. And it’s not overpriced! Only thing I’d change, would be(cue the purists!) wheels and some rwl tires.
11 years later, the person that got schmoozed on the ’62 with the e clutch, finally got a new Rambler, except now, it’s American Motors. Instead of the e clutch,, the salesperson got them for a V8, but was hardly a road car, and the 6 did just fine. It can be said with all honesty, the Hornet was without question the most influential car AMC produced. The popular Sportabout, the Gremlin, even the Concord. The Hornet was incredibly popular in Wisconsin, and neighboring states. Nevada with the A/C and no rust makes perfect sense. You’d find neither coming from Wisconsin. Great find.
Growing up in rural S.Jersey in the late 50’s Ramblers were all over the place driven by chicken farmers wife’s and produce folks.Our town of 50 k had a Rambler dealership on the main drag owned by a guy who looked Manny of the Pep Boys,my pop knew him well and we got 2 new 72′ Gremlins there.
Car is very cool with the V8. Being a Mad Max nut, I imagined this dressed up as a Mad Max MFP pursuit vehicle. The rear roofline and back half kinda remind me of the four door Ford Falcons they used. Would add a four barrel carb, nice dual exhaust, wide tires and wheels, roof spoiler and yellow paint with stripes.
https://madmax.fandom.com/wiki/Ford_Falcon_XB_Sedan_1974_%22Max%27s_Yellow_Interceptor%22
Ugly then, still ugly now.
That’s in the eye of the beholder AZZZ. I like this car, like most AMCs and Ramblers actually. I had a ‘74 Gremlin, bought it new. If this were closer I’d buy it for a daily, put nice wheels on it and a dual exhaust.
Not a thing wrong with the car the way it is.
Probably a lot better than a new Hornet they make now that has a lot of engine problems