9781422285145

AMC Gremlin

10

Designed by Richard A. Teague and Bob Nixon, this small two-door hatchback hit the road on April 1, 1970. Produced in Wisconsin, US, Ontario, Canada, and Mexico City, it was classed as a subcompact car and designed as part of American Motors Corporation’s (AMC) remit for new small cars, with a shortened Hornet platform and a Kammback- type tail. Unveiled at a time when imports into the US provided stiff

competition, the Gremlin was considered a sound economical purchase, although some derided its design. The car was marketed as “America’s first subcompact,” although that honor should really go to the Crosley, but it was popular with buyers who were attracted by the price and it proved a comfortable driving machine. Two options were available in 1970 – a

two-seater with fixed back window costing $1,879 and a four-seater with opening rear window that sported a price tag of $1,959. It was faster than other subcompact cars of the time and, although it was rather front heavy, it was considered easy to handle. It had a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout (FR), and debuted with a straight-six-cylinder 99 ci (3.3 L) engine, a seven main bearing design that produced 128 hp