1975 AMC Gremlin X Survivor - 15K Original Miles

Episode 4: We take a tour of my 1975 Gremlin X. She is a surviving barn find with only 15,000 original miles. Only things replaced are components to make it road worthy. 232 straight 6, power steering, manual brakes, automatic.
I hope you enjoy this video as much as I enjoy the car.
#1975 #75 #Gremlin #gremlinx #AMC #americanmotors #barnfind #232

[@gpilsitz1783]

Mine was a 74' X with the 304 V8. 3 spd auto floor consule, AC, and I think a factory tow pkg: large gas tank and rear end that would scoot to 92 mph and that was it. Factory mud flaps, luggage rack and spoiler. Fun to drive, except in the rain!

[@ManCardTheater]

Sounds like a great one. I love them all. Thanks for watching!!!

[@wlwal1]

I had a 72 and 75 Gremlin X . Bought brand new, drove the hell out of both of them! The 75 X was a Levis edition with a V8 !

[@ManCardTheater]

Those would be great cars, especially the 75X. I have had a 76 and my very first car, a 76X. This 75X is by far the best one. I appreciate the view and your comments.

[@raybrindos4514]

I have a 75 too. 232 w/ 3 speed manual on the floor. Lacock overdrive. Big bad Orange factory color. Black interior.

[@ManCardTheater]

Love the orange. Out of the 3 I have had, never had anything but the tan/nutmeg interior. I would love to have a manual someday also!

[@tomwesley7884]

three in the floor Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice!!

[@williambayliss2367]

I bought a brand new 1972 Gremlin X in 72. 304 V8, 3 speed on the floor installed headers and a holley 650 two barrel. Took it too Great Lakes dragway, best I could get out of it was 15.03 at 93mph. Close to the same color as this one. Orange and white. Brings back memories. 50+ years ago 😊

[@ManCardTheater]

Sounds like a fun ride, even at 93. Thanks for watching

[@jrodrims27]

Glad you love the car so much. My mom had an old 1972 232 3.8 liter like this one, all beat up that I thoroughly abused until the timing chain gave out and we junked it with about 200k miles on it. However, as I remember, that Gremlin was never much liked by anyone, considered collectible or valuable at any point BUT as long as you love it is all that matters.

[@michaelpalm2210]

Brings back memories. My father had a 1975 Forest green one that he drove for at least 10 years before rust claimed it. And yes his gas cap was stolen many times! That gremlin X you found is in great shape. a time capsule for sure.

[@ManCardTheater]

Thanks for the view. Somewhere there is a whole hoard of gas caps….lol. Love hearing stories like yours.

[@tedwalker1370]

Nice find. That is a very nice car. A real treasure to hang onto.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

Hard to believe all that amc plastic is in such good shape. We’ve got a 76 hornet x that had no dash in it when we got it because it had broken to pieces. We’ve got the space saver spare. I’m building it for my son for his first “hot rod”.. it’ll be a 304/3 speed car. We’ve got keystones for it, some slapper bars, and it’s just gonna be a cool 70’s style street machine

[@ManCardTheater]

Love the Keystones. As a kid you could buy them at Sears. Liked the Cragers a little more, but today’s taste is the keystones. Is the hornet the tan/saddle interior?

[@That_AMC_Guy]

The "Desert Only" setting, (if you'd read your Owners' Manual) is for HOT, DRY climates where, unlike other A/C systems at the time, you could move the control to this setting and it would bypass the A/C cut-off switch. In a Hot, Dry climate, this would allow the A/C to run continuously instead of cycling - thus, keeping the occupants at a nice cool temperature. Why it's labelled "DESERT ONLY" is because if you used this setting in a MOIST, HOT climate, the condenser would freeze over and you'd lose A/C temporarily until the condenser could thaw again. Also, not "ALL" AMC's at that time had the parcel shelf. It was an extra-cost option. For $19 dollars, you'd get the tray and cigar lighter. Because it was so handy and so cheap, virtually everybody opted for it. But there are many cars out there that weren't so lucky.

[@ManCardTheater]

Thanks for the info. I didn’t know it was a $19 add on. I have window stickers on two of my Grems and never saw it listed. Thanks for the view!

[@That_AMC_Guy]

@@ManCardTheater It is often labelled "Convenience Group".

[@gregdelong2969]

I owed a 1973 Gremlin and the color was Blarney Green. Sweet little car until it was rearended.......

[@trollerguy]

Very nice car. I had purchased an orange Gremlin X 1973 with the 304 V8. Clean as a whistle but the young Kid had run it so hard he blew the engine It was in a junk yard and would still roll off they were having an auction to clear out some cars to make room. I bought it for $150, pulled it home set it in my back yard and a friend of mine saw it and really wanted it too. He wanted to put a 360 V8 in it he already had. Well I had been looking for a 390 V8 with the 325 horse engine. Still not found one yet. I already had in my driveway a 1970 AMC AMX the rarest year. Had the 390 V8 in it. So I figured I really did not need the Gremlin it and sold it to my friend for $350.00. He put the 360 in it and made a real charger out of it. Gave it to his son he took it out and crashed it out so the story goes. The Gremlin was a Levis edition in the interior. Beauty of a car. It had two bad owners.

[@ManCardTheater]

Great story but heartbreaking. I love to hear people saving them. My first car was a 76 and I ran the hell out of it for 2 years. I never blew the engine, but had more creases and rust when I got done with it. Thanks for sharing and thanks for the view!

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

I worked for the railroad here in Davenport for a short time and a guy who started when I did and quit about the same time I did had a gremlin x that was this color. Only one I’ve ever seen this color

[@ManCardTheater]

The only other one I have seen is in a pasture south of Iowa city off of 218. It’s rare.

[@audieconrad8995]

Congratulations sir. Amazing! My first car was a factory ordered '76 Hornet X 304 V8. My interior was practically identical except I had the floor mounted shifter. Those were great seats! A good detailer who is familiar with working single-stage paint could restore the finish to close to factory. That and a patient interior shampoo just to tidy it up could really bring some real pop! Man...15k - lol...what a find!

[@timothylamborn3992]

My high school drive class of 77. Had chrome wheels and rear hydraulics.

[@ManCardTheater]

Sounds like a great ride! I had a Gremmy in High School as well. Thanks for the view.

[@johndickie5577]

Mine was a 75 Trans am red, gold hockey stick, 4.2 litre. $4,200 brand new from the dealership. Beautiful car, very peppy, sadly rusted quickly.

[@ManCardTheater]

Thanks for the view. Sounds like you had a bad ass ride.

[@mgrella63]

Beautiful Car!! Ive owned 3 of them

[@ManCardTheater]

Thanks for the view. Thats awesome. This is my third. I doubt its my final, but wont be getting rid of this one.

[@darolfitch8917]

What a cool old car. And I like the color,its a very odd color. It's a ture under dog. I remember when they were new. They were very dependable cars. So glad you are enjoying it. Thanks for showing us this little gem

[@ManCardTheater]

Glad you enjoyed it. thanks for the view

[@joemannix7471]

In the 1990s I had a six cylinder, manual shift, A.C equipped., Gremlin. It was a great car, simple and dependable. It was a daily driver and a few road trips. If you put the passenger seat to the rearward position, fold the seat back forward, put the beer cooler on the rear passenger floor, fold the rear seat forward, add a little padding, and you have a bed.

[@ManCardTheater]

A younger me would use that suggestion. I had my first Grem in 1985 and I put that car through hell. Couldn’t kill it. Sold for $200 and regretted ever since. Thanks for watching!!!!!!

[@alexcarlson7006]

She's stunningly beautiful. My 1973 Gremlin in "Big Bad Green" needs a lot of work to get it how I want.

[@kipbrown1549]

Very nice shape /////////////////

[@ManCardTheater]

Glad people like yourself appreciate it like I do. Thanks for watching.

[@gpilsitz1783]

That spare isnt the "space saver" tire. It was a collapsable sidewall that came with an inflation cannister. Rare to find an original.

[@user-zx8de8op9l]

Nice car

[@ManCardTheater]

Thank You. She’s my baby. Appreciate the view

[@MichaelPizzolongo-re9vv]

I owned a 73 X with the 304 v8 and Levi's seats it was off the showroom floor for 3800.00 it was a beastin plum purple

[@ManCardTheater]

Now that sounds like an awesome ride. What color was the stripe? Gold?

[@dansmusic5749]

I had a ’75 in this color. It was a Custom. I bought it brand new. 232 3 speed with overdrive, manual steering. I loved it.

[@ManCardTheater]

Thanks for watching. I have only seen 3 this color in any year. 2 were in pastures rotting and this one. Kenosha last year, I did see a Matador sedan this color, and that’s it. You have great taste!!

[@dansmusic5749]

@@ManCardTheater Why, thank you!😆My car had a very nice interior. Two toned cream and beige with a cushy bench seat. It was a leftover from the dealer which I bought in the fall. I wanted an X with a V8 but had to have manual trans. This is what he had and being an impatient teen I bought it. I am glad I did. I loved the manual steering and the bench seat. I put my girlfriend next to me and taught her to shift while my arm was around her. Great memories.

[@DIG_5050]

Man, your Gremlin looks great. I’d be taking it to classic car shows. I have a 1974 Javelin AMX in Sienna Orange/white T-stripe that I have owned since new, ordered back in the fall of 1973. Its unmolested. It has about 40K miles that I put on the car and is for the most part original. I started last year, replacing belts, hoses and some fluids. Now I’m rebuilding the front suspension with new bushings, ball joints, coil springs (dr side was broken) and shocks. It’s been fun to watch it slowly return to the way it was back in 1974 when I was 21 yrs old.😎

[@ManCardTheater]

That sounds awesome. I could really use new shocks. They don’t have too many miles, but 48 years have caused them to be too ineffective. I just hate to replace, but I do want to drive, so I may. Thanks for the view!

[@DIG_5050]

@@ManCardTheater I picked up 4 KYB shocks from RockAuto. Amazingly you can still buy replacement parts for AMC cars relatively easily. The bushings (rubber) were rotted despite the car spending almost all of its life in a garage. The ball joints were still reasonably firm, But the grease boots were shot. I want to drive it some car shows, and want to make sure it’s in roadworthy shape. What’s even better is that most of my old SAE tools still work on this car! 😁

[@ManCardTheater]

@@DIG_5050 Good to know. Yes, I carry a small 3/8” drive SAE socket set, a flat and Phillips screwdriver, and a crescent under the seat. I can rebuild the car with just those tools…lol

[@Vangremlin81]

Great find and thanks for the video. We had a 74 Gremlin in the Carmel Tan color. It also had the 232 engine but no X package so it had a bench seat up front. I foolishly parted ways with it in 1982 and eventually replaced it with a 72 Gremlin X with the 302 V8, I’m the second owner. Boy, is it an attention getter!! Also have an 81 Eagle Kammback (4WD Gremlin) and an 80 Eagle two door sedan. None of them are show cars but they are fun to drive and people love to see them and chat me up!

[@ManCardTheater]

I know the feeling. I have parked next to nice Cameros and Vettes, and I will have twice as many people want to know about my car than the $30k+ car next to me.

[@mikelane3611]

Nice! Glad it's running well

[@jeffreyvasby3230]

I had the purple/ black Gremlin Grabber😎. Also had a 76 Pacer.

[@denislandry7577]

Just a time capsule ! Got a love it ❤

[@ManCardTheater]

Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for watching.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

What a beautiful car.

[@ManCardTheater]

Thank you. Glad to see others appreciate it like I do. Look for my other videos on it.

[@rudolphguarnacci197]

​@@ManCardTheater My uncle bought a new, '79 4dr Concorde, no power brakes or steering, 4spd manual for about $5K with the 232 cu inch straight six. It was a great car. Dependable, great gas mileage.

[@JC-oc7um]

Talk about cars that were ahead of their time……compare this to today’s cars! Hatchback, stingy on gas, wow. I drove one in Hawaii in 1972. Fantastic car!

[@ManCardTheater]

I agree. Wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but was mine. Thanks for the view!!!

[@JTTTTx]

Great car. A piece of information- When I restored my 74x, I have the same problem with the fuel gauge. The problem is with the printed circuit board in the dashboard. I hope that yours is with just the sending unit in the tank. Way easier to repair. If you haven’t already, you should join the AMO club, great organization and great people. They can help you with parts and information.

[@ManCardTheater]

I am a member of the AMO. I replaced the sending unit, and it will go up some when I top off the tank, but will never read full. I have a brand new printed board, but hasn’t been so important that I want to tear the gauge cluster out.

[@JTTTTx]

@@ManCardTheater That’s exactly what mine does. And after I replaced the board and sending unit. I thought initially that I had a bad ground connection, but that didn’t work. I had to change the board because of instrument cluster issues . My car baked in the Arizona sun before I restored it. It’s in the North east corner of the country now.

[@countryside8122]

Don't forget to put the steel belted radials on their. Those improved the ride by 100%.

[@ManCardTheater]

I have the radials on. I had to get new tires. The ones that were on were original factory tires. Still held air, but polyglass tires were dry rotted. Thanks for the view!

[@davisjones3725]

Nice color

[@ManCardTheater]

Thank you and thanks for the view

[@Ogsonofgroo]

That is a very rare find there matey, look after it! Radial T/As yay I had one (see following c/p story below), a X with a 304, one of my best friends had the six and it'd lift the wheels off the ground as it kept up to me to 30. I paste one of my other posts ~ Yay another Gremlin vid I haven't seen! Part of my Gremlin adventure stories fer ya'll :) My old rusty '74 GremlinX (black/gold/rust) had the 304, we worked it over some, rebuilt/balanced/mild cam/headers and dual shot gun exhaust, flipped the rear springs and shocked it (squat an' go), man it was fun to drive, buddy's shop built me floppy-gate mufflers and when you punched it it let you know, the 3-speed and Jeep gearing was unfortunate as its top speed was around 90mph when the valves would start to float, but from 0-60 it was a beast on the winding back roads where I lived, the wide T/A's stuck it to the road like glue and I loved shaming Vettes and Stangs cops etc. I wasn't one for trying to drag race it but did take a Carrera one day up to about 60mph, he passed me doing at least 120 lol, and the day I met a beautiful V-6 Capri on a long empty highway in the middle of nowhere side by side all the way to 90mph, hence I learned the engines limits and gearing meh, but it was exciting as the dudes car pulled away it was spitting fire and flames from underneath (never did find out if he hurt his car but it didn't look good) I slowed tf down and continued leisurely to the town we had a gig at. The winter after I got the car on the road was an unusually bad one for our area, big snows, everything shut down, nobody prepared with winter tires, I had lucked out on a pair of 8" studded snow tires a while before and threw them on, omg talk about childish fun, like, putting on 20 miles just sliding around town rescuing people. I apologise for reminiscing but that Gremlin has a tonne of stories :) I miss that car and wish I had one now :( Great vid, late to the game here but do appreciate it guys!

[@ManCardTheater]

Love your story. Thanks for watching my video of this little gem!

[@MatthewLinton-jd9ls]

You can stand in the compartment a slant six you can actually drop a 383 big block with a six pack with a four-speed manual transmission and still have room to work on all spark plugs on both sides

[@ManCardTheater]

It’s possible, but why do it. I am happy with the 232 straight 6. Thanks for watching.

[@garyscarstuff]

New subscriber! Just found your channel via Jeremy at Myway mfg. You have a great looking very original car - I'm jealous. I have a '76 Gremlin with a factory 304 and work at a dealership that used to be the AMC dealership (been in business since 1926), so look forward to more Gremlin content!

[@ManCardTheater]

Jeremy shows some great content for sure. I make sure to check every Weds and Saturday for new stuff and learn along the way! I hope my next Gremlin has a V8. It all that has been missing swing from my previous purchases. I really appreciate the views!!!! Thanks

[@danielnicholls6868]

wow nice Gremlin with air . wish i still had my 75 hornet hatch back i bot new . 304 v8 3 speed stick X with blue levi's interior silver with blue and orange pin stripes 👍👍 wish i had bot a 74 with 360 and 4 speed rare.

[@ManCardTheater]

I imagine you would like them back. Before life’s over, I’d like to get a V8 manual Gremmy. Need a bigger garage first…lol

[@steve0inmontana811]

Sweet ride!! Thanks for sharing!

[@jeffreybrianring6392]

Chrome spoiler is a rear window deflector, beautiful gremlin. That gremlin started easier and faster than any fuel injected engine I've ever owned.

[@markcollins457]

Love the Gremlin find the color looks like the big stick of "FLESH" colored makeup in my mom's hand bag. The platform spawned so many cars for AMC the Hornet Concord and Eagle just to name a few. These cars took a beating VERBALLY & physically they were solid cars.

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

We’re from the quad cities. You’re pretty close to us

[@ManCardTheater]

That’s true. I go there often. I visit Blasers in Moline for parts all the time. Thanks for the view!

[@IowaBudgetRCBashers]

@@ManCardTheater subscribed

[@ghettsumm7949]

That Gremlin X is almost a Holy Grail car, very rare and in very good condition. How many did they build of that model? I've always had a soft spot for those, and they are tons of fun in an empty snow covered parking lot! 😃

[@ManCardTheater]

I am not sure how many like this were built. I do know they sold a total of 56k Gremlins in 75. Holy Grail, maybe not, but 56k subtract base models and the other popular colors, we are talking not many. To date, I have only seen one other with factory rear defrost with my on peepers.

[@jamesziegler2763]

😮

[@ManCardTheater]

Thanks for the view

[@paulsanger02]

Beautiful X, what's up with your other Rambler in the garage ?

[@ManCardTheater]

That is my 68 Rambler American. I plan on doing some fun projects with that this spring and summer. It already has some mods, so won’t be original

[@joehorecny7835]

Beautiful gremlin! You can see that you love it! Are you going to keep it as is, in historical condition? Or restore it to new condition?

[@ManCardTheater]

Thanks for watching. Clean it and maintain it, no restoration. I want to drive it, but leave it like Ms Stotts had it for her ice cream runs circa 1977.

[@michaelpalm2210]

@@ManCardTheater What ever happened to Minnie Potts?

[@njorongejames5831]

How can I get such rims.

[@danocatster]

What mileage does it get?

[@ManCardTheater]

I have not checked it because wasn’t a selling point for me. I can say for sure it is sub 20mpg. I am sure I could better run the carb and improve it, but I am happy as is.

[@randallculp2414]

This gremlin is actually a 74 not 75. Hockey stick and front grill are definitely 74. 😊🍺

[@ManCardTheater]

It’s definitely a 75. The 74 and 75 have the same grill and stripe package. I have the bill of sale, window sticker, and all the documentation for it. Appreciate the view!

[@joehorecny7835]

If you don't mind my asking, what is the meaning of "Man Card Theater"? Its an interesting name.

[@ManCardTheater]

I’d like to do little projects, collections, and tasks, but don’t do enough of any one thing to have a specific theme. So I find things that don’t interest too many girly girls and I started recording. Back when I was growing up, people use to talk about earning their man card by building whatever. I just adopted and theater is amply because I recorded for others to sit and watch. No real magic. Thanks for watching!

[@joehorecny7835]

@@ManCardTheater Good choice for a channel name! I enjoy your content!

[@ManCardTheater]

@joehorecny7835 thanks again for the good words. Hope to post more you will enjoy

[@erickort1987]

how many dudes put a chevy 350 engine in a gremlin? my buddy did

[@ManCardTheater]

Too many. I am a purist however. Thanks for watching

[@darryldoesit966]

$100,000 question is tho...what he paid for this? of coarse he aint sayin...lol.

[@ManCardTheater]

Does the price matter to the story? I am not sure if it’s believed I paid a ton of money or got it rip off cheap would make a better story. If it matters, I paid just south of $5k and it was worth every nickel to me. Thanks for watching

[@darryldoesit966]

@@ManCardTheater i didnt mean that in a harsh way...hence the lol's

[@darryldoesit966]

@@ManCardTheater and if i seen one that nice for sale locally....id pay $10K...i love Gremlins.

[@MatthewLinton-jd9ls]

Why do people want to do it

[@ManCardTheater]

Exactly!

[@lukemeier8917]

I think what did that car in more than anything else was the name. Terrible marketing.

[@ManCardTheater]

Not the most flattering, but certainly got your attention. Thanks for watching

[@johndickie5577]

Mine was a 75 Trans am red, gold hockey stick, 4.2 litre. $4,200 brand new from the dealership. Beautiful car, very peppy, sadly rusted quickly.

[@njorongejames5831]

How can I get such rims.

[@ManCardTheater]

For me, buy it when you see it, don’t think about it and wish you had. Thanks for watching!