We normally see Gremlins with stripe packages like a Gremlin X, or other more fancy-looking models. I can’t remember the last time I’ve seen such a basic looking car of any make than this 1978 AMC Gremlin. This one is listed here on eBay in beautiful Presque Isle, Michigan and there is a single bid of $3,500 but the reserve isn’t met. The seller has a $5,900 buy-it-now price listed.
I’m surprised as to how basic this Gremlin looks. There is nothing here really at all to dress this car up other than those dog-dish wheel caps. There is no extra chrome or trim, no fancy wheels, no stripes or badges, no curb feelers… wait a minute. A few folks always lament the fact that there are no really simple, basic cars out there anymore, well here’s your chance. Albeit, not exactly at a bargain-basement price.
1978 was the last year for the AMC Gremlin, at least by name. The Spirit replaced it in 1979 which came in a “Gremlin-looking” body style but also a sloping fastback model, all with two doors. I’ve never thought of that, I wonder what a Gremlin sedan would have looked like…
Sorry, you were probably hoping for a Photoshop version of a four-door Gremlin sedan. About the only thing I see so far that isn’t a bargain-basement piece is a column-mounted automatic gear selector. Normally we’d see an automatic on the floor but this Chrysler TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic is shifted on the column this time. The seller says that this car is from the south and there is no rust.
Another option, possibly a dealer option (?) is the air conditioning. Cool, literally, although not in this case so more figuratively than literally. It needs a charge. The engine is AMC’s fantastic 258 cubic-inch inline-six and it looks clean. With a two-barrel carb, it would have had 120 hp. The seller doesn’t really say how it runs but if it runs as good as it looks, I’m hoping for the best. Have any of you owned a last-year Gremlin?
Now that is about as plain-looking as you can get! Not even a pinstripe!
Last year Gremlins received the improved dashboard from the Concord in place of the jigsaw-puzzle of ill-fitting plastic pieces used from 1970-1977. The Concord’s digital clock (an exotic piece of equipment in the late 1970s) is conspicuous by its absence. Too bad it looks like the dash was cut up for an aftermarket radio.
The AC looks like the factory setup to me (the same as on Hornets I’ve owned) but it could be a dealer-installed kit which would use the same components. “Needs a charge” means the owner can’t be bothered to track down the leak.
Despite the plain looks it’s probably not a bad driver with power steering and manual front disc brakes.
Although the conversion kits are cheap, maybe if the owner put one in they would change their mind on selling the car?
You know, those are somewhat welcome options, but honestly, these were light cars,and turning wasn’t that difficult, unlike say a certain Mack truck I drove with manual steering, and while disc brakes are superior, quite frankly, I never had any problem with drum brakes, never rear ended anyone,( in millions of miles with drum brakes) and on something like this, It may not be worth the hassle or expense, especially with aftermarket prices increasing daily. Don’t think so? I ordered some turn signals for my cycle from Amazon, the price was almost DOUBLE from 2 months ago, and they are of shoddy build.
The problem with Gremlin manual steering wasn’t the effort required, but tortuously slow 6 turns lock-to-lock gearing. Fortunately this car has power steering as evidenced by the pump showing in the engine photo.
The master cylinder on this car looks like it has different chamber sizes, indicating it has front discs. No power booster, but not really necessary on a Gremlin. (Or Hornet, which owned with this setup.) I really prefer discs, much easier to work on. Wrestling with drum brake springs and adjusters is not my idea of a good time.
Yeah, it was “Sayonara” Gremlin, you served us well. Beat all the US car makers to the punch. Sadly, the world caught up with the Gremlin, and by 1978, it was horribly out of date. I think the Spirit that replaced it was a good car too, just didn’t have the zing of the Gremlin. Wonderful find, and to show future generations, you could actually buy a car without 4 power ports, chilled cup holders, heated seats and suspension control. Life was simple and it didn’t get much simpler than the Gremlin.
Wikipedia describes gremlin as a “mischievous creature that causes malfunctions in aircraft or other machinery”.
Looks like they were not only involved in the “machinery” here but
the design also…
Eeeesh. Yuck. All the visual appeal of an enema bag. Especially in base-model guise like this one. Makes a Yugo look plush in comparison.
Clearly, you’ve never sat in a Yugo. Makes the Gremlin look like a Mercedes S class! A/C is factory. Car was specced for “go” and not “show”. Most if not all Gremlins would have had a column shift if ordered with an automatic. Not even sure you could get a floor shift auto. Possibly by ’78.
The Gremlin was and still is a better buy than a Yugo.
Scotty, your statement about the column mounted shifter being optional got me curious, because I never heard of any car where that would be optional. It looks like it was for the Gremlin, but in 1974, the made the column shifter standard:
1974: Due to the debut of the Gremlin X and its sportier focus, the base Gremlin switched back to the standard column-mounted shifters for either transmission, but keeping the individual seat configuration.
Hmmm, I specifically recall test driving a floor shift very basic Gremlin like this one, the summer after graduation, which would be late1975. Dad controlled the financing, of course, so I had to take him for a test drive also. He said, “it’s like driving a No. 2 washtub – it’s noisy and uncomfortable, but at least you could wash clothes in the tub.” Thankfully, he gave thumbs down to my prospective purchase. Wish he’d controlled the financing on some of my wives before I signed on the dotted line.
Barn Finds today is featuring cars my kids had, when in high school. My son and daughter shared a very clean Gremlin , I fond for $700 bucks. At first they didn’t like it, which I didn’t care, I asked if they liked it better than walking. The interesting thing was all the kids at school loved it, and thought it was really a neat car to ride around in. I think that is probably, still true.
My 74 Gremlin X was floor shifted 3 speed with 258 engine.
God bless America
Thinnest seat back i think i ever seen – helps rear seat legroom.
I was going to say WOW it was ordered with a pair of buckets instead of the goofy standard cardboard bench seat. Either way, these seats look about as comfortable as my folding stadium seat, or maybe my camping stool. No lateral support, and an upright back that That AMC Guy as commented on countless times in the past. FYI my 73 Gremlin came with air…it stayed ice cold but the location of the vents left something to be desired. Either your knees got the chills or the high center vent would blow past your ears toward the rear seat.
1978 American anything cars were junk off the assembly line. I wouldn’t own this thing if it were given to me! $6k? C’mon, what’s the punch line?
I think the punch line would be “SOLD!”.
The 4 door Gremlin was called the Hornet. Same hood, fenders, door…
This is the same car that sold on ebay 2 weeks ago in Ohio for $4300.
Flipper time.
Nobody did a four-door kammback Gremlin, but there was a four-door Spirit. Check out the Mexican VAM Lerma
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cross-an-amc-concord-with-a-spirit-the-lerma/
“working A/C…needs recharging.”
ATTENTION SELLERS: An A/C system that does not blow cold air is not working.
I bought a 78 ten yrs ago. Sun Orange – very NOT subtle so not for the shy! Folks loved it. It was option just like this one. Power steering was overkill, manual disc brakes worked great and 258 is indestructible plus the Mopar 904 tranny (column) is durable too. Since Jeep used the same motor parts are easy and cheap.
This car is priced cheap. You may not like it, I don’t like Mustangs or Camaros. The market for a rust free slope nose Gremlin like this is about $7000.
I own a 78 Gremlin. It was my mothers car. She bought in when it was two years old. So it has been in the family for 40 years. It has the 232 column mounted automatic with the bench seat. It has 88,000 miles on it. For years it was driven to church on Saturday night. 2 miles round trip and to a bar on Friday and Saturday nights. Today it is only driven to car shows. Older people love it younger people don’t know what it is. Not many left. Most went to the crusher. They were a little cheap throwaway car.