Here’s Why The AMC Gremlin Doesn’t Suck (Full Article)

09 Mar 2018

Marketed as the first “American Import”, the AMC Gremlin has for a long time been an object of ridicule, with most people citing its “funky” 70s styling and general low quality. Recently hipsters have driven the prices up but most car critics still dislike it, with many saying its one of the worst cars ever built. They’re wrong, the Gremlin wasn’t, and still isn’t a bad car. Here’s why.

The first reason why the AMC Gremlin didn’t suck is context. The Gremlin competed with the Chevy Vega and Ford Pinto, the latter which was known for literally exploding. The Vega was no angel either as it was plagued by rust issues as soon as it left the assembly line. Plus, the Gremlin beat both of these cars to the market. Comparatively, the Gremlin suffered no major faults and was generally reliable, albeit cheap. The sales figures reflected this too. 671,475 Gremlins were made over its whole lifetime, and while that is less the Pinto’s 3 million and the Vega’s 2 million, it was a strong showing for a car built on an existing platform by a small manufacturer with nowhere near the same funding as the big players.

People cite the styling as the Gremlin’s biggest shortcoming but the truth is it was a product of its time. The Gremlin oozed with 70s. From what I have read, the Gremlin’s styling was received pretty well when it was new, and looking back at American subcompacts of the day, it really wasn’t that ugly a car. I would actually say that the Pinto was a much uglier car. The Gremlin kept AMC afloat during times of trouble. AMC had never been able to compete with the big three and the Gremlin was its underdog fighter, holding its own against other better funded offerings. Lastly, I personally think the Gremlin is kind of cool. Sure it’s slow, but its funky styling is interesting and quintessentially 70s and its hipster appeal is undeniable. They even offered a Levi’s themed edition, complete with a full denim interior.

So what do you guys think of the Gremlin? Have I changed any of your minds about it? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Comments

I definitely agree, and think it looks really cool! Great article though

Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Awesome post, I have always had a soft spot for the Gremlin.

Thanks, and yeah, same here

I think the name really ruined it. Why would they name it Gremlin? Sounds like an awful, unreliable car.

Or a cruel KGB infested place in Soviet Russia

It has borne a great nickname for them though, Gremmies.

Yeah, makes you think of electrical gremlins

My sister had one as her first car. It had a pretty big in line six cylinder engine, and was not slow. It was a tire roaster!

They sold a version called the Gremlin X with a V8, and it wasn’t actually that slow.

Yeah, my ultimate Gremlin would be a V8 Model with the Levi’s interior

I love it, however the pacer, nah

Yeah, did you know they actually planned a rotary engine for the Pacer?

My mom’s dad owned a used car dealership and at one point she had wrecked a Cadillac and her punishment was she had to drive a purple gremlin to school. I wouldn’t mind a purple gremlin nowadays

Haha that’s awesome

They’re rwd aren’t they? By car guy law it must be cool

Yep, and they sold some with V8s too so it’s even better

I agree it is not a bad car, from the one i saw irl I thought it was a unique, little American icon

I was in parts and service management in AMC/JEEP dealers from 1964 to 1987 . Gremlin was indestructible and cute. It had no chronic problems. AMC created a vehicle with an almost cult-like following. Those with open minds and eyes saw the real Gremlin. Those that were stuck on the other three manufacturers missed out.