GTP Cool Wall: 1970-1978 AMC Gremlin
- Thread starter GranTurismo916
- 146 comments
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- 15,460
- Orange County, NY
- GTP_GT916
- Nii916
- 34,949
- Indian Falls, NY
- slashfan7964
Hmm, I wonder why, considering you know, that hardly any of their engines even compared in the displacement department therefore not producing anywhere near the amount of emissions our previously designed engines from a heyday of just prior already did. The Europeans never had an era like we did in the fact that someone can walk into a dealership and buy a 400hp car for $3,500 and be the fastest thing on the road. They never had 7+ liter engines that weren't in anything but a Lamborghini or a Ferrari that was well out of budget for the average consumer. They took those engines of the days past and made them useable for the era because it was more cost effective, which you don't seem to be understanding. Your European cars made the regulations with engines that weren't even remotely close to the power levels of yesterday's US counterparts, especially considering the size differences.
I mean, really, lets compare. A Ferrari of the day made what, 350 horsepower on average? What did everything else with their 4 and 6 cylinders make? Oh right, around similar of the US engine, maybe a hair more. Notice how our smaller engines did NOT struggle in the same way the larger engines did to meet the regulations. Therefore they didn't have to stupify their engines nearly as much as we did and in that sense made it much easier to meet US federal emissions standards. The era of previous performance is what bit the US automakers in the ass, and had to adapt. Now I'm not sticking up for them against the fact that in the 1980s they didn't change much but for what there was in the 70s, there is definitely a valid excuse for such.
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
Well for starters BMW and Mercedes had several Small Sixes making more power then your V8s let alone your smaller 4s and 6s.
The First American Car that got them to wake up was the 3800 Turbocharged Buick GNX tuned by Mclaren.
The 3800 was actually one of the first engines to be made post fuel crisis and this was the mid 80s.
Say what you want but American car makers took advantage of an uninformed car market and lack of outside engine Competition from Europe and Asia at the time.
- 34,949
- Indian Falls, NY
- slashfan7964
Sure they did, at the same time our V8s were being dumbed down. And?
10 years later...so? There was no serious performance cars in the US for a solid 10 years because of ongoing changing regulations. After the first 10 years, it was a bit ridiculous I admit, but prior to that there was so much going on that developing a new engine was pointless because it would be obsolete by the time it goes on the market. How many times do I have to say this? It's been 4 times now.
Again, 10+ years later. By then the emissions changes had calmed down a lot more than before. 10 years prior to this, it was not the case at all, hence why we are having this discussion.
This just shows how well you don't know your history about the time period. Asian and European car sales were booming here in the US due to the demand of smaller, more economical cars.
- 9,401
- Western Sydney
- mustafur
I was talking about performance cars, of course they would have booming sales compared to american car makers who really didn't have any thing small and economic.
Say it as many times you want, it's still not an excuse.
If that exact thing happened today the American Car makers would be blown to bankrupcy with what they did in the 70s and 80s.
Not insanely difficult to make a car that can Appeal to more range of restrictions without dying completely in power, the Europeans proved this.
Say it as many times you want, it's still not an excuse.
If that exact thing happened today the American Car makers would be blown to bankrupcy with what they did in the 70s and 80s.
Not insanely difficult to make a car that can Appeal to more range of restrictions without dying completely in power, the Europeans proved this.
- 34,949
- Indian Falls, NY
- slashfan7964
Performance cars in the late 70s were nothing but a sticker package
I wouldn't say they weren't small and economic, there was certainly a large share of barges for sale but smaller cars such as the Vega, Mustang II and a few others were capable of 30mpg with the right setup. For the day, that was pretty good.
I find that the smog V8s actually run better with the stuff deleted. They are simply too choked in stock form.
MedigoFlame
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- 6,213
- Maine
- MedigoFlameX
Uncool. But...If I'm honest, in a more personal way. I actually do quite like it... I mean, Roadkill showed that it's still cooler than a Prius.
GTP_Ingram
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- NowtDaft
SU because hatchback.
Just kidding. SU because the front looks generic, the back looks like a full-sized muscle car has been disfigured in a shunt, and overall it looks like the designers forgot to stop designing it - every angle looks overly fussy and chintzy. I'm guessing that rear wing was wind tunnel tested..
Then you have to consider that thanks to the Pacer (and I appreciate it came out after this) was hideous enough that it's immediately the first thing you'd think of when the letters AMC are mentioned, rendering every other car the brand make uncool. And, from what I've read, apparently they're rust magnets. And - even by 1970s American standards - they handled terribly. That's before you mention the fact that it was named after a creature that is known for taking pleasure in making mechanical things fall apart - hardly a good omen.
I'm sure a V8 rumble is pleasant enough, but I'd rather experience it in something that isn't one of these.
I'm staggered. Of all the hatchbacks you automatically hate due to their configuration, this is the exception? Not (and I could have chosen numerous cars here, but for obvious reasons this one stuck in my head) a prettier, faster, (much) better handling, more practical Peugeot 205 GTI, which also has rarity and motorsport pedigree on it's side, and isn't a half-hearted imitation of something else?
Just kidding. SU because the front looks generic, the back looks like a full-sized muscle car has been disfigured in a shunt, and overall it looks like the designers forgot to stop designing it - every angle looks overly fussy and chintzy. I'm guessing that rear wing was wind tunnel tested..
Then you have to consider that thanks to the Pacer (and I appreciate it came out after this) was hideous enough that it's immediately the first thing you'd think of when the letters AMC are mentioned, rendering every other car the brand make uncool. And, from what I've read, apparently they're rust magnets. And - even by 1970s American standards - they handled terribly. That's before you mention the fact that it was named after a creature that is known for taking pleasure in making mechanical things fall apart - hardly a good omen.
I'm sure a V8 rumble is pleasant enough, but I'd rather experience it in something that isn't one of these.
I'm staggered. Of all the hatchbacks you automatically hate due to their configuration, this is the exception? Not (and I could have chosen numerous cars here, but for obvious reasons this one stuck in my head) a prettier, faster, (much) better handling, more practical Peugeot 205 GTI, which also has rarity and motorsport pedigree on it's side, and isn't a half-hearted imitation of something else?
- 5,204
- Finland
Insert generic response containing the words potential and muscle car.
But seriously, I understand the reason behind calling this cooler than the 205. 205's motorsport history is mostly rallying and if all you care is quarter miles, "Detroit golden-age" and V8 sound, which I for one don't, the AMC is much more appealing.
GTP_Ingram
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- NowtDaft
That's true, but almost any other proper V8 muscle car is also far prettier, faster, better handling (probably - based on what I've read) and more practical than this too.
In European terms, it's like declaring a VW Beetle SZ by default purely because it's German, air cooled and RWD like a Porsche 911.
- 29,633
- Bratvegas
- GTP_Liquid
I can appreciate the smog laws cloud the reviews and judgements of American cars of this period and the power figures are going to be low but precisely because of that, I don't understand why a car such as the Gremlin was offered with an oversized, lethargic V8 at all.
GTP_Ingram
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- NowtDaft
Even the AMC marketing folk knew it was ungainly. Here's a (completely brilliant) period commercial in which the Gremlin is surrounded by works of modern art, where the patrons furrow their brows and lean their heads at an angle - much like you would when looking at a Gremlin.
- 7,313
- Land of the smelly onion
If you want to get technical, it isn't a hatchback since the rear has no door or "hatch" at the back, just the glass opens.
The 205 is faster and a better performer all around, yes. It should be, being some 10+ years newer than the Gremlin. I've also been lectured here many times in the early days of the cool wall that speed/handling =/= coolness, and things like rarity & motorsports heritage rarely sway my vote.
- 3,461
- Melbourne
Turd on wheels.
Looks horrible, horrible name and horrible power.
If the act of pooing your pants was a car this would be it.
Looks horrible, horrible name and horrible power.
If the act of pooing your pants was a car this would be it.
GTP_Ingram
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- NowtDaft
That's still a hatchback, because the rear hatch hinges upwards providing direct access to both the trunk and the cabin.
It's fine if rarity or motorsport pedigree aren't the biggest factors in your decision, but ease of tuning (everything else seems so bad that I can't see what else it has going for it) doesn't seem like anywhere near enough to make it cool, let alone SZ. If that was the case, Civics and Imprezas would be among the coolest cars in the world...
- 7,313
- Land of the smelly onion
It's just a lift glass, not really a hatch, and certainly not a door.
Everyone has their own opinion about what makes a car (or anything else for that matter) cool.
- 34,949
- Indian Falls, NY
- slashfan7964
I'm not a hatchback fan at all and this car oozes cool for me. Maybe it' s for the odd design, the fact it's made by a now obsolete brand and the fact it has a big honking engine with ridiculous capabilties coupled with the RWD platform.
