By the end of the 1960s, the venerable Rambler American was about out of gas (its design dated to the 1950s). So American Motors somehow ponied up $40 million to design an all-new compact using a Hudson nameplate, the Hornet. The car was in production from 1970 to 1977 before morphing into the Concord/Eagle for several more years. This 1972 edition looks to be in great shape and may want for nothing but a new home. From Hope, Texas, this 2-door Hornet is available here on craigslist for $9,500 OBO, and trades are not out of the question.
Changes were few going into 1972, and American Motors was able to attract buyers to the showroom with its comprehensive “Buyer Protection Plan”. It was a 12-month/12,000-mile plan, which was a big deal in those days but pales by today’s 100k-mile warranties. You got a free loaner car if yours was in the shop for more than one day. AMC was banking on outselling the competition on the basis of quality.
The seller’s car is another for sale with limited details and photos. We’re told the inline-6 runs well, but we’re left to assume its displacement is 232 cubic inches. An automatic transmission is along for the ride, and there is no mention of other features (except that we’re told no A/C). The tires are newer and ride on Cragar aftermarket rims.
This Hornet presents nicer than its 95,000 miles, so perhaps the paint and interior have been redone at some point. It looks like a sweet ride that won’t break you at the gas pump (which was only about 30 cents per gallon when this sedan left the factory). A cheaper way to get into car collecting? Once again, Rocco B. delivers when it comes to tips!
Mags looking good on the Hornet 🐝
I can’t even see Dixons profile portrait anymore 😲 🖼 lol.
Yeah, not sure what happened to my profile pic either.
Strange.
I know they are sourced from a specific location, but I can’t remember where.
Yeah, same here. I originally thought it was just me or my phone doing something goofy.
I found a spot under my Profile to upload a photo, so I did. It still does not show up.
One of the plugins that makes those photos work is having issues. Hopefully we have it figured out soon.
Begging for a SC/360 clone. Many a Mustang and Camaro got their doors blown off by one of them loud Ramblers, Chrysler, not so much. The Hornet was one of the most successful of all AMC cars. With over 671,000 Gremlins alone, and over 860,000 Hornets, it was the most popular since the old Rambler Classics with over a million of those sold. Yes sir, we in MilwauKenosha were mighty proud of the Hornet. Sadly, it went downhill from there. Wonderful find, they were great cars.
Luckily, Hope Texas is not near the flooded part, Jeez Louise,,,what a mess.
Check out this blue ribbon Hornet Howard. Absolutely amazing 🏁
https://youtube.com/shorts/ln6oIDaGVpI?si=vJE5zvvACxhUwJnL
The likelihood of anyone encountering 1 of the only 784 of the SC/360s made(or 1 of the 697 ’69 trans ams) was extremely rare. I never saw either on the street & only in the last 10 years saw 1 of each at car shows – not sure if they were even the real thing.
In my opinion, the oem radiator grill is the only thing that makes this car not as “easy on the eyes” as it could be.
Other than that it is a good looking car, the general shape is not that far from that of a mid 60s Mustang with a trunk.
Point taken about the grill/front-end treatment here, but IMO it’s still one of the best looks that any variations of this model ever got, second only to the final Concord/Spirit/Eagle four-eyed front end.
Cragars? Hood pins? Plain Jane interior? No AC? Six and a slushbox? It’s like some kid inherited his grandmother’s Hornet and put on a set of mags with his graduation money. I’d restore it to stock, dog dish hubcaps and all. Oh, and be sure to do a deep cleaning on the back seat.
Cool looking Hornet. Wheels really make the car.
Nice looking car overall, but six cylinder with automatic, no AC, standard back-breaking bench seat with no recliners, no underhood photos, no chassis photos, hardly any photos. Hopefully has power steering? (I’m more partial to the later front-end styling but that may be because that’s what the Hornets I’ve owned had.)
Could be a solid base for upgrades but priced way too high as it sits.
Most smaller Amer cars back then on the road were not ordered with expensive a/c.
& p/w & reclining seats were not even available on most smaller cars, except the latter on some AMCs.
Here’s an AMX for Howard.This was at a local Chevy dealer
just North of Rocky Mount,& it was FOR SALE.
Thanks, but everything is for sale, it seems. If “Rocky Mount” is within a 30 mile radius of me, otherwise I’ll have to pass.
Do you recall what it was going for?
While the AMC warranty was novel, it was Chrysler in 1965 that blew us all away with their,,”5 long years, or 50,000 miles,,,whichever comes 1st”. 10,000 miles a year? Never happen.