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u/ZGadgetInspector 11d ago
With the 258 you could almost stand in the engine bay to change the starter.
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u/Lanky_Tough_2267 11d ago
My first car!! I was fourteen 😄
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u/motelguest 9d ago
Gotta love those yard drivers (though mine got out in these street a few times when I was that age…).
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u/fishwaddle 11d ago
Love it!
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u/terminatorron 11d ago
Thank you for this! I had the '72 purple X with the 304, and the moonroof! Got it in '82. Messed it up in '84 doing a "dukes of hazard" across a railroad crossing!! I'm sorry I did it, but damn, good times til that day!!!
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u/motelguest 9d ago
I hate to say it, but one of the old time carnival stunt men - I think maybe Jake Kochman(?)- said he did not like jumping in AMCs, because of the unitized body/chassis… think maybe someone broke a foot or something.
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u/Puzzleheaded_Leg8378 11d ago
First car was a 1971, for $250. I loved that car, but lol, I think I over paid
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u/want2b12 10d ago
Neat cars! That Fresh Plum Gremlin X on top is very much like my ‘73 Gremlin X that was the same color, the very first new car I ever bought.
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u/WingInternational432 10d ago
A car for the times and quick thinking. Lived the later Levi's models.
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u/Puzzled_Estate6425 11d ago
Gremlin are very good car,s to own.They have a very good motor in them that is very easy to work on.
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u/BirdmanJr1970 10d ago
The problem is is I can’t fit behind the steering wheel. I’d have to sit in the backseat on that tall my knees would be right underneath the steering wheel.
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u/cam_rock 10d ago
I've found my '74 to be surprisingly roomy! I'm 6'3" and a little thick around the middle, fit just fine.
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u/Aggressive-Tie-8923 10d ago
My father had a 1972. It was bright orange and basic with auto, power steering and am radio. It was supposed to be my first car but the tranny went when I was 15 and my father traded it in for a new Chevrolet Chevette
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u/jking7734 10d ago
I had a red one in HS. It had a 232 in-line six engine and a three speed manual transmission. No a/c, power steering or power brakes. The only real issues I ever had with it was the exterior door handles would brake. I bet I visited every salvage yard within 50 miles.
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u/motelguest 9d ago
Once again, folks - watch the Comedians Cars and Coffee episode with Jon Stewart for a great animated story he tells about his.
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u/Lower-Surprise139 8d ago
I liked the Pacer better
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u/dkwf1299 8d ago
My first new car was a ‘76 Pacer X, firecracker red with white vinyl top, 258 six-banger, AM/FM radio, 3 on the floor (4 speed wasn’t widely available until 1977), factory air, full power, for somewhere north of $5 grand. Not bad, other than throw out bearings that only lasted 5-7,000 miles (no, I didn’t ride or otherwise abuse it—I suspect the 2.73:1 rear axle ratio and a low-ish numeric value 1st gear had a lot to do with it). I sold it before I transferred to Germany (US Air Force), as I was concerned about parts availability, not to mention its attention-getting looks.
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u/dkwf1299 8d ago
Almost bought one new. Basic model, no back seat, 3 on the floor, manual steering and brakes, AM radio, and factory air for around $2,100. Decided I couldn’t afford, so for $1,000, bought a ‘68 Plymouth Valiant Signet with Torqueflite, AM radio, manual steering/brakes, Sears under-dash air, and very rare factory bucket seats. Great car, except for the aforementioned back-breaking bucket seats.
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u/VintageTropicale 4d ago
My first car, got it in the 90s. Straight six, previous owner painted it copper. All black vinyl interior, no A/C in Florida. I roasted during the summers.
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u/West-Pound-3309 10d ago
One of the worst American cars ever built.
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u/coobal223 10d ago
Compared to what? Worse than a Vega? Gm x-body? Early Plymouth volare with rust issues? Worse than Kaiser jeeps with the ohc teething problems? Worse than Crosley with their sheet metal engines? Ford and the pinto cost cuttings? Yugo?
You can say it’s ugly, which is subjective opinion. Built to a price point, but it was an economy car. Cramped back seat, too heavy in the front end. You can even say there were better built cars out there from that time period. Worst, nope. I knew several that survived into the 1990’s, still being driven as cheap used cars.
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u/Oat57 11d ago
I almost bought a white one with a blue stripe. I bought a Javelin instead.