The Gremlin was the quirky-looking (and named) car created by American Motors in 1970. Its purpose was to compete against the likes of imports and their soon-to-arrive U.S.-built counterparts. But it was really a compact Hornet with a shortened wheelbase and abbreviated rear end. It sold reasonably well through 1977 after which it morphed into the Spirit (as the Hornet did to the Concord). This 1975 Gremlin “X” (an appearance package) has undergone a mechanical transformation, including gaining a V8 engine where an inline-6 once was. Located in Osteen, Florida, this interesting project is available here on eBay where the first bid of $5,000 is waiting to be cast.
Though positioned against the VW Beetle and Chevy Vega, the Gremlin was heavier, thanks to its Hornet roots and use of a six-banger under the hood. By AMC standards, the Gremlin was a hit, selling more than 670,000 copies in eight years. That success was due – in part – to a shift to more economical cars in the mid-1970s as gasoline prices rose considerably from the golden days of 25 cents per gallon. The car received subtle changes over time, one of those being the addition of the “X” option in 1971 which added some fancy stripes and other visual cues to appeal to younger buyers.
The seller’s ’75 Gremlin X started out with an inline-6, probably the AMC 232 cubic-inch motor. But a 304 V8 has since been added and it’s in the project stage though the recipient of several performance upgrades. It has a 904 transmission which has been tested but not rebuilt. To make the change from I-6 to V8 power, some components were borrowed from a ’77 Hornet AMX, such as a beefier rear-end, V8 rear leaf springs, and front suspension components. Other items have been redone or reconditioned, like the fuel tank and brakes.
The rest of the car is a work in progress, including the interior which is not currently in the auto for the most part. And it lacks a headliner which will have to be custom-made as the form-fitted “cardboard” ones these cars came with are no longer available. The buyer of this Gremlin will be taking home an unfinished project and may have to source some of the parts not seen in the photos. We get the impression this car was being built to race at the time work came to a stop.
And the first comment is waiting to be cast. 5 grand…….good grief. A check up from the neck up required…
All that work, for the 110 or so horsepower that the 304 V8 put out in those years.
He’d have done better to hoist in a Jeep 4.0 six with FI…at over twice the power.
“ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT THE JEEP 4.0!
That thing wouldn’t know what happened to it with all of the torque and horsepower, that’s for sure. With that and a posi, it would be leaving the parking lots sideways and having fun all the way home!
Why do you think they’d stick with the anemic HP V8? Those AMC heads could post some serious flow numbers. Funky port shapes fir sure. Often they were chocked by crappy intakes and exhaust. Open those up and release the hounds! (Or horses…)
Cows. Built in Wisconsin. AMCs had cow power. I’ve had a few and loved them.
If you’re gonna go v8,should of went with a 390 or 401 sourced from a matador.5 grand?im thinking maybe 15 to 1800 tops
I had a 75 Levi’s gremlin, that was a factory 304 with AC. I put in a 1970 amx 390 and a 727 trans. Fun car that ran 12:50s in the 1/4 and was my daily driver for years
Best bang for the buck. CSB 283 or 302. Light weight and high revs.
GODD…… not another gdchevy transplant. All the nonchebby cars that have been ruined and it’s still not enough. High revs? yeah right.
Good luck finding one of those today
Good luck finding a 390/401 in a Matador. Every 401 i have pulled in a junkyard was from a J series jeep. As good as the 4.0 I6 is, a warmed up 360 would blow it away.
If it was meant to race, maybe the engine been worked on at the time when the project stopped. Probably hit a wall after blueprinting the engine.
It’s a pacer before getting super sized. But once thru the automotive styling drive thru , with all those calories turned it into the pacer. And if it wasn’t for the pacer, we wouldn’t have one of the best queen videos of their Bohemian Rhapsody song! Hail Wayne and Doug!
Junkyard might give you $300 and tow it away! I wouldnt pay more than $500 for this clunker. With the engine, trans and rear end change does it even have a drive shaft connected?
I got a 401 that will drop right in. You need the cross member for a six so why would you. Hard work is already done.
The Gremmi needs a Hemi
You’d have to find a wrecked Charger or Challenger, and where would you find one of those?
LOL! Any late model Ram truck. !500, 2500, 3500, Durango, Chrysler 300C… Shall I go on?
My 70 R/T 440 Challenger got humiliated by a Gerbil with a 401.
The guy even had a buddy who sat in the back, so he could get better traction.
I tried to recreate that Gerbil in the 90s, but in the Chicago area Gerbils just turned to Iron Oxide. I lost interest.
Sounds like a lot of cabbage for nothing to show for the missing 5 grand except a dream! On the other hand where is that 454 I had stashes away for thrills? A big block Rat chevy in a gremlin would definitely be the way to go so you get that special reentering earth orbit feeling when it turns in a 9 second quarter mile ! Just don’t loose those heat shields !
Forget the bellybutton bowtie motor. My friend stuck a 440 Mopar in his and it flew. Fairly mild motor and it ran 10’s all day long. Different too.