Hatch Heaven

The 1976 AMC Pacer was the second year of its production, which lasted until 1980. The design explorations for this vehicle started back in 1971 by Richard Teague that Car & Driver magazine called The Flying Fishbowl, and AMC promoted it in 1975 as the first small wide car. Check out this very informative in-depth documentary which tells the true story of the AMC Pacer.

This 1976 AMC Pacer X has the “X” Package, which was available from 1975-1978 in coupe form and consisted of vinyl bucket seats, sports steering wheel and custom trim, as well as a floor-mounted gear shift and front sway bar. The model received exterior chrome features, styled road wheels, Pacer X decals on the doors, and other package identification. It was renamed “Sport” in 1978 and subsequently eliminated.

The Gremlin was promoted as a sporty, fun-to-drive car, but the 1978 AMC Gremlin GT was a snappy new version that was a bit more racy looking. From the color keyed and pinstriped front air dam right back to the pinstriped fender flares. It had GT spoke-styled wheels with trim rings, DR 70×14 outline white-letter steel belted radial tires, front sway bar, GT body side stripe, body-color bumper guards and nerfing strips, dual black mirrors and much more, all standard. It had plenty of indoor sportiness too, with standard features like a brushed aluminum instrument panel with rally instrumentaion and tachometer, soft-feel vinyl bucket seats, sport steering wheel and extra quiet insulation, to name just a few.

The 1979 AMC Pacer DL was a package that included a more upscale edition of Pacer, and was available for the entire run of the car becoming the “base” model in 1978. This package was more “luxurious” including, originally, a “Navajo-design” seating fabric and a woodgrain instrument panel as well as a few interior features that were optional without it. The exterior received additional chrome accents, different wheelcovers, and identification badging. 1979-1980 saw a hood ornament and center chrome strip down the hood. (image source: eBay)

1980 was the last year for American Motors Corporation’s 3-door Pacer hatchback, which was produced by AMC since 1975. Chief stylist Richard A. Teague began work on the Pacer in 1971.

The 1976 V6 powered AMC Hornet X Hatchback came with slot-styled steel wheels, rally stripes, and sports steering wheel.