43 years after it was last produced, the AMC Pacer is still widely discussed for its initial instant success and subsequent failure.
As some of you may remember, the AMC Pacer is a two-door small car manufactured in the United States by the American Motors Corporation between 1975 and 1980. It was renowned as the car with a body that was almost as broad as it was long. It was developed by AMC's head stylist Richard A. Teague, who began working on the Pacer in 1971, expecting a rise in demand for small cars due to the gasoline crisis throughout the decade.
The Pacer was built to be compact yet spacious. Thus, it was referred to as "the first wide small car" in AMC's advertising campaign. As a result, the vehicle would be able to handle and maneuver like a compact car, but with the internal room generally seen in a spacious sedan. A tiny automobile with a broader width than height (2 feet wider, in fact). Not to mention, the vehicle featured 70% more glass than the usual vehicles in its category.
The aerodynamic windshield improved fuel economy while also lowering interior noise levels. Notably, the Pacer was one of the first mass-produced vehicles in the United States to be equipped with rack-and-pinion steering. A stylish front bucket seat and a polyurethane dashboard were found inside. To make it easier to enter and leave, the passenger door was 4 inches longer than the driver's door. People liked the way it looked, how transparent it was, how much room it had, and how odd the door lengths were.
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The Pacer was somewhat lacking in amenities, but it had a plethora of optional additions. The "D/L" package included additional convenience features. There was an optional performance package that included firmer springs, a front anti-sway bar, a floor shift, and a rally kit. The "X" package meanwhile gives the automobile a more athletic appearance and feel. That wasn't all.
The "Limited," for example, came standard with leather seats, more soundproofing, and deeper-pile carpet, as well as AM radio, power door locks, power windows, and a tilt steering wheel. With options advertised for $300, the "Sundowner" was exclusively offered via AMC dealers in California for 1975. The kit includes "Basketry Weave" fabric upholstery, as well as remote controlled exterior mirrors, rear window washer and wiper, stylish road wheels, and a roof rack.
General Motors was supposed to supply the powertrain in the form of a high-tech rotary Wankel motor. Regrettably, GM pulled out because the Wankel proved to be unreliable and inefficient, which became a problem during the Arab oil embargo of 1974. As a result, AMC used its tried-and-true 3.8-liter straight-six. This engine's peak output was 110 hp at 3500 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque at 2000 rpm. Power was sent to the rear wheels through a 3-speed automatic transmission.
Sadly, the Pacer's performance was hampered by the car's weight: 3005 lbs! The acceleration from 0 to 60 mph took roughly 16 seconds, and the peak speed was around 85 mph. Fuel efficiency was roughly 16 miles per gallon, which was standard for six-cylinder American cars at the time. Nevertheless, the Pacer was so hefty that AMC introduced a larger 4.2-liter motor in 1976. This one had a two-barrel carburetor and generated 120 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque.
Later in 1978, a 5-liter V8 was offered. The significantly stronger engine had little effect on fuel efficiency, though it reduced the Pacer's 0-60 mph sprint time by around 2 seconds. The same year, the Pacer also received a makeover with an eggcrate grille, whereas the "X" package was discontinued and the "D/L" trim became stock.
In 1977, AMC released a new wagon body type to alleviate the company's problems. In addition to being 3.5 inches longer, the wagon also featured a redesigned top and tail. The wagon had a more practical load space and more traditional dimensions, but the performance was the same. Therefore, this success was short-lived.
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Let's start from the beginning. The automobile was an absolute success, with 145,000 units sold in its first year. Almost 120,000 Pacers were sold in the second year, but flaws were starting to surface. During the third year, Pacer sales fell to roughly 20,000 and then under 8,000 in the fourth year. As we mentioned before, to compensate for the lack of performance, the automobile received a bigger, even more, inefficient straight-six and also a V8, but in 1979, as a consequence of the Iranian revolution, the Pacer was effectively facing a losing battle. Sales continued through early 1980 after production halted in December 1979. AMC fought on for another eight years under various management partnerships with Renault until being acquired by Lee Iaccoca's Chrysler.
Nonetheless, there is a lot to commend about the vehicle. In the 1990s, the Pacer was resurrected when it appeared in Mike Myer's Wayne's World as Wayne and Garth's light blue "Mirthmobile," featuring in the iconic "Bohemian Rhapsody" scene. A Pacer was also employed by Eminem in the video for "The Real Slim Shady" in order to make donuts in a parking lot. "Driver, San Francisco," a 2011 video game, likewise pays tribute to the Pacer.
Whatever your opinion of the Pacer, it was an attempt to build something new. Originally selling for $3,299, the Pacer's price has now increased. Perhaps the implementation of the concept was a little sloppy? For better or for worse, the Pacer found itself in the midst of a fierce debate about its position in American automotive culture.