Automobile Enthusiasts

mr_lebowski

(33,643 posts)

4. One of my dads friends still had a 70's AMC Pacer in the mid 80's and I'll tell ya

Wed Jun 26, 2019, 02:13 AM

Jun 2019

Despite being one of THE UGLIEST vehicles ever made, that was a SURPRISINGLY comfy and roomy vehicle ... at least, compared to how it looked from the outside. I'd been in some Caddies that felt smaller.

In college in the late 80's one of my neighbors in student housing had a tricked out old Pinto, with a beefy V8 in it ... it was lowered with stiff shocks and sway bars and I'm here to tell ya ... that thing HAULED ASS, and cornered like a MOFO. I can't tell ya how many times I thought I was gonna die in that thing, but dude knew how to drive it (and how to scare the shit outta me). I thought it was a joke at first but I came to respect that vehicle.

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Highlight:

AMC Gremlin vs. Ford Pinto: Who Ya Got? [View all] Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 OP

The Ford Pinto the Molotov cocktail of cars. comradebillyboy Jun 2019 #1

+1 ... and why I'd take the Gremlin. But this is what I drove: Auggie Jun 2019 #8

Not a bit worse than others of it's era. Mopar151 Jul 2019 #46

Chevettes? Auggie Jul 2019 #52

A piss-poor try at that Mopar151 Jul 2019 #58

I had a 76 Chevette. Automatic. What a piece of crap. yellowcanine Jul 2019 #60

We did have one Gremlin in our family, TexasTowelie Jun 2019 #2

My Dad was not a car guy, he'd have a company car and would eventually buy it Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 #3

We had a '66 Falcon in my youth with "three on the tree". Bob Loblaw Jun 2019 #17

Of the three Ford Falcons in the family, TexasTowelie Jun 2019 #20

Yeah, I remember "helping" dad Bob Loblaw Jun 2019 #23

One of my dads friends still had a 70's AMC Pacer in the mid 80's and I'll tell ya mr_lebowski Jun 2019 #4

I certainly remember the Pacer! Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 #5

i was just thinking of the pacer . AllaN01Bear Jun 2019 #24

I had a girlfriend who had a Pacer Danascot Jun 2019 #42

Aesthetically, neither is pleasing to the eye True Dough Jun 2019 #6

I've owned 2 (used) Gremlins & 2 (used) Pinto Wagons... WePurrsevere Jun 2019 #7

No love for the Chevy Vega? (nt) NeoGreen Jun 2019 #9

I owned one ChazInAz Jun 2019 #11

Sounds like you had a pretty special and intimate relationship with this... NeoGreen Jun 2019 #12

I sure remember Vegas, they were a very popular car! Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 #32

Very little... Mopar151 Jul 2019 #47

Gremlin...both were planned obsolete the day they left the lot... Tikki Jun 2019 #10

My husband had a Pinto mgardener Jun 2019 #13

"Do you know what kind of women you get in heaven by driving a Ford Pinto?" rocktivity Jun 2019 #14

I had a Gremlin MrScorpio Jun 2019 #15

That's the one I voted for on this article Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 #34

I had a Pinto. murielm99 Jun 2019 #16

Vegas! Let me tell you..... machoneman Jun 2019 #18

Guess where Vegas were built.... Ohiogal Jun 2019 #19

You tell 'em OG. JohnnyRingo Jun 2019 #22

I replaced a head gasket on a ten month old Vega and the front fender I was bending..... EarnestPutz Jun 2019 #25

Wow -- that was one big lemon. Auggie Jul 2019 #53

I love Jalopnik. JohnnyRingo Jun 2019 #21

Thanks! I thought this was a pretty clever article Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 #33

Pintos had an unfortunate tendency to blow up. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2019 #26

Only when you tap the rear bumper. cos dem Jul 2019 #51

I had a 1976 Gremlin customerserviceguy Jun 2019 #27

Pinto had two engine options - a 1600 cc engine based on a British design and.... EarnestPutz Jun 2019 #28

Pretty bad? Mopar151 Jul 2019 #48

As much as I hate to admit it to a "Mopar" guy, you are right. In my own defense.... EarnestPutz Jul 2019 #49

Also the basic block of two Pedigreed Cosworths, and the "Lotus" twincam Mopar151 Jul 2019 #50

I had a Bobcat (a Mercury Pinto) and a Pinto; both were great cars that I liked a lot. NBachers Jun 2019 #29

We had a green 1970 Gremlin ThoughtCriminal Jun 2019 #30

Hey just a minute there... The Figment Jun 2019 #31

My friend had a green 1974 Gremlin kimbutgar Jun 2019 #35

Gotta go with the Pinto. WinstonSmith4740 Jun 2019 #36

Vauxhall Brexit trusty elf Jun 2019 #37

That does look like it really is "unsafe at any speed!" Rhiannon12866 Jun 2019 #39

Neither of them hold a candle in the ugliness department compared to this bug-eyed monstrosity. cos dem Jul 2019 #54

That just don't look kosher. keithbvadu2 Jun 2019 #40

Wish I had my mom's 62 Corvair mountain grammy Jun 2019 #38

Learned to drive in a Corvair also. Perfect size and cool car. Hoyt Jul 2019 #59

'60 Falcon, six cylinder, automatic. 60mph (downhill) keithbvadu2 Jun 2019 #41

I'll go with the pinto bluecollar2 Jun 2019 #43

I had two Ford Pintos Captain Zero Jun 2019 #44

Say what you will about the Gremlin, the Vega and the Pinto pecosbob Jun 2019 #45

Bought a new 1974 Pinto Wagon. GP6971 Jul 2019 #55

Gremlins were very, very heavy for their size. Don't know why. yonder Jul 2019 #56

Under the funky style Mopar151 Nov 2019 #62

Although a hot rodder and and drag racer gibraltar72 Jul 2019 #57

My father had a Mercury Bobcat (a Pinto with a fancy grille). Eugene Jul 2019 #61

Pinto SunshineState70 Apr 2020 #63

where's the rest of your car toots.. stuntgirl56 Oct 2020 #64