Car Lust--AMC Gremlin X
It's hard to be a fan of the AMC Gremlin. Not only was it an awful car, but it was so famous for being awful that even when you think you've found another beleaguered Gremlin addict, they invariably turn the knife by smirking, winking, and saying, "Sure, I think the Gremlin is awesome!"
You know a car is terrible when the only people to profess to like it are really only claiming it to enhance their own ironic slumming hipness. I can't really judge them; I've hidden behind the faux-irony defense many times when my buddies start to sneer at my ridiculously poor taste in cars.
I really do like the Gremlin, though--and to examine why is to delve into my bad-car pathology.
For one thing, the Gremlin is the ultimate underdog--and it was built by AMC, the ultimate underdog automaker. For another, I actually quite like the styling. And, perhaps most compelling, the Gremlin never gets any credit for being one of the first primitive spores that would eventually evolve into the advanced life form now known as hot hatchbacks.
Let's start with the styling. The Gremlin looks like a big 1970s AMC sedan--big grille, large front overhang, high stance--that had an unfortunate buttocks amputation. That first impression is an accurate one. The Gremlin fundamentally is a big 1970s AMC sedan transformed into an ersatz economy car by the simple expedient of chopping off the trunk and rear doors in the most un-subtle way possible. The interesting footnote here is that the Kamm-back quasi-hatchback rear end was actually considered a very sporty look in the 1970s; that is, until the Gremlin adopted it and ruined it for everybody.
The thing is, the Gremlin actually looks pretty good to me. In Gremlin X trim, with nicer wheels and stripes, and often white-letter tires, the its big-car grille and funky profile make it look a bit like an ersatz muscle car with a receding hairline and a posture problems. It's a weird-looking car, to be sure, but endearing in how daring and honest it is.
I imagine there's still some consternation about me calling the Gremlin an early hot hatchback. I realize how ridiculous that sounds in 2008, but please, let me explain.
In the early 1970s, as the gas shortages began to hit, every domestic automaker was scrambled for its own high-economy small car that could go head-to-head with Volkswagen, Renault, and the Japanese. AMC's answer was the Gremlin. As an abbreviated big car, the Gremlin included a big-car engine--AMC's ancient but torquey straight-six. This combination gave the Gremlin ridiculously poor mileage in the teens, making it an abject failure as an economy car. But the upside was that in comparison with its peers, the Gremlin had a mountain of torque and was a spunky little performer--one of the first times in history that a supposed economy car made by a mainstream company could make that claim. Of course, this is all relative; by today's standards, the Gremlin is miserably slow.
AMC would later introduce a V-8, which was even faster and thirstier, as well as a four-cylinder sourced from Porsche/Audi--fundamentally, the same engine used in the Porsche 924. Despite this seemingly exotic lineage, the four-cylinder was primarily a tool for improved fuel economy and offered nothing in the way of performance.
One of the most appealing strengths of the Gremlin is its chutzpah. The Gremlin was available with all of the sticker-and-paint packages common to other poseur muscle cars of the time, as well as the now-legendary Levi's interior package. The Levi's package swathed the interior of the car in a fabric that looked and felt like Levi's denim, which seemed like a cool idea until you brushed up against a white-hot rivet while wearing shorts, or when found you couldn't throw your dirty jeans interior into the washing machine.
Go ahead and judge me - I like this car a lot in a very non-ironic way.
These photos come from, oddly enough, a user's page at the University of Michigan. Also worth checking out is Gremlin X.com, specifically their photo center, which includes both member's rides and some fantastic original press photos and brochures, as well as the original Gremlin press release.
I love these two commercials--both the significance attached to a $250 price drop and the quote: "I took my car in just to see if it was so. And it's so!"
--Chris H.
Anthony Cagle on April 17, 2008 at 08:16 AM
"I have a little bit of an issue with the references to the Gremlin being a "big" car chopped off, etc. It was derived from the Hornet, which was in the day a "compact" car."
That's true. I use that to mean that it wasn't designed as a subcompact from the get-go, which makes its proportions seem a little funny.
OTOH, I remember thinking our '75 Buick Century 4-door being a BIG car -- until I took a ride in my uncle's '72 LTD and it felt like we had to shout to converse from one side of the car to the other. They were still pretty sizeable.
JimP on April 17, 2008 at 04:30 PM
I owned a '73 Gremlin X in Butterscotch Yellow with Orange stripes. I really loved that car. Like a knucklehead I traded it in and have regretted it eversince. I still have the pics though. I always loved its chutzpah as you said. Thanks for posting this.
Loren on April 17, 2008 at 05:31 PM
I had a 1970 Hornet. 232/straight stick. Burnt orange, 20+ years before I and two kids graduated from the University of Texas. It got mid-20's mpg, and I put 85,000 trouble-free miles on it before totally it on Christmas Eve in Phoenix in 1974. The thing about Ramblers was that they were excellent cold-weather starters (we lived in North Dakota). For that reason, we always had one on the farm. The Gremlin was just a truncated Hornet. Not as good-looking, but mechanically the same. I have fond memories.
Joan of Argghh! on April 17, 2008 at 05:34 PM
My first car was a mint green Javelin, replete with racing stripes! My dad bought it for $600. It was awesome, had incredible torque, and I could tune it up, do a brake job, changed out the starter, and otherwise loved its 3-speed sensibility and heavy clutch from which I still suffer knee problems.
Mike Judge on April 17, 2008 at 05:43 PM
Last month, the driver of an orange Gremlin was arrested for shootings along I-64 west of Charlottesville. The Gremlin was photographed at a bank where shots were fired. It didn't take long for the police to match the car and the shooter.
Art from Oregon on April 17, 2008 at 05:51 PM
The very name Gremlin was part of the schtich; it wasn't meant to be beautiful except to the beholder, sort of like the mother bulldog thinking its pup is cute. Nevertheless, the Gremlin and most AMC cars were basic, no real nonsense cars that for a bit more luck or marketing would have succeeded. After all, the Rambler Classic was Motor Trend's Car of the year in 1963, and it was indeed a fabulous car, we had one and lots of Nashes before that, all with the same derivative six cylinder in the Gremlin.
Timothy E. Harris on April 17, 2008 at 06:20 PM
I bought a used Gremlin around 1980 (I think it was a 1972 1/2 model). It had about 85k miles when i bought it & I put another 85k on it myself.
It had the 258 straight 6 and 3 speed stick and consistently got around 23 mpg.
It wasn't as pretty or fuel efficient as my previous Datsun 1200 but was far more reliable and could haul a lot more.
The car I learned to drive in was the family AMC Hornet Sportabout hatchback/wagon. That was a lovely family car. Good mileage (for the era), easy to work on, very reliable, lots of room to haul stuff. I was sad to see those disappear in favor of the big goldfish bowl (AMC Pacer).
Jim on April 17, 2008 at 07:08 PM
Great cars. I still see them occasionally in Connecticut. Ask yourself,when was the last time you saw a Vega or a Pinto.....on the road,driving ? I remember reading an article that said it cost AMC about 1.6 million to develop the Gremlin from the Hornet and a big 3 engineer said that the amount was less than they spent on the front bumper engineering for their competitor to the Gremlin.
Pal2Pal (Sara) on April 17, 2008 at 07:11 PM
I had a 1972 Gremlin and I loved it. Best handling car I've ever owned. Mine was blue and had Levi denim interior. Everyone who rode in it or drove it said they loved the way it handled too.
Steve on April 17, 2008 at 07:12 PM
" ... are you being ironic, or sincere, Steve?"
That's a good question. I know someone who owns 2 of them so I am mostly sincere.
Buster Blocker on April 17, 2008 at 07:13 PM
If memory serves, there have only ever been two engines in the history of the automobile which were self-balancing - the 12-cylinder in the Jaguar, and the 232 Straight-Six in the Gremlin. I had a 1975 and as the old joke goes, there are enough "ohs" in smooooooooth to describe that car. And it did have torque up the ol' wazoo.
And did it have traction in snow! No lie - I once pulled a 4 X 4 out of snowy ditch with it. All I did was put snow tires on the back wheels, and 100 pounds of sand over each wheel in the back. I swear to God you could climb a mountain in that car, and you had enough torque to tow the mountain home afterward.
And nothing will make you feel alive like trying to bring a Gremlin to a halt from triple-digit speeds on four-wheel drum brakes!
Chris Glick on April 17, 2008 at 07:14 PM
In mid-'80s high school days, one buddy acquired a brown Gremlin in good condition with white striping. He had it slightly jacked up, cut the rear wheel wells to accommodate wider tires, tinted all the windows, and put in all manner of Playboy stuff: steering wheel wrap, door locks, etc. It was so much cheeze that we loved cruising in it. The primitive hatchback was also handy for the occasional drive-by mooning.
StephenB on April 17, 2008 at 07:27 PM
In the late 1980's, the San Diego Naval Station had a car lot full of white "G-Cars" or government cars, such as you would find your Navy recruiter driving. In a corner of the lot of white and gray cars was an older Gremlin painted black (which also indicated its age). On the door was stenciled in white letters: "For Official Use Only". It had to be the ugliest Gremlin I had ever seen.
jaymaster on April 17, 2008 at 07:34 PM
I always loved the Gremlin. When my father traded in his beloved Rebel for a Matador circa 1974, I demanded that he take me for a spin in a Gremlin before he took delivery. I was 9 at the time.
When I was of driving age, and gas prices rocketed around 1981, my father traded in our 400 ci 4wd F150 pickup that was “my car” on a 1980 AMC Spirit.
I loved that car. But I never noticed till tonight that its decal scheme was EXACTLY like its Gremlin predecessors!
johnmc on April 17, 2008 at 07:54 PM
Had a Gremlin in college. Open road it consisently got 22mpg. That when other cars were getting 12-15mpg. Good car with a great engine. Long as there was gas and oil it just kept running. My complaint if any was the serious under steer.
Inspector Callahan on April 17, 2008 at 08:02 PM
If anyone is in the Detroit area during the first weekend in June, in nearby Ypsilanti there's a car show called the "Orphan Car Show".
Lots of Gremlins - usually about 10 or so, along with Pacers, Hudsons, Studes, Packards, and every other American car company now defunct. Last year, there was even 1 of the surviving Tuckers there.
If you like, old, odd, forgotten cars, I highly recommend this show.
http://www.ypsiautoheritage.org
TV (Harry)
cozzenjack on April 17, 2008 at 10:14 PM
I logged several weeks driving behind the wheel of Gremlins thanks to the astute purchasing skills of the State of California during the 1970s. When flying into LAX on business, State employees had the benefit of a State operated rental car fleet composed almost entirely populated by Gremlins. The other choices were Chevrolet Vegas and Dodge Darts. I will say the the Gremlin was the best choice. Dart seats were very uncomfortable. Vegas were noisy and slower than Darts and Gremlins. Many fellow Staties bunked at a motel near Santa Monica while on travel status. Only time I ever saw a parking lot where half the vehicles were Gremlins. But to be fair, no Gremlin ever left me stranded. It's ironic that the predecessor cheapie from AMC, the Rambler American from the late 50's early 60's is really collectible (the one with the flathead six engine and bubble-like exterior). Now that was a car with character.
Larry, SF on April 17, 2008 at 11:07 PM
This explains something that happened to me as a teenager. I was in a Gremlin and we drag raced a Ford Pinto (another high performance car) and a VW bug up a 4% incline. I was impressed that the Gremlin easily beat the other two cars and now I know why. (However, I should add that after about 3 minutes of flooring the cars none of us quite made 50).
Bryan Frymire on April 17, 2008 at 11:41 PM
One of my college roommates had a red Gremlin with gold stripes. This guy got more "Tang" than the freakin' Apollo astronauts. Coincidence? I dunno. I think it had one of those magnets under the dashboard. You know what I'm talkin' about. Right?
The Mullah of Ulladulla on April 18, 2008 at 03:18 AM
" What say we hop in the trunk of your Gremlin and get our rocks off?"
Frank Zappa, " Billy the Mountain"
The Mullah of Ulladulla on April 18, 2008 at 03:19 AM
" What say we hop in the trunk of your Gremlin and get our rocks off?"
Frank Zappa, " Billy the Mountain"
cheeseball on April 18, 2008 at 06:40 AM
At one point we had 3 Javelins in the family. My Dad drove a '68 red Javelin with the 232 cu.in., my mom drove a white '71 Javelin with a 304 V8, and I drove a yellow '72 with the 304. Great cars! Better ride than either Camaro or Mustang, more interior room, and sleeker styling.
Six months before we were married my wife bought "The Green Hornet",a 232 cu.in. 6 with automatic. My father in law was furious that she bought it. He was a Ford guy. We drove that car for 11 years. I don't think we had to make any repair to it that cost over $100. We sold it to a friend of my brother in law that drove it another 4 years. At that point the rust was too bad and he got rid of it.
Thanks for the memories!
William on April 18, 2008 at 06:41 AM
I had a Gremlin and the whole family loved it. It had vinyl flooring so when we washed the car we just hosed out the interior.
It could haul a large load and was a demon in the snow. I wish someone would bring it back.
Anthony Cagle on April 18, 2008 at 08:32 AM
Funny people are mentioning snow a lot. I wonder if that's because AMC was based in Wisconsin? We slapped the snow tires on the Hornet every November and took them off in March. Kinda made the thing look a little jacked up. But I only slid in any serious way once. For whatever dumb reason, I drove a friend of my brother's somewhere during a freakin' blizzard and the whole way I was in kind of a minor skid because I kept gently moving the wheel back and forth to keep from sliding. Dumb, dumb, dumb. But we made it without mishap.
Don Meaker on April 18, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Beat a Maverick? The "Performance Package on that consisted of a few decals. Not much to write home about.
My '68 Chevy Biscayne got 20 mph with a 308 V8.