The VAM Gremlin is the Mexican version of the AMC Gremlin, the subcompact car that American Motors introduced on 1 April 1970. In the United States it was built until 1978; in Mexico, Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos (VAM) assembled it from 1974 until 1983.
VAM Gremlin at a glance
| Maker | American Motors Corporation (US); VAM, Mexico |
|---|---|
| Production | 1970–1978 in the United States; 1974–1983 in Mexico |
| Class | subcompact |
| Body | two-door hatchback |
| Platform | shortened AMC Hornet |
| Wheelbase | 96 in (2,438 mm) |
| Length | 161 in (4,089 mm) |
| Engine | 199 cu in (3.3 L) I6, 128 hp |
| Optional engine | 232 cu in (3.8 L) I6, 145 hp |
| Price 1970 | US$1,879 two-passenger, US$1,959 four-seat |
| Total built | 671,475 |
| Replaced by | AMC Spirit (1979) |
Based on one source: the English Wikipedia article on the AMC Gremlin. Mexican production years are given there, but VAM-specific equipment is not described.
History of the VAM Gremlin
The idea of a subcompact in the AMC range began in 1966, when design chief Dick Teague and stylist Bob Nixon discussed a shortened version of the company’s compact car. Teague later said he sketched the solution on an air sickness bag: the tail of a Javelin, cut short. An AMX-GT concept was shown in 1968, but it did not reach production. Instead Bob Nixon designed the new car on the Hornet platform, shortening the wheelbase from 108 to 96 inches (2,743 to 2,438 mm) and the overall length from 179 to 161 inches (4,547 to 4,089 mm).
The Gremlin was introduced on 1 April 1970 and appeared on the cover of Newsweek that month under the headline “Detroit Fights Back”. Buyers could choose a base two-passenger version without a rear seat and with a fixed rear window at US$1,879, or a four-seat hatchback with an opening rear window at US$1,959.
From the front to the B-pillars the car was essentially the same as the Hornet, and its upright kammback tail was unlike anything else on the American market. Time described it as resembling “a sawed-off station wagon” with a long, low hood and a swept-up rear. The upright tail made the interior roomy, and the wider stance gave a stable, quiet ride for the two front passengers. There were six cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seat, 18 cubic feet with the seat folded.
AMC marketed the Gremlin as “America’s first subcompact” and as a car that was “cute and different”; the strategy attracted more than 60 percent of buyers under the age of 35. In the United States the model was built until 1978, when the restyled AMC Spirit replaced it, but production continued in Mexico. VAM assembled the Gremlin from 1974 to 1983, the only country outside the United States where the car was made. Total production reached 671,475.
Design and features
- Kammback tail: the chopped rear gave the little car more interior space than its length suggested.
- Two layouts: a two-passenger base model without a rear seat, and a four-seat hatchback.
- Practical luggage area: 6 cubic feet behind the rear seat, 18 with the seat folded.
- Wide stance: a stable, quiet ride and good front-seat room by small-car standards.
- Six-cylinder power: a 128 hp 199 cu in six as standard, with a 145 hp 232 cu in unit optional.
VAM Gremlin versions
- Two-passenger (1970): the cheapest Gremlin at US$1,879, with no rear seat.
- Four-seat hatchback (1970): an opening rear window and a rear seat for US$1,959.
- 232 six: the optional 3.8-litre engine with 145 hp.
- Later model years (1970–1978): annual changes to trim, engines and equipment.
- VAM Gremlin (1974–1983): the Mexican-built version, sold as a VAM model.
The Gremlin sat below the VAM American and later the VAM Pacer in the range. More cars are in the VAM collection.
Sources
- AMC Gremlin, English Wikipedia: design, launch, prices, dimensions, production
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