AMC Matador Machine: Remembering One of the Rarest, Most Underrated Muscle Cars
Posted on 10/07/2024 7:18:16 PM PDT by Red Badger
A Gremlin with a 360 or a 401 (had a larger snout)
I’d take ‘em
My experience with 1970s cars is mixed. I had two 1973 Ford LTDs which I loved, but one got wrecked by an illegal alien drunk driver while parked, and the other, which had a 429 cubic inch motor was stolen, even though it was locked and I had the key.
I also had a 1972 Chevy Impala which ran well after the tranny was rebuilt, but the metal under the back window rusted out, causing rainwater to flood into the trunk—a design flaw that plagued GM cars at the time.
My family bought a 1973 Pontiac Le Mans new, but it had a lot of problems. When we took it to the car wash for the first time, the trunk flooded because they forgot to put seals in the trunk at the factory. The motor mounts were too weak, and they had to be replaced. The alternator failed on the Hollywood Freeway, and we luckily coasted into the parking lot at Denny’s on Vignes in downtown Los Angeles—which is still there. Its life ended when it caught fire after I turned on the air conditioner—oddly enough, when I was driving around trying to find a new car. This car was designed by John DeLorean, and we figured he was probably on cocaine when he did so.
Mine dropped a valve seat (Al heads pressed in seats). Only transport I could afford so I drove it for a couple months on 3 cylinders until I found a replacement head. 45 miles each way to work too. Good times. 😂👍
Had two of those.
My first car was a Vega.
It was the big guy in charge.
“It was like wearing (driving) a Coca-Cola can on wheels”
Classic Datsun description.
I live in a tropical area, it is pathetic how many recent year Datsuns have horribly cancerous paint.
My old man bought used Cadillacs down in Florida after he retired. Would drive them for a year or two and then drive north where he would sell them. I loved driving them when I was in town. He had numerous Coupe de’Villes over the years.
That Mirage is pretty cool I think. Maybe ugly - but still pretty cool. I see one could still buy one for $50 to $60k.
AMC Matador Machine: Remembering One of the Rarest, Most Underrated Muscle Cars
A friend of mine had a 260Z but boy it seemed like a terrific car compared to that B210 - hard to believe it was the same manufacturer
That 260Z was awesome
Pretty sure it was a 1975 one like this, Levi's edition too. Denim seats, was pretty cool at the time.
Everything about the 70’s was ugly, with the exception of the music pre-disco.
I inherited my Dads old Pinto wagon. ‘73 model with 2400cc motor and a darn nice interior. Automatic with a sporty shifter.
That motor taught me everything I needed to know about fixing the same thing damn near every day. Replaced that motor in the mud in Feb. 1981. Never did anything like that before.
(Some brotherly guidance was needed)
Car lasted a year or so. Moved way on up to a Granada. Fun times. :)
I saw a Levi’s edition in person - it was cool
A friend loaned me a 260/280 Z Datsun while my Toyota was in the body shop.
Introduction to Datsun. Roof liner falling off, etc. Engine was good.
Fast forward to my new wife and her Datsun Sentra. Total beercan with a great engine
I saw a fat honda from the 80’s on US74 in NC today.
Yea, it was old and ugly but that kid was going 60 in it.
I was proud of him. Sometimes you just go with what you have.
It sounded like a sewing machine.
In high school, kids were happy to get whatever they could and also drove a lot of the cars on this list - AMC Gremlin, Datsun 200SX, Ford Pinto, Chevrolet Chevette, AMC Pacer, Ford Mustang II, Chevy Vega, Subaru Wagon... The Plymouth Volare was used as a police car by many towns and a few of those were bought at auction. Gotta have wheels
I saw a 240 when it came out - loved it
Rented a later 240 when I had extra airline tickets (from flying at least 2X every week)
Decided to take my 1996 vacation in Las Vegas - really nice 240
I couldn’t believe how dusty and dirty Las Vegas was - but I shouldn’t have been surprised - eventually wound up at the Riviera - had a HUGE room (actually 2 rooms) - 2 sliding doors to the strip - 3 bathrooms - maybe 4 beds - 2 couches and more
$35 on a Tuesday night - the room stunk of heavy smoke - I opened all the sliding doors - I could barely sleep
The owner's father, who used to ne the owner I believe is named Bobby.
On one of the episodes, he thought one of the cars in the yard was a Cadillac Mirage, but it was really a flower car (an open hearse or it was a conversion done by somebody else but it was a good conversion).
Which apparently the Mirage is now very pricy car that is highly sought after. To make a long story short his son did not want to fool with it, but he let Bobby run with overseeing the project that turned it into a rat rod type of vehicle, and it maid a nice contribution to the junkyard's bottom line.
My 1971 Gremlin was a white, straight 6, 3.8 liter engine, four speed standard shift chick magnet. It would haul ass too.
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