Favourite Automobile Advertisements: 1978 AMC Gremlin GT | The Each day Drive

October 11, 2025

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The common-or-garden Gremlin’s final hurrah.

By 1978, American Motors (AMC) had all however run out of steam. With the midsize Matador on the way in which out, the Kenosha, Wisconsin-based carmaker would quickly be promoting solely small automobiles, and dated small automobiles at that.

1978 AMC Gremlin GT

And although a kind of fashions, the subcompact Gremlin, was to be considerably up to date for 1979—and renamed—AMC selected to provide the outdated mannequin a correct sendoff.

Gremlin GT Bundle

Launched within the spring of 1978, about halfway via the normal mannequin yr, the Gremlin was surprisingly gifted a sport look package deal that went a great distance towards sprucing up the maker’s least-expensive mannequin.

Bundle Contents

The GT Bundle, which added between $300 and $400 {dollars} to the Gremlin Customized’s $3600 base value, included quite a lot of enjoyable trim and look options, together with:

Flared fender openings
Stripe package deal
Blackout exterior trim
14-inch rally wheels
Radial tires with raised white letters
Distinctive inside trim with up to date dashboard
Black leather-based-wrapped sport steering wheel
“Rallye” gauge package deal with tachometer
258-cubic-inch inline six

1978 AMC Gremlin GT, Red, Magazine Ad — 1978 AMC Gremlin GT

Nothing Actually Sporty

What was sadly not included was any actual performance-improving options. That stated, if we’re studying the brochure appropriately, any Gremlin may very well be had with the elective “Heavy Responsibility Suspension,” which might go a long way towards enhancing the GT’s—or any Gremlin’s—dealing with.

Heavy Responsibility Suspension

Included as a part of the Heavy Responsibility Suspension package deal have been stiffer coil springs, particular shock absorbers, a thicker entrance stabilizer bar, and upgraded rear leaf springs. A number of sources counsel that almost all GT Bundle outfitted automobiles have been additionally fitted with the upgraded suspension.

Energy and Efficiency

Energy was one other matter. American Motors had stopped providing the 304-cubic-inch engine within the Gremlin, leaving the maker’s trusty-but-slow-revving 258-cubic-inch six to energy the would-be sporty GT.

Whereas torquey and comparatively clean, the 258 was not a efficiency powerplantand at simply 120 horsepower, the GT was not setup to win many stoplight drag races. Outfitted with the usual 3-speed handbook transmissionthe Gremlin GT would attain 60 mph in a reported 11.0 seconds. Whereas not present stopping, that quantity was not fully disappointing by late-Seventies requirements.

Fashionable Competitors

Working in opposition to AMC when it comes to promoting sporty Gremlin fashions was the launch of an all-new, and decidedly modern-looking Ford Mustang for 1978. The brand new ‘Stang featured clear traces, all-new structure, was light-weight, and may very well be had with a small V8 engine.

gross sales

And, beginning at round $4000, the Mustang was not considerably dearer than the Gremlin. Because of this—and several other others—the Gremlin GT was a sluggish vendor. Actual numbers are elusive, however a number of sources report gross sales of round 3000 examples, making a Gremlin GT a uncommon discover as we speak.

Spirit and Harmony

For the 1979 the Gremlin, together with its structure companion the compact Hornet, have been freshened and renamed. The Gremlin grew to become the Spirit, whereas the Hornet grew to become the Harmony. And for some time, the updates helped to maintain AMC gross sales from falling. As for the GT Bundle, it was supplied for 1979 on the brand new Spirit, although solely on the brand new fastback-style Liftback.

Print Advert

As for this advertwe applaud the hassle to promote a really under-achieving sporty Gremlin variant, but in addition its time delicate nature. The Gremlin GT was supplied for less than about six months, which makes this automobile, and this advert, fairly scarce.