There was a dealership in Mesa Arizona that offered that same package from 1972-1974 with support from Corporate AMC. The Randall 401 XR Gremlins sold for 2995 and were apparently pretty freaking awesome.
The V-8s were all dimensionaly identical; all it took was a handful of tools and a hoist. Of course you'd want to beef everything up but AMCs are much maligned and underappreciated cars. I've had several and I loved them.
For $2999, Randall American, an AMC dealer in Arizona would sell you a 401 engined Gremlin...I was too young at this time, but given the chance to take a time machine back then and to come back to Cal City Ill and confront the punk in a 302 Maverick would have been epic...
This was my 1st car, to a tee. Ordered it in April of 72, didn't come in till June. That's how far back ordered they were. And, whoever did 16.8 in the quarter mile back then, didn't know how to drive. I took mine to the track many times and did consistent 15,1 quarters, And, on the street, it got better traction, enough that it would embarrass 350 Camaro's all day.
I'm almost 65, and now own a Tesla m3. Back in 1974 I owned one of these in silver with black stripes. I installed electronic ignition, after-market traction bars and radial tires so it could hook up. This is the second fastest car I ever owned!
These things were SLEEPERS if tuned and geared correctly! And the custom one built in Arizona with a 401 V-8 was a MONSTER when modified to get 300+ hp. From stop light to stop light many Corvette owners and others were left behind with embarrassing tears. I saw one of these in action and it was awesome!!!
When I was 16, aka 1980, I used to cruise in my step mothers 1973 green Gremlin X with the 4.2, 258 cid, 3 speed on the floor. I wore out a Foreigner Head Games cassette in that car. Great times.
Absolutely LOVE it... I'm currently trying to acquire a AMC Spirit... From my good friends next door neighbor... Original paint.. No rust and black soot on the rear from a ole oil burning 6 cylinder... 👌👍👍👍 LOVE your videos and as always.."thanks for sharing.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😎
I had a 1980 Spirit when I got out of the service in 89, It was a fun little car. The 304 was actually far easier to work on for a shade tree mechanic than the 258 straight six.
Love it!! My first car was a 1975 Gremlin with a 6 cylinder then later I got ahold of a 1979 model with a 304 and the Levis interior. Fun cars to drive and with a few bolt-ons, that little 304 could really fly. Miss that car.
I was stationed at Ft; Gordon, GA in 75 for a few months with a friend who had one with a 390 and low gear posi rear end. It was a kick ass sleeper. He kept the three speed because of cost for an enlisted man. Engine was from a salvage yard and I don't think the swap was that hard top make. I'll never forget that little screaming Gremlin.
Im a ford guy and I do have a soft spot for mopar. however this car is really cool. I remember these but have not seen one in 20 years, The color is great. Good to see one of these restored..
Indeed, the restoration is incredible(needs an OEM batter!) love the color. Should have grabbed one back when I was in high school, but didn’t realize how much I loved quirky things till later in life Thanks for sharing 😎
I was floored by the color combo. This is so radically different than my Corvette, that I would love to have it sitting in the garage beside it. I'd even overlook the somewhat disappointing motor. Still, it's a V8 sitting in a Gremlin. Combined with the mean purple, I give this top ratings in my list. Dare to be different.
Be aware that the auto industry was prone to call out the "net" hp on their cars in 72 for insurance reasons. In actuality the little 304 probably had closer to 220 hp gross. I know its still not a streetlight burner but considering the Vega made 90 hp and the Chevette made a dismal 84 hp. Hell! Considering the standard 72 mustang made 180 with their 302 I'd say the little car could hold its own. I myself run a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk as my first car so I know all about how good these Independents are.
Oh HELL yea! That is cool. AMC also made a 4-barrel carb SC-360 Hornet in 1971 I think? They definitely marched to a different tune than the other divisions when it came to performance cars.
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Like one of those Randall Gremlin XR-401's. Easy swap too. The 304, 360, and 401 were all exactly the same external dimensions. Kinda like Pontiac V8's in that respect. I believe the 290, 343, and 390 were all identical on the outside too
I love Gremlins. I did a body apart repaint on a 70, I think. It was black, but the Gold Stripe also went up the quarter pillar. It was the guys wife's car she drove in High school, and he had hunted it down. Wonder what they did in that car in the 70's? *Wink*. Still had original paint. He has built the engine.
I think that's a really cool car ! I saw one in a car museum in Nashville . Can't remember the name of the museum . I thought it was a very neat and unusual car .
When I was in my early teens a guy a few years older had one with a standard and he had all the day two parts. I thought it was soooo cooool and still do. I am a chevy guy but I appreciate all muscle cars. AMC made some cool cars in that era.
There was a dealership in Mesa, Arizona Randall Brothers that offered that offered 1972-1974 Gremlins with a dealer installed 401 cubic inch engine with support from Corporate AMC. The Randall 401-XR Gremlins sold for $2995 and were fast enough to leave a lot of other muscle cars in its rearview mirror.
When I arrived at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, in MS, in '82, my new roommate had a Gremlin X with the 5.0L. If I remember right, it was green. Unfortunately, he beat that car mercilessly until he transferred out, then junked it. He was so proud of getting it airborne. One time, upon landing, the battery came loose and landed in the fan doing a lot of mechanical and chemical damage (from the battery acid) but with 'jury-rugged' repairs it was back on the road.
The beauty of this beast is the block dimensions of the 304 are the same as the 401 so you can go that route or there's enough room in there for a turbo or two as well. Of course if you want to go completely balls to the walls nuts you can drop in the 401 with a pair of turbos and buy a truck load of rear tires. Personally I'm going to try and find a Gremlin some day and probably go with the NA 401 route but who knows everything is better with boost.
Well I am sure that dual exhaust and a 4v intake and carb would drop it a second in the quarter mile. Ad a mild cam and I am sure 15.5 was possible. I always thought these cars were kind of cool and original.
I have one of the LT1 Engine's from a Vette. I thought they had 375hp. I'm about to build it and put it in my 66 Chevy truck. Just a Beater work truck. I'll tone down the cam as they weren't cruising friendly. 3,500-7,000 RPM is what they like ve.
Of course, they get it all wrong on how the Gremlin was designed....it was out before the Pinto or Vega, beat the competition and it was all designed in tandem with the Hornet....it was introduced before the Hornet Sportabout or the Hornet Hatchback..the whole point of the Hornet Platform was that it was adaptable to other cars, the whole point of sharing platforms.
I owned this exact model in 1972. Wonderful, fun little hot rod. I raced it in various gymkahnas along the Wasatch Front in Utah and it always performed well. A new baby forced me to trade it off, and I was disappointed. The video brings back a lot of good memories.
My first brand new car was this exact model, 1972 304 3 speed. Same base color, but it had white stripes in place of gold. The car was pure junk, but I had a ton of fun with it.
The heads were fine as far as flow. A 4 barrel carb & intake ,summit 8600 cam and dual exhaust would wake that gremlin up big time. The factory heads and exhaust manifolds flow pretty good. A 360 4 barrel swap makes them fun
A friend of mine in high school had one nearly identical to this the only difference not knowing the gear ratio was the stripes on my friend’s car were white instead of gold and I’m sure that one has an aftermarket exhaust system on it like my friend’s did
That's not a 1972 AMC 304 in that 1972 Gremlin, note the smog air pump and lines to the exhaust manifold, wasn't used in '72. Nice restoration, but they sure messed up on the correct year engine.
Would be such an awesome car with a 401-4 speed combo. Always really liked the AMC 390/401 engines. This is still a really cool car though. Do a few of the right mods to that 304 and this could be a quick little car
Be aware that the auto industry was prone to call out the "net" hp on their cars in 72 for insurance reasons. In actuality the little 304 probably had closer to 220 hp gross. I know its still not a streetlight burner but considering the Vega made 90 hp and the Chevette made a dismal 84 hp. Hell! Considering the standard 72 mustang made 180 with their 302 I'd say the little car could hold its own. I myself run a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk as my first car so I know all about how good these Independents are.
I would take it build the motor up and you could’ve some fun in this car or kill your self trying. For the money at that time these were not bad cars. My dad had one for a work car can’t remember him having any problem with it. It was what it was a good second car that got good gas mileage
You should know that the "Rambler" name was shelved by 1967 to form the American Motors Corporation. This Gremlin is no more a Rambler than a Mercury Bobcat is.
you realize that the auto industry was prone to call out the "net" hp on their cars in 72 for insurance reasons. In actuality the little 304 probably had closer to 220 hp gross. I know its still not a streetlight burner but considering the Vega made 90 hp and the Chevette made a dismal 84 hp. Hell! Considering the standard 72 mustang made 180 with their 302 I'd say the little car could hold its own
Gremlin design was beautiful. This is a most amazing example of a restored Gremlin. The detail is unbelievable
I hate purple but this one just looks right. We had a 73 gremlin X Levi’s edition when I was a kid and wish I could find one today.
Glad to see all the Gremlin videos making their rounds on RUclips.
A friend of mine had a gremlin that he stuck a hopped up 401 in, that thing was down right scary.
Wow! That had to be flat out excellent!
There was a dealership in Mesa Arizona that offered that same package from 1972-1974 with support from Corporate AMC. The Randall 401 XR Gremlins sold for 2995 and were apparently pretty freaking awesome.
This car had so much potential. Imagine this thing with an AMX 390 motor, 4 speed, and heavy duty suspension.
The V-8s were all dimensionaly identical; all it took was a handful of tools and a hoist. Of course you'd want to beef everything up but AMCs are much maligned and underappreciated cars. I've had several and I loved them.
What about 401?
For $2999, Randall American, an AMC dealer in Arizona would sell you a 401 engined Gremlin...I was too young at this time, but given the chance to take a time machine back then and to come back to Cal City Ill and confront the punk in a 302 Maverick would have been epic...
A blank canvass has so much potential too. This body shape was NEVER to be cool.
Or a 401-4 speed. Even a 343/360 with a 4 barrel in a Gremlin would haul ass
This was my 1st car, to a tee. Ordered it in April of 72, didn't come in till June. That's how far back ordered they were. And, whoever did 16.8 in the quarter mile back then, didn't know how to drive. I took mine to the track many times and did consistent 15,1 quarters, And, on the street, it got better traction, enough that it would embarrass 350 Camaro's all day.
I'm almost 65, and now own a Tesla m3. Back in 1974 I owned one of these in silver with black stripes. I installed electronic ignition, after-market traction bars and radial tires so it could hook up. This is the second fastest car I ever owned!
These things were SLEEPERS if tuned and geared correctly!
And the custom one built in Arizona with a 401 V-8 was a MONSTER when modified to get 300+ hp.
From stop light to stop light many Corvette owners and others were left behind with embarrassing tears.
I saw one of these in action and it was awesome!!!
When I was 16, aka 1980, I used to cruise in my step mothers 1973 green Gremlin X with the 4.2, 258 cid, 3 speed on the floor. I wore out a Foreigner Head Games cassette in that car. Great times.
Hamilton , Oh
Absolutely LOVE it... I'm currently trying to acquire a AMC Spirit... From my good friends next door neighbor... Original paint.. No rust and black soot on the rear from a ole oil burning 6 cylinder... 👌👍👍👍 LOVE your videos and as always.."thanks for sharing.🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸😎
I had a 1980 Spirit when I got out of the service in 89, It was a fun little car. The 304 was actually far easier to work on for a shade tree mechanic than the 258 straight six.
I remember seeing a hand full of these in Wisconsin as a kid and they were always head turners.
Love it!! My first car was a 1975 Gremlin with a 6 cylinder then later I got ahold of a 1979 model with a 304 and the Levis interior. Fun cars to drive and with a few bolt-ons, that little 304 could really fly. Miss that car.
I was stationed at Ft; Gordon, GA in 75 for a few months with a friend who had one with a 390 and low gear posi rear end. It was a kick ass sleeper. He kept the three speed because of cost for an enlisted man. Engine was from a salvage yard and I don't think the swap was that hard top make. I'll never forget that little screaming Gremlin.
72 was first year a 304 was offered in a Gremlin, but was base V8 in 1971 in many AMC cars. Plenty of torque to move heavier Javelins and Matadors.
Im a ford guy and I do have a soft spot for mopar. however this car is really cool. I remember these but have not seen one in 20 years, The color is great. Good to see one of these restored..
Love this car and the best color!!!
Indeed, the restoration is incredible(needs an OEM batter!) love the color. Should have grabbed one back when I was in high school, but didn’t realize how much I loved quirky things till later in life
Thanks for sharing 😎
Amc made some cool Cars in the 70’s, I’d love to have have a Gremlin myself
I had a purple 72 Gremlin. Easy to maintain. Good on gas.
The color is the best thing about that car....
With minor mods, these cars were quick
I was floored by the color combo. This is so radically different than my Corvette, that I would love to have it sitting in the garage beside it. I'd even overlook the somewhat disappointing motor. Still, it's a V8 sitting in a Gremlin. Combined with the mean purple, I give this top ratings in my list. Dare to be different.
Be aware that the auto industry was prone to call out the "net" hp on their cars in 72 for insurance reasons. In actuality the little 304 probably had closer to 220 hp gross. I know its still not a streetlight burner but considering the Vega made 90 hp and the Chevette made a dismal 84 hp. Hell! Considering the standard 72 mustang made 180 with their 302 I'd say the little car could hold its own. I myself run a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk as my first car so I know all about how good these Independents are.
I remember a guy in my neighborhood had one that he stuffed with a 401 engine. It was one fast little Gremlin.
Excellent restoration!
Oh HELL yea! That is cool. AMC also made a 4-barrel carb SC-360 Hornet in 1971 I think? They definitely marched to a different tune than the other divisions when it came to performance cars.
I love most AMC, love that Gremlin.
Put a 401 4spd in it, with 390 Posi.
Lol, yup
seen that done with a 401 & dual quads - nobody laughed at it twice!
That'll make you pinch a hole in the seat. Lol
I was thinking exactly the same thing. Like one of those Randall Gremlin XR-401's. Easy swap too. The 304, 360, and 401 were all exactly the same external dimensions. Kinda like Pontiac V8's in that respect. I believe the 290, 343, and 390 were all identical on the outside too
@@jeremythompson9122 They were
I love Gremlins. I did a body apart repaint on a 70, I think. It was black, but the Gold Stripe also went up the quarter pillar.
It was the guys wife's car she drove in High school, and he had hunted it down. Wonder what they did in that car in the 70's? *Wink*. Still had original paint. He has built the engine.
The paint job alone merits inclusion on the channel.
Groovy is the word that comes to mind
@@Yankeededandy62 Far out!!!
I dig it, man!
My buddy in high school had a Levi's Gremlin with the 304. Pretty cool little car.
Great color combo!!!
I love that car !
this car is awesome!
Very cool car😎
I think that's a really cool car ! I saw one in a car museum in Nashville . Can't remember the name of the museum . I thought it was a very neat and unusual car .
Wow the color is flashy, looks like a Hot Wheels.
When I was in my early teens a guy a few years older had one with a standard and he had all the day two parts. I thought it was soooo cooool and still do. I am a chevy guy but I appreciate all muscle cars. AMC made some cool cars in that era.
There was a dealership in Mesa, Arizona Randall Brothers that offered that offered 1972-1974 Gremlins with a dealer installed 401 cubic inch engine with support from Corporate AMC. The Randall 401-XR Gremlins sold for $2995 and were fast enough to leave a lot of other muscle cars in its rearview mirror.
When I arrived at Keesler AFB in Biloxi, in MS, in '82, my new roommate had a Gremlin X with the 5.0L. If I remember right, it was green. Unfortunately, he beat that car mercilessly until he transferred out, then junked it. He was so proud of getting it airborne. One time, upon landing, the battery came loose and landed in the fan doing a lot of mechanical and chemical damage (from the battery acid) but with 'jury-rugged' repairs it was back on the road.
higg13001 I remember the 80’s the same except they were Mopars. I wish I could have known now what I didn’t as a dumb teenager.
Pretty Neat
The beauty of this beast is the block dimensions of the 304 are the same as the 401 so you can go that route or there's enough room in there for a turbo or two as well. Of course if you want to go completely balls to the walls nuts you can drop in the 401 with a pair of turbos and buy a truck load of rear tires. Personally I'm going to try and find a Gremlin some day and probably go with the NA 401 route but who knows everything is better with boost.
@1:56- Now this is an AMC could grow to love......its a cross between a Javelin & Gremlin......the right idea.
Keep watching folks to see an amazing YENKO DUECE Chevy Nova !
These were a very good car, but really needed four wheel disc brakes with all this power.
AMC really missed the boat. A shortened Javelin chassis with your pick of any engine, up to the 401, would have saved the company. 1:52
I loved my Gremlin X. Not quite stock was very quick. Awww, loved the cars before computers took over. 😏
That color combo is Awesome on That Gremlin !!! Beautiful car no matter how ugly they could be !
NICE...that’s a lot of motor for a wee car👍Merry Christmas Kevin and all the very best for 2019🍺
This Gremlin is so awkward it turn to be a nice addition to a colection!!!
Well I am sure that dual exhaust and a 4v intake and carb would drop it a second in the quarter mile. Ad a mild cam and I am sure 15.5 was possible. I always thought these cars were kind of cool and original.
I have one of the LT1 Engine's from a Vette. I thought they had 375hp. I'm about to build it and put it in my 66 Chevy truck. Just a Beater work truck. I'll tone down the cam as they weren't cruising friendly. 3,500-7,000 RPM is what they like ve.
I HAD THAT EXACT CAR
this beauty with a 4.90 : 1 axle or 5 can run 13 sec.
Of course, they get it all wrong on how the Gremlin was designed....it was out before the Pinto or Vega, beat the competition and it was all designed in tandem with the Hornet....it was introduced before the Hornet Sportabout or the Hornet Hatchback..the whole point of the Hornet Platform was that it was adaptable to other cars, the whole point of sharing platforms.
I owned this exact model in 1972. Wonderful, fun little hot rod. I raced it in various gymkahnas along the Wasatch Front in Utah and it always performed well. A new baby forced me to trade it off, and I was disappointed. The video brings back a lot of good memories.
My first brand new car was this exact model, 1972 304 3 speed. Same base color, but it had white stripes in place of gold. The car was pure junk, but I had a ton of fun with it.
The heads were fine as far as flow. A 4 barrel carb & intake ,summit 8600 cam and dual exhaust would wake that gremlin up big time. The factory heads and exhaust manifolds flow pretty good. A 360 4 barrel swap makes them fun
A friend of mine in high school had one nearly identical to this the only difference not knowing the gear ratio was the stripes on my friend’s car were white instead of gold and I’m sure that one has an aftermarket exhaust system on it like my friend’s did
That's not a 1972 AMC 304 in that 1972 Gremlin, note the smog air pump and lines to the exhaust manifold, wasn't used in '72. Nice restoration, but they sure messed up on the correct year engine.
This is the purple & gold Louisiana State U. edition.😆😆
Well, that's different! 😄
Would be such an awesome car with a 401-4 speed combo. Always really liked the AMC 390/401 engines. This is still a really cool car though. Do a few of the right mods to that 304 and this could be a quick little car
Be aware that the auto industry was prone to call out the "net" hp on their cars in 72 for insurance reasons. In actuality the little 304 probably had closer to 220 hp gross. I know its still not a streetlight burner but considering the Vega made 90 hp and the Chevette made a dismal 84 hp. Hell! Considering the standard 72 mustang made 180 with their 302 I'd say the little car could hold its own. I myself run a 1962 Studebaker GT Hawk as my first car so I know all about how good these Independents are.
The original Hot-hatch
I would take it build the motor up and you could’ve some fun in this car or kill your self trying. For the money at that time these were not bad cars. My dad had one for a work car can’t remember him having any problem with it. It was what it was a good second car that got good gas mileage
It needss a 401 V/8!
No it doesn't. The original 304 cu. V8 is plenty powerful.
I want this car. How do I get in touch with The Brothers Collection?
le faltaba un pedazo homy
This didn't even come with a 4-speed? Then a red base Mustang 260 was a muscle car?
Positraction is GM!
Awww,i wanted to see a big smokey burn out from the insect,car show = no burn out. Oh well, it'd probably break it anyway. Lol! ▪☆☆☆▪
Nice but how it goes?
"Slotted mags"? re: concept car
+jim colegrove yeah, mis spoke on that one.
My ex wife had one. Plenty of room to doooo. Lol
Positraction was a GM brand.
Man they must have run out of cars , to feature a slug like this
Nothing a little LS swap can't fix!!!
Don't do that. The original AMC lump can be woken up plenty on its own. An LS would just make it boring.
A Rambler!!!...HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Conceived on a barf bag, how appropriate. Better do so pull ups if it wants be a muscle car.
You should know that the "Rambler" name was shelved by 1967 to form the American Motors Corporation. This Gremlin is no more a Rambler than a Mercury Bobcat is.
Car crusher.
You're not a car enthusiast, that's for dang sure.
NOT A MUSCLE CAR ! SO WHY ON HERE ?
Who are you to say what isn't a muscle car?
It is pally.
150 HP stock? I literally laughed out loud. The restoration looks nice but this thing is NOT on my bucket list.
you realize that the auto industry was prone to call out the "net" hp on their cars in 72 for insurance reasons. In actuality the little 304 probably had closer to 220 hp gross. I know its still not a streetlight burner but considering the Vega made 90 hp and the Chevette made a dismal 84 hp. Hell! Considering the standard 72 mustang made 180 with their 302 I'd say the little car could hold its own
Trash heap of history... Next!
Not hardly. This Gremmie here was one of the better 1970s American cars.
Umm... no.