In the seventies, my family owned a Gremlin long before it was cool to be seen in one. As a result, I developed an appreciation for the oddly-shaped AMC subcompact during a period when many folks were just laughing at them, especially when my dad would drop me off at middle school in the early morning hours. Nowadays, the laughter has faded, and these have become quite desirable cars among the crowds who dig them. This 1973 AMC Gremlin here on eBay is not only in good condition, but it’s also equipped with the optional “X” package, making it more sporty than just a standard model. This one’s in Hudson, New York, with the current bid of $6,100 still not enough to eliminate the reserve-not-met status.
The traceable history here goes back a decade, and there’s a fun story associated with this one. The seller has listed this Gremlin X for a friend, who opened up an auto business in an old AMC dealership some ten years ago. This mischievously-named auto has served as one of the focal points inside, sitting in an office like a large piece of steel furniture. I can’t help but wonder how many customers have tried to score this car in the past, but at least it’s available now, and hopefully, it’ll be seeing more time on the road soon instead of just resting.
The Gremlin passed down to me began as a bright lime green color, and although I painted it black, the more bold AMC hues actually worked pretty well on these bodies. The window sticker confirms that this one was born wearing the Fresh Plum finish outside, which might be my favorite color choice from the palette roster. The seller mentions that this Gremlin has received a respray, and it’s a plus that the stripes originally included with the X package were reapplied.
Springing for an available V8 turned the Gremlin into a hot little hatch, and while it would be great to find that under the hood here, this one is equipped with an inline six. However, it’s the larger of the two, measuring in at 258 cubic inches rather than 232. A 3-speed manual transmission was standard, and that’s how this one is equipped, with the seller noting that this car starts, runs, and drives. One mechanical component that’s listed as new is the carburetor, which is of the 1-barrel variety if it was replaced with a stock part.
The X also featured some fun stuff inside, such as a pair of buckets and a sports steering wheel. The front seats have been reupholstered, and other than losing that gray cup holder console, I’m not really spotting much else that’s screaming for any attention at this time. This one seems like a fine example overall, and it will be interesting to see if the reserve is met and where that amount has been set. Any thoughts to share on this plum-colored 1973 AMC Gremlin X?
This Gremlin X checks off a lot of boxes. I do agree a V8 and a 4 speed would really make this little AMC scoot, I think the whopping $51 spent on the 258 was money well spent. And the floor shifted 3 speed is fine by me. As I’ve said before……. You only need 3 speeds, Slow, Medium, and Fast. I remember this color from back in the 70’s. I have to admit, I remember it older and faded on many AMCs, but fresh and with a good shine on it, it looks great. I agree with you Mike I think its one of my top favorite AMC colors from the 70’s. And the white stripes and rims make all the difference from a plain base model. The $319 was money well spent. When I was a kid, these Gremlins were unfortunately not very respected by many either. They were everywhere, and really just viewed as basic transportation for the most part. But now, a lot of people have a whole new appreciation for them. Including me. I like that they have the window sticker saved and shown in the Ebay ad as well. I enjoyed your write up Mike.
Just since this post was published about an hour ago, the price has already almost doubled- it’s now $11,888! The reserve is off, and I’m eager to see how far this amount climbs over the next four days!
I’m not surprised. As they always say to try to buy the best one you can find. Well……. Here you go. You couldn’t restore one for that price or more. This one is just incredible, the more I look at it, the more I appreciate the condition of it.
I agree with your comments. A v8 would be nice but being a manual is cool. The color combo and rims are the coolest I have seen on a AMC so far. My grandpa had a 1973 2door Hornet hatchback bought new the year I was born only with a automatic and the same color combo as this car. The heater, cluster, and radio all look the same. His was an auto on the floor with a 232 six and had full bullit type hub caps.
Up to $9100.00, and still rising. Goes to show that a nicely preserved car that doesn’t require a lot or restoration is still in demand.
I like this presentation, the color fits the car and it is bold and quirky. Something that cant be said about modern offerings.
Nice originals or recently refreshed are the ones to buy… projects are for the birds and the young who have time but not money…. I was young 50 years ago and redid an MGA over a winter.
Well folks,my dad knew the owner of the local Rambler dealer in our town of 55k in South Jersey and my brother and I both got 72′ Gremlin X’s.Mine was Wild Plum- gold sripes, 258/6 with 3-speed,my brother’s was Green – white stripes 258/auto and both got dealer installed air.I only drove mine a year,but my brother put over 100 k on his and when he became blind my dad sold it.
That sure is a pretty color. I’m glad to see the Gremlin getting the love they deserve.
It is good to see a nice one. In the rust belt the lifetime of a Gremlin waa not very long. With 3 puddles this is one to purchase. If I win the lottery I will have one. In the meantime it is fun to read.
Yes looks great, they could have cleaned the interior a bit.
These cars were poopooed originally because of the heavy six cylinder which was not in the original concept.
“ I see a plum car and I want to paint it black”
What a great repaint , thank goodness!
Another great find !
Myself an “early adopter”, I have loved these since I was little, (and I was ridiculed for my “tastes”). ‘70 -‘73 are the years you want, IMO, and in these “funky” colors, and with a manual, what’s not to like?
Had a red ‘72 in college and knew when it sold almost instantly that I was making a mistake in selling it. Still miss it. Great write-up, great find!
This is a cool ride. I would pull the 6 out. Drop in a stout 401 with 4 speed and wheelie bars out back. And… have fun sitting on the rear wheels. That would be such a hoot!!! Ahhh to be young again and with money! 😂😂
Who do you think you are, Brian Ambrosini?? ( the Gremlin wheelie king)
hopefully he stays away from those snap on warehouses
Yes old man I am!!! 😂😂🚗
True story: My Dad (6′-6″ / 325#) umpired school athletics. One day, a much smaller friend of his who owned a new Gremlin, picked him and another umpire at the house. My Dad got in the back seat. That car was rubbing on the rear tires and looked like it doing a wheelstand. All three (3) umpires got into my Dad’s Impala wagon and went to the game. The Gremlin was left there. LOL.
Yugo of its era?
Versa?
~
It may be ‘just a Gremlin’ to some people but to me has always had a special place in my eclectic (and probably warped) automotive heart.
Back when I was in high school in the early 1970’s my first car was a rusty beater 1965 Mustang convertible. 289 that burned more oil than gas, but at $240 was what I could afford. After a couple of years saving from part-time jobs I was ready to step up to a car my girlfriend wouldn’t be embarrassed to be seen in.
I’ve always admired AMC. They were the plucky underdog of Detroit. Never had the resources of the Big Three so they had to be scrappy, smart, innovative, and figure out how to compete and do things a little differently on a budget.
Like the Gremlin. They couldn’t afford a completely new compact car platform (like the Pinto or Vega) so they sawed off the back end of a Hornet and presto! Instant new compact car. The tried and proven venerable straight-6 engine helped it stand out, plus the quirky styling was fun. How could you go wrong with a car named ‘Gremlin’?
I found a 1971 Gremlin X for sale very similar to this car. Same Plum paint, 258 and 3 speed on the floor (the one I found also had purple upholstery and a bench seat). I had visions of all the glorious trips to the local drive in theater with the love of my life, way too good for me girlfriend at the time (who left me a few years later), and that beautiful purple bench seat… It was also surprisingly fun to drive with the torquey ‘big 6’ engine and 3 speed (hey, you have to judge cars like this by the standards of the time, not today’s).
The guy wanted $1200, would take $1100, but the most I could barely scrape together was $900. No sale.
I ended up buying a 1971 Pinto for less money, came to my senses a few months later and bought a 1969 Mustang Fastback (Sports Roof). But I never forgot about that Plum Gremlin, and have trolled the classifieds ever since looking for one.
This one’s close enough, but the bidding has already reached $14,000 and will certainly sell for more. My wife would kill me if I spent that much…
My wife Anna, who was born in 1951, did not obtain a New Jersey driver’s license until 1983. At the time, we had two vehicles, a ratty 1963 Chevrolet Impala convertible which she never wanted to drive because it was ‘TOO BIG” and what was left of my original 1969 AMC Hurst SC/Rambler, which she couldn’t drive because it was a stick shift. Well I found a used 1974 Gremlin that I think I paid $900.00 form and that was the vehicle that she used to take ‘AND PASS’ her New Jersey State driver’s license exam. I mention that because a New Jersey State Driver’s Test requires that the person taking the test ‘PARALLEL PARK’ and that Gremlin did not have POWER STEERING.
I’d love to have this but at 87 it’s a little to late. I bought a brand new 1972 Gremlin like this it was called wild Plum color. It had a v8 3 spd. W/od a very rare combo. It would really scoot. I was 34 at the time and kept it a few years until I had to get a station wagon for our family car. Loved the little car , but took a lot of ribbing for it. Still good memories.
In the 70s there was a green one with a v8 and four speed in Southern NH It had Cragars and was called Little Green Sneaker
Here’s another perfect example of odd=kaCHING, and there’s no way the bidders could possibly know what an important car this was in ’73, it just looks plum(b) weird, and I suppose if AMC is to be remembered at all by this, so be it. As the self proclaimed BFs wet blanket, we have 1,126 viewers, and “only” 37 bids, meaning almost 1,100 people that bailed,( because of the stick?) and probably only a couple high end car dealers that aren’t concerned with the stick, just have $ signs in their eyes, and will quadruple the price. I’d bet the farm on that, if I had a farm to bet, that is. Such an unusual find in this condition, the temptation for these vultures will be too great. I’ve watched a lot of TV auctions and NEVER saw a Gremlin. Still an amazing find.
I know, just doing my duty as a wet blanket, but really, it’s nothing special, people, I have the credibility to say that, we shipped them out by the trainload, in this case, what, S.Dakota? This one is the 33rd Gremlin on the 2nd level,,,
https://www.jenx67.com/2024/01/pictures-of-the-amc-gremlin-car.html
It’s sharp. The plum colour makes it. Beauty ride.
My ’73 X stickered at right around 3k. That was with the air conditioning package that included power steering, tinted glass and an under hood mat. A friend and I drove it from Oklahoma to Alaska in the spring of ’74. My dad insisted we take along a full size spare, since the Gremlin just had a temp that you had to inflate. Didn’t use it, though. We were gone a month and I spent less than $500. Good times.
Man, this cool but I’m in the “Could’ve had a V8” crowd. The last time I saw a gremlin it was a purple gremlin with really nice fat, rear tires, and a V-8 in it. Was in a car show and it was my favorite car out of all the cars there! Just such a unique car and when you get a V8 in one of these little hatchbacks, it definitely qualifies for being called a hot hatch!
The first time I saw one of these was at the Chicago Auto Show. I instantly fell in love with the car. (I was in high school then and the auto show was an annual treck for Dad and I) When I got back to work on .Monday (half day school and the balance of working at a NAPA parts store) I told everybody about the Gremlin. (Being in Northern Illinois there’s a great AMC following) One of the guys that I worked with was getting married soon and seemed really interested. Which confused me since he had a fairly new 1970 SS 396 4 speed Chevelle. The follow Monday he showed up in a brand new Gremlin X 258 3 speed. He and Jane named the car Malcom. They were very pleased with the car and the deal. They had traded in the Chevelle, the dealer paid off the loan, they got the Gremlin and cash back. Good way to start a marriage with a new car and no bills. The marriage lasted about as long as Malcoms front fender with terrible rust. (3 years?)
I have one of the 40 plus thousand that have the 304 and I can assure you that it really doesn’t translate to big $$$ .
I enjoy it a lot and usually the only one around.
SOLD for $17,100.
46 Bids.