It is hot as blazes in the northeastern United States right now, far hotter than normal. It makes me question my desire to live in Florida full-time. However, deeper, more lingering quandaries have to do with why manufacturers spent more than few years putting denim on the inside of cars, which sounds absolutely awful in light of the heat wave we’re experiencing. Regardless, the seller of this 1977 AMC Pacer Levi’s Edition here on eBay doesn’t want to sell his, sweaty seats be damned.
The AMC is located in Utah, which is thankfully a dry heat. That same climate likely has something to do with why the Pacer has remained in such fine cosmetic condition, despite a few bumps and bruises along the way. The seller notes he has used this as a daily driver for the last few months with no issues, and claims the 24,562 miles are genuine! Now, it could be a low-mileage example, but it’s not so nice that I’m ready to believe those digits are authentic. What do you think?
Now, there’s a tell-tale sign with the denim edition cars that they’ve got higher miles than indicated, which is that the original interior is long gone (denim wears out, remember?) But this one appears to be holding up OK, and despite the tears, many of the Levi’s Pacers have had their interiors completely dissolved with no hint as to the dungarees that once resided within. As an added bonus, this is a manual transmission Pacer! I can’t remember the last time I saw a stick-shift Pacer with the Levi’s edition package.
So yes, I have no doubt this would be a fun Pacer to tool around in. The seller notes the backseat has remained unused and is in excellent condition. The dashboard assembly looks quite good as well, and I suspect a good detailing would make a huge difference on a car like this – and confirm whether the mileage is indeed genuine. Little is said about the Pacer’s mechanical healthy, but hopefully the commuter duties it’s endured means it’s up to the task. And with an opening bid of just $2K and no reserve, this seems like a fair deal all around.
like the wagon (would not go 4 the sedan) and pre-hump grill/hood.
Apparently an english gentleman retiring frm GB does too (my fantasy anyway).
Not the 3.8 tho (the i6 4L these had will last forever).
Nice find, Jeff.
Better denim than vinyl in the heat…
If it makes you feel any better, it’s been cooler in Virginia this summer than in the Northeast.
These were not denim covered seats. It is a fabric that looks like denim, which is why they are all torn up.
Correct. Nylon blend automotive grade fabric.No denim.
And my parent’s Ambassador Brougham with it’s fancy brocade fabric shredded with in a few years. Even the backseat.
This is no surprise.
dweezilaz, that is odd your parents seats shredded so quickly.
The brocade that Cadillac used was very durable.
I have seen many early ’70s Cadillacs that were not taken care of at all, but the seats were intact.
True enough, most of the “denim” editions of most manufacturers was in color only.
I wear jeans all year long. If this was really denim the seats would stay cool. This is a denim like material as real denim we as too flammable to be used in the cars.
No, it is not a 1971.
1977
Eh, is that actual denim, though. We had a ’78 CJ-5 Levi’s Edition and it was the same vinyl/naugahyde seats and top of a regular CJ, it just LOOKED LIKE denim.
It’s not cotton denim, it’s spun nylon made to look like denim. Denim wouldn’t meet safety standards or AMC’s durability standards. An automobile interior is a much harsher environment than the lower half of a human body.
Apparently you’ve never had teenage boys
No kids at all, but I am gay, so .
Well… that was supposed to be followed by “insert crude joke here” but I used html reserved characters.
That seems backwards on the durability side of it.
Those seats would not be all torn up if this had real denim on the seats.
Hate these cars, downfall of AMC
Standard shift on the floor has to be very rare on these–first one I’ve seen with that.
I don’t recall ever seeing a standard, either. Wagons look somewhat better than the coupes. I’d certainly want a good-functioning AC
Not a 1971 Pacer. Pacers were made from 1975-1980 This appears to be a 78-80.
AMC was ahead of the curve when offering something unique that the big three didn’t offer. Denim interior was such an option. It was durable and unique. It was offered across the line including Jeep.Unknown to many obviously is that it was wildly popular.
The issue with purchasing a Pacer is restoration parts……There is simply not any available Mechanical parts YES. I am talking about new old stock interior,plastics body and trim.
When Chrysler bought AMC in 1987 one of the first things to do to recoup their investment was offer dealers a credit for their old inventory as a sign of good will to the new family. What really took place the mass dumping of obsolete parts inventory at the factory. What that consisted of was bringing loaders into the wearhouses and going from one end to the other right out the door onto waiting trucks headed to the landfill.
No one in the hobby and or very few if any outside of the former AMC employees knew what was about to happen nor did anyone take steps to try to avoid it. None could save anything.Most in the hobby that remember anything about this event are long gone now. Sad but true.
The Pacer was hit the hardest. It having many unique parts and assemblies not interchangeable with anything else on the line. In the 1980’s the Pacer wasn’t the iconic car it is now for the mainstream to point at and marvel over. It was a used car and still 100’s on the roads.The few nice examples that survive today are from caring/loving owners that had the hindsight.
The parts available on ebay like nos fenders or quarters are parts dealers ordered for inventory or shops years ago that was not used or sent back to the factory. Sellers on ebay have had these in stored in collections for years waiting on the right time to sell. Expect to pay what the current market is. If you have been looking for something unavailable for over 30 years and it pops up then the sky is the limit. Deal with a run down looking car or pull out the checkbook.
There are no GM Ford or Mopar 1-800 build a car catalogs in the AMC hobby. There are resources and many good clubs there to offer help but take your time…..don’t buy the fist thing you see. Do your research.
Excellent post, but this is a 75-77. The 78 first featured that ugly raised hood and grille so AMC could fit the V8.
77 first year for wagon
Yes, I remember it well. Chrysler destroyed all of the pre-1980 AMC parts they could get their hands on as well as the tooling. Makes it a sporting proposition to restore AMC cars today. (Studebaker owners have an easier time of it since their OEM parts were preserved.)
I was Never AMC fan but as classic collector early this year bought ALL original 81 Concord DL coupe has 49K original miles blue exterior with blue cloth interior has 2.5 iron duke auto , PB, PS, factory ac , factory am/fm , rear defrost I paid $6,500 for it
125,000 if it’s gone a mile.
But still in great shape for 41 years old
Pass on ‘gods waiting room’ Jeff and proceed directly to Motordome Mecca: California. Fewer bugs, no humidity and cool cars to keep your idle-time fully occupied. 😎
I had one of these, but a ’78. Not a levi’s, a wagon with a 232 six and a four speed stick, like this one. Of the 30 or 40 cars I have owned this was one of my favorites.I remember going on camping trip to Florida, in August in this with no a/c. Was really a great car, got about 30mpg on the hiway and had a ton of room for camping gear
I’m pretty sure this is a very, very rare car. Very few Levis Pacers, Fewer of them wagons and how many with a manual on the floor? Has anyone ever seen another one?
junk.
They used man-made fiber for the denim fabric due to flammability regulations. And the Ambassador Brougham was not a Cadillac product!
Easy there, fella. Who said anything about an Ambassador Brougham being a Cadillac?