American · 1975–1979

AMC Pacer

The AMC Pacer is a two-door compact car produced in the United States by American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1975 through the 1980 model year. The Pacer was also made in Mexico by Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) from 1976 until 1979 and positioned as a premium-priced luxury car. Design work began in 1971. The rounded shape and large glass area were unusual compared with the three-box designs of the era. The Pacer's width is equal to full-sized domestic vehicles at the time, and AMC promoted this unique design feature as "the first wide small car". The Pacer was the first modern, mass-produced, U.S. automobile design using the cab forward concept. Upon its introduction, reviews used descriptions such as "futuristic, bold, and unique". The Pacer featured an aerodynamic "jellybean" styling, numerous innovations such as different door lengths. This was noted "as a space-efficient car, seemingly from the future". The Pacer stood out at a time when "Detroit was still rolling out boat-sized gas guzzlers."

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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History

=== Design === American Motors' chief stylist Dick Teague began work on the Pacer in 1971, anticipating increased demand for smaller vehicles throughout the decade. The new car was designed to offer the interior room and feel of a big vehicle that drivers of traditional domestic automobiles were accustomed to, but in a much smaller, aerodynamic, and purposefully distinctive exterior package. American Motors called it "Project Amigo" as a fresh design "featuring a body style not seen before, using the latest technology and exceeding upcoming safety regulations". Car and Driver magazine wrote, "It was the first car designed from the inside out. Four passengers were positioned with reasonable clearances, and then the rest of the car was built around them as compactly as possible." American Motors explored many unique solutions to what Teague called the "Urban Concept" car. Not only different sized doors for the driver and passenger sides were considered, but also using a Wankel engine and front-wheel-drive. The first development mule was made by shortening both the front and the rear of an AMC Matador by 30 in (762 mm). The shape was highly rounded, with a large glass area, and was very unusual for its time. Road & Track magazine described it as "fresh, bold and functional-looking". The Pacer featured a rounded and aerodynamic "jellybean" styling The body surface was 37% glass, and its surface area of 5,615 square inches (3.6 m2) was 16% more than the average passenger car at the time. The May 1976 issue of Car and Driver dubbed it "The Flying Fishbowl," and it was also described as "the seventies answer to George Jetson's mode of transportation" at a time when "Detroit was still rolling out boat-sized gas guzzlers." Development was under Product Group Vice President Gera

Production and attributes

=== Coupe === American Motors began developing an entirely new car in 1971. It invested $52 million in tooling and $8 million in associated expenses to bring out the Pacer. Production began in January and the Pacer was unveiled on 13 January 1975. Sales in AMC dealer showrooms began on 28 February 1975. The Pacer was designed to attract buyers of traditional large cars to a smaller package during a time when gasoline prices were projected to rise dramatically. The new car was well received and seen as futuristic by journalists and buyers. Pacer production, which started at 530 cars a day was increased to 700 a day by April, and went up to 800 per day in September. Pacer sales success can be attributed to lack of competition from the other domestic automakers who the oil crisis had blindsided. Production passed 100,000 Pacers in less than eight months after production began. This was the first time a new AMC model achieved the 100,000 mark in less than one year. By way of comparison, it took more than two years for the Gremlin to reach 100,000 units after production of it began in January 1970. The early demand outstripping production capacity affected the Pacer's build quality. In its first year of production, the Pacer sold well, with 145,528 units. The increased demand for compact, economy vehicles grew rapidly, and the other automakers were rolling out their small cars. Pacer sales fell after the first two years. The Pacer's unconventional styling was commonly cited as a contributing factor to its continued lack of success. Other concerns included limited cargo space when carrying a full passenger load, primarily due to the steeply sloped rear roofline. Folding down the rear seat backrest formed a flat-floored, 29.5 cubic feet (835 L) cargo area. Design work on the n

Electric Pacers

Some AMC Pacers were converted to plug-in electric vehicles. Electric Vehicle Associates (EVA) of Cleveland was best known for its Change of Pace model – a built-to-order adaptation of the Pacer that was priced at $12,360 in 1978. The company converted over 100 units. First available in the sedan version, power came from eighteen 6-volt lead–acid batteries to a 15 kW (20 hp) series DC motor with a stock three-speed automatic transmission. The EVA Change of Pace sedan weighed 3,990 lb (1,810 kg) and reached 55 mph (89 km/h) with a 53-mile (85 km) range. Regenerative braking is used in conjunction with the standard hydraulic brake system which uses front-wheel discs and rear drums. Vehicle tests that focused on the electrical drive system including the batteries, controller, and motor "found that the Pacer performance is approximately equal to the majority of the vehicles tested in the 1977 assessment." Later, a station wagon version had twenty VARTA batteries housed in two-packs (front and rear), with a 26 kW (35 hp) (at 3,000 rpm) motor, and the car was complete in every detail down to a gas heater. The electric Pacer wagon was one of the more expensive cars at $14,000. The Lead Industries Association (LIA) sponsored a tour for government and industry officials that featured an EVA Pacer wagon. Consolidated Edison in New York City purchased 40 modified AMC Pacers from EVA. The United States Army also included EVA Pacers in its inventory of special-purpose electric vehicles. A video documentary about the Electric Vehicle Association's electric Pacers is titled "A Change of Pace." A fully restored wagon has had its original silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR) control replaced with a modern controller and the "hydraulically operated hybrid vehicle recharging system" removed

International markets

=== Europe === American Motors exported the Pacer to several European nations. Jean-Charles, the AMC distributor in Paris, likened the rounded body of the Pacer to the buttocks of an attractive woman in magazine advertisements. Pacers exported to Europe were available in higher trim levels. Sales were not very good, but in Belgium, a brand-new Pacer could be purchased as late as 1983. United Kingdom. American Motors vehicles were exported to the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s and sold by Rambler Motors (A.M.C.) Ltd in London with dealers in London, York, Kent, and Worcester. While other models such as the Rambler Classic, Rebel, Ambassador, and Matador had been exported as completed factory right-hand-drive vehicles, the Pacer was only built with left-hand drive. A British company, C.T. Wooler, in Andover, Hampshire had been in the business for a long time converting LHD cars to RHD and entered into an agreement with AMC to convert its vehicles. C.T. Wooler converted the Pacer to right-hand drive by leaving the majority of the steering gear on the left-hand side of the car and running a chain-drive behind the dashboard from the steering wheel (now on the right-hand side) to the top of the steering column. The car retained its unequal-length doors, designed for LHD markets, meaning that in the United Kingdom, the longer door was on the driver's side, leaving the passengers to use the smaller door, which "in the typically confined British parking spot was virtually impossible". The Pacer was wider than a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow and slightly longer than the then-current Ford Cortina. The British motoring press adversely reviewed the car and AMC soon stopped exporting it. Mexico. The Pacer was produced in Mexico by Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) startin

Motorsports

A 1976 Pacer was driven by Gordon Olsen and Bob Stone in the 1979 SCORE Baja 1000 Pro Class race and finished Class 6 (production cars) in second place, behind a Ford Ranchero truck. With a high rate of dropouts, "anyone that officially finishes a Baja race is a winner." Although many questioned "What's a nice odd econo-car like you doing in an off-road race?", the car was doing very well with Olsen swapping the lead with the V8 powered truck. However, an impact resulted in the destruction of the Pacer's radiator giving the lead to the Ford truck after 21 hours and 20 minutes of racing.

Reception and reviews

Upon its debut, the AMC Pacer received an overwhelmingly positive reception from the North American automotive press, with many journalists hailing it as a long-overdue departure from traditional Detroit design. At the press preview, journalists noted a sense of privilege in witnessing "something new in automobile design". Small Cars magazine reported that "admiration was an obvious reaction". Arguably, the opinions on the Pacer's introduction could be summarized as the "car of the future" and "the automotive press loved it". Road & Track ran a cover story about the "Surprising new car from the smallest of the Big Four", describing design and engineering details. Motor Trend magazine, which was one of many featuring the car on its cover, lauded the Pacer as "the most creative, most people-oriented auto born in the U.S. in 15 years," specifically praising the car's visibility and spacious cabin. The February 1975 issue of Car and Driver magazine's editor, Don Sherman, described the Pacer as "our first real urban transporter." He framed the car as a test of consumer values, asking if Americans were ready to buy cars for "transportation" rather than as "social props". Michael Lamm, the automotive journalist with Popular Mechanics, described the "strikingly futuristic" styling and "thoughtful touches." He found the rack-and-pinion steering to be precise and the ride quality superior to that of typical short-wheelbase cars. The "tight turning radius" made parking "easy", although he criticized the oversized steering wheel. Summing up, he wrote that with its "very modern styling, ample power and generous interior" the Pacer was "more car" than "the Mustang II or "GM's sporty compacts (Monza, Skyhawk/Starfire)", and that its performance felt "strong—certainly on a par with mos

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: AMC Pacer
aka: VAM Pacer (Mexico)
Manufacturer: American Motors Corporation (AMC)
Production: 13 January 1975 – 3 December 1979
Model years: 1975–1980
Assembly: United States: Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha Engine), Mexico: Mexico City (VAM)
Class: Compact car
Body style: 2-door hatchback coupe, 2-door station wagon
Layout: FR layout
Engine: 232 CID I6, 258 CID I6, 282 CID I6 (Mexico only), 304 CID V8
Transmission: 3-speed manual, 3-speed with overdrive, 4-speed manual, 3-speed automatic
Wheelbase: 100.0 in
Height: 52.8 in (coupe)
Width: 77.3 in
Length: 171.8 in (coupe), 176.8 in (wagon)
Kerb weight: 3000 lb
Designer: Dick Teague

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q294714CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMC_PacerCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1371873569 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1975_AMC_Pacer_base_model_frontleftside.jpgCC BY-SA 3.0 · Photo: CZmarlin — Christopher Ziemnowicz, releases all rights but a photo credit would be appreciated if this image is used anywhere other than Wikipedia. Please leave a note at Wikipedia here. Thank you! · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.