As a newly-minted wagon owner, I still can’t get it out of my head that products like AMC’s Sportabout were literally years ahead of their time – and unfortunately, the very movement that AMC ushered in with daily-drivable 4WD vehicles, likely played a role in station wagons not being more favored by American consumers today. Find this daily-driver capable Hornet here on craigslist with a $1,500 asking price.
Sure, it isn’t pretty – but the price seems downright cheap fro a driver. The seller notes he thought he was adding this to his collection of project vehicles but it’s not going to happen. It comes with a three-speed automatic and a venerable inline-six from AMC. The body shows a few different colors but that’s likely just due to a replacement fender on the passenger side.
The seller notes the original upholstery is indeed period-awesome, but that all the foam has gone out of the driver’s seat so the seating position is anything but comfortable at the moment. A few other issues are noted as well, including a choke that doesn’t enjoy cold starts and wiring issues involving the gauge cluster and turn signal switch.
Interestingly, the seller sounds like he’s perhaps encountered a few hipsters and millennials while trying to sell this or other vehicles, as he says to come look at the Sportabout with your eyes wide open. “This thing is capable of stopping fast, but you have to have leg muscles and determination. That’s how manual brakes were when they were new. In general, please just be familiar with cars this old and have reasonable expectations.” Can’t say I blame him – nothing worst than a nervous driver on a test drive of an old car.
Like it. For me disc brake conversion, new foam, diamond white with some tan/gold two tone on the wheel arches/lower doors…enjoy.
…4 wheel power disc brakes
I own this very car gor last 6 years now. Sometimes I don’t drive it for several months. Pump the accelerator pedal a few times and it fire right up. Replaced carb, put electronic ignition on it and have put a few thousand miles on her. Trans could use a rebuild, fuel mileage is a joke, and has a few rattles.
It already has disc brakes, take a close look at the master cylinder, it has a larger chamber for the discs. (Unless of course someone installed the wrong replacement for a drum brake car somewhere along the way.) I had a Hornet just like that, front discs with no power booster from the factory. It stopped just fine but you really had to lean into the brake pedal.
It looks like rust may be forming under the chrome moldings of the rear windows. (Might just be dirt though.) Rust will spread like wildfire in that area if not taken care of in the early stages.
Usually on these when the fuel and temperature gauges stop working it’s because the mechanical voltage regulator for the instruments has failed. On mine I replaced it with a solid-state 5V regulator. (The instrument regulator is located in one of the gauges, I think the fuel gauge but might be temperature.) BTW, those ill-fitting, distorted plastic dash panels are the way these came from the factory!
This car is almost the twin of the Sportabout I owned years ago but mine had power steering. You’ll get a good workout on this one with AMC’s six turn lock-to-lock manual setup.
I agree with That AMC guy, I had a ’75 with disc brakes in the front that you had to really stomp on to get it to stop, but it stopped fine.
The rust issue is accurate as well.
I did not have power steering, but I had a manual transmission with overdrive.
The power I had in the lull between 3rd and overdrive was unbeatable.
When I passed anyone, that lull allowed the car to go from 60 to 80 in a nano-second, absolutely astounding.
I really liked the way the back seat folded forward to allow my Retriever (dog) to have a huge space to travel in. I detested the back doors as they were dinky, but adequate for a dog. I don’t think I ever had humans in the back seat.
I had a deep-cycle battery in addition to the regular battery installed, that was used to power the aircraft landing lights I had mounted on the roof rack.
I needed those lights, because I often drove at night and they lighted up everything.
‘BTW, those ill-fitting, distorted plastic dash panels are the way these came from the factory!’
Verified AMC Guy. Our 71 Gremlin and 72 Ambassador were the absolute worst I’ve encountered. Little bro’s Yugo literally was cheap, but everything fit together on the dash.
The family Gremlin had unboosted steering. I can’t say it was that much different from my Valiant, but it was like Granny’s Maverick Grabber.
Tight spaces need some extra grunt from the driver.
Once rolling though, it has good feel and one can’t tell it’s unboosted.
Wish I still had the choice. A new Saturn I test drove was un boosted and on the drive it felt just fine.
Based on the many non power brake cars I had back in the day, I don’t consider it even necessary. When I drove my first US power brake car I hit them and nearly went through the windshield. The imports had a more reasonable amount of pedal effort.
Power steering, though, is a whole different story, especially with radials.
I’ve had bias plies, retreads and radials now on my 63 Valiant, Fred. The thing I noticed most was the grip the radials gave once they were installed. If I lived in snow country I really think nothing would stop it.
Perhaps I have just become used to them, but I cannot recall the radials taking extra effort in tight parking situations. I’m sure they do.
But I bought bias plies until the supply dried up at the major tire stores, which has been many years ago now, so any extra effort has been forgotten.
I love this car. Same color as my little bro’s Sportabout. Pre Plymouth Sapporo and Yugo.
A 74. He rebuilt the carb but it still farted and died and as he said: It started out a dirty POS. Now it’s a nice, shiny POS.
A lot of carb rebuild kits were of dubious quality right out of the box in the early 80s.
It is a wagon with A/C for $1500.00.
What more could you ask for?
That’s the spirit!!!!
I saw this car for sale at a swap meet in Tulsa this spring. Looked good enough for me to seriously consider it. I believe the seller wanted $1300.00 for it. Looks like someone bought it and took it to Dallas.
I think this was the 2nd or 3rd car I owned when in high school. Just not the “wagon” version. A 2-door.
I loved my Hornet. Surprise surprise, the rugged straight six moved it along SMARTLY, as the car was light and there were no parasitic loads such as power steering, brakes or air cond. Even the wipers were vacuum. With snow tires it was unstoppable in winter (literally, and figuratively).
All I had to do was upholster the seats — in denim! – and ultimately sold it to a friend for 3-4 hundred. Who wrecked it of course. It…was high-school.
i just bought this car yesterday, Cool little ride. didnt pass everybody on the road but I passed a few. Rust is minimal needs valve cover gasket and exhaust gasket. Drove in home from Dallas to east Texas about 80 miles away.
Thanks for the update and good luck with your new ride!
Car now has new carb, distributor, and bucket seats. Driven almost everyday. Lookin at 4 door sedan for possible 304 swap and stronger rear end. been tempted to swap 5.0 ford motor I have but not really on board for the fab for street driver. Also put 16 inch alloys on it but do not like the look so much, needs wider wheels in back.