1976 AMC Gremlin Road Race Car

[silvernail6]

A lot of AMC products running a Road America back in the seventies. 1972 was my first year at RA and AMC was the only factory team for the Trans Am series. Saw plenty of Gremlin's and Pacer's believe it or nor up against BMW 2002's and Datsun's if I can recall. Great times. Remember the trees arching over the main straight, and the old timing tower.

[MCFLY8813]

One of my favorite wins was when I passed a BMW 2002 on the second to final lap. His car came out of the corners faster and mine was fast on long straight aways, A GT4 car came up behind me and I drafted behind him and was able to pass the Beemer for the win! I have read some of AMC history and some of it is very impressive........LZ

[thumperamx]

@MCFLY8813 I own the Amos Johnson # 7 Gremlin ... what a kick to run at the track .

[bohemianracer]

Great race car, it got better as time went by, like a good wine.

Nice to see an AMC in vintage racing, they had a lot of succes in the mid 70s in IMSA street challenge, beating even BMW 2002s, pintos and Colts.

[MrRoboto305]

is that a fiero in the background at 0:18

[MCFLY8813]

@MrRoboto305 It's been quite awhile, I only seen it once, but I think it was a Renault, It was a very strange car, as you can see the back of it was squared off. Or it may have been a fiberglass car but I think it was a renault..........

[39Chevy]

@MCFLY8813 Looks like a Fiat X1/9

[grizzzlymx]

@MrRoboto305 its a fiat

[neonpulse]

Awesome Gremlin! I'm interested in building my 258 into a racer, any advice? Also, do you have these pictures available somewhere online?

[MCFLY8813]

Advise on the 258, purchase a newer model six so that you can use jeep accessories. trannies, headers, intakes. and good set of vavle springs and mild cam with front and rear anti sway bars are good and poly supsension components. adjust front suspension caster, camber, positive, negative to your liking. No I don't have pic on online. might be able to send some through email.....

[ckosacranoid]

still running the same car after 20 years and that is cool though. and running a str 6 no less that is very cool though.

[AMXBOY73]

cool 258?

[MCFLY8813]

bona fide 258, bored out to 318. back when I was racing it, the motor was putting out atleast 300 h.p.

[AMXBOY73]

nice. what was the class that you raced in. Compact car? was ther cubic inch limits?

[MCFLY8813]

I started out in Pro A class where the car was basically street legal with street tires. The rules were SCCA. and then moved up to GT3 where there were few rules on what you could do to the car. In the pictures you can tell the difference from the seat arrangements and types of tires. basically it went from stock to modified. I raced against a variety of cars, mostly imports. I think it was based from weight, don't really know. It's been awhile.

[DSINKS]

Do you still race it or not?

[insaneshayne]

This is a very cool video! I'm proud of you, this is an amazing video documenting your love for racing and cars. Why number 8? :)

[MCFLY8813]

Don't know, Never none anyone with that number, but found a drawing of a race car years later that I drew in 1st or 2nd grade that had an eight? Destiny?

[HOTROD74GremlinX]

Niice road racer Kinda like the Team Highball Gremlins.

[MCFLY8813]

Yes it is. I got the paint scheme from a Slot car that was a AMC Javelin in the early seventies that was my favorite.