Can we talk about my car?
My little gremlin - made in 1972 by American Motors. originally purchased in Little Rock, Arkansas then made it to Wisconsin before a classic car dealer found it. after winning a ‘Bring a Trailer’ auction it came to Las Vegas!
Let me start at the beginning - what in the world made me choose to get a Gremlin? Most car people have a “what, why?” reaction when I tell them what kind of classic car I decided to call my own… but some of them really get it (those are my kind of people)!
I’ve always loved classic cars - likely get this from my dad. We would always go to car shows when I was a kid. I completed an entire series of abstract photographs based on cars for one of my high school portfolios, that is how much of an impact it had on me. I had told myself, one day I would have a classic car!
In 2022, it was time to start really locking this dream down. I came up with a budget based on a little seed that was planted at a Mecum auction in 2019 - something I loved (a 1955 Studebaker President Speedster) sold for an amount I could TOTALLY do! So I started digging and saving cars that I had always loved or found interesting. Then, I started down an American Motors rabbit hole… and there it was, a Gremlin!
My short list was a VW Thing, a Willy’s Jeepster and an AMC Gremlin. I did research on parts, pricing and size (it had to fit in the garage of course). VW Thing was out - too common. Jeepster was too big. But what I uncovered about the AMC Gremlin had me so hooked!!
My dad’s first car was an AMC Hornet, which is the front half of a Gremlin
The concept for the Gremlin was sketched up on a barf bag by the designer Richard Teaque
It was announced on April Fools Day
First cars were sold off the lots on a Friday 13th
It was made between 1970 and 1978 - during my favorite decade for fashion and design
That was it! I was going to have a Gremlin… eventually. After stalking the internet, reaching out to dealers, and of course saving every penny I could - a year went by. These buggers are not easy to find - but I was not surprised.
After a failed live auction attempt during the summer of 2022, a great specimine came up on Bring a Trailer in January of 2023. It was in good original shape, but lots of questionmarks. I had found another contender in Pittsburgh, but it had a high price tag. I decided to go all in on the hunter green 1972 gamble that was online!
Fun story - I won the auction at the seller’s reserve and the exact budget number I had set to get a call “that ran”! What?!
Through the storms and frost - my Gremlin made the trip across the country! I finally got it home in February 2023. I started cleaning it right away - lots of dirt, nests and grime from sitting in Wisconsin for (what I’ll come to find out) an eternity. My dad and I worked on the brakes and did a few things before we found our first kink - off it went to a local shop to get a professional’s hands on it. It finally came back in April - registered and drivable!
I kept to a tight radius, never taking it too far and always using the excuse “I have to exercise my car” to take it around the block. In the fall, my Gremlin made it to Water Street in downtown Henderson for it’s first car show - Hot Rod Days! We had an awesome time at the show and I met so many amazing people! Just after the show, I could tell my car needed round two of mechanical help. I loved driving it so much - all I wanted to do was drive MORE, like daily driver status!
Thankfully, I have a fantastic client that loves classic cars - he sent me to the best mechanic! This guy can build a car from scratch and works on beautiful cars daily, and HE was willing to take my Gremlin in for his next project!
BOOM! Four months later, that is quite the before and after!! We ended up rebuilding the original engine and restoring this engine bay to a thing of beauty - you better bet this year at Hot Rod Days I’ll be opening my hood! I have a laundry list of everything that is new or restored in this photo - but it’s way too long to name it here.
Now, I just drive my Gremlin as much as I can - just waiting for the next issue to arise. Working through a “new” gas tank at the moment! Just doing it piece by piece until this time capsule is fully restored.
Pretty sure I’m the only Interior Designer that is rocking a Gremlin to client meetings!
Questions I typically get:
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NO! Be jealous, it’s mine!
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I typically don’t name my cars, but after I was asked a half-dozen times before I even had the car in the garage I got to thinking. My Gremlin is from 1972, so what albums came out that year… I landed on the name Jim, for Jim Croce. Don’t Mess Around with Jim came out that year, and it just felt right!
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Yes, I know myself. Likely will be 10+ years before that happens! I do love the AMC family, so maybe an Eagle or AMX... but if a Levi’s Edition Gremlin presents itself, I may have to put it in storage for Levi! Even a Jeep, since they were AMC during that time too.
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It did - from the factory, but it was all busted when I got it. During the engine rebuild all the components were removed and it’s prepped for Vintage Air… just need to get all the necessary things fixed before I tackle that budget buster!
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I don’t trust myself (or YouTube) enough to restore this time capsule - I want it done right! I’ve done a ton of cleaning, wrapped my wheel in leather, my dad and I replaced the master cylinder and I learned so much about breaks, plus I’m doing research almost daily on parts and memorabilia. I’m in this for the drivable history and the appreciation of classic cars! Thankfully, Swing Shift Auto is the best in the business - so I feel like my Gremlin is getting the best treatment.
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1972 AMC Gremlin, 6 Cylinder 232 Engine, Drum Brakes, Manual Steering, AM Radio (not working) and Factory Air (removed)
