The AMC Gremlin is a great American oddball. Despite its reputation as cheap and dorky, the Gremlin enjoyed a healthy run between 1970 and 1978. AMC assembled nearly 672,000 units in three North American plants over its nine-year run.
These are respectable production numbers, but the Gremlin is rarely seen on streets today. Are the owners of remaining examples embarrassed to ride public roads? That’s certainly not the case for anybody piloting two remarkable Gremlins currently for sale on eBay. Both have distinctive charms, but which one is your favorite?
One is a remarkably well-preserved Florida 1974 Gremlin X V-8. The other is a well-worn but shiny orange Hollywood survivor with movie and music video credits.
The Gremlin, a model based on the AMC Hornet, is a squat three-door kammback subcompact. It was a reaction to the Ford Pinto and Chevrolet Vega. While hastily designed, the spunky Gremlin outlived its domestic economy car rivals on the showroom floor. And it’s become one of the most iconic models of the 20th century—even if only for its strange design.
Eminem Drove This Gremlin, Famously
The orange survivor’s biggest claim to fame is an appearance in D12’s Purple Hills music video. Eminem was behind the wheel.
The seller found the car collecting dust at a California movie car rental company. He said that it appeared in many films and television shows.
It was last used for a Beastie Boys music video and another video where a production company put hydraulic shocks in the front of the car to make it bounce.
After buying the car, the seller hauled it home and got to work. First, detailers cut and polished the paint to a remarkable shine. Then, he invested $6,500 in parts to make the Gremlin roadworthy.
Gremlin restoration and maintenance is a mixed bag. While standard mechanical Gremlin bits are abundantly available on eBay, finding the right exterior sheet metal can be tricky. Yet, if your idea of fun is coaxing a beat-up wrinkled fender into shape—and you want an unlikely daily driver—this car might be for you.
On the other hand, restoring a car of this caliber to Concours quality is a questionable proposition. The best bet is to enjoy this Gremlin as is. You could swap out the tired old rugs for fresh carpet, hold onto it for historical significance, and look for more movie work.
A Gremlin X With Concours Potential
Meanwhile, the white and gold 1974 Gremlin X for sale on eBay could earn trophies right out of the gate. The ’74 Gremlin has the desirable 304 cubic-inch V-8 engine. The exterior, interior, and underbelly look marvelous.
Primo Classics International, the Florida-based seller, did a stellar job with the photography. And the Gremlin’s previous owner earns our appreciation for taking proper care of the car.
Gremlin values have held steady for the most part over the past few years. However, in the past year, they’ve started to climb. As of this writing, the top bidder is offering $16,000 for the V-8 Gremlin X.
The gold and white Gremlin has two of three key options that add value. The first, of course, is the V-8 engine. In addition, the Rallye-X package bumps up the price. The only thing missing is Levi’s denim interior package.
So there you have it: Two affordable mid-1970s Gremlins. One of them has blemishes but comes with celebrity status. And the other is ready to haul in trophies and endless smiles. The choice is yours.
