Generally, in modern times, a two-door and a four-door automobile model look pretty much the same; the obvious difference being two more or fewer doors, depending on your perspective. American Motors upset that apple cart in ’74 with their mid-sized Matador; the two different body styles look nothing alike. Today’s discovery, courtesy of Tony P., is a 1975 edition of the Matador coupe, essentially unchanged from its 1974 coupe vs. sedan divorce. This unforgetably styled coupe is located in Lomita, California, and is available here on craigslist for $5,000.
1975 Matador Four-Door Sedan (Example)
Some of you may remember AMC’s advertisements from the seventies; they were standouts for their self-deprecating humor. One successful series centered on the theme of “What’s a Matador,” an identity complicated by the great disparity in design between the coupe and sedan. Here we have two cars, occupying the same mid-sized marketing slot, with the same name, but completely different looks and dimensions. Then again, AMC was a bit like Avis; they had to “try harder” to get noticed and weren’t afraid to push the styling window into questionable territory. Were they successful? Compared to a Chevrolet Chevelle or a Ford Torino, no, but in their own right, AMC sold about 60,000 Matadors in ’75; 22,000 coupes, with the remainder either sedans or station wagons.
As for this example, it’s faded and shows some signs of minor rust, but other than some missing side bump strip, it’s complete. Even the white vinyl top looks to be holding its own. As I always state, styling is subjective, but one thing that’s not helping the cause here are the overt five MPH federal bumpers; some better integration would have gone a long way in ameliorating this car’s overall presentation.
Power for the peculiar, in this case, is a 360 CI V8 engine that originally generated either 175 or 195 net HP, which is not disclosed and doesn’t matter, as this powerplant has been modified. The seller mentions, “engine heads rebuilt, new push rods, new lifters, aluminun (SP) intake, HEI distributor.” We’re also told that the three-speed “Torque- Command” automatic transmission “NEEDS WORK,” so I’d take that at capital face value.
The interior is rather unremarkable in a seventies brown sort of way. It’s actually in decent nick with no indication of vinyl upholstery degradation or a split dash pad…surprising. Even the carpet appears to be fair, just needing a thorough cleaning. Continuing, the door panels are sound, though the driver’s side grab handle is kaput, and the tacked-on storage pouches have become droopy. All in all, it’s completely usable as is.
Weird-looking as it may be, there’s a bottom for every seat, especially when it comes to AMCs; it’s a brand with a dedicated following despite its disappearance from the American auto scene 38 years ago. About a year and a half ago, we covered a very similar car that was in worse condition, with an unmodified motor and an $8,500 ask. This example, at $5,000 is a much better buy in my estimation. Still, what do you think, priced right or not quite?
#Howard
Hi Stan, yep, Pete Malloys car from Adam-12, only his had a 401. Jim Reed made a point of that upon inspection, if I remember, comparing it to the cruisers motors they had then. In the 1974 episode “Krash” towards the end of the series( 1975), sharp observers will note, in the driveway, the car appears to be an “X”, but in the accident scene, it has dog dish hub caps and appears to be a different car altogether. As mentioned, Hollywood isn’t too exact in that area. And no, I’m NOT moving to Hollywood,, :)
Have you ever watched The Rockford Files? In one episode he drives into a parking lot in a 1976 firebird, comes out in a 1974. Watching the movies Bullit in the chase scene he drives past the same car three times, lol.
The Rockford Files is a great show for car spotting. They didn’t pay a lot of attention to continuity of Rockford’s Firebird though. In at least one episode the Firebird transforms between the older round headlights and newer rectangular beams.
There was a car chase in the 1976 episode “The Trouble With Warren” where a Pacer (with Warren driving and Jim Rockford in the passenger seat) is being chased by a Matador police car!
“What’s a Matador?”
“Eat y’self fitter”
(The Fall)(ish)
As a yoot had many AMT kits of the Matador coupe,always left the bumpers off as i felt that was the glaring error in the design.It was a cool car but for those horrendous bumpers.I’d rather see something like the giant 75′ Lincoln or Caprice bumpers as they had over and under heft to them.The Matador bumpers looked like a spare piece of eavestrough slapped on to each end(My Canadian words coming out :P )
Seems the front bumper isn’t out there like say the maverick and comet of the same year. Must a spent $$$$ on tooling stamps and such looking at the more door version. Quirky as it is I kinda like it. Great write-up n presentation. Thank you!
So Bond tell us where are the wings to make it fly ….??
Our family had a 76 Matador coupe brougham. My dad won it for being a Howard Johnson’s manager of the month in Portage, IN. The HoJo’s opened in 1971…just of I-94. We were the last exit off I-94 for awhile as it was still being built.
I offer a conspiracy theory that the Matador stylist lived a second life as the Porsche Panamera stylist…I offer the Panamera as a German 4dr Matador coupe.
My dad had this exact car brand new we were kids we hated it looked like a fishbowl..