1974 was something of a transition year for the AMC Gremlin, which was in its fifth year of production. The Arab Oil Embargo kicked off in October 1973, just as the 1974 model year was beginning, which increased the popularity of small cars in America. Its domestic competition continued to be the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto, while its overseas rivals were the Volkswagen Beetle and an increasing slew of Japanese imports. Like all 1974 vehicles sold in the US, the Gremlin gained giant 5-mph bumpers which did little for looks but made low speed impacts less of an issue. It was also the last year that the Gremlin would be available without catalytic converters, though its six-cylinder engine would still provide a power advantage over its four-cylinder competitors. This 1974 AMC Gremlin, available here on eBay in Waukon, Iowa appears to be in mostly original condition but has suffered the ravages of Midwestern winters.
This Gremlin wears its original Medium Green Metallic paint and white hockey stripes from the X appearance package. Instead of the slotted-styled steel wheels normally seen on that trim level, there are full hubcaps. Could any AMC experts weigh in on whether this is a real X? The seller pitches the car as a survivor, but cosmetically it is in rough shape; both rocker panels are rusted out and all the wheel arches are covered with rust, some of which penetrates the metal. The floors are also rusty. The seller includes some new sheet metal patch panels, but more will probably need to be acquired.
Things get a little better in the interior, which is in decent shape aside from the ripped upholstery on the front bench seat. The rest of it is dirty but looks like it would clean up well, and the dash does not appear to be cracked. There is a rubber floor covering instead of carpeting which again begs the question, “Is this really a Gremlin X?” It has pop-out rear quarter windows which are said to be a rare option. Like the Hornet that it’s based on, the Gremlin has minimal instrumentation, and this one has an inoperable fuel gauge which might have something to do with the original gas tank being bypassed due to rust. Fuel is currently supplied by an “auxiliary tank” mounted in the trunk that looks like it’s made from a beer keg.
The 258 cubic inch straight six fires up and runs a bit rough, as can be seen and heard in a video included in the ad. It would likely benefit from a tune-up and carburetor rebuild. The three-speed automatic transmission is said to shift fine and the non-power brakes stop the car. Front discs were not yet standard on Gremlins in 1974, so there’s a good chance that this one has drums all around. The buyer will get an owner’s manual and Wisconsin title as well as some receipts.
With just three days left in the auction, this crusty old Gremlin has been bid to just over $4000 with no reserve. At the very least, it needs some mechanical sorting out to be a reliable driver. Given the condition of the body, there will be ample opportunity for a new owner to brush up on their welding skills. What would you do with this Gremlin: drive it as-is, do a full restoration, or maybe even a 304 V8 swap?
Already up above $4,000 with work needed inside and under the hood.
I wonder where it will go.
I know where it SHOULD go!
Steve Clinton….
And how….
Much, much more fond of that Olds drop-top in the background…!
Not an X package.
X- Package would have contained the following:
– carpet
– Sport steering wheel
– Bucket seats
– 14×6 8-slot “Rallye” wheels
– contrasting color rear deck cove
– engine callout decal on rear cove
– X emblem on dash and grille
Not to mention, the stripe looks like it was put on by Ray Charles.
Check the door tag to be 100% certain. If real, you would see “GX” stamped next to the paint code on the paint line.
But from what I can see?? That’s not a real X car.
Thank you for confirming what I suspected. That stripe and nothing else made me suspicious.
I likely am a little warped – Gremlins are at the top of my list of favorite classic cars, but the ‘74 – ‘76’s hold the bottom of their run in my book. The green over tan does no favors, and it’s an I-6 column-shifted automatic. Everybody loves somebody, or so it has been said, +$4K for this one? Bless you for saving her!
“There is no problem in life so great that it cannot be addressed with a suitable application of high explosives.”
Seriously, who put US Forest Service Work Vehicle Green in the paint lines that day?
The incorrect placement of the AMC emblem on the rear panel suggests a repaint or an accident.
Can’t say i seen many light green steering wheels & columns!
Are there any new repro body panels for a gremlin or early javelin, for that matter?
Would like to see a dynacorn for early javelin & ’70 rebel, but that’s never going to happen, tho i wonder today who has the original tooling/molds to make more fenders, doors, hoods, qtr panels, etc.
I like the duct tape vac hose fix for the valve cover pcv valve – not a bad idea carrying a roll of such tape in the trunk or glove comptmnt.
Friend had one of these back in the day. He and I were building a 1967 Mustang together back then, his main ride was a 1971 BOSS351 and the “Cruise Bomb”(Gremlin) was his drive to work car. We drove from Southeast Va. to Gainesville Fla in that Gremlin to see the Gator Nationals back in maybe 1981? I figured the “X” was to note a double dose of Ugly added to that hideous thing!
definately not a Gremlin X
Somebody just bought the x stripe decals that are available and stuck them on probably to try to fool a buyer I own an X.
Under the specifics it says Engine 4, what would that be? Can this really go much higher?
If these things had gotten a proper hatch in the back, it might have actually saved AMC. The number one complaint on these was loading the “trunk”. Open the rear glass and try to get the grocery bags in there.(all paper, no plastic!) Then, at home? Try, just TRY to unload them…In all other ways it was no worse, and sometimes better, than the other junk on the market back then. Slighly more $ than a Pinto but a lot bigger car. The big six power caused the car to suffered from wheel hop. It would, however, out run a Pinto while TOWING a Vega…
Even worse was the base gremlin with no back seat & sealed rear window! – though you could throw a lot of stuff behind the front seats!
Lack of a full hatch does provide more structural integrity to Gremlin, i would think, however. I’ll take this gremlin’s setup anyday over trying to load & reach groceries in a older corvette without any rear opening & a very deep trunk to try to reach – even the late 80’s glass only vette hatch is inconvenient to use, compared to say the full hatch on a 3000gt.
& the ridiculous shallow small trunk on the 2nd gen f-bodies was not very friendly to paper bags. lol
My old man who usually bought whatever every two years got my mom a new 73 Gremlin X and in 75 traded for another new Gremlin X.
I beg to differ about hauling groceries….or anything. Both had the space saver. With the rear seat in place a weeks worth of groceries fit perfect in the cargo area. She was 20 min from the store and no issues unloading the paper bags and carton of Pepsi in returnable bottles. Mom loved it for the large opening rear window.
One would have to own one……and actually appreciate it.
A likely contributor to the rough running engine could be a vacuum leak at the PCV hose where it looks to have been patched with duct tape.
The body on this is hardly “winter ravaged”. It’s an almost 50 year old cat from a state that has winter… it needs a little body work.
I owned a 74 Gremlin X a few decades ago. It was 258 three speed manual on the floor. Same color green inside and out with bucket seats. I pulled a power steering unit off a junkyard Hornet and installed it on the Gremmie. I put a lot of miles on that car driving through 9 western states including crossing the Rocky Mountains twice. I really loved that car.
God bless America
thanks 4UR 👍: Hey Again…I took my road test in my parents base model. But owned one in the mid-late 70’s. A deep yellow w/ black trim & navy blue Levi interior – X package, with a manual 3-spd. Looked pretty sharp. I averaged 400 miles weekly back then.. great construction vehicle, easy loading and that 232ci-6 just screamed, yet was great at the pump and cleaned up nice for the weekends Too…..
I purchased a brand new Gremlin in ‘73. Paid $3000 all in out the door.
I hope yours was loaded because
“the ’70 was available as a base two-passenger version with no rear seat and a fixed rear window, at a suggested retail price of $1,879!!!, and as a four-seat hatchback with an opening rear window, at $1,959”.
RUDDIGER you are almost right. Another stander “X” was a silver grill area and the black at the rear light cove. We had a ’73 X brand new in may of 73, drove it from Pittsburgh, PA to Calf. on vacation, Fantastic car. Had the 258 with floor shift 3 speed. I’m not sure what AMCFAN bought but ours was $1950 plus tax & shipping. We loved it so much I keep looking for another ’73 X that I could rebuild to our old one.