The Matador wore two hats while in service to American Motors in the 1970s. From 1971-73, it was the company’s line of mid-sized cars. And from 1974-78, it was promoted to full-size status with the retirement of the Ambassador. The latter cars would be the largest automobiles ever built by AMC. Unorthodox in appearance, this 1975 Matador coupe looks to be a solid survivor though it has nearly 100,000 miles on the odometer. Located in Lomita, California, this throwback to another era is available here on craigslist for $10,250. Thanks to Pat L. for another cool tip!
American Motors was never afraid to push the envelope in the styling department. Examples of unusual-looking cars include the Gremlin (1970-78), the Pacer (1975-80 and – in between – the second-generation Matador coupe. It was an aerodynamically styled fastback with pronounced “tunneled” headlight surrounds that would overall serve it well for a time in NASCAR. Believe it or not, the Matador coupe was named “Best Styled Car of 1974” by the editors of Car and Driver. Between 1974-78, AMC rolled nearly 100,000 copies of the Matador coupe out the door.
This ’75 Matador was built at AMC’s plant in Brampton, Ontario, and – for this reason – the seller says the car cannot be sold in California. I don’t know if this is true or not, but I suppose it has something to do with passing emissions standards on the Left Coast. Those of you who are James Bond fans may recognize a similar version of this automobile being predominately featured in the 1974 movie, “The Man with The Golden Gun.” At one point, the car sprouted wings and took flight!
The Matador seen here presents well, especially in the passenger compartment where the two-tone interior is most inviting, though there may be some separation brewing in the fabric. Under the hood resides a 2-barrel 360 cubic-inch V8 engine with an automatic transmission. For the successful buyer who takes possession of this vehicle, it will come with an Arizona title though it’s listed for sale in California.
Perfect for the Man with the Golden Gun.
75 is smog exempt – more likely can’t get it titled. Check paperwork carefully.
I think ‘74 and younger are smog exempt in my Golden State, but I’m ready to stand corrected.
If I didn’t know better, I’d think this might be my ex In-Laws car. Same color, same vinyl top, same interior and same drive train.
Didn’t Pete Malloy drive one? (or was it Jim Reed)?
AND . . . So excited to purchase it ‘brand spankin new’ right from the dealer!!
I remember that episode. i think it was Reed. he was so proud of it in the episode, he had just bought it.
Yes, it was Malloy. At one time Reed had a 1968 brown Ford Fairlane.
Reed also had a ’54 Ford drag car
https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2015/10/01/adam-12-goes-drag-racing-1972
Pete Malloy drove one in season 7 of ADAM-12, and had no end of trouble with it.
Got creased first day on the road, spent more time in the shop than on the road!
Nice application of AMC “Sales-Prevention Brown”
UK wags had one shade British Leyland offered mocked as “Hearing Aid Beige”. It was very common on BL’s cars in the ’70s.
Very ugly shade of brown whatever you call it.
Toyota has the corner on that hearing aid beige color now, with the Camry.
Pray that you never get stuck behind one because they are always driven by someone who should have had their license revoked several years ago.
My folks owned a mid-1990’s Buick that had a very common beige that I called “Persnickity”
Same car/owner who tried to sell it on CL last year for $10,750. Why continue to list it locally when no one can register it there?
Something suspicious about that registration thing.
CA used to charge a “Smog Impact Fee” on cars from out of state until they were told by the courts it was illegal to do so and had to refund the money collected.
From the CA DMV website:
The only vehicles that do not require a CA smog inspection are:
New vehicles less than 4 years old.
Hybrid and electric vehicles.
Gas vehicles model year 1975 and older.
Diesel vehicles model year 1997 and older.
Diesel vehicles weighing more than 14,000 lbs.
Natural gas vehicles weighing more than 14,000 lbs.
Motorcycles.
Trailers.
Lots of cars built in Canada were sold in the US and CA [AMC Premiere for example].
Something’s wrong here.
Do you not need to smog it for “Change of ownership”?
California law says that the seller is responsible for
having a vehicle smogged.
You have to either smog it when you sell it,or have it
smogged every two years if you live in certain counties of CA.
He should list it in Kenosha. Someone there will buy it, even for that money.
I still don’t understand why people say that the Matador coupe is strange looking. I think it is very sleek and beautiful. What makes it so different from the large coupes of the same era from GM, Ford and Chrysler? Other than AMC made theirs much more sleek, aerodynamic and stylish.
The same.
They always looked better un-festooned with “opera” windows and vinyl tops.
Matador two doors still had rear windows that actually rolled down instead of being “fixed” like in GM’s Colonnades.
I suppose a Torino of that era isn’t “strange” ? It’s certainly grotesque.
As then, I would have far preferred a Matador 2 door or Mopar or GM over the wretched excess of that Ford. AMC for the win though.
The bumpers were called “an elegant solution” to the 5 mph mandates in addition to CD calling the Matador the “best styled car of ’74”. Free standing, no horrible plastic and ill fitting filler panels. Sleek.
AMC was not well served by the path it took with it or the Pacer though.
What a shame.
For even more impact, find one that has the ‘Barcelona Edition’ interior that is styled like a Mexican bordello!
Does your wife know you are familiar with what a Mexican bordello looks like? LOL
Touche!
Ole!!
The interior of this one looks sporty enough with buckets, console and 3 spoke steering wheel.
Did they all come like this, or is that some sort of “Sport Edition”?
Buckets & console were optional.
Kind of looks like a PInto that was put into a 500-ton hydraulic press.
“Strangely Styled”
That’s exactly why I love old AMC products. (Marlin, Gremlin, Pacer, etc.)
Old men that drop the beige Buicks also wore matching pants or summertime one piece short sleeve coveralls.
My Dad bought this same car brand new but with a bench seat..Always had hot cars ss impalas Trans am ford fairlanes and his beloved Caddy’s
when he brought it home i was 8 years old i was like Dad what is this where is the Cadillac….LOL
I always never liked this car back then I felt it was a poor mans car….memories
Today To me AMC had some performance in them…Different time Different era different perspective …
Vacuum advance needs to be hooked up for mpg espec today – try full time vac port instead of off idle ported one.
An expert must have wrapped that steering wheel.
This where fugly when came out,then in mid to late 80s there was a pro street one running around Louisville KY was coolest Ever.
These are very seldom seen these days! I’ve always admired the Matador’s sleek, stylish lines – except for those godawful bumpers ruining the looks of the car. If I got one, the first thing I’d do would be to get rid of them. I wonder what Dave Kindig and his crew would come up with?
Five wins in three years with Penske behind the team, and Bobby Allison and Mark Donahue driving. Not much to brag about. Not a fan of the “styling”. One saving grace – KEYSTONES!!!
WOW! A lot of comments on this one! Opinions are like u know what, everybody has one! And my one says these cars are just plain UGLY!
I owned one of these as an everyday family driver . It was a good car .
Looks very clean, the asking price is a little high but not too bad. I never realized the back windows rolled down until Psychofish2 pointed it out and I went back to look at the interior pics, cool. These are stylish in their own unique way and I would gladly park it in my driveway if I could afford it! The buckets and console are an added bonus. The engine looks like it’s been taken care of and the only thing I would change would be the wheels with AMC rallies. Great find!
The thing about CA regulations is that whatever smog equipment is listed for a particular vehicle has to be on the car exactly as stock. so if the Canadian version had a different air pump, EGR or didn’t have a cat in 1975, the car would not be able to be registered in CA