It might be one of the most maligned American Motors products ever made, but the AMC Gremlin did fill a role that needed to be filled when it debuted for 1970. Effectively a Hornet that had a small accident that lopped off it’s tail, the Gremlin was a hit with young buyers who made up over sixty percent of the Gremlin’s customer base. In 1972 the 304 V8 was jammed in between the fenders, but by 1976 that option had been canned. A sign of the times, really, because when it first appeared the 304 made the Gremlin an underdog compact that could whip the ass of the unsuspecting who knew nothing about what American Motors’ little economy car could actually be. Think of it as the Gremlin that got wet. But think of this particular 1977 example as the one that would actually kill instead of just making some random mischief. 

From the ad:

“The car is currently set up for “no electronics” or “footbrake” drag racing but easily could be made streetable. It is an all-steel body with factory glass and has been as fast as 9.93 in the ¼ mile and consistently runs low 10’s. It is reliable, hooks hard and runs straight.  
The current motor is a Barry Allen built Indy headed 760HP+ AMC 401 with only a few passes on it. It is a naturally aspirated and fuel-injected 14:1 compression monster. Custom built fuel injection on INDY intake, Holley ECU with data logger. Custom two-inch primary exhaust tube headers. Adjustable front suspension with coilovers and travel limiters. Aerospace front brakes with line lock.”Get bumpers on the car, get it legal and go shock the living hell out of the first Hellcat, ZL1 or Shelby owner you can find. There will be a very unique satisfaction as you watch them have a war with themselves as they try to cope with the fact that a mid-1970s econobox, no matter how pretty, just spanked them.