American Motors was the little company that wasn’t afraid to try something different to succeed. One such initiative was the 1975 to 1980 Pacer compact, which was somewhat round in appearance, resembling a “jellybean”. The car’s big claim to fame was its appearance in the Wayne’s World movies with Dana Carvey and Mike Myers. The seller’s 1977 edition has some new parts and drives nicely, but it will need at least some cosmetic attention. Located in Dayton, Ohio, this copy of the “Flying Fishbowl” is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $4,800.
The Pacer was probably a practical automobile even if its appearance was a bit unorthodox. For example, more than a third of the surface area of a Pacer was glass (and the percentage was even higher with the wagon, which proved more popular). AMC built 58,000 Pacers in 1977 of which just 33% were sedans like the seller’s car. It’s interesting that AMC sold both the Pacer and another oddity, the Gremlin, at the same time for a couple of years.
Only three photos are provided of the seller’s vehicle, none of the interior or under the hood. We’re told it has AMC’s venerable 258 cubic inch I-6 engine with an automatic transmission. Driven 103,000 miles, the radiator, tires, and windshield are new, the carburetor rebuilt. The motor and brakes have been “gone through”, though we’re not sure what that means. The body has a few bumps and bruises, and a new rear bumper comes with the car as the current one is all bent up. The power steering leaks fluid and the A/C doesn’t work, so this is something of a project car to become a daily driver.
Amc had some interesting cars back then This is not one of them. The gremlin with a v8 was much better looking And cooler for what it was.
Not many around anymore as they were use and abuse and throw away.
Good luck on both sides of the sale.
Practical design, lots of glass, like a sunroom back there. Dogs love looking out the window.
Greenhouse on wheels. Couple sacks of soil and you’d have a “bumper” crop!
I’m afraid this one may be a lost cause with that rear end damage. I love these cars, but I don’t think anyone will be bothered to repair that. We may see it again in a few years after it has sat under a tree in the yard and is completely gone.
Nice goin’, gramps. Damage like this is typical of elderly drivers, they drive by feel. In this case, while backing up, they never saw that cement post, BAM! I think it could easily be repaired, and wasn’t because the person probably lost their license. It happened to my old man in a similar situation. I bet this car sat for years. Great find, I’d love a Pacer today, and priced right. Why is it still available?
we called them the Pregnant Pinto
Wow! That’s an expensive repair job. It might not be worth it. Nice colors though and it doesn’t have that funny hoof from later years. Good luck selling it a five grand.
They also made a wagon version.
AMC produced , for the most part, junk. My girlfriend years ago had a Gremlin. At 60,000 miles the engine was caked with grease and it leaked every fluid imaginable. The damn thing was just worn out. No wonder they’re gone.
Baloney. Well, she had a Gremlin, by golly, what a great example to base a car company on. Like GM with a Vega or a Ford with a Pinto?
Even so, the Gremlin was still better than a Veg or Pinto.
I said for the most part. But a lot of American car companies produced garbage at that time. They are far better now of course but it took the Japanese to show them how it’s done and force them into action.
People should have gone to prison for the Pinto. They knew the tank flaw would burn people alive but decided it was cheaper not to fix ii.
Speaking as a son of a former GM dealer my father always said “competition will Always breed the strongest animal! For what it’s worth, I grabbed a 76 fish bowl trade in and drove it 20000 miles before dumping it.