NationMaster - Encyclopedia: AMC Gremlin

The AMC Gremlin is a subcompact car that was made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) for nine model years. During its manufacturing run from April 1, 1970 through 1978, a total of 671,475 Gremlins were built in the United States and Canada. 1974 AMC Gremlin Photographer: Bob DuHamel File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Automakers, also known as carmakers, automobile manufacturers, motor manufacturers, or the automobile industry are companies that design and manufacture automobiles. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Location of Kenosha within Wisconsin Coordinates: , Country State County Kenosha Settled 1836 Government - Mayor John M. Antaramian Area - City 24. ... Nickname: Location in the Region of Peel, in the Province of Ontario Coordinates: , Country Province Region Peel Incorporation 1853 (village) 1873 (town) 1974 (city) Government - Mayor Susan Fennell - Governing Body Brampton City Council (click for members) - MPs Navdeep Bains, Colleen Beaumier, Ruby Dhalla, Gurbax Malhi - MPPs Vic Dhillon, Linda Jeffrey... Nickname: Location of Mexico City Coordinates: , Country Federal entity Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded c. ... AMC Spirit For 1979, the Spirit took the place of the Gremlin. ... Car classification is subjective since many vehicles fall into multiple categories. ... AMC Gremlin A subcompact car is an automobile in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car but larger than a city car (and known as superminis in Europe). ... Cars can come in a large variety of different body styles. ... Renault Megane hatchback, a proper hatchback which has shown huge success in Europe Peugeot 306 hatchback, with the hatch lifted and the parcel shelf tilted for access Hatchback is a term designating an automobile design, containing a passenger cabin with an integrated cargo space, accessed from behind the vehicle by... In automobile design layout is the place where both the engine and driven wheels are. ... Sketch of FR layout In automobile design, an FR, or front-engine, rear wheel drive means a layout where the engine is in the front of the vehicle and drive wheels at the rear. ... Audi AG, more commonly known as Audi, is a premium German automobile manufacturer and one of the worlds leading performance-luxury marques, with headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. ... VW redirects here. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... The American Motors Corporation (AMC) straight-6 family of engines was used by a number of AMC and Jeep vehicles from 1964 through 2006. ... American Motors produced a series of widely-used V8 engines before being absorbed into Chrysler. ... â€œGearboxâ€ redirects here. ... BorgWarner is a U.S. automotive parts supplier, known for its automatic transmissions and turbo chargers. ... BorgWarner is a U.S. automotive parts supplier, known for its automatic transmissions and turbo chargers. ... An overdrive is sometimes a separate unit that fits into the back of a gearbox, as with this Fairey unit. ... BorgWarner is a U.S. automotive parts supplier, known for its automatic transmissions and turbo chargers. ... For other uses, including the Chrysler Brand, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ... TorqueFlite (also spelled Torqueflite) was the trademarked name of Chrysler Corporations three-speed automatic transmission, which was introduced late in the 1956 model year. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The AMC Concord was a compact car made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) starting in the 1978 model year and continuing to 1983. ... The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. ... AMC Spirit For 1979, the Spirit took the place of the Gremlin. ... 1980 AMC Eagle drivetrain and suspension components. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Automotive design. ... Richard A. Teague was a principal designer for the American Motors company. ... AMC Gremlin A subcompact car is an automobile in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car but larger than a city car (and known as superminis in Europe). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The AMC Gremlin also has the distinction of being the first American subcompact car, a full half-year ahead of Ford and GM.^[1] With AMC's thriftiest six-cylinder engine and base prices below US$2,000, this import-fighter sold well: over 26,000 in its abbreviated first season before the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega were introduced.^[2] USD redirects here. ... The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market, first introduced on September 11, 1970, and built through the 1980 model year. ... The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ...

History

Executives at American Motors knew that Ford and General Motors were coming out with subcompact cars for 1971, but did not have the financial resources to respond with an entirely new competing design. Chief stylist Richard A. Teague came up with an ingenious solution; chop off the back end of a Javelin (legend has it that Teague first sketched out the design on the back of a Northwest Orient air sickness bag). The resulting car was the AMX-GT and was first shown at the New York International Auto Show in April 1968.^[3] The AMX-GT was never produced (although the "AMX" name was used from 1968 to 1970 on a shortened, two-seat version of the Javelin). â€œFordâ€ redirects here. ... General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM), also known as GM, is an American automobile maker with worldwide operations and brands including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and Vauxhall. ... Richard A. Teague was a principal designer for the American Motors company. ... 1973 AMC Javelin AMX Pierre Cardin edition The AMC Javelin was a sporty coupe_type automobile in the pony car class built by American Motors Corporation between 1968 and 1974. ... Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ: NWAC) is an airline headquartered in Eagan, Minnesota. ... An air sickness bag (also known as a barf bag, airsick bag, sick bag, or motion sickness bag) is a bag made of paper and usually lined with plastic to make it water-proof, alhough all-plastic bags are now in common use. ... 1968 AMX-GT press release photo, the second version. ... The New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in late March or early April. ... AMX may refer to: The AMX International AMX, a fighter aircraft AMX International, the company that makes the aircraft The AMX (automobile), an Italian car AMX Mod a server-side modification for Half-Life games AMX Corporation, a manufacturer of audio-visual control devices This is a disambiguation page — a...

The new subcompact, designed by future Chief of Design Bob Nixon, was instead based on the Hornet. The Hornet is a compact car based on interior volume and had a wheelbase of 108 inches (2,743 mm). To produce the Gremlin, the wheelbase of the Hornet was reduced to 96 inches (2,438 mm) and the overall length was reduced from 179 to 161 inches (4547 to 4089 mm). The resulting Gremlin hit the market six months before Ford and GM were able to introduce their subcompacts. The Gremlin came two versions: a plain two-passenger with fixed back window model targeted as an import-fighting suggested retail price leader for US$1,879 and a four-seater with a flip-up rear window "hatch" that was priced at US$1,959. The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The (manufacturers) suggested retail price (MSRP or SRP), list price or recommended retail price (RRP) (originally, Monroney suggested retail price) of a product is the price the manufacturer recommends that the retailer sell it for. ... USD redirects here. ...

From the seatbacks forward the Gremlin was essentially a Hornet. The wheelbase and overall length reductions to make the Gremlin made for a minimal rear seat size and cramped rear legroom space. The cargo area was smaller than that of a Volkswagen Beetle (although folding the rear seat more than doubled the cargo area). The Kammback design was radical for the time and spawned jokes, such as "what happened to the rest of your car?" However, it was surprisingly aerodynamic and the Kammback was adopted by many other popular subcompacts in following years including the Chevrolet Vega station wagon. Its handling suffered from being front-heavy and its ride is a bit stiff because of the shortened rear springs. Nevertheless, the Gremlin's performance was above subcompact car levels of the era. Road tests by Motor Trend magazine recorded a zero to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) acceleration time of 12.6 seconds with the optional 232 CID (3.8 L) engine. Both the Ford Pinto and the VW Beetle were in the 18-second range. Tom McCahill in Mechanix Illustrated wrote that the Gremlin exhibited "fast and easy" handling. He ran the 232 engine with automatic transmission from 0 to 60 mph in just 11.9 seconds and got the little car going at 100 miles per hour (161 km/h) on the Daytona Speedway straightaway. He summarized his article that "on a dollar for dollar basis, I rate the Gremlin the best American buy of the year". This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... A Kamm tail on a Citroen CX sedan This 1974 AMC Gremlin sports a Kamm tail according to AMC Audi A2 2004 Toyota Prius, an example of a Kammback achieving a drag coefficient of 0. ... Aerodynamics is a branch of fluid dynamics concerned with the study of gas flows, first analysed by George Cayley in the 1800s. ... The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ... Motor Trend is one of the oldest automotive magazines still publishing. ... The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market, first introduced on September 11, 1970, and built through the 1980 model year. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Cover of April 1957 Mechanix Illustrated Mechanix Illustrated was an American magazine founded in the first half of the twentieth century to compete against the older Popular Science (magazine) and Popular Mechanics Billed as The How-To-Do Magazine, Mechanix Illustrated (MI) aimed to guide readers through various projects from... The time it takes to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) is a commonly used performance measure for automotive acceleration in the United States and the United Kingdom, while in Latin America, Europe, India, Canada and Australia 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62... Daytona International Speedway is a superspeedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. ...

The Newsweek logo Newsweek is a weekly news magazine published in New York City and distributed throughout the United States and internationally. ...

Year-to-year changes

1970

In 1970, the Gremlin debuted with AMC's 199 CID (3.3 L) I6 (a very sturdy and durable seven main bearing design), which produced 128 hp (95 kW) as standard equipment, with AMC's 232 CID (3.8 L) I6 – producing 145 hp (108 kW) – as an option. Sales started at a respectable 28,560 units in only five months of production. The straight-6 (also inline 6, I-6, or I6) is an internal combustion engine with six cylinders aligned in a single row. ...

1971

In 1971, the famous X appearance/equipment trim package became optional ($300) on the 4-passenger model. This package included body side tape stripes, body color front fascia, slotted road wheels with 70-series tires, blackout grille insert, bucket seats, and "X" decals. The 2-passenger Gremlin version soldiered on into its second and final season. The 232 in³ I6 that was optional for 1970 became standard, while a new stroked version of the 232, a 258 CID (4.2 L) I6 became the optional powerplant. Compression ratios dropped from 8.5:1 to 8:1 for 1971, resulting in the 3.8 L six producing 135 hp (101 kW), while the new 4.2 L made 150 hp (112 kW). Sales improved for 1971 to 76,908 units. A trim package is a set of cosmetic (mostly non-functional) embellishments to a vehicle. ... A bucket seat is an upholstered seat in a car, truck, or motorboat that seats one person. ... Bold text The compression ratio is a single number that can be used to predict the performance of any engine (such as an internal-combustion engine or a Stirling Engine). ...

1972

1972 brought a host of changes to the Gremlin, not the least of which was an available 304 CID (5 L) V8 engine. Engine ratings were downgraded to more accurate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) net hp figures, bringing the 3.8 L engine to 100 hp (75 kW), the 4.2 L to 110 hp (82 kW), and the 304 V8 to 150 hp (112 kW). The base two-passenger model was pared from the line, having only sold a paltry 3,017 examples in 18 months. Gremlins also switched from non-synchro 1st gear manual transmissions to ones with full synchromesh. The Borg-Warner-sourced automatic transmission was replaced for 1972 by the sturdy Chrysler-designed TorqueFlite unit. Other, more minor technical upgrades found their way into the Gremlin in order to make the car more reliable and durable. This year, AMC would introduce America's first bumper-to-bumper warranty called the Buyer Protection Plan. The objective was to ensure that AMC's product improvements would result in fewer warranty claims, good public relations, as well as improved customer satisfaction and loyalty. All Gremlins received a new body-colored front fascia treatment for 1972. AMC produced and sold 94,808 Gremlins for 1972, a 23% gain over 1971. American Motors produced a series of widely-used V8 engines before being absorbed into Chrysler. ... SAE International (SAE) is a professional organization for mobility engineering professionals in aerospace, automotive and the commercial vehicle industries. ... Synchromesh is the term used to describe a manual transmission in which gears are brought to the same speed during shifting by a synchronizer. ... BorgWarner is a U.S. automotive parts supplier, known for its automatic transmissions and turbo chargers. ... The Chrysler Corporation was a United States-based automobile manufacturer that existed independently from 1925â€“1998. ... TorqueFlite (also spelled Torqueflite) was the trademarked name of Chrysler Corporations three-speed automatic transmission, which was introduced late in the 1956 model year. ... In commercial and consumer transactions, a warranty is an obligation that an article or service sold is as factually stated or legally implied by the seller, and that often provides for a specific remedy such as repair or replacement in the event the article or service fails to meet the... // Dictionary. ...

1973

For 1973, recoverable bumpers able to withstand a 5-mile-per-hour (8 km/h) impact in the front and a 2.5-mile-per-hour (4 km/h) impact in the rear debuted to meet new U.S. government mandated safety regulations. Gremlins also received the option of a Levi's interior trim package, which included spun nylon upholstery made to look like real denim, but for fire safety regulations, could not be. It featured such details as removable map pockets, burnished copper denim rivets, and red Levi's logo tabs. One notable and widely appreciated change was the increase in legroom in the rear seats. The X package received a new tape-striping pattern that emphasized the Gremlin's rear wheel flares by kicking up over the flare itself. Gremlin sales improved again to 122,844 units, a nearly 30% gain over 1972. A 1973 Gremlin purchased by Consumer Reports was top-rated in a group of six subcompact models tested for the June issue. That car had relatively few sample defects and was reliable over a long-term test. Levis is a brand of riveted denim jeans manufactured by Levi Strauss & Co. ... This article is about the material denim. ... Consumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union. ...

1974

The Arab Oil Embargo of October 1973 came on just as the 1974 model year began, and AMC was ready with an improved back seat. The car's appearance changed with the use of a deeper front fascia that made the car look longer and more mature, and larger front bumpers that were freestanding (no filler panel between the bumper and the body). Appearance at the rear also changed with a new federally mandated 5 mph rear bumper, which was set much lower in 1974 than in previous years. The rear fascia was then modified slightly to accept with fluidity this new design. The Gremlin X stripe pattern took on a "hockey stick" look for 1974, with the stripes following the window line as it tapered aft, and swept up now to include four new slanted vertical impressions on the wide C-pillar. A new typeface for nameplates was used by AMC for 1974 and the Gremlin was no exception to this change. AMC decided to extend the 1974 model year into November 1974 to delay the need to install catalytic converters needed to meet United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 2004 regulations starting with 1975 models. In so doing, AMC sold 171,128 1974 Gremlins, an increase of nearly 40% over 1973 and 130% over 1971. This article or section should be merged with 1973 energy crisis On October 16th, 1973, as part of the political strategy that included the Yom Kippur War, OPEC cut production of oil, and placed an embargo on shipments of crude oil to the West, with the Netherlands, specifically targetted. ... An SUV with four pillars A Barracuda fastback has only two pillars A stretch limo with five pillars When looking at the side of a vehicle, the A-pillar is the pillar that attaches to the windshield and supports the roof. ... Catalytic converter on a Dodge Ram Van. ... EPA redirects here. ...

1975

1975 showed few changes for the Gremlin, as all of AMC's attention was focused on the midyear debut of the revolutionary new AMC Pacer. However, minor modifications to the shape of the bumpers were seen, as well as the availability of a catalytic converter and standard electronic ignition. Struggling under stagflation and an inflationary economy, American subcompact sales slumped and AMC was not immune, having only sold 56,011 Gremlins in the (albeit shortened) 1975 model year, a 67% drop. The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Stagflation, a portmanteau of the words stagnation and inflation, is a term in general use within modern macroeconomics used to describe a period of out-of-control price inflation combined with slow-to-no output growth, rising unemployment, and eventually recession. ... The economic history of the United States has its roots in European settlements in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. ... The model year of a product is a number used to describe approximately when a product was produced. ...

1976

1976 showed greater change, as Gremlin's front fascia was revised again to gain headlight bezels that changed from the circular shape used previously, to one of a more rounded diamond shape. The grille shape became a stretched hexagon and included in its insert two opposing loops stacked atop each other and housing new rounded parking/turn signal lights. Front fenders were also modified to be taller, with a slight finned effect. A new Custom trim line debuted for 1976 and featured a special interior stripe pattern called "Potomac" trim, as well as a spare tire cover and a few other small details. The A models made do with another new striping scheme, this time with the hockey stick-style stripe of the previous year adding a secondary extension that ran from the door-handle straight back. The X package was now available only on Custom models. Due to flagging sales, the 304 V8 engine option (now downgraded to a paltry 120 hp (89 kW)) was cancelled at midyear, after only 826 installations were made. A total of 40,994 Gremlins received the V8 option from 1972 to 1976. A 4-speed manual transmission came available at midyear. However, the changes AMC attempted to get Gremlin sales going again were not enough, and sales tapered slightly to 52,941, a decline of 5.5%. A manual transmission (also known as a stick shift, straight drive, or standard transmission) is a type of transmission used in automotive applications. ...

1977

1977 was the first time in its now 8-year history that the Gremlin received redesigned sheet metal. This came in the form of a new hood and shorter front fenders, as well as a taller glass tailgate and enlarged taillights. At the rear, the license plate now covered the fuel filler. New bumpers were also featured. The front fascia treatment was far more pleasing for 1977 and included a crosshatch grille insert sporting parking lights the reverted to a rectangular shape. Headlights were now recessed into square bezels with rounded corners, and the new hood included a slight "power bulge" at the front. The X package returned again for 1977, but this time with yet another new striping pattern that ran straight back from the front fenders and at the rear wheelhouse, crested upward, giving the impression of a two-part wave look. Front disc brakes became standard equipment for 1977. It was also the year that AMC introduced the availability of a Volkswagen/Audi-designed 2.0 L (122 cu in) I4 engine, the first time a four-cylinder engine was available with the Gremlin. The engine was the same one used in the Porsche 924, although the Porsche was fitted with Bosch fuel injection instead of carburetors on the AMC models. This engine provided improved economy, but was not as powerful as the standard six-cylinder engines the Gremlin carried over from 1976. The six-cylinder engines received updated cylinder heads, which brought power ratings up. Because of the expense of acquiring the rights to the new 2.0 L engine, AMC could not afford to make it standard equipment in its base model. It was, however, standard in the uplevel Custom version. However, the improvements did not result in improved sales, and AMC moved only 46,171 Gremlins for 1977, a mere 7,558 of which carried the new 2.0 L engine. Sales had dropped 13%. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Vehicle brake. ... VW redirects here. ... Audi AG, more commonly known as Audi, is a premium German automobile manufacturer and one of the worlds leading performance-luxury marques, with headquarters in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. ... The straight-4 or inline-4 is an internal combustion engine with four cylinders aligned in one row. ... The Porsche 924 was an automobile produced by Porsche AG of Germany from 1976 to 1988. ... // Fuel injection is a system of fuel delivery for mixture with air in an internal combustion engine. ... The carburetor (or carburettor, carb for short) is a device which mixes air and fuel for an internal_combustion engine. ...

1978

In its final year of 1978, the Gremlin received a number of changes. The biggest change was inside, with a revised instrument panel borrowed from the then-new 1978 Concord. The dashboard featured high-level ventilation, HVAC and radio switchgear within easier grasp, and a flat top all the way across. The X's striping pattern was once again revised to mirror that of the 1978 Concord Sport package's design, that is, the tape striping being located at the lower body sides and curving over the wheel lips. At midseason, a GT package came available with a front spoiler and front and rear wheel opening flares that were shared with the 1978 AMX. The GT added an aluminum instrument panel overlay and received the 4.2 L I6 as standard equipment. A different tape stripe scheme was used with the GT version that involved a main wide stripe reaching back from the front fenders, and widening to a plateau just aft of the rear quarter windows. An extra stripe was used to outline this wider, fatter stripe. However, fewer than 3,000 Gremlin GTs were built. The AMC Concord was a compact car made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) starting in the 1978 model year and continuing to 1983. ... This Ford F-150 pickup truck has two spoilers one on the roof and another on the tailgate. ...

The Gremlin's body shape hadn't changed appreciably in its nine years on the market and the bloom had worn off and more advanced subcompacts with more doors, better interiors, front-wheel drive, and lighter weights had hit the market. This probably explains the 52% drop in sales for the Gremlin's final year, bringing the 1978 total to 22,104 units. Front-wheel drive is the most common form of engine/transmission layout used in modern passenger cars, where the engine drives the front wheels. ...

Performance

The Gremlin was not as economical as smaller, lighter, subcompacts with four-cylinder engines, but did get a reasonable 28 to 30 miles per U.S. gallon (8.4 to 7.8 L/100 km) overall with the small six-cylinder engine. However, the Gremlin far outperformed other subcompacts. Mechanix Illustrated magazine clocked it at zero to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 11.9 seconds with the 232 CID (3.8 L) engine, where the Ford Pinto took twice as long. The V8 reduced this time to 8.5 seconds. The 2.0 L (122 cu in) I4 introduced in 1977 gave the Gremlin the distinction of having one of the widest ranges of engine sizes of all time: from 2.0 L to 5.0 L. The gallon (abbreviation: gal) is a unit of volume. ... Cover of April 1957 Mechanix Illustrated Mechanix Illustrated was an American magazine founded in the first half of the twentieth century to compete against the older Popular Science (magazine) and Popular Mechanics Billed as The How-To-Do Magazine, Mechanix Illustrated (MI) aimed to guide readers through various projects from... The time it takes to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) is a commonly used performance measure for automotive acceleration in the United States and the United Kingdom, while in Latin America, Europe, India, Canada and Australia 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62... The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market, first introduced on September 11, 1970, and built through the 1980 model year. ...

It is important to note that the Gremlin's main domestic competition fielded engines that were never nearly as powerful. Their body structures were not as sound, either. None of them featured engines that were as reliable and smooth, or had the relatively clean recall record the Gremlin experienced - the Ford Pinto became notorious for exploding upon impact in rear-end collisions due to that car's gasoline tank/filler design and the Chevrolet Vega was plagued with major problems including a body prone to rust and an aluminum engine whose reliability problems included high oil consumption, overheating, and engine block warpage. The Gremlin's chief rival, the Volkswagen Beetle, did not handle as well, got similar mileage with only about 40% of the horsepower the Gremlin had, and was packaged only marginally better, as both cars were the same overall size. Gremlin designer Richard Teague commented in a Motor Trend article that to compare the Beetle (whose basic design originated in the late 1930s) to the Gremlin in profile and body design was like "comparing a Ford GT40 to the Hindenburg". The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ... This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. ... Richard Teague was a principal designer for the American Motors company. ... For the concept car presented as the Ford GT40 on the auto show circuit in 2003, see Ford GT. GT40 Mk II front. ... Hindenburg may refer to: Persons: Paul von Hindenburg (1847 â€“ 1934), German general in World War I and president of Germany (1925 â€“ 1934) Oskar von Hindenburg (1883 â€“ 1960), son of the former Carl Hindenburg (1741â€“1808), mathematician Hindenburg, Japanese comic writer Places (all named after Paul von Hindenburg): Hindenburg (Altmark) in...

Due to their inherent strength and ease to increase their performance, many AMC Gremlins went to see action in drag racing. They are still active on the strips; for example, Brian Ambrosini in his 1974 Gremlin took second place at the 2006 World Power Wheelstanding Championships.^[4] Top Fuel dragster Drag racing is a sport in which cars race down a track with a set distance as fast as possible. ...

Other markets

Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) manufactured Gremlins in Mexico under license from AMC. The cars came with different trim, interiors, and model names than the equivalent AMC-made models. However, all engines built by VAM were of AMC design incorporating appropriate changes to deal with lower octane gasoline and the higher altitudes in Mexico. This included a unique 282 CID (4.6 L) version of AMC's straight-6 engine. Coordinates: , Country State Municipality MazatlÃ¡n Government - Mayor Alejandro Higuera Osuna Area - Municipality 3,068. ... VAM logo Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos S.A. (VAM) was an automaker in Mexico. ... A gas station pump offering five different octane ratings. ...

Experimental Gremlins

The Gremlin proved a popular test-bed for experiments with alternative fuels. Many universities converted them to run on natural gas, hydrogen, and electric power. For example, in 1972 University of California, Los Angeles researchers won a nationwide Urban Vehicle Design Competition when it modified an AMC Gremlin to run on hydrogen and the lessons learned are still useful today.^[5] Engineers at Coleman Products Corporation in Coleman, Wisconsin created a non-drivable plexiglas Gremlin as a demonstrator of the placement and function of electrical wiring harnesses.^[6] For other uses, see Natural gas (disambiguation). ... This article is about the chemistry of hydrogen. ... The article on electrical energy is located elsewhere. ... The University of California, Los Angeles (generally known as UCLA) is a public research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. ... Coleman is a village located in Marinette County, Wisconsin. ... Structure of PMMA: (C5O2H8)n Structure of methyl methacrylate Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or polymethyl-2-methylpropanoate is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. ...

Legacy

A total of 671,475 Gremlins were sold in the United States and Canada, making it the most popular single generation body style/chassis produced by AMC (other models, such as the Rambler and even Hornet, have higher production numbers, but consisted of more than one chassis design and body style in the case of the Rambler, multiple body styles for the Hornet).

The Gremlin was restyled with a sloping hatchback for 1979 and renamed the "AMC Spirit". The original "Kammback" body style continued in production until 1983 as the Spirit Sedan with larger rear side windows. The basic design was also used for the small AMC Eagle Kammback from 1981 to 1983. AMC Spirit For 1979, the Spirit took the place of the Gremlin. ... 1980 AMC Eagle drivetrain and suspension components. ...

Collectability

The unique Gremlin has a following among old car hobbyists and collectors of historic vehicles and enjoys the advantage of numerous shared parts and components with other AMC models. There are many active AMC car clubs for the Gremlin and it is one of the easily recognizable cultural icons of the 1970s. Reasonably priced examples can be found as the rudimentary Gremlin with its durable mechanical components has outlasted the competition that sold in large numbers. Untold scores of Gremlins, particularly in the Northeast, were chopped up through the late Seventies and Eighties because their bodies were popular with dirt-track modified racers.^[7] American cultural icons. ... Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. ...

In its day, the Gremlin held its own when it came to performance as it blew the doors off most other subcompacts, but it lacked the backing of most subcompact consumers. Today, the Gremlin is a sought after car for restoring; perhaps it has finally caught the imagination of what some may consider a car ahead of its time.^[8] Original cars equipped with V8 engine, "X" package, or "Levi" trim are most sought after and carry premiums in their market value.^[9] According to Business Week the attraction to 1970s cars such as the Gremlin is increasing and Hagerty's (an insurance provider for collector car owners) reports the values of the vehicles are climbing.^[10] BusinessWeek is a business magazine published by McGraw-Hill. ...

From an investment standpoint, the most collectible versions include: the V8 and the sporty "X" package, the "Levi's" interior, the early 2-seater models are novelty items, as well as the Gremlin GTs produced during 1978; however, any Gremlin in good shape is worth keeping since they are becoming quite scarce--they are definitely worth preserving as a unique piece of automotive history.^[11]

In fiction

The Gremlin is a now perhaps unjustly legendary figure in the halls of vehicles with poor or infamous reputations, along with the AMC Pacer, Yugo, Lada, Chevrolet Vega, and Ford Pinto, mostly because of its controversial styling, and engineering a subcompact based on a truncated Hornet. It was ranked #4 in Car Talk's Worst Car of the Millennium contest, and also appeared in Time Magazine's list of 50 worst cars, and a number of books of "worst cars". It should be noted that these contest come from public popular vote, or an editor's choice, not based on any specific criteria, and that the Gremlin sold well. The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980. ... The Zastava Koral / Yugo 45 and family are vehicles produced by the Zastava corporation, both for local use in the production country of Serbia and for export around the world. ... For other uses, see Lada (disambiguation). ... The then-innovative Chevrolet Vega was a subcompact car sold from 1971 through 1977. ... The Ford Pinto was a subcompact car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market, first introduced on September 11, 1970, and built through the 1980 model year. ... Car Talk is a radio talk show broadcast weekly on National Public Radio stations throughout the United States and elsewhere. ...

The Gremlin has since spawned a never-ending but sparse series of negative references in popular culture. It has recently almost become a 1970s icon — most people still tend to make fun of the Gremlin's unusual shape, but the Gremlin is easily recognizable as a 1970s car.

Hans Moleman, a character in the Simpsons drives one, as did Marge Simpson while she was dating Homer and was pregnant with Bart. When Homer left Marge because he felt that Marge deserved better, and went to work in a fast food restaurant, Marge drove up to the drive-thru window in her blue Gremlin and begged Homer to come back, which he did and placed a onion ring wedding ring on her finger as a commitment to her, which they later ate because it was still hot and was burning her finger. Also, in the Simpsons Hit and Run video game, there is a driveable Gremlin belonging to "Comic Book Guy". Hans Moleman is a fictional character on The Simpsons and is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... The Simpsons. ... Marjorie Marge Simpson (nÃ©e Bouvier) is a fictional character featured in the animated television series The Simpsons and is voiced by Julie Kavner. ... Homer Simpson is also a character in the book and film The Day of the Locust. ... For the comic book series of the same name, see Bart Simpson comics. ... The Simpsons Hit & Run is a video game based on The Simpsons franchise. ... Computer and video games redirects here. ... Jeff Albertson, better known as Comic Book Guy, is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons. ...

References

id="External_links"> is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

External links

1973 Ambassador Brougham Sedan with 401 V8 The Ambassador logo from 1958 to 1961 The Ambassador was the top-line automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1958 until 1974. ... The Rambler Classic was an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from 1961 to 1966. ... Cover of Motor Trend magazine, featuring 1965 Marlin The Marlin was a mid-sized fastback sporty car built by American Motors from 1965 to 1967. ... 1959 Rambler Six sedan The Rambler Six was an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation (AMC). ... The Rambler Rebel was an automobile was a product by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) of Kenosha, Wisconsin between 1957 and 1961. ... The M422 Mighty Mite jeep was designed by the Mid-American Research Corporation (MARCO), as a light weight Â¼-ton 4x4 tactical truck, suitable for airlifting and manhandling. ... AM General is a heavy vehicle manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana and best known for the civilian Hummer and military Humm-Vee. ... 1973 Ambassador Brougham Sedan with 401 V8 The Ambassador logo from 1958 to 1961 The Ambassador was the top-line automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1958 until 1974. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The AMC Concord was a compact car made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) starting in the 1978 model year and continuing to 1983. ... 1980 AMC Eagle drivetrain and suspension components. ... The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. ... 1973 AMC Javelin AMX Pierre Cardin edition The AMC Javelin was a sporty coupe_type automobile in the pony car class built by American Motors Corporation between 1968 and 1974. ... Cover of Motor Trend magazine, featuring 1965 Marlin The Marlin was a mid-sized fastback sporty car built by American Motors from 1965 to 1967. ... 1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ... The Nash Metropolitan was a subcompact car that was sold from 1954 to 1962. ... The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980. ... 1969 AMC Rebel sedan The AMC Rebel (known as the Rambler Rebel in 1967) was an intermediate car produced from 1967 to 1970. ... AMC Spirit For 1979, the Spirit took the place of the Gremlin. ... The Renault 5 (also called the R5) is a supermini produced by the French automaker Renault in two generations between 1972 and 1996. ... 1984 Renault Alliance The Renault Alliance was a compact automobile built and marketed in North America by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) through its partnership with its majority owner Renault between 1983 and 1987, when the Chrysler Corporation acquired AMC. The Alliance was based upon the Renault 9/11, but... The Renault 9 and Renault 11 were compact automobiles produced by the French car manufacturer Renault between 1982 and 1988. ... The Renault Fuego was a four-seater, three-door coupe based on a Renault 18 platform. ... This page meets Wikipedias criteria for speedy deletion. ... The Eagle Premier was an automobile developed by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) and Renault partnership. ... The XR-400 was a fully operational concept car. ... AMC press release photo of the Tarpon // American Motors Corporation developed a sporty youth-oriented 2+2 coupe in 1963. ... AMC Cavalier The AMC Cavalier was a concept car built by American Motors (AMC) in 1965. ... 1968 AMX-GT press release photo, the second version. ... The Amitron was an American experimental car built in 1967 by American Motors and Gulton Industries. ... The Electron was an American concept automobile built in 1977 by American Motors Corporation (AMC). ... American Motors Corporation (AMC) was an American automobile company formed on January 14, 1954 by the merger of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and the Hudson Motor Car Company. ... AM General is a heavy vehicle manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana and best known for the civilian Hummer and military Humm-Vee. ... AMI emblem attached on American Motors cars assembled during 1968-1978 Australian Motor Industries (AMI) was a corporation and an important participant in the automobile industry in Australia. ... For other uses, including the Chrysler Brand, see Chrysler (disambiguation). ... Hudson Logo Hudson Six-40, 1914 1917 Hudson Phaeton The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1957. ... Industrias Kaiser Argentina or IKA was an Argentine motor company established in CÃ³rdoba Province. ... For other uses, see Jeep (disambiguation). ... Kelvinator Appliance ad from 1951 Kelvinator is an appliance company since 1994 owned by Electrolux of Sweden. ... Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors Corporation Nash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin in the United States from 1916 to 1938. ... Kelvinator Appliance ad from 1951 Nash-Kelvinator Corporation was the result of a merger between Nash Motors and Kelvinator Appliance Company. ... Rambler logo, 1960s Rambler was an automobile brand name used by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company between 1900 and 1914, then by its successor, Nash Motors in 1950, and finally by Nashs successor, American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1969. ... For the author, see Mary Renault. ... VAM logo Vehiculos Automotores Mexicanos S.A. (VAM) was an automaker in Mexico. ... Roy Abernethy (b. ... Edmund E. Anderson was an Industrial Designer in the North American automotive industry, notably as the lead designer for American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1950 to 1961. ... Abraham Edward (A.E.) Barit1 (b. ... FranÃ§ois Castaing is a 27-year veteran automotive executive with Renault, American Motors, and Chrysler. ... Roy D. Chapin Jr. ... Richard E. Cross at American Motors during the 1960s Richard E. Cross was an American industrialist who served as Chairman of American Motors Corporation (AMC). ... Robert B. Evans at American Motors during the 1960s Robert Beverley Evans (1907 - ) was an industrialist, socialite, and sportsman who served for a time as Chairman of American Motors Corporation (AMC). ... George Walter Mason (b. ... Gerald C. Meyers is a well known industrialist, author, speaker, former Chairman of American Motors, active business consultant, and an expert in the field of Corporate Governance and Crisis Management in business. ... George Wilcken Romney (July 8, 1907 â€“ July 26, 1995) was chairman of the American Motors Corporation from 1954 to 1962 and was elected three times as the Republican Governor of Michigan from 1963 to 1969. ... 1955 brochure copy for Rambler American Created to Your Discriminating Taste by Helene Rother Helene Rother (1908-1999) was the first woman to work as an automotive designer. ... Richard A. Teague was a principal designer for the American Motors company. ... A shot of Collier Motors. ... American Motors Corporation (AMC) was an American automobile company formed on January 14, 1954 by the merger of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and the Hudson Motor Car Company. ... AMC Gremlin A subcompact car is an automobile in a vehicle size class smaller than a compact car but larger than a city car (and known as superminis in Europe). ... AMC Spirit For 1979, the Spirit took the place of the Gremlin. ... The Renault 9 and Renault 11 were compact automobiles produced by the French car manufacturer Renault between 1982 and 1988. ... The Rambler American introduced in the late 1950s was an early compact car. ... The Nash Rambler was an American automobile produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash Kelvinator Corporation between 1950 and 1957. ... The original Rambler was an automobile produced of the Thomas B. Jeffery Company then by its successor, Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and finally, by its successor, American Motors Corporation (all in Kenosha, Wisconsin). ... The AMC Hornet was a compact automobile made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) beginning with the 1970 model year and continuing through the 1977 model year. ... The AMC Concord was a compact car made by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) starting in the 1978 model year and continuing to 1983. ... 1954 Hudson Super Jet The Hudson Jet was a compact automobile produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan during the 1953 and 1954 model years. ... The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact automobile produced in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980. ... 1984 Renault Alliance The Renault Alliance was a compact automobile built and marketed in North America by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) through its partnership with its majority owner Renault between 1983 and 1987, when the Chrysler Corporation acquired AMC. The Alliance was based upon the Renault 9/11, but... A mid-size car, frequently referred to as an intermediate, is an automobile with a size between that of a compact and a full-size or standard-size car. ... 1959 Rambler Six sedan The Rambler Six was an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation (AMC). ... The Rambler Classic was an intermediate sized automobile that was built and sold by American Motors Corporation from 1961 to 1966. ... 1969 AMC Rebel sedan The AMC Rebel (known as the Rambler Rebel in 1967) was an intermediate car produced from 1967 to 1970. ... 1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ... The Rambler Rebel was an automobile was a product by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) of Kenosha, Wisconsin between 1957 and 1961. ... Cover of Motor Trend magazine, featuring 1965 Marlin The Marlin was a mid-sized fastback sporty car built by American Motors from 1965 to 1967. ... 1974 Matador rebuilt as a replica of a Police Car from The Dukes of Hazzard Second generation 1975 Matador base model sedan The AMC Matador was an intermediate car built and sold by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1971 to 1978. ... 2001 BMW 750iL The Ford Falcon, a popular Australian full-size car A full-size car is a marketing term used in North America for an automobile larger than a mid-size car. ... An advertising image featuring the 1934 Nash Ambassador. ... 1973 Ambassador Brougham Sedan with 401 V8 The Ambassador logo from 1958 to 1961 The Ambassador was the top-line automobile produced by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1958 until 1974. ... The Eagle Premier was an automobile developed by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) and Renault partnership. ... Hudson Logo Hudson Six-40, 1914 1917 Hudson Phaeton The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1957. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1973 AMC Javelin AMX Pierre Cardin edition The AMC Javelin was a sporty coupe_type automobile in the pony car class built by American Motors Corporation between 1968 and 1974. ... A crossover SUV (also called CUV for Crossover Utility Vehicle) or XUV (not to be confused with GMCs Envoy XUV) is an automobile with a sport utility vehicle appearance but is built upon a more economical and fuel-efficient unibody construction. ... 1980 AMC Eagle drivetrain and suspension components. ... A fourth-generation (2006-) Ford Explorer, the best-selling mid-size SUV in the United States. ... For other uses, see Jeep (disambiguation). ... Captive import is an automobile marketing term denoting a foreign-built vehicle which is sold and serviced by a domestic manufacturer through its own dealer body. ... A late-1950s Metropolitan The Nash Metropolitan, also sold under the Hudson, AMC and Austin marques, was a very small commuter/shopping subcompact car sold between 1954 and 1962. ... The Renault 5 (also called the R5) is a supermini produced by the French automaker Renault in two generations between 1972 and 1996. ... The Renault 18 is a large family car produced by French manufacturer Renault between 1978 and 1993. ... The Eagle Medallion was a rebadged version of the Renault 21 built in France. ... The Renault Fuego was a four-seater, three-door coupe based on a Renault 18 platform. ... Military vehicles include all land combat and transportation vehicles, excluding rail-based, which are designed for or are in significant use by military forces. ... The M422 Mighty Mite jeep was designed by the Mid-American Research Corporation (MARCO), as a light weight Â¼-ton 4x4 tactical truck, suitable for airlifting and manhandling. ... AM General is a heavy vehicle manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana and best known for the civilian Hummer and military Humm-Vee. ... This article refers to the Military HMMWV, not the civilian Hummer sold by General Motors The M998 High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV or Humvee) is a military 4WD motor vehicle created by AM General. ...

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