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Car of the Day : April 20, 2013; Johnny Lightning '72 AMC Gremlin X
Topic Started: Apr 19 2013, 10:23 PM (1,209 Views)
craftymore
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Support your local demo derby.

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Today's car is Johnny Lightning's 1972 AMC Gremlin X.

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The AMC Gremlin is a two-door subcompact car produced in the United States, Canada and Mexico by the American Motors Corporation (AMC) and Vehículos Automotores Mexicanos.
The Gremlin was an economy car by 1970s U.S. standards. It served as a foundation for alternative fuels and power systems, including pure electric.

Designed by Bob Nixon from an idea by Richard A. Teague, the car was based on a shortened and adapted Hornet platform with a Kammback-type tail. Faster than other subcompacts of the time, it competed with the Chevrolet Vega and Ford Pinto, and also with imported cars including the Volkswagen Beetle and Toyota Corona.[2][3] The manufacturer described it as "the first American-built import."


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All Gremlins received a new body-colored front fascia treatment for 1972. Among many other changes was an available 304 cu in (5.0 L) V8 engine. It was "the muscle car formula of stuffing a big motor in a small car."[29] Engine ratings were downgraded to more accurate Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) net hp figures, bringing the 232 cu in (3.8 L) engine to 100 hp (75 kW; 101 PS), the 258 cu in (4.2 L) to 110 hp (82 kW; 112 PS)[30] and the 304 V8 to 150 hp (112 kW; 152 PS).[30] Even with the lower engine output ratings across the industry, "the V8 Gremlin was a poor-man's Corvette, able to spin its rear tires at will and outrun some larger, more expensive pony cars" and it was "the only real performance car available under $2,200."

The base two-seater model was discontinued, having sold 3,017 units in 18 months.[31] Gremlins also switched from non-synchro 1st gear manual transmissions to full synchromesh, and the Borg-Warner-sourced automatic transmission was replaced by the Chrysler-designed TorqueFlite. Other more minor technical upgrades improved the car's reliability and durability. The Gremlin X package continued to be popular, while optional features now included an AM/FM radio, fabric sunroof, tilt steering wheel, inside hood release, trailer towing package for up to 2,000 lb (910 kg) with a Class 1 hitch, as well as manual or power assisted front disk brakes.

American Motors introduced the automobile industry's first 12 month or 12,000 mi (19,000 km) bumper-to-bumper warranty, called the "Buyer Protection Plan".[33] Its foundation was an emphasis on quality and durability, improved production by reducing the number of models and increasing the level of standard equipment.[34] The new warranty included an innovative promise to customers that AMC would repair anything wrong with the car (except for tires).[33] Owners were provided with a toll-free number to the company, as well as a free loaner car if a warranty repair took overnight. Numerous production and product improvements would result in fewer warranty claims, better public relations, and greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Gremlin was faster than other subcompacts of the time. Motor Trend magazine recorded zero to 60 mph (0 to 97 km/h) in 12.6 seconds with the 232 cu in (3.8 L) engine. The Ford Pinto and the VW Beetle were in the 18-second range. Fuel economy was 28 mpg-US (8.4 L/100 km; 34 mpg-imp) to 30 mpg-US (7.8 L/100 km; 36 mpg-imp) with the small six, compared with the 35-plus mpg economy of the VW Beetle.

Model year 1972 sales totaled 61,717, a 15% gain over the previous year.


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Check out Wikipedia.com to learn more on the AMC Gremlin.

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If one car could sum up domestic compacts for the decade of the 70s, it's the Gremlin. It was perhaps the finest domestically built small car for the era which may or may not say a lot. :D This was a recent purchase from Pegers. Thought I might make it derby bait, but it's much too nice to crash.

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Pegers
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Pony Car
i have to get a better camera.when i had this one and the mirada from the other day.they didnt look this good.
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
There's a nice wheel variation on this one, as well.

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The Johnny Lightning Gremlin is an outstanding piece of diecast! I love it.
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JeepXJLover
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Minivan
:2thumbsup: Was always glad JL casted the Gremlin and casted it well.
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juantoo3
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kind of a moot point now, but this would have been nice to see a time or two in the forever line...
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pjedsel
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Muscle Car
:wave: Oh no...the garage has been overtaken by a Gremlin! :lol: A wonderful casting from JL of the AMC Gremlin. JL did a nice of providing collectors with some nice AMC models. This little Gremlin is a winner!
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viper57
Compact
Why does the one in the pic have a red interior, mine's has a white one.... :duh: ..just notice that the rims are different too

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Edited by viper57, May 1 2013, 05:51 PM.
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Spennyman
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Minivan
Almost bought a real one a few years back. Straight 6 4 speed.
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Dragnet_Supporter
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SUV
This is a great little diecast.
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78Gremlin_GT
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The Gremlin Guy
viper57
May 1 2013, 05:48 PM
Why does the one in the pic have a red interior, mine's has a white one.... :duh: ..just notice that the rims are different too

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Because you got a White Lightning Gremlin. :D I have TWO of them,and owning 9 full-sized Gremlins, I appreciate the luck I had getting them. I was tooling around Northern Virginia one Saturday back when these were released, and I went into a Toys R Us on the return leg of a big loop. I went back to the Diecast in the back of the store at the time, and looked at the wall ( ha, don't see THAT anymore ) of Johnny Lightnings, and found not just one, but TWO of these white interior WL Gremlins. I think of all my WL scores, this particular one has to be the most endearing to me, as I love Gremlins, and finding not one but two of these white ones, I was ecstatic! I'm glad JL decided to release such an iconic car as this, as it sold extremely well at the time, and was a decidedly different American car on the market at that time. Great selection for COTD.

Jerry Casper
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Dean-o-mite
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Muscle Car
Huh......I never knew the rims were different on the Gremlin WL. That makes it more appealing for me. It now goes on the never-ending want-list!
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