Vehicle Sighting - 1976 AMC Pacer

[Number_35]

Unlike many, I found these quite likeable at the time. I preferred the Pacer's edgy styling to a lot of its contemporaries.

They were designed around a rotary engine, which AMC would buy from GM. When that fell through, AMC shoehorned in an inline-6.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Car of the Year! The AMC 6 was not a bad engine. We all thought the Pacer was some kinda Moon vehicle.

 

[Danh]

As I recall, the ads referred to it as “The First Wide Small Car”. “Small Car” had a different meaning in the 70s.

 

[manicrodder]

My wife loved them as she could see out better than other cars. I thought it was like driving a fish bowl.

 

[Rhymingmechanic]

It actually looks decent with those wheels.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Collector item now.

 

[NormanBuntz]

I bought a silver Pacer in May 1975 for my wife, who had been driving a nice but neglected 1968 Plymouth Fury with a 318. The Pacer had a 3 speed manual and was pretty much a dog. When it conked out one day on the Walt Whitman Bridge, my wife lost confidence in it. After a while, we traded it in on a Pontiac Lemans wagon.

 

[Number_35]

As I recall, the ads referred to it as “The First Wide Small Car”. “Small Car” had a different meaning in the 70s.

Agreed, I have a copy of "Small Cars" magazine from c. 1974. It included a lot of not-so-small cars, including anything below intermediate. I'll have to look it up, but as I recall the Camaro and Firebird qualified.

 

[mjk1967]

Unlike many, I found these quite likeable at the time. I preferred the Pacer's edgy styling to a lot of its contemporaries.

They were designed around a rotary engine, which AMC would buy from GM. When that fell through, AMC shoehorned in an inline-6.

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Awesome. Lots of AMC vehicles in se wi, growing up....

 

[Mazomopar]

Drove a 75 for a while in the late 70`s. 3 speed with the 6. Giving credit where credit is due, AMC had a way of going boldly where the big three would fear to tread. If you squint just right, the Pacer, especially the wagon kinda morphed into the early Subaru lines.

 

[Number_35]

Awesome. Lots of AMC vehicles in se wi, growing up....

Built in Kenosha, right?

 

[CR94]

As I recall, the ads referred to it as “The First Wide Small Car”. “Small Car” had a different meaning in the 70s.

It was also a gas guzzler, compared to legitimate small cars of the same era.

 

[dishdude]

It was also a gas guzzler, compared to legitimate small cars of the same era.

 

[RitcheyRch]

I remember reading that it was a car ahead of its time. First car without rain gutters on the roof and the first car with the passenger door larger than the drivers door to allow people to get in the backseat easier.

 

[Astro14]

My school carpool had a Pacer as one of the daily vehicles (along with a diesel Peugeot, International Scout, and a few other eclectic choices).

The concept car was actually sleek and cool looking. AMC stuck chrome trim and detail trim on the concept the make it more “conventional” - and ruining the concept. It ended up just being odd.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I seen one at a car show the other day and my first thought was wow....that car sure looked modern back in the day but looks really old now. My neighbors dad owned an AMC dealership and his kids would drive brand new ones around the area and back and forth to school. Thanks for sharing!

 

[odie]

Unlike many, I found these quite likeable at the time. I preferred the Pacer's edgy styling to a lot of its contemporaries.

They were designed around a rotary engine, which AMC would buy from GM. When that fell through, AMC shoehorned in an inline-6.

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[odie]

My wife loved them as she could see out better than other cars. I thought it was like driving a fish bowl.

 

[AZjeff]

A Gremlin inflated over max psi.

The Pacer wagon with woodgrain was the bomb.

 

[Lubener]

I would bet they corned very good being so wide. I always liked Pacers. As stated earlier, It was ahead of its time.