Normally we try to eliminate gremlins from our automotive endeavors, but anyone who appreciates a turn-key sleeper should take a digital moment and check out this 1973 AMC Gremlin. Essentially a bob-tailed Hornet, the compact Gremlin put another impossible-to-ignore Ostrich feather in AMC’s quiver of lovable oddball vehicles. This truncated two-door in Loomis, California features a built Chevy 350 cid (5.7L) V8 and other upgrades all hidden beneath a stock red wrapper. As we go to press, the No Reserve listing here on eBay has attracted an opening bid of $8300. That’s right, folks, this red-hot AMC will sell to the highest bidder.
It’s a shame that the super-practical hatchback has become synonymous with “low-budget” in America, because they’re great for jamming large objects in what looks like a smaller vehicle. The hatchback on my’84 Dodge Colt GTS Turbo could swallow a decent-sized table or Ottoman that would never fit through the doors. The stock rolling gear really sells the sleeper look on this tiny coupe.
It’s a rare treat these days when a car’s seller actually knows something about the car! In this case you can talk / chat directly with the builder and get your questions answered before casting a bid. Described as a “toy,” this Gremlin could definitely be fun to play with in a Stoplight Gran Prix, especially if the “Flowmaster” mufflers are “50s,” a less beastly-sounding model. A GM TH350 three-speed automatic transmits power through a custom driveshaft to a trusty 3.55-cogged Ford 8.8″ rear end. Suffice to say roasting the tiny white-walls should require minimum effort.
The automatic and the column-mounted tachometer suggest the builder favored mostly straight-line acceleration, or at least the look of a weekend strip warrior. The front seats appear to wear low-budget covers, and credit the seller for showing a tape-covered tear in the back seat. Details like that suggest you might get accurate answers to your questions compared to so many “flippers” who don’t know about the car and don’t want to know about the car. Otherwise there’s not much to complain about inside the hopped-up Gremlin. How would you play with this quirky red toy?
Oh! The fun I’d have, the places I’d go, the things I’d see! I LOVE a nice ‘Q’ ship, and it looks as though this one fits that bill perfectly! GLWTA! :-)
Could have went with a 390 our 401 ,but steel 😎
Back in the day, since AMC engines are all the same, the engineers dropped a hot 390 and 4 speed into a Gremlin.
When they banged second gear, the rear axle came out from under the car!
You can heat things up, but don’t forget to reinforce everything else.
Remember the famous LO23 Hemi Darts? With good slicks they bent the rear quarters.
did you see this happen, or did you read this, if you read this can you direct me to the publication you read this in, i have a gremlin with a transplant 401, and when i bang second gear it breaks the tires loose, but nothing breaks or flys out. im no engineer, but it seems silly that a engineer would not know this would happen
Since there was no internet at the time, the “legend” may have come from one of the many car magazines I used to read. No matter what, applying serious torque to components not intended for it is never a good idea.
ive seen you post this story at least three times, each time the story changes, the rear axle components are fairly beefy on a leaf spring amc car, unlikely what you are claiming is true
Well, since you’ve obviously debunked the automotive myth by actually doing the deed I humbly defer to you.
I love it,, had a light blue X that I did the same thing to. I would buy it in a flash if it was closer
I had a light blue 73 X too when it was a year old. It was a fun little car to drive but had absolutely no traction with very little weight in the back. It would get stuck in an inch of snow.
I’ve owned several Gremlins, including the first ’70 sold in my town. Gremlin has a 20 gallon gas tank. Keep it full in the winter and it’s the same as tossing a couple of 70lb sandbags in the back end. And a lot more convenient. It really helps with winter traction. I drove my ’70 for three years as a daily driver in Nebraska with trips to New Mexico. Plenty of driving on snow and no worse than any RWD car.
Actually, keeping the tank full is good advice with any RWD car.
Nice build, but I must admit I was disappointed to see a transplanted Chevy V8 as opposed to a factory AMC 304.
I have a fully restored 1974 Gremlin X, complete with it’s rebuilt original 304. Fun little ride!
Perhaps that orange Camaro lurking in the garage speaks of this man’s true loyalties.
Check out his ebay seller name.
Very cool sleeper, down to the hubcaps.Nice looking workmanship. Roast a rice rocket today!!! Good luck to the new owner!
Cheers
GPC
Gas pump. Be careful while attempting to roast a rice rocket in my neck of the woods. Not sure what you have. Definitely won’t happen with the Gremlin here I can assure you. Never knock a 2.0 or even a 2.4 cylinder. They are local and making 750 and 1000 horsepower at the wheel respectively.
As far as this Gremlin it looks nice. From the opinion of someone who would know maybe not so much.
From what I see the Gremlin X stripes are reproduction. They are 1972 and go above the wheel flare on the flat part of the fender. The tail panel isn’t painted to match.
Gremlin X package came with Rally wheels. I would say the hubcaps are original which indicate the car started as a base. If a 304 would have an H in the vin. The 304 cars had an option for torque links. A mount clamped to the axle housing and mounted to the frame rails. Just like on a two seat AMX. It put wheel hopping and axle twist in check. I would question the suspension and driveline install.
Interesting had this conversation with a guy who has a Rambler with a locked motor. He wants to pull it and put in a Chevy. It’s fine but at the end of the day when you attempt to sell it (I know those who intend on keeping forever) Chevy guys won’t want it because it isn’t a CHEBBY. No self respected AMC enthusiast would want anything else but an AMC in the engine bay.
Take that for what it is worth.
Great commentary, AMC fan! What else can an ol grey hair like me do, you have to have something to knock. What I liked about this is its different.Maybe an SBC was all the guy had laying around! There are 8 different clubs that host the Rhinebeck spring dust off in may, here in NY. They got together and discussed having imports, lo riders, etc in a separate show class. These are the hotrodders of the future. A section of the show now has a class for imports, lo riders, etc. Ground rules were set like the rest of the show concerning loud music, etc. Everyone shows and has a great time. I ran a Dragstrip reunion in PA at an abandoned strip, Closed in 1972. I had no year of manufacture cutoff. Everyone welcome. Had a few guffaws when some imports showed up. Gave them some trophys. Everyone happy!
Sorry this is OT. Be nice to everyone!
Cheers
GPC
But how well does it go in the corners?
How well did any Gremlin corner? This is a stoplight fun machine. I’d take out the 350 and install a 434! Banzai!
As an AMC owner and liker this would blend into my life quite well, be prepared to get a dose of ” Engine MUST stay AMC! ” but it doesn’t bother me. I do however winder if the matching Camaro in the garage is sporting a 401?
im 99% sure this is the same car I saw at hot august nights last year. the guy had a really hard time starting it and it wouldn’t idle. the engine was out of tune so bad it sounded terrible.it didn’t get much attention
I was at Mecum auction in Kissimmee Florida in January and a 74 gremlin went for $34,000
Have a strong feeling that $8300 is a shill bid in hopes to start some action. Therefore I say we’ll see this one relisted again down the road soon enough.
Had the same thought. Bidder has 0% positive feedback and the only bid in the last 30 days is this car. Nice car, appears well put together, but appeals to a small target audience. Can’t see $8,300 for it. Bet it’s relisted.
Gaspump, Stating the obvious in several areas. I critique even good AMC’s. Hopefully it may help someone who has no idea on what an AMC even is but think they look cool. Nothing hurts the hobby more then a noob getting something that looks pretty.
I see many incorrectly restored AMC’s and that may be in part at the lack of parts. The builder could have easily sourced a 304/360 from any AMC passenger car or Jeep. Not hard. He didn’t do himself any favors here.
It’s great your club welcomes imports. We attend a few of those events just to feel like we are intruding and believe me we feel unwanted. The local cruise in our group never gets a door prize. The older domestic owners keep to their group and you can feel trouble in the air. The organizers put us in our area too!
Interesting you mentioned music. The easiest way to keep younger guys from your show is keeping the 50’s music going on or playing solid country. I am old. I hate it. I like now music. I have been there done that and don’t wish to go back. People are bring new Camaros,Mustang’s and Challenger’s. At least have 90’s music. Part of the low rider tuner culture is high powered stereo’s.
I agree it’s all fun.
I have no problem with a sbc in place of a amc motor of any displacement. I’ve had bad luck with these motors, my father in law gave my daughter a wagoneer with a 360. One day she is just driving down the street , car dies, motor is locked up. Then in my 1981 cj 7 jeep which came from factory with a 304cid, last year for a v8 in a cj, I’m driving out in the desert about 10 miles an hour, motor dies, it gives no indication of a problem, not hot, good oil pressure, just quits, motor is locked up. The 304 was sold and a 350 Chevy installed problem solved. There seems to be an engineering design flaw with the oiling system.The pick up is at the rear of the block conections the oil galley that travels almost the length of the block then to a external oil pump bolted the timing chain cover over time this galley becomes clog with sludge and just like a clog artery in our body its all over. To this day I wouldn’t give a plug nickel for any amc v8.
I just don’t understand why the general public hated the old AMC brand of forward thinking automotive creations? Does anyone here can recalled the Toyota Corolla FX16? It’s smaller version of the Gremlin and it sold well. The “FISHBOWL” Pacer- the Granddaddy of the Porsche 928? Also they had pretty funny commercials as well Too bad, this car is too far away from me, I would have check this out if it was closer!
In 1974, the local AMC dealer dropped a 403 in one of these, auto with lake pipes, and brought it to an SCCA sponsored parking lot autocross in Charleston, SC. Sounded great, shot off the line, wouldn’t turn at any speed over 10 mph. Collected about 12 cones, came back and decided that they had built a dragster, not an autocrosser. Fast forward to about 1986,, my eldest son had purchased a 75 red Gremlin for $100. Some would now call the finish of the paint patina, I called it sueded. Rough, almost fuzzy. When he tried to start it one afternoon, with a garden hose in the radiator because he kept losing coolant, it refused to start and water gushed out the tail pipe with each engine revolution. He needed some “recreational” money that day, discussed it with some buds and decided that $15 would provide him enough “recreation” for a day or so. Of course the head gasket on the 232 six was non-existent between numbers 3 and 4 and it was just acting like a big pump! I drained 5 gallons of stuff, mostly clean water, with some black oil and grey whipped something or other, out of the crankcase, replaced the head gasket, circulated some straight 30 weight (two changes without starting it) and drove it for a couple of thousand uneventful miles, no smoke, no awful noises and no oil consumption, until someone needed it more than me and gave me $600. Someone once said: “The uglier you are, the longer God lets you live.” Every now and then I see a Gremlin like the one listed here and wish that I had kept mine to be hot rodded. It even had functioning A/C!
It has ’72 stripes on it.
Save your dough for a V8 Levi X