The common-or-garden Gremlin’s final hurrah.
By 1978, American Motors (AMC) had all however run out of steam. With the midsize Matador on the way in which out, the Kenosha, Wisconsin-based carmaker would quickly be promoting solely small vehicles, and dated small vehicles at that.
1978 AMC Gremlin GT
And although a type of fashions, the subcompact Gremlin, was to be considerably up to date for 1979—and renamed—AMC selected to offer the previous mannequin a correct sendoff.
Gremlin GT Bundle
Launched within the spring of 1978, about halfway by the normal mannequin 12 months, the Gremlin was surprisingly gifted a sport look bundle that went a great distance towards sprucing up the maker’s least-expensive mannequin.
Bundle Contents
The GT Bundle, which added between $300 and $400 {dollars} to the Gremlin Customized’s $3600 base worth, included plenty of enjoyable trim and look options, together with:
- Flared fender openings
- Stripe bundle
- Blackout exterior trim
- 14-inch rally wheels
- Radial tires with raised white letters
- Distinctive inside trim with up to date dashboard
- Black leather-based-wrapped sport steering wheel
- “Rallye” gauge bundle with tachometer
- 258-cubic-inch inline six
Nothing Actually Sporty
What was sadly not included within the GT package was any actual performance-improving options. That mentioned, if we’re studying the brochure accurately, any Gremlin might be had with the non-compulsory “Heavy Responsibility Suspension,” which might go a long way towards bettering the GT’s—or any Gremlin’s—dealing with.
Heavy Responsibility Suspension
Included as a part of the Heavy Responsibility Suspension bundle had been stiffer coil springs, particular shock absorbers, a thicker entrance stabilizer bar, and upgraded rear leaf springs. A number of sources counsel that the majority GT Bundle-equipped vehicles had been additionally fitted with the upgraded suspension.
Energy and Efficiency
Energy was one other matter. American Motors had stopped providing the 304-cubic-inch engine within the Gremlin, leaving the maker’s trusty-but-slow-revving 258-cubic-inch six to energy the would-be sporty GT.
Whereas torquey and comparatively easy, the 258 was not a efficiency powerplant, and at simply 120 horsepower, the GT was not setup to win many stoplight drag races. Outfitted with the usual 3-speed guide transmission, the Gremlin GT would attain 60 mph from a cease in a reported 11.0 seconds. Whereas not present stopping, that quantity was not solely disappointing by late-Seventies requirements.
Trendy Competitors
Working in opposition to AMC by way of promoting sporty Gremlin fashions was the launch of an all-new, and decidedly modern-looking Ford Mustang for 1978. The brand new ‘Stang featured clear traces, all-new structure, was light-weight, and might be had with a small V8 engine. Whereas the Gremlin and Mustang had been probably not in direct competitors for gross sales, in GT trim the Gremlin doubtless caught the eye of younger, sporty-car intenders.
Gross sales
And, beginning at round $4000, the Mustang was not considerably dearer than the Gremlin. Because of this—and a number of other others—the Gremlin GT was a sluggish vendor. Actual numbers are elusive, however a number of sources report gross sales of round 3000 examples, making a Gremlin GT a uncommon discover at this time.
Spirit and Harmony
For the 1979 the Gremlin, together with its structure associate the compact Hornet, had been freshened and renamed. The Gremlin grew to become the Spirit, whereas the Hornet grew to become the Harmony. And for some time, the updates helped to maintain AMC gross sales from falling. As for the GT Bundle, it was provided for 1979 on the Spirit, although solely on the brand new fastback-style Liftback.
Print Advert
As for this advert, we applaud the trouble to promote a really under-achieving sporty Gremlin variant, but in addition its time-sensitive nature. The Gremlin GT was provided for under about six months, which makes this automobile, and this advert, fairly scarce.
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1978 AMC Gremlin GT Photos
Click on under for enlarged pictures
