1972 AMC Gremlin -X from North America - Comments

At 2300 miles, the rear end was making some unusual whirring noise. Ring gear was defective. Warranty replacement on the ring gear fixed the problem.

We were a "Nash/Rambler" family from the beginning. Dad with his Nash Ambassador of 1955, Mother, with her Rambler American 440H (which I inherited later on), then trading in the Rambler for the Gremlin in 1972.

I was looking at a sub-compact in this year, and noticed that Chevy's with their Vegas, and Fords with their Pintos, were hundreds more than a base Gremlin, which was a far better built car to come out of a domestic USA plant. True, the Japanese were "invading" us with Toyota's, and Datsun's, but these imports haven't seated themselves as they have now back then. Finally, I took to the liking of a Jolly Green Gremlin-X with the 304 (5.0L) V8 under the hood. What a blast this car was to own. Now, after reading the histories and seeing pictures (including my own) of the Gremlin, now I wished that I still had that car.

"Best built domestic car of this era"...That's a joke, I

assume. You can't be serious!!!

Regarding the comment above:

I imagine the original author's assertion is quite serious.

Take a minute and think about the Gremlin's contemporary competitors: Vega/Monza, Pinto, Colt, Cricket... The Gremlin was built far better than any of these.

Uh...the Colt and Cricket were not domestic cars, and while the Cricket was and is a piece of crap, the Colt was actually very well built, certainly much better than the Gremlin!

I owned a 71 Dodge Colt loaded model and no it was not anywhere near as nice as my new Gremlin X V8 that replaced it in 1973. The Colt was well maintained yet it was always breaking down and it was a happy moment the day it was sold. I cannot say enough how much I regretted buying that car perhaps I should have bought a slant six Dart, Demon, Swinger whatever, but the little Colt was a very poor decision. As a college student I wasn't rich, but here was a new 1973 Gremlin X V8 car within my reach. The Gremlin was always great and never broke down. They were very popular many were at my campus at the time mostly the large six version. Everyone I talked to before I bought mine said it was a very solid car and actually performed and handled pretty well. We also had quite a few AMXS, but I could not afford one of those. My Gremlin X also had far superior sheet metal, mechanicals and outstanding paint that still looked great 10 years later! It was the only car I have ever kept that long and I still see it once in a while. Other than brakes, a water pump and putting dual exhaust and 60 series tires on the stock rims I had no major repairs of any kind. I had some mods done resulting in going through a few sets of tires at a few red lights and got a horrible ticket once being juvenile. It would smoke the tires off with the posi rear it had in it. It still never broke down AMC built them well.

I can attest to the rugged build quality of the AMC Gremlin. My best friend and next-door neighbor inherited the family Gremlin (a '71) that was passed to each of the kids as they reached driving age. It was the trainer car for a large family, and it took THAT kind of abuse. My friend had it from around 1976 through 1978. We went everywhere in that car until he could buy a car of his own and pass it on down to the next kid. It was a standard with a straight-six and three-on-the-tree. It was built like a little truck. Unsophisticated, but bulletproof. It sounded like a school bus with straight-cut gears, and that big, solid six. Nothing took it out of commission except 5 kids and about 300,000 miles.

I had a Jolly Green 1972 Gremlin X with the 258 Six and a custom paisley interior. A real eye catching car and a great runner. I truly wish I still had the car. It was a 3 speed and my wife at the time needed an automatic. Problems with the car were none.

I owned a poppy red '72 Gremlin in college. I bought it used from the original owner. I loved it, and everything about the car, except that it had an automatic transmission and an open differential in the rear.

My Gremlin was base model with tan vinyl seats and black rubber floor covering. I had the smaller 232 straight six in my Gremlin; the only option it had, other than the automatic transmission, was power steering.

The car had had factory undercoating, so the body and paint were in near-flawless condition.

The early Gremlins ('70 - '73) simple cars to maintain and own. They were built very well and were very reliable.

I think AMC sold a lot of them based on these well-known facts. Unfortunately quality control went out the window after '73, and returned far too late into the marque's run to matter.

Like every former owner of a "classic" car, I was sorry to sell it then, and wished I owned it now.

Maybe again someday...

The car was what it was, It was inexpensive and somewhat economical and had superior hp and torque compared to its competitors. My Aunt drove the wheels off her gremlin and it tore her up when my Uncle decided a escort would be a better car. What a huge mistake.

The car has become a 70's icon and a lot of people that see them today realize what a neat little car it was.

I had a 1973 Gremlin X with the 304 V8 that I bought new. The body especially the metal and the paint was excellent... far superior to newer cars. The decals faded over time, but it remained rust free. I ran it pretty hard and never had any engine or trans problems. Does anyone know how many V8's were made in those years?

My 1972 gremlin x was a 304 posi track and a four speed. I was never beat by a 396SS though they all made fun of my little triangle. they were built with stop light to stop light racing in mind. there was a kid in springfield ill that had a in line six and he twisted off 2 driveshafts. I had 130,000 miles on mine and it still ran great. I could rap it out to 7200 rpm's in every gear. a friend of mine missed every gear and peged my tach (it would register 8500 rpm) and it just kept on running. I would take that car back in a heartbeat.

How did you get a 4 speed? The 304 V8 I bought brand new was available as automatic or 3 speed only... although you could get a 3.91 posi. My friends SC Hornet had a 4 speed... sure it was a Gremlin X?

I just bought a '72 Gremlin my sophmore year and I LOVE it! It's basically the base model and the only option it has on it is air conditioning. It has a 258 I6 and it's the stock skyline blue color. I'm getting a 304 soon though :) Awesome car a lot of people make fun of it, but they admit that they wish they had one too!

...though they all made fun of my little triangle.

Did you ever consider wearing a merkin?

AMC did not make a factory 4 speed for the Gremlin X 304 V8 it was offered only in a 3 spd or an automatic. I had a 304 5 Litre myself. Mine cost $2900... tan with gold stripes special ordered from the factory.

I was up late one night and thought about my 75 gremlin. I worked at six flags during the summer (after my freshman year at Mizzou) saved up some money for a car and bought it off another college student who had just graduated from UMRolla for $500. it was 7 years old and came with 5 new tires. I drove that car without any maintenance and absolutely no problem until 1986, then for some reason, I believed the car was done and refused to do any maintenance and just drove it to the junk yard...crazy. That car had power, reliability, good gas mileage and was driving as strong when I took it to the junk yard as the day I bought it. it could have used a tune up and new carb and some rocker arm / ball joint work. it was a bit rusted... i know AMC lost money on those cars.