AMC already had the AMX in 1969, and a fine car it was. But back then, real musclecars were based on midsize or compact sedans, and they had back seats and proper trunks; the two-seater AMX did fine on the race track, but left something to be desired when it came to real-world usage. But wait- what about the Rambler Rogue? 2,296 pounds and room for a V8 under the hood; just grab a 315 horsepower 390 off the shelf, add 4-speed, "Twin-Grip" differential, and a crazy paint job and you've got the SC/Rambler! They ran low-14-second quarter-miles on crappy 60s street tires, which was damn good back then… but it also means that just about every one of the 1,512 built was blown up, wrecked, or otherwise hooned into nothingness. Hold on to your red-white-and-blue hats, though, because we've found this '69 SC/Rambler, currently bid up to a sub-$7,000 price. We can't say what the reserve might be, but we can tell you for sure that there's rust. Plenty of rust, but check it out: the seller says the floor and trunk pans are good! The seller says it's all original and authentic, though the original owners are still "looking for the original bill of sale" and the engine is described as "correct" rather than "original." Most likely, however, it's for real, since the clone market for these machines has never been anything like what you see for Chrysler E-bodies and GM A-bodies.

That Rambler would be lots of fun at the vintage drag races, no doubt about it, but say you're more into fast mobster cars than you are into 60s quarter-milers? Something with a great big dinosaur-juice-swilling big-block under a hood the size of the stage in your most profitable strip club? Yes, we're talking about the 1970 Chrysler 300 Hurst here. 4,125 pounds, 375 horsepower, a fiberglass hood with a (sadly, nonfunctional) scoop, and a crazy two-tone paint job. The only thing wrong with the 300 Hurst was the appalling lack of a manual transmission, so if I ever get one I'll be willing to brave the wrath of the purists by installing a 4-speed. They only made 485 300 Hursts, and the low-single-digit gas mileage probably sent most of them to The Crusher during the 70s… but it's still possible to buy one! Oh sure, you could shell out 34 grand for C. Van Tune's 300H, but where's the hell there? No, all you need is a mere $4,500- or maybe even less- and you can buy this one! The seller doesn't give much description, other than "440 tnt needs resto," but you can count on quite a long and often tortuous journey to get this thing in proper shape. The good news is that your '70 Chrysler C-body parts are ridiculously easy to find, as are the correct hot-rod 440 engine parts… but the bad news: 485 300 Hursts made, meaning the special 300H-only bits will definitely might have to be fabricated from scratch.

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The Hang 10 Dodge Dart didn't come with a surfboard, but it did feature a rear seat that folded down, enabling Slant-Six-powered hodaddies to avoid that unsightly board-out-the-window look. You got cool Hang 10 graphics and a bunch of other special stuff to make you forget that the base Slant Six only made 95 horsepower and the 318 V8 just 145. We all want a Hang 10, of course, but where can you find one these days? Hawaii? Huntington Beach? No need to go anywhere near the Pacific, dudes and dudettes, because this 1975 Hang 10 Edition Dodge Dart (go here if the ad disappears) lives in South Carolina! We don't know what kind of engine this one has (in fact, judging by the height of the front end, we're not sure it even has an engine), but every junkyard in the hemisphere has at least one 360 waiting for you. As for the rest of the car… well, the seller doesn't waste any keystrokes on excess description: "Needs normal restoration, solid car." Does "normal restoration" mean "total replacement of floor pans, quarter panels, trunk floor, upholstery, wiring harness, brakes, and fuel system," or will this car end up being a difficult project? Only one way to find out! At least you can get repro decals for it.

Darts are great, but all the surfing-themed decals in the world can't make one a rare car. If you're thinking about a special-edition Malaisemobile that you don't see every day, you need to look at some of the stuff they built in Kenosha. Say, f'rexample, this 1977 Levi's Edition AMC Hornet AMX (go here if the ad disappears), priced at just $3,200. It's in (theoretically) rust-free New Mexico. The seller claims "This car is said to have belonged to the Levi Strauss family," and that it's either one of 2,500 or one of 100 made. It "runs and drives good," but needs a U-joint (or something more expensive that makes a sound like a defective U-joint) and a bunch of body work. The Hornet hood and trunk graphics are psilocybic, and you can even get replacements if necessary. How hard could it be?

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It goes without saying this one is magical not only for its quirky peachy color, but also the rad textured vinyl on the bench seats, the pristine roof rack carrying a surf board (natch), and oh yeah, the vinyl woody applique. Totally awesome. What a great way to kick off our car coverage for the Dream Cruise.

The American SUVs on the market in 1989 were quite a bit different than the generation that would take over in just two years' time. We tend to focus on their crudeness and lack of creature comforts, but more importantly, nearly all "mid-size" SUVs before the 1990s period were two-door models. The exception was the Jeep Cherokee XJ, which was developed with extra doors specifically because Chevy hadn't added them to their Blazer. The other players were either Japanese, like the Isuzu Trooper or, like the Suburban, based on a larger truck platform.

The Jeep Z5 concept will look very familiar to you.

Fortunately for Chrysler, Jeep had developed a more-refined version of the four-door SUV that we know as the Jeep Grand Cherokee all the way back in 1985, when the division was owned by AMC. Unfortunately for Chrysler, when they purchased AMC and Jeep, they put the development of the Grand Cherokee project on hold in favor of new minivans. Still, Jeep had the answer, and in 1989 they released the Jeep Z5 Concept 1, which was basically the final design for the Grand Cherokee that they would bring to market in 1992.

Contrast that with the General. For 1989, GM had two futuristic concept trucks that we assume they hoped would stir enough interest to guide them in their product-making decisions. One was the youth-oriented Pontiac Stinger compact SUV. Though it wasn't particularly powerful — its engine was only good for 170 HP — it had a high level of utility, including features such as a removable picnic table and portable radio. These types of features weren't put to use, as Pontiac wasn't going to build an SUV in the near future. Ironically, many of these ideas found a home — the ill-fated and poorly designed Pontiac Aztec.

The Stinger is certainly better looking than the Aztec, even if it isn't as practical.

The other concept truck was the Chevy XT-2 concept, which stood for the Chevy Experimental Truck #2. This futuristic-looking, performance-oriented vehicle featured a Corvette suspension, a front-engine/RWD layout built on a platform similar to the F-body Camaro, and a 4.5-liter V6 that was good for 360 horsepower and 315 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine itself, which featured tuned port injection, was an important technological leap forward for GM. The TPI system not only provided more power than a carbureted engine, it was also relatively fuel-efficient. For an excellent discussion of the importance of this engine see this discussion of the XT-2 at PickupTrucks.com.

The XT-2 was designed as a pace car to be used in what was then the CART PPG Indy Car World Series, which is now a weird mix of words to see together. The truck itself went through two designs before engineers landed on the final one. The first version was fairly wild and had the engine mounted under the bed. The second version was a based on a passenger-car platform with a FWD/AWD layout and a smaller V6 engine, a concept not unlike the crossovers that would follow in the mid-2000s. So how did they end up with the final version? According to a press release provided by GM, "Given the consumer preference to small, sporty trucks, the evolution of the Chevrolet PPG XT-2 Pace Truck was natural."

So, in 1989, you had the Pontiac Stinger and the Chevy XT-2 from GM as the radically futuristic vehicles. The designers and planners clearly understood that, after the previous gas crisis, crossovers and sportier car-based trucks were the way forward. But that wasn't what happened.

In 1990, GM came out with four-door versions of their S10-based SUV's and Ford came out with the Ford Explorer. The design wasn't exactly revolutionary — the Explorer and others were the same basic body-on-frame trucks as before with an extra set of doors. The Explorer caught the imagination and dollars of Suburban families by offering car-like amenities such as leather interiors and CD players. Jeep suddenly had to rush their dusty Grand Cherokee to market in 1992 to catch up with the market.

Gas prices remained low, especially relative to the sudden increase in the purchasing power of the average American. In 1991 there were less than a million SUVs sold in the United States. By 1998, Americans were buying nearly three million a year. In 1998, the three best-selling trucks (F-Series, Silverado and Explorer) outsold the Toyota Camry, which was the best-selling car. Unfortunately, in this orgy of truck sales, nothing quite like the XT-2 was ever produced. Why make a car-based SUV or truck when you're suddenly making money hand-over-fist by adding a CD player and an extra set of doors to a body-on-frame platform you've already developed?

Fast-forward almost twenty years, to March 2008. The Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla and Toyota Camry bested the Ford F-150 in monthly sales, and you have your answer. Not long after, GM postponed development of their GMT-900 full-sized truck platform. It then leaked out that GM was considering a more Honda Ridgeline-esque pickup — not unlike the second version of the XT-2 concept that was never produced.

Then the news we were all waiting for: GM announced the Pontiac G8 Sport Truck in 2008. The Pontiac G8 ST will be built on the Zeta platform that underpins the 2010 Chevy Camaro, giving it essentially the same setup as the Chevy XT-2.

The General could have created car-based CUVs and sporty trucks; obviously, they thought the idea had some merit in 1989. But development and focus instead shifted to the cheaper and easier body-on-frame alternative with two extra doors. Almost 20 years later, with another energy crisis underway, it's fascinating to see how two versions of the same forgotten concepts from the late 1980s are now looking like the new way forward for an automaker desperately trying to grapple with age-old problems.

[Photos and press releases courtesy of General Motors. Special thanks to GM for providing the information, Mike Levine of PickupTrucks.com for tracking much of it down and to SmalleyXb122 for starting this whole search with his comment in the Five Ugliest Concept Trucks post.]

The Pontiac G8 ST proves Peter's maxim about originality.

AMC Concord AMX
Powered by an optional 5.0-liter V8, the '78 AMX was based on the otherwise boring new-for-'78 AMC Concord. You could get the 4.2-liter straight-six with a 4-speed manual, but if you wanted the macho V8, you were stuck with a 3-speed slushbox. For those wanting to rebel against the empire of Detroit's big three, while still buying American, this was the way to go. Besides, who else was gonna offer you authentic Levi's denim seats?
[source]

Ford Mustang King Cobra
With the new fox-body Mustangs right around the corner, the '78 King Cobra was a last hurrah for the old Mustang II. The Cobra-adorned hood featured a new reverse hood scoop, and tucked underneath was a 5.0-liter V8. That mill wheezed out about 140 HP, and was connected to a 4-speed manual or an optional automatic. Really, not much was mechanically different from the previous Cobra II, but if you wanted a bitchin' snake on your hood, this was the car for you.
[source]

Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am
Starring in the previous year's film Smokey And The Bandit, the T/A went mostly unchanged for '78. However, GM did make changes where it counted, as 1978 actually saw an increase in the 6.6-liter V8's compression ratio — to 8.1:1. Of course, output was still only 188 HP, but that was still more than you got in a base '78 Corvette. Plus, if you were a real bandit, you could order a special high-altitude model that used an Oldsmobile 403 CI V8 rather than the Pontiac 400 CI lump...and somehow lose 8 HP in the process. Either way, you were lucky sure to outrun any smokey.
[image source]

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We're going to make the assumption that you'll be obtaining your electrons courtesy of sources other than petroleum products here, because otherwise the mean ol' oil companies will still have you by the short hairs. Nukes, solar cells, dams, whatever- they'll all work when it comes to topping off the cells in your Electric 1980 AMC Hornet wagon, which is still available for less than four grand at the time of this writing. Guess how many miles it has on the clock. No, really- take a guess. Fifty-one original miles! Yes, here we have what the seller says was "a joint venture between Solorgen and AMC to produce electric automobiles," so it's a low-mileage prototype Malaise Electric AMC. It probably hasn't run since Jimmy Carter was president- that is, if it has ever run- there are no batteries, and you can be assured that the brakes and wiring will need endless some attention before it can be driven. On the plus side, the interior is in great original shape, apart from some sun damage. We're a little puzzled by what appears to be an alternator attached to the electric motor in the photos- isn't there a more efficient way to get 12 volts for accessories when you have a car full of freakin' batteries?

A super-original Electric Hornet would be pretty cool, but what if you want to make an insane electric drag racer and show Plasma Boy a thing or two, maybe humiliate some Tesla owners? You'll need a car with a plethora of hot-rod suspension and rear-end parts available, and you'd be hard-pressed to find anything that can match the Ford Fox platform on that score. Naturally, you'll want a wagon, so check out this super-cheap 1981 Electric Ford Fairmont wagon, which was converted to electric power by none other than NASA! Well, actually its history is a bit murky, with the seller's statement "need batteries and my Dad never received the title had it shipped from California was going to order the title and get batteries but then hospital killed my Dad we need the money with Bush the oilman, 2X cheater and Chaney the crook in office" not doing much to clarify things; there is no title, there are no batteries, and nobody knows the specs on the motor. That won't matter much for you prospective electric wagon racers, because you'll need to upgrade to a powerplant waaaay bigger than what's installed now.

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Yes, as the creators of the infamous Gremlin, the asymmetric Pacer, and the tape-stripe-tastic Spirit AMX, the American Motors Corporation will forever be remembered for making the worst American hatchbacks in history. But they're so ugly and quirky that they've actually moved full-circle and become lovable over the years. Well — at least the Gremlin and Pacer have. The world might need some more time to really appreciate the glory that is the louvered-rear, "rally-tuned" special that was the Spirit AMX. This 1980 model was the last car from AMC to wear the once-respected AMX badge. Underhood was a 4.2-liter inline six, which wasn't as bad as the hamster-powered four-banger in a Chevette, but not exactly a pavement-melter either. Be that as it may, have you ever seen a malaise-era compact look so badass? Didn't think so.

Images copyright: Mark Arnold / Jalopnik.com

When you see an American rear-drive car with a big fiberglass hood scoop, brightly-colored racing stripes, and rear tires so wide they protrude past the big plastic fender flares, you usually assume the presence of a V8 under the hood. How boring! But put a souped-up inline six in that same car and you've got something a bit different. Say, for example, this 1979 AMC Spirit, which can be purchased for the lure-to-Hell cheap price of just $2,800. It's already got some go-fast goodies on the engine (which is of unspecified displacement, though at least it's been bored 0.030" over). You might keep the intake and headers and drop in the good ol' 258 crank/rod combo into a common-as-dirt 4.0 Jeep block, giving you a ring-gear-shattering 280 cubes of inline torque! Thanks to the Jeep freaks, a bewildering array of camshaft options may be found, keeping you up late at night trying to puzzle out just the right combo for your Spirit. We don't know what kind of transmission is in this lil' red devil, but it goes without saying that you need a 4-speed for it, so you'll need to start shopping if the car comes with a slushbox.

Cool as the Spirit is, those Camaro owners won't be able to figure out what the hell it was that just smoked them at the dragstrip with just six cylinders. For AMC name recognition, you can't beat the Gremlin- why, even folks who wouldn't even recognize an AMX can slap an instant ID on the odd-looking shorty Hornet hatchback from deep in the heart of the Malaise Era. We've managed to find a genuine 1974 AMC Gremlin X for just 100 bucks more than the Spirit, which means it's your lucky day! Yes, for only 2,900 clams, or bones, you can head out to Kansas City and claim your own purple Gremlin X. Purple! Put on your darkest shades and take a peek at that two-tone interior- you know you must have this car! You get a 360 engine as part of the deal, but you'll be selling that off to buy some speed parts for the crazy inliner you'll be whomping together for this thing. It's been sitting for a while, so the brakes don't work, the carb gaskets are bad, and so on and so on. Oh, and there's rust. But don't picture yourself endlessly replacing rusty sheetmetal with impossible-to-find patch panels. Picture yourself rampaging around town in the baddest six-cylinder Gremlin X ever to burn 110 octane!

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1982 "amc' Eagle 2door 4x4 - $4000 (Lebanon) Heres a blast from the past a 1982 "amc" eagle 4x4 it had been siting in a barn for 16 years and i got it out and put a tune up and a trany service on it and it runs great!!!the car is almost perfect the body has "NO RUST" it has AC and it works the 4wheel drive works great!!! the inside is perfect...im asking $4000 or best offer...my cell is 513-464-8598!!! i have more pics if u would like to see them just email me and i will send them thanks for looking!!!

Apparently the 2.8-liter PRV6 in the 1981 DeLorean isn't holding up too well and, gasp, stalls out on occasion. We know, we're just as shocked as you are. Hold on to your hats though fellas, because the most unbelievable fact here is Ms. Reilly is single. She's probably more than willing to accept applications from novelty car junkies or creepy Back to the Future fanatics. [NYT via Dethroner]

1982 Frank Sinatra Edition Chrysler Imperial
Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca had a friend in Frank Sinatra, and it was hoped that Old Blue Eyes could sing the company's way into the hearts of consumers. Not so much. But Iacocca did thank his friend by releasing the Frank Sinatra Edition Imperial Coupe, which featured a briefcase full of Sinatra tapes and a special silver-blue paint job. Despite the blessing of the former Rat Packer, people weren't biting and the FS edition was dropped, much to the dismay of MechiMike.

1996 Volkswagen Harlequin Golf
We have Maymar to thank for reminding us of about the Harlequin Golfs, which are certainly the most colorful special edition on the list. It was 1996 and it would be another four years before VW released a new Golf. To keep interest in the brand, Volkswagen swapped out the body panels on 264 red, green, blue and yellow Golfs. The result is one of the rarest VW editions ever and, without a doubt, one of the most noticeable. [Photo: Wiki]

1979 Bill Blass Edition Lincoln Mark V
Take clothing designer Bill Blass' wearable designs and combine them with the Lincoln land yachts of the 1970's and you get the Bill Blass Edition Lincoln Mark V. A classic example of the clothing design/car crossover product tie-in, this Lincoln features the classic two-tone Bill Blass paint scheme as well as a Cartier Quartz electronic clock and luxo-reclining seats. Classy. The price of all that class? An average of 7.0 mpg, making it one of the biggest guzzlers of all time. Still, Isetta would take one in a heartbeat. [Source: Significant Cars]

2000 Snoopy Edition Mitsubishi Pajero Mini
The Japanese are often in the lead when it comes to automobile trends, so don't be surprised to see a Peppermint Patty Dodge Durango as a follow up to the Mitsubishi Pajero Snoopy Edition that Tonyola located for us. The vehicle is festooned in and out with drawings of snoopy as the flying ace, including on the wheel hub covers, spare tire compartment, speedometer, tachometer, pillars and door trim. There's also an autograph by Charles Schultz on the outside of the little SUV. We're not sure how much Schultz made for this, but it's not enough.

1972 Levi's Edition AMC Gremlin
As if the AMC Gremlin wasn't already one of the coolest cars ever, the company offered a special Levi's edition in the early 1970's to take advantage of those "jeans things" everyone seemed to be wearing. The interior featured denim-covered seats front and back with copper rivets instead or buttons. Though the look was unique, we have to imagine those copper rivets probably left burn marks on unsuspecting passengers on hot days. The company tried to follow the success of this model with an acid-washed AMC Eagle in the 1970's with disastrous results. [Hemmings]

1995-1997 Orvis Edition Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee had a rough time trying to keep up with the more luxurious Ford Explorer and it's ubiquitous Eddie Bauer editions. To compete, Jeep tapped rugged outfitter and rod-maker Orvis. Though JSmith53 may argue that this Grand Cherokee offered better performance than the Explorer with similar luxury touches, the Orvis edition's color scheme was probably a deal-breaker for a lot of people. Though produced for three years, the gold, green and red of the Jeeps lost out to the easier-on-the-eye beige and green Fords. [Source: Jeep Orvis]

1979 Cadillac Seville by Gucci
Oh daddy, what Elhigh wouldn't do for a Gucci Caddy. Taking the automaker/designer to its ultimate extreme, Cadillac dealers teamed with Gucci to create the most luxurious 1979 Seville ever. The custom "double G" gold Gucci hood ornament makes this car easily recognizable as something special. And what's hinted at on the outside, is beaten to within an inch of its life on the inside. Gucci logos, Gucci cloth and a matching set of five Gucci bags let other Seville owners know that you are too chic to be trifled with. [Source: Boompa]

1970's Champagne Edition Beetles
When you think of the VW Beetle you don't necessarily think of bubbly, but Volkswagen clearly realized there was a group of affluent would-be owners waiting for a luxury edition Beetle. These "Champagne" editions came with a special metallic paint, Blaupunkt AM/FM speakers, a Quartz Clock (a must for the 1970's) and burled elm dash. Now the best StairCar can do is a little dinky plastic flowerpot. [Source: SeBeetles.com]

Oleg Cassini AMC Matador
If you're good enough to design over 300 outfits for Jackie O, you're good enough to design your own AMC Matador. Drawing from the same geometric shapes and rich fabrics that made up the first lady's ball gowns, Cassini models included thick carpeting everywhere as well as a number of Cassini medallions. The best touch is the ultraplush seating with copper buttons that would look more at home in Indi's 1970's-era living room than an AMC. With only a few thousand of these versions made, they're among some of the most collectible Matadors. [Concord.edu]

"The Dude" Edition Dodge Truck
As opposed to the relative opulence of the Cassini Matador or Champagne Beetle, the randomly named "The Dude" edition dodge sport trim package is basically a 1970's sweptline Dodge truck with a "paint and tape" package that utilizes mostly striking colors and a "The Dude" logo to move inventory. What makes this specific truck special is the inclusion of Don Knotts in the truck's advertising, for reasons that defy human comprehension. The Dude abides. Credit to both Squablow and Slantstick. [Source: Sweptline.com]

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Remember the Alliance? Chrysler got US government bailout money, but AMC had to go, hat in hand, to get French government bailout money. Too bad they couldn't get Citröen involved; imagine a car that combined the Javelin and the SM!


I thought at first that this thing might be some sort of snow-globe... but there's nothing but liquid in that plastic ball.


Perhaps the previous owner of this car needed to keep a stash of clean urine on hand at all times, in case of sudden workplace drug test: "Of course I'll pee in your cup, sir, but I need to, uh, go to my car first!"

"create a full-scale racing program to encompass NASCAR, Drag racing, IMSA, and reportedly, a highly modified Javelin for Pikes Peak this July... and possibly by 2010, at the Baja 1000, to celebrate the '67 baja run of Spence Murray and Ralph Poole, in a virtually stock Rambler."

Supposedly, as Hot Rod tells the story,

"...ten years ago, a multimillionaire vintage AMC enthusiast tried to acquire one of the six remaining AMX/3 mid-engine prototype sports cars for his personal collection. He was told none were for sale at any price, so our mystery mogul decided to do the next best thing — he built his own. In the course of designing...the plan changed from a copy of an AMX/3 to a totally new, updated modern AMX/4."

"Here's where things get interesting. In sensing a potential market for this new sports/GT with other enthusiasts, the idea was hatched to build these cars in series. Then the discussion turned to...wouldn't it be cool to bring back the whole company instead of one AMC model?"

The AMC AMX, though not being on the receiving end of anywhere near the quantities of nostalgo-glitz gushed over its Big Three competitors by the Baby Boomer Gratification Industry (the same industry that will make the rest of us suffer through the same 25 "classic rock" songs until the day we die), was quite the factory hot rod in its time. You could get one of the little two-seater shorty Javelins with a 390 and a 4-speed and blow away all but the wildest Mustangs, Camaros, and Barracudas with it. These days they're getting pretty expensive, but there are still some diamonds in the rough to be had. Or, more precisely, diamonds in the ruff, as stated in this ad for a '70 AMX (go here if the ad disappears). The seller couldn't be bothered to wipe the 90-weight off his or her camera lens, so it's not easy to make out exactly what you get for $5000 here. There's a (putatively) rebuilt 360 sitting near the car, there's a disc brake conversion of unknown ancestry, and there's rust. Thrown in on the deal are some rust repair panels and three transmissions. We figure an evil-looking primer paint job, a 4-speed, Cherry Bombs, and Mickey Thompson rubber are all you'd need!

OK, AMX fanatics, go ahead and gripe how the '73 isn't a real AMX. Sure, sure, it's just an option package on the plain ol' Javelin, and thus a '73 can't possible compete with a jen-yoo-wine 1970 AMX in the coolness department... or can it? How about if told you we'd found a '73 Javelin AMX that was also a Pierre Cardin car... and a 4-speed machine to boot? What would you say then? We're serious- check out this '73 AMX for just $3500 (go here if the ad disappears) and then try to tell us you're not imagining this fine AMC in your personal garage. Now, there's a certain air of mystery about this one, because we've got a seller who doesn't believe in describing the condition of the item being sold. Does it run? Is it rusty? Does it have a title? Is there a drum of radioactive PCB-laden transformer oil leaking in the trunk? Hell, we can't say, but who cares? It's a goddamn 4-speed Pierre Cardin AMX! Pierre probably wouldn't approve of primer for this machine, but it's definitely Cherry Bomb material.

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Part of the problem was that the not-exactly-stellar reliability of the Renault Alliance had made American car buyers wary of AMC-Renault products by the time the Medallion came out. That diamond on the grille might as well have been a Biohazard emblem, given how much it helped sales.


Still, this car looks a bit different from the usual late-80s thing, especially around the rear quarter glass and rear wheelwells.


The Medallion had a funky longitudinal-engine/FWD setup that effectively cancelled all the space-saving benefits of the front-drive layout, using the 2.2 liter four-banger out of the Renault 25.


Yes, you never know quite what you'll find down on Alameda's street!

The 220 was the entry-level Rambler for '65; you could buy a two-door for just $1979. That was $70 cheaper than a Dart 170, but $2 more than a Falcon and $11 more than a Chevy II.


But when you went with the Rambler, you got some cool stuff. Not just the infamous steamy-window-enhancing fold-flat seats, but styling touches like this side mirror.


There's a certain amount of Dart-esque styling to be found here... although one could make the case that Chrysler's designers were influenced by the Rambler's styling.


You got a 90-horse flathead six (yes, a flathead! in 1965!) as the standard powerplant with your American 220, but another $84.95 would get you the 145-horsepower OHV six.

The great thing about the Maverick is that every hopped-up hardware hooliganism you can perpetrate on a Mustang can also be applied to the cheaper horse (unfortunately, it also means all the early Mustang's many suspension drawbacks apply to the Maverick as well, but anyone who's watched "Bullitt"- which was a documentary, right?- can tell you that leaf springs and funky front control-arm geometry are actually the way to go in a handlin' machine!). And the Grabber Mavericks were pretty sharp-looking cars for their era, so someone who started by handing over $1500 cash for this 1974 Ford Maverick Grabber would need only to drop in more engine and a 4-speed to be well on his or her way to vintage Ford coolness. The body and interior don't look too bad, and its California location means that rust probably isn't a huge deal... unless the trunk leaks.

Of course, $1500 is a lot of money for a Maverick, right? Every dollar you save on the initial purchase price is a dollar you'll be able to spend on a badass engine updrade, and what could be more badass than a wild 401 stuffed into this 1975 AMC Matador? You know, the kind of 401 that requires a big hole in the hood for a tunnel-ram intake... and with a purchase price of just $500, you'll have money for such engine goodies. This Matador seems pretty straight, though we don't hear much about the interior and the fuel system is "gummed up" (probable translation: rock-hard petroleum decay products on everything ever touched by gasoline). And, hey, buyers within 200 miles of Spokane can get delivery for the price of gas and dinner!

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Say you've been time-traveled back to 1975. Your wardrobe of rayon leisure suit, mood ring, and gold-razor-blade medallion has been arranged for you, as has your stash of Acapulco Gold and Rorer 714s, and you have only to buy your wheels in order to be ready to score with the foxes at the Peter Frampton show... which starts in an hour. You have been issued the inflation-adjusted equivalent of the money needed to buy a mid-level present-day car, in 1975 dollars; now take this book and pick out your vehicle and options, staying under that price (we'll assume the dealership has every imaginable combination of model and options sitting on the lot). Well, what's it gonna be? Hilarity always ensued once the participants got a good look at their choices. Did you want a big-block V8 wheezing out 140 horses? Could you get a 4-speed with it? It goes without saying that you must have the 8-track player. And so on.

And now it's your turn! We'll pick out a pair of 1975 cars, choose options that make them cost roughly the same amount (trying to get whatever passed for 'high performance" gear, of course), and let you vote! So let's go on to today's WTBI75 contestants:

• • Base Matador coupe, V8: $2982
  
• • Oleg Cassini trim package: $236
  
• • Brougham package (required with Oleg Cassini): $173
  
• • 360 4-bbl engine with dual exhaust: $200
  
• • Twin-Grip differential: $40
  
• • Optional axle ratio: $11
  
• • Power front disc brakes: $45
  
• • Air conditioning: $356
  
• • Entertainment Center with 8-track and 4 speakers: $237
  Total: $4280
  
  

  Ford Maverick Grabber

  
  Ford didn't offer a designer edition Maverick in '75 (you had to go for an LTD or Continental for the touch of Bill Blass), but their anonymous in-house stylists did a fine job with the Grabber package. You got all manner of emblems and tape stripes, not to mention a super-cool hood.
  
  OK, you didn't get the twin-nostril Grabber scoops in '75, but you did get some snazzy graphics that told the world where you were at, man. Not only that, you could get the Maverick with a floor-shifted 3-speed manual (sorry, no factory 4-speed option), and the overall package is cheaper; thus, you get more extras for the price compared to the Matador. So here's our Grabber option list:
  
• • Grabber Maverick Coupe, V8 (includes 302-2V engine and 3-speed manual trans): $2959
  
• • Handling suspension: $12
  
• • Power front disc brakes: $65
  
• • Floor shift: $22
  
• • Traction-Lok differential: $40
  
• • AM/FM Stereo: $191
  
• • Air conditioning: $354
  
• • DR70-14 WSW radial tires: $71
  
• • Aluminum wheels: $45
  
• • Reclining Grabber bucket seats: $110
  
• • Power steering: $105
  
• • Sunroof: $179
  Total: $4153
  
  Yes, in the real world you'd probably skip the factory stereo and go with aftermarket audio gear (perhaps a nice Sparkomatic rig?), and you'd want to do a quick cam/intake/carb/headers upgrade on the engine. But let's say you're heading straight for the Frampton concert from the AMC or Ford dealership and need your car fully equipped today! In 2007 dollars, the prices of these two cars come to just under $17,000 (admittedly, I'm using base prices instead of MSRP, but with dealerships desperate to move iron off their lots during a period of recession, you should have been able to sweat the salesman down to base price anyway). Can you get anything as cool as an Oleg Cassini Matador or Grabber Maverick for Ford Focus money these days? Does the Focus have a little-known Grabber option package? Come on, Ford, give us a Grabber Focus!
  
  
  Stay tuned for the next What To Drive In '75 episode, in which you'll get to vote on a couple of imports!
  

I can't figure out the year on this Eagle, other than narrowing it down to the '81-84 model years. These things are still fairly common in Colorado, for the same reasons that half the drivers in the state have Subaru Outbacks. If only AMC had known they had the right idea at the wrong time! Feel free to cut loose with bitter AMC-based rants, folks, and be sure to bring up the Alliance.

The Pacer was supposed to have had a GM-built Wankel under the hood, but The General canceled the program (after a billion or so bucks down the drain) and AMC was stuck with a car that no longer had the oddball powerplant that would have justified the crazy styling. The Pacer X was the "performance" version, though in the Malaise Era that meant tape stripes and not much else.


When I photograph these cars, I'm always careful to set the camera's zoom so that there's minimal distortion of the car's lines. However, this is absolutely impossible with the Pacer- a photograph from any angle looks like you used a crazy fisheye lens.


Your world looks like this once you've stared at a Pacer for long enough.


I was nine years old when the Pacer first appeared, and I recall having a lot of bewildered discussion with my classmates about what the hell was the deal with this crazy-looking car. We'd drone out the Pacer's advertising slogan "It's small... but wiiiiiiiide!" whenever we'd see one (which was often; the Pacer actually sold pretty well). For what it's worth, the VW Thing rated highest on our collective Cool-O-Meter at the time.


Since the later Pacer was available with a 304 V8 under the hood, a 401-powered machine should be a junkyard bolt-in. Anyone who's done this gets instant Hoon of the Day status in our book.

Never mind what the Loverman says about the early Chargers being "frumpy," Chrysler's response to the gauntlet thrown down by the fishy Rambler (OK, fine, it was more a response to the hot-selling GTO) is a fine-looking machine! Break away from the herd of '68-70 B-body drivers and get yourself something like, say, this 1966 Charger! Yes, you're not hallucinating- that's just one grand for a genuine pre-Malaise Dodge Charger! And, of course, with that sweet price comes a few challenges. First of all, the seller seems vague about the mechanical condition, which generally means "Neither rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night will hide the fact that nothing on this car works!" Then you gotta figure there's some serious rust involved, what with this car being from Missouri. Last- but certainly not least- is the lack of any sort of paperwork verifying ownership, so you'll need to do some negotiating with DMV officials who might be somewhat less than understanding about your situation. However, mechanical parts should be quite plentiful (body parts might be more difficult, though some Coronet stuff ought to fit), and imagine the kid-in-candy-store drivetrain choices you'd have! How about a 440 with the aforementioned 6-71, with pistol-grip 4-speed? Or, hell, a Viper V10! It can be done... with enough money and time.

But say even an early Charger is just too mainstream for your taste. Come to think of it, any car from Detroit is too mainstream. Maybe you need a stylish fastback from Kenosha, Wisconsin! How about this 1965 Rambler Marlin? At $2250 it's more than twice the price of the Charger, but it's also more complete. Plus, being a California car, there's not going to be as much rust. However, it's been stored since 1984, which (if it's been outdoors the whole time) means the trunk has probably filled with water every winter, and you can assume that the entire fuel system, all seals, and most electrical connectors are totally garbooned. The seller doesn't say anything about mechanical condition... but then, after 23 years of storage he doesn't need to say anything. The engine is the AMC 327, which isn't a bad engine, but the selection of go-fast parts is limited enough that we recommend the application of 401 cubes of Wisconsin horsepower as Item #1 on your checklist; you can defray a tiny percentage of your cost by selling the 327 to a Rambler fanatic. Restoring the interior... well, it might be a bit hard to find stuff like door panels and trim pieces, but that's what the Internet (and a fat wallet) is all about, right? Just imagine how all those dime-a-dozen Charger drivers will blend into the background as you roar up in your baaaaad Marlin!

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