I would be in trouble if I ever won a big lottery. I would collect cars like this 1974 AMC Hornet and I would open up a free museum to show these nice, old, regular survivor cars. This super solid Hornet can be found on Craigslist, or here on the CL Archive, and it’s located in Perry, Michigan. The seller is asking what seems like a very reasonable $3,850 for this one. Thanks to Pat L. for tracking down yet another jewel of a find!
Yep, this is what I would collect. Sure, I’d have a wing with a few classic Lamborghinis and Ferraris but the vast majority of my collection would be cars like this Hornet. Most people today would want the highest-spec AMC Javelin with a 401 V8 and 4-speed or the equivalent Ford, Chevy, Dodge, etc. Not me, I like these regular cars, ones that used to be everywhere and now they are rarely seen anymore. I wouldn’t even mind if nobody came to see them, even with a free admission to my Scotty G’s Regular Ol’ Car Museum. I love them and at this point in my life that’s really all that should matter to any collector.
This car “shows 40,000 miles, not documented, however the condition of the car supports the mileage.” There aren’t enough photos for me, there never are, but from what is shown it sure looks like a nice example. They don’t mention rust at all but it if was driven in Michigan in the winter at all it should have some rust on it or under it or somewhere. I’d want to see the underside and the details – behind the wheels, bottoms of the doors and fenders, etc. But what a great looking car. It’s not perfect, there are a few nicks here and there but overall it looks super solid.
The Hornet came in a station wagon, a hatchback coupe, a four-door sedan, and also a two-door sedan like this example. I’m a big wagon fan but there’s something about these notchback two-door sedans that gets to me. There is just one interior photo unfortunately, but they have provided a photo of the trunk and it looks fantastic with nice gaskets and the jack instructions on the underside of the trunk lid. “Nice original interior, new tires, good brakes, can drive anywhere.” And, it’s a 3-speed manual column shifter; cool. There is no engine photo, again unfortunately, but it’s a 232 cubic-inch inline-six with 100 hp. Sure, a 175 hp 360 V8 would be great but in my museum there is no exclusionism based on engine size – all cars are welcome. Have any of you owned a Hornet?
These were common school district or gov’t cars in California up until the late 80’s. They were considered uncool at the time but looking at it now I can’t believe how great this design looks (to me)
I had a ’78 Hornet. An old C&P Telephone car, the company stripes spray painted over white to match the car. It had a 6 cylinder, auto, no A/C or anything. It did have positive traction. It was a solid, dependable car, I liked it.
I had a 1974 hornet in college. Had a V8 with a powerglide. Man did that car get up and go. Wish I still had her.
Never gave these a second thought when they were everywhere. Now, I like them. Would love to have this.
Nice, well-priced entry-level collectable for someone. Simple and easy-to-maintain, it would be a nice addition to anyone’s collection.
Base-model cars have had a following for decades. I remember ‘Old Cars Weekly’ had a series on the genre back in the mid-1970s.
Admittedly, I’d prefer a similarly equipped Sportabout or Gremlin, if I was in the market for another AMC product.
I was parked next to that car at ab AMC meet last August. Its a nice low miles car. I cant believe its not sold
My parents brought me home from the hospital in a green 4 door. Always had a soft spot for these as such.
Had several of these and loved every one
of ’em! Too bad the rust monster got all
but one of them–my ’82 Concord wagon.
Most of the Hornets I had were powered
by the 258 big six and were automatic cars. Only one of the cars had the smaller 232 six cylinder engine, and that
was the first one I lost to the rust monster after he destroyed so much of
the frame which made the car unsafe to
drive. This car looks great and wouldn’t
mind flying up to Michigan and driving
it back to my home in Winter Haven Fl.
Here, it could spend the rest of its days
as a pampered daily driver.
A looooong time ago, my wheels to the senior prom were a Hornet. Back then, it was called a Hudson.
Great find! Love that it is a two-door, and the even scarcer three-on-the-tree. Usually when these come around, they are four-door automatics. Keep them coming.
The one feature that’s always spoken to me, is the flush exterior door handles; that one detail makes me believe these were well thought out vehicles, despite being ‘entry level’. The two-door sedan is the sharpest IMHO, throw on a set of white walls and this one is perfect!
Had a ’73 hatchback. Great basic transportation. I got creative and put air shocks and 60’s on the back. Looked really cool.
I’ve had a few Hornets over the years, one of which had the same color interior. This one looks like a very basic model – no AC, no radio, three-on-the-tree, standard bench seat (probably no recliners), most likely manual steering and drum brakes. Looks great though, and these are simple cars that are easy to work on. It’ll have breaker-point ignition (GM Delco distributor) since AMC did not have electronic ignition until 1975. Mechanical parts for these cars are still readily available. Body and interior parts can be a problem but this one doesn’t look like it needs much.
One thing to be aware of is the base seats in these cars are about the worst you’ll ever encounter. Slippery as heck and with zero back support, or any support really. Another is that AMC manual steering is very slow, 6 turns lock-to-lock. Lots of wheel winding required!
Fortunately for AMC fans many generic parts are shared. You could swap those seats.
Also their steering columns and boxes are GM Saginaw so you could swap to a better ratio if you really hate it. For example the Javelins use the same columns as the camaro’s and firebirds. The end shaft might have to be adjusted but they swap well.
Ahh, yes. A 1970 2-door Hornet. 232ci automatic. Blue w/ an Am radio. It was my mom’s car actually, but drove the hell out’s that thing! My friend’s Chevy Vegas didn’t stand a chance!
Tell you what, judging by what Scotty presents to us ( undisputed king of oddballs) I’d be the 1st in line to attend “Scotty G’s Regular Ol’ Car Museum”, because it would be anything but. Heck, I’d even become a supporting member of said institution. The imagination reels as to what would be there. This is a great car. Shows there was( and might still be) a call for no frill cars like this. Like the Henry J or Studebaker Scotsman, basic point A to B wheels. These roundhead car makers discontinuing cars in favor of trucks and SUV’s, maybe if we had new cars like this to buy, be a different story. One simply can’t go wrong here.
I like the cars. (2 doors and the Sport-A-Bout wagon) I guess I need to buy one so that I can check off a bucket list. Which is, I WANT TO SEE A SPORTABOUT WAGON OR HORNET WITH THE FENDER WELLS FULL OF TIRE! It just seems like such a waste of space. And I think that it would look cool!
Anyone else? Am I the only weird tire person out here? (a little lowering to go with the fat tires would go a long way also)
We raced a Horner fastbcak in 2 24 hours of Lemons races. Cheated a little in the second one. 4 speed, discs and posi rear end from an AMX. Allowed us to abuse the 232 more. Never Lost a drop of oil or water. Got so we never opened the hood on pit stops.
I’ve never owned a Hornet, but grew up in an AMC household—Mom bought a burgundy Pacer wagon brand new in ‘76, and Dad a silver Hornet hatch in ‘77. Dad traded the hatch in for a ‘77 F150 about two years later, and Mom drove the wagon until trading it in for a ‘78 Concord hatch, retiring it in about 1987. It sat in the backyard and became my first car for $1 in 1991, with a severe case of rustititus (due to our horrid Canadian winters), and I owned it for about 6 or 8 months before selling it to my Dad for a buck. He then proceeded to have it fully restored (new rockers, front fenders, extensive metal work in the rear quarters, paint and pinstriping, new vinyl and carpet). It’s a 258 4-sp, blue with blue and white vinyl interior—all new upholstery on front and rear seats, original door panels, dash and headliner. It’ll never win a drag race, but it’s such a fun car to drive. I haven’t seen another one like it in the flesh in more than a decade, not surprising, considering they only sold about 5,000 in ‘78-79 before discontinuing the hatch.
I’d make the trip and pay to get into that museum, Scotty.
Aside from AC and [depending on how well the manual offering shifts] auto, a standard, base vehicle has everything I need.
Such a 70s color, which seems to be coming back BTW. Love this Hornet.
The LeMay Collection in Tacoma Washington has a great collection of regular cars, bicycles, mini bike, trucks, and race cars. They also have interactive kids displays and a nice slot car track. They have a green screen photo booth where you sit in a 20’s Buick. Awesome place