During the late seventies, my peers used to laugh as my father was teaching me how to drive on his lime-green-colored Gremlin. However, the days of laughter surrounding this unusual AMC car have long passed, as these have developed a following and seem to be in somewhat high demand now. This 1972 model here on Craigslist is said to be a mostly original example, and spending its entire life in California and Arizona has been kind to the body. It’s presently located in Sun City West, AZ, about 30 miles NW of Phoenix, and comes with a price tag of $12,000. Rocco B., thanks a lot for your fun tip here!
The seller doesn’t tell us how long this one was inactive, but does say that the Gremlin was squirreled away in an Arizona garage for a period, after traveling just shy of 100k miles. He also mentions that most of the paint is original, with some sections showing more visible fading than others, but it’s not so inconsistent that a new paint job might necessarily be a front-burner task for the next owner. I sort of like the exterior appearance and might have to consider leaving it this way for a few seasons, but could also understand the desire of others wanting to immediately spray on some fresh red outside.
A V8-powered Gremlin has long been on the list of cars I’d enjoy owning someday, but this one’s got a 6-cylinder engine in the bay. AMC offered two different inline sixers here, beginning with the smaller 232 cubic-inch variety, with some good news being that this one is equipped with the slightly larger 258 option. Some recent maintenance here includes new fan belts, hoses, fluid changes, and a rebuilt carburetor, with the seller stating that the car is currently running and driving very well.
To have been occupied 99,000 miles plus be more than 50 years old, the interior remains in very decent condition overall, and it’s nice to see this one’s got front bucket seats. Even the under-dash A/C is said to still be blowing cold air, and moving further down, the undercarriage also appears to be solid here. While it’s not perfect, the seller boasts that you may never see another Gremlin this clean and rust-free, so I’m guessing this one will find a buyer rather quickly. What do you think?
I see the Gremlin gas cap has gone missing. This is a wonderful example, and down south is about the only place to find one. When I worked at the Target gas station in the 70s, many a Gremlin came in with a rag. Gremlins were generally unloved, unmaintained, and seldom washed, so they rusted pretty quickly, but not before delivering many miles. Not many woke up in the morning thinking they were going to buy the car of their dreams, a Gremlin. Many were graduation gifts, or giveaways with no real following. Still, it was the least expensive US car, at $1871, almost $100 bucks cheaper than the then cheapest car, the VW Bug. Launched on April Fools Day, 1970, it was the target of ridicule from the get go, but ask anyone that had one, they were good cars. Naturally, I’m flabbergasted someone would want 5 figures for one. I can think of several nicer cars for that. but try and find one this nice. The seller obviously knows that. Great find regardless.
Hopefully he has the original gas cap tucked away in the glovebox. Those caps with the cast Gremlim mascot were probably pretty tempting to steal. Original replacements will cost you $100 or more on eBay.
Every time I see an article about an AMC product with a comment listed, I look to see what Howard A’s take is!
While some leave me cold, I have to admit I wouldn’t mind having a Gremlin at all (or an AMX, but that’s another story).
I’ve never driven one, but I imagine the 258 pulls it along fairly well. Not as nicely as the 390-powered versions some AMC dealer (in Arizona?) produced, but even at $12K, this car is going for peanuts compared to one of those.
It’s too nice to contemplate hot-rodding, but an LS3 powerplant might really perk it up….
It was a dealer in Mesa that bought 20 401 engines and put them in Gremlins.
Pretty sure that was Randall AMC that did those conversions. The site of that dealership is just around the corner from one of my junkyards in Mesa.
The Jeep guys get pretty decent numbers out of that straight 6. That’s the route I’d go if I wanted more get up and go. Keep it stock otherwise.
I just sat in this car on Saturday at a car show in SCW.I bought a 72′ X new so it brought back alot of memories,really nice guy owns it.
I traded a 69 Mach 1 with a shaker hood scoop 428 in early 1972 for a Gremlin X 6 cyl 3 spd. The first new car I ever owned. Sold it to my brother in law when Uncle Sam sent me to Germany for 2 years. It was a great car for the short period of time I had it. Purple with a white stripe and AMC’s rally wheels. I wish I had a V8 Gremlin in the garage now. But at 72 years old, I’ll never get all the cars on my bucket list
This a well-kept-up Gremlin. I`m an AMC guy (1970 Javelin) and never really considered buying a Gremlin. But this is very cool in its own way, and they are crowd pleasers. I would just paint the doors, do some paint touch up and clean up engine compartment–you would have a decent show car. I always wanted an orange car too!
growing up mom had a purple hornet wagon, rust was what killed it too.
I remember the hole rusting through the top of the drivers side fender towards the headlight.
First off the 258 is lighter and just as powerful as a 304 V8 so your not gaining anything unless you throw in a 360; 390 or 401. Randall AMC was the dealership in AZ that put 401 conversions in but they didn’t do to many
I had one with a 390 in it and any speed over 50 that car wanted to take off
That’s why they are great wheel standers
Had friends when my wife and I first married, who bought a new Gremlin (1972) just after we had bought our Super Beetle. We initially lived in their upstairs apartment and the driveway was not only an incline, but also sharply curved. They had a devil of a time getting up the driveway after a snow here in Michigan, but the climb was no challenge at all for our VW.
Parenthetically, I once saved a Gremlin from rolling out into a very busy street at the gas station where I worked. He must have forgotten to set the brake or leave it in gear or put in “Park” (I don’t remember now if it was a stick or automatic.), but I managed to get inside and stop it in time. So, that was my only “driving” experience in a Gremlin. :)
I recall reading once in a car magazine, that the larger 6 cylinder used in the heavy Pacer, installed in the light Gremlin, resulted in a very fast car.
I used to enjoy looking at all the vehicles on this website but what is up with all these pop up ads Barnfinds?
I live hood-adjacent so picking up trash on my street is one of my “hobbies”.
Many years ago I was cheerfully doing my civic-duty policing up said trash when what to my wonderous eyes appeared mostly buried under sand & grass..?!?!
An actual Gremlin gas cap!
I have spent countless hours dripping around junk yards and swap meets and have never come across one until that day. Who would have thought?
Shortly after, I had a county deputy whom I know pay me a visit asking if I had found anything “interesting” while picking up trash. I lit up and told him about my gas cap and he busted out laughing. “Yes, that is interesting but we’re looking for a bag of cash that a suspect says he tossed into the woods on my street while running from us”.
OK. While it isn’t $10K cool but it is still one of my favorite pieces of garage art.
Pricey for its condition, the paint looks shot so it would be wise to see the condition of underlying sheet metal. I’d also want to make sure the title us in the sellers name, there is no way I’d ever hand over anywhere close to that amount of money if it wasn’t.
Steve R
Was the 199 cube six cyl available after ’71?
Too bad the 1968 AMC AMX-GT Show Car was not put into production.
The Gremlin was the best selling single model car AMC ever had with over 600,000 in it’s 8 year run.
I was 9 years old when this car was new, and as a young car crazed kid, I remember making fun of these. As I look at this car now, I am fond of these old AMC cars, as they really are a piece of American car history. This is a nice example, and these early models look so much better than the 1974 and later cars with the government mandated hideous 5 mph bumpers.