If you look up the word “quirky” in the dictionary, you might see a photo of the American Motors Pacer there. Along with one each of the AMC Gremlin and Matador. AMC was always willing to think outside of the box because they had to in order to remain competitive with Detroit’s “Big 3”. The Pacer, which was shaped like an upside-down bathtub, arrived in 1975 and faded away in 1980. The seller has a first-year example that hasn’t run in about three years. Located in Atlantic Beach, New York, this car is being sold out of a collection here on Facebook Marketplace. The asking price for the “collectible” is $5,000.
The design of the Pacer was deliberate, and more than a third of the real estate it occupied was glass. Also, we understand the door openings didn’t measure the same on either side of the interesting coupe. AMC introduced the Pacer in mid-1975 as a compact, even though the Gremlin was still around for three more years, replaced by the Spirit on the same platform. We assume an inline-six is under the hood here, either 232 or 258 cubic inches in displacement.
Weird must have appealed to a lot of people, as AMC sold more than 280,000 Pacers over its six-year run. The biggest demand came in 1976, after which interest began to trickle off. The Pacer was roomy for its dimensions, which may have been its major appeal. This one has 84,000 miles and an automatic transmission, and is a one-owner car that the listing repeats as an “AMX Pacer collectible,” which it’s not the former and may not be the latter, either.
Last operational in 2023, the Pacer needs a battery now, and at least some air in the right front tire. The body and undercarriage are said to be decent, though the burgundy paint has seen better days. The interior will need some detailing plus new upholstery on the driver’s bucket seat, for sure. Also, both door panels have been removed and are MIA. This might be a good project for an AMC fan, if the price is right. And thanks, for the tip, Barn Finder “Zen”!
Not running, indeterminate amount of rust, needs interior and who knows what else. It might be worth a shot at $1,000-$2,000, anything above that there is too much downside risk.
Steve R
I want to buy it just so no one will turn it into a stupid Garth mobile.
Mama mia let me go, lol
I can not even think of when i last saw one of these.
A friend of our family bought one of these new in 76″, by 79″ it had rusted so much it wouldn’t pass state inspection! They were still making payments on it!
Just one question, why?
Because its ugly and cool at the same time!
The Japanese were eating Detroit for lunch and ALL of the domestic car makers were trying new things! Ford hat it’s illustrious Pinto ( Fire Extinguisher not included)! Chevrolet gave us the Chevette ( No Comment) and AMC was trying to survive! Pacer wasn’t the only polarizing vehicle in AMC’s line up! Check out Gremlin and Hornet!
I guess, as long as it doesn’t become a stupid garth mobile clone.
Ok, enough with the Garth comments. 2 people actually, and almost said the same thing.
Go ahead and laugh, but a quick check on “search”, there are 12 pages ( of 16 posts each) for the Pacer. I’d dare say more than any other vehicle. Funny, coming from “Pacerville, USA”, I don’t think I ever saw so many Pacers in one place. They were moderately popular to locals, mostly, they sold over 280,000 for the run, ’76 the most. Not exactly the Model T, but a strong enough showing to prove they were good cars. I knew folks that had Pacers, and would have gladly bought another, but none could be found. I’m astounded they are so many here. Why is that? Surely nobody today has much of an attraction to AMC, but the quirkiness, and yes, the movie, is what people might want today. Anytime a car is featured in a movie, it goes down in the annals of automotive history. The Pacer was one of those cars. Try it, you’ll like it, I guarantee! Perhaps a Pacer is in my future, where now? NEW YORK,,,may as well be in China.
Every industry has what I call a loveable lemon! A car so bad it was a conversation piece! Every product ever released has a few people routing for it! When AMC released this, it was billed as a roomy, fuel efficient alternative to the Japanese cars! Japanese cars were subject to quotas in the seventies ( limited availability) and Detroit was caught flat footed with gas guzzler sedans no one wanted! You have to applaud AMC for this ERR…. effort!
Love em or leave em.
In the 80s I was at LA’s Union Station to see two steam powered trains leave. I was going to pace one as far as Tehachapi. I started a conversation with a guy and who didn’t have a car, so I offered him a ride, but told him I drove an old truck. A 59 El Camino. Later he told me he had a ride with somebody else. I stopped at El Cajon Pass to see the Southern Pacific and the Union Pacific steam engines go over the pass side by side. The guy I’d talked to went by, in the fetal position, in the back of a Pacer!
Quick story:
I have an acquaintance who’s father (a machinist) purchased a 63 split window Vette from an engineer from Northrop who was buying one of these during the gas crunch. The dealer offered him $500 for the Vette as a trade in, he instead sold it to the machinist. The family still has the Vette, all original cruising NORCO CA.
How many that have seen my comments expect me to have a Pacer tale?
I haven’t painted a car since the 80s but will have to again in the future.
I was doing several Pro Rallies a year, working on racecars and rally cars and exotics for others and i dont know how i found the time todo a favor for an elderly cousin. She had bought the Pacer new per the recommendation of her kids. They were overjoyed that she was finally parting with the red Mustang they thought wasn’t proper for her. The glass area was their selling point. She hated it for the blind spots. She needed to keep it when it needed paint and rust was starting. I made a couple pieces for the rear wheel wells and welded then in. I painted it and it was the same color as the one here.
Love that it is behind the Porsche that is so much resembles. That model Porsche is a squashed down version of the Pacer. HAHA
these things are turning up for sale now like ants at a picnic. they are still ugly and time has not helped them at all.
Originally designed to accept a rotary engine, but who reuses an Edsel model name?
My dad bought one the same color from some local guy. Actually ran pretty decent but was definitely a lemon. And I don’t mean to be rotten, but that’s the ugliest cars. I think they ever made anybody that is.
My dad bought one the same color from some local guy. Actually ran pretty decent but was definitely a lemon. And I don’t mean to be rotten, but that’s the ugliest cars. I think they ever made anybody that is.
My first new car was a 1975 Pacer!
It spent a lot of time in the shop!
Did the pacer ever come with a V8?
1978 and 79, that is why they changed the hood design, to accommodate a bigger radiator.
Missing door panels, non-running, a displaced air cleaner assembly and a low RF tire do not add up to desirability in anyone, nor do the crappy pictures, lack of any effort to clean the interior and the need of a battery,
It’s a $500.00 gamble at best. Who knows if the engine is free or if the transmission is any good?
leave em, lob me da waggy tho