74 AMC GREMLIN X BF GOODRICH IMSA PACE CAR 8500 ORIGINAL MILES HOT ROD GASSER

This sale is for the long lost BF GOODRICH AMC Gremlin X Pace car. This is a former contest giveaway car and promotional vehicle WITH an astounding 8500 original miles.  This was a promotional show vehicle as well as as being a Pace car for the Radial Challenge.

The Radial Challenge Series sponsored by BF Goodrich was a compact sedan event  known as the Baby Grand and ran with IMSA. The entrants for the Radial Challenge had to run on BFG Street tires.

This custom AMC Gremlin X was a joint venture between American Motors and BFG. The AMC Gremlin was tearing up the track and was one of the most competitive cars in the series. AMC wanted to take full advantage with a vehicle for promotion.

THE KING KONG GREMLIN 

A White Gremlin X was procured from AMC. It was well option car with a 304 V8 engine. Levis interior. ilt Wheel. and A/C. Tinted Glass etc.   Ralph Motz in Uniontown Ohio was commissioned to do the wild paint and extensive over the top body mods. Ralph owned a custom shop that specialized in Corvette repair and restoration.  Work done on the Gremlin included a four inch cowl hood. Front and rear fender flares made to accept the huge 50 series BFG tires and the 10 inch Superior Slotted rims. The flares are steel and molded to the car. Ralph did the paint work himself.  

A cool factoid. Ralph's shop was not far from the BFG HQ. He painted the original BFG John Greenwood Corvette Team Racing cars and was friends of Gary Pace who was in charge of the racing activities.  If BFG was there Gary was behind it.   Posted is a pic of the John Greenwood Corvette.

The Gremlin was used exclusive at the Series racing events as the actual Pace Car. It was also used in many BFG promo events in the 74/75 season. It was the car to see and to be seen!  Included are pics from the personal collection of Dennis Shaw who was a team driver and mechanic for American Motors and the Amos Johnson Team High Ball Racing Team. These rare photos were taken at the track sometime in the 70's. In one pic you can see the crowd around the car. If you look close you can see the Camel Porsche and if you look even closer you can see one of the BFG girls wearing those tight cutoffs!

BF Goodrich abruptly ended sponsorship of the series in 19751/2. This should be the end of the story as in most cases modified promo are often destroyed.

After the series ended the Gremlin was offered in a contest and given away as a Grand Prize in 1976 at the ICAS/World of Wheels Auto Show in Detroit. A picture is posted of the winner with the car at the show.  The car is also pictured in the Hot Rod Show World 1977 Annual. Prior to awarding it was on display at the World of Wheels car shows around the country.   I have included pics from the Show World show program and a pic from the estate of the winner with the Gremlin being photographed with the car along with the show promoter Bob Laravee.

 Before taking delivery the car had to be painted to a solid color as per stipulation in the contest.  The car was painted a solid color.  Light blue was chosen.  Right after winning the car custom airbrush artwork was done. You will note this time frame was the custom van era and was right in style.   Included here is another picture from the estate of the car as it was delivered to the winner. You can see the snow in the background and the sun is shining against the car. It looks like it is gray in color due to the age of the photograph. It was this time or shortly after the car was put away.

When found it sat on those same original BFG Life Saver Radials  Some sort of restoration was started at some point by removing the paint on the passenger side. Included is another picture of the car as found in the spring of 2012. You can still see the airbrushed artwork on the rear of a long haired woman with the name "Miss Levis" dated 1978. You will note Ralphs fender flares were still intact and unmolested. In conversation with the original owners son. The only time he (son) rode in the car was when his mom took him to school once! His father parked the car and that is where it remained.

The Gremlin was treated to a cosmetic restoration to the upper body only. The underside is as the car was found

All the exterior graphics are painted on and are replicated just as was the original The seven different colors of paint were faithfully restored and sealed in 5 layers of clear. The War paint was still under the solid color and was reveled while sanding.  The car was hand sanded only. No machine sanders were used.  The prep and paint work took months.  The engine was treated to a proper wake up and runs as good as it looks. The 304 is tight and with the stainless side pipes will really make some noise.

Upgrades to the restoration. An NOS set of V8 Gremlin coil springs were installed as the originals sagged. As you can see the springs are a little high in the front but will settlle back in place.   

Custom work left untouched. nbsp;done in the 1970's

The motor is highly detailed. Edelbrock R4B intake and Holley 650 cfm. The rear is a Nine Inch Ford with four link and adjustable coilovers. It has an optional brake system directly inder the master cyl.  for those high speed stops.

Extensive chrome work:

Sway bar. upper shock brackets (w/custom engraving) hood hinges. valve covers. alt. pulleys including the AC pump. steering box. Evap. cannister bracket. rake lines. brake pedal including the e brake. indshield wiper motor and bracket. nbsp;metal interior mldgs. rear window lifts. air cleaner.

Powder Coating:

complete rear axle driveshaft and four link. nbsp;fuel tank. front upper/lower control arms. nbsp;

Underbody is highly detailed  The underbody is clean and smooth.   As you can see no undercoating.  

MORE Custom Work  There is custom engraving on the front and rear bumpers. windshield wiper motor and bracket. front shock mounts. door handles w/s trim and the pop open fuel cap.

Will need  Final detailing and clean up work. The body is smooth as glass but has not had the initial rub out. There are five coats of clear. The interior is original as well and is as found. The seats and carpet show good but will need cleaned and detailed. We have tried to leave the car as found. The car was used in a commercial environment and was never perfect right from the start. Any inconsistency in the work when originaly done was replicated  just as it was done when originaly built. The left valve cover is chrome and has a small dent.

**QUESTIONS **  If you have a question please use the ebay ask a question tab. Many times I am asked to call someone when simple things can be addressed through email.  It is just easier for me due to my schedule. Keep in mind the vehicle is not parked in my living room.  I'll have to make a trip to my wearhouse.  So please email your concerns first.  If you are not satisfied and/or need more info and wish to speak to me directly I will gladly forward my number to you and respond at my earliest.   I am old school and only use my smart phone to talk on.

This sale is an auction OR email your best offer. I reserve the right to end the auction early and can end at any time.   Haven't sold your car? I may accept payments and or partial trade.   Please email.

If you are outside the US and would like to bid I welcome your bid

I urge any so called experts to come and see the Gremlin in person before posting any online apprasial. omments etc.  Without laying a hand on the car. If it is important enough for you to do so.  It is frustrating enough as a seller to post a vehicle for sale. For the many websites that pick up the unusual collector cars to talk about. I thank you for your interest. It is another dealing with people who (1) have nothing better to do and (2) Not knowing what they are looking at.  Think before you do a disservice to the hobby. Remember You are liable for what you post.

Auction Terms



1. All bid prices and payments are in U. S. currency only. No allowance or set aside will be made on account of any incorrectness. imperfection. defect. or damage.

2. To be fair to all bidders your winning bid is the price No negotiations will be made.

3. You must be 18 or older to bid. Please remember that by placing a bid you are entering into a legally binding contract and are committed to buying the vehicle described in this listing in which I have done my best to accurately do. If you are not sure about something. please ask. Do not assume that anything not listed is included in the sale.

4. If you do not intend to purchase the vehicle as described. please do not bid. Please only bid what you are willing to pay. This is not an auction for the “option to buy” and/or “inspect” the vehicle after the sale.

5. Please feel free to contact me with any questions before bidding my personal email mikeps AT zoomnet. net . I will respond at my earliest opportunity.

6. This vehicle lot is available for personal inspection. I invite you to visit. It is up to the bidder to inspect the car before the end of the auction. There will be no inspections after the auction and during pickup. The car will not be sold to anyone making an inspection before the auction is over. This is to be fair to everyone. If making a trip for inspection you will have to go home and bid just like everyone else.

7. I reserve the right to cancel this auction at any time and shall not be held liable for any such cancellation or closure. I reserve the right to cancel bidders with excessive negative feedback solely at my discretion.

8. Many banks and credit unions do not finance older vehicles and/or with high mileage. If you plan to finance. please make sure your financial institution accepts this aged vehicle and its mileage. and arrange financing before bidding.

9. I cannot accept any bid retractions in the last 24 hours of the auction.

10. This vehicle is sold “as-is. where-is and as seen in the pics" with no warranties expressed or implied.

11. I have done my best to accurately describe this vehicle. but shall not be held responsible for the correct description. authenticity. genuineness. or defects herein. and make no warranty in connection herewith. Any descriptions or representations are for identification purposes only and are not to be construed as a warranty of any type. It is the bidder's responsibility to have thoroughly inspected the vehicle. and to have satisfied him or herself as to the vehicle's condition and value and to bid based upon that judgment only.

12. I assume no responsibility for any repairs that were made prior to sale of this vehicle. I will not make repairs nor will I pay you for any repairs after the sale.

13. Final or closing bid price does not include any documentation. shipping. travel. taxes. title. or registration fees. Buyer is responsible for any applicable title transfer fees. as well as federal. state. or local taxes. personal transportation costs. or shipping expenses resulting from the sale. This means simply if you are out of stat you will pay applicable fees in your state

14. I bear no liability and shall be held harmless for any complications. expenses. or damages resulting from a failure to meet these terms as they have been set forth and established herein. I will also not be held liable for any future damage or lawsuit for and as a result of selling said vehicle in as is condition.

15. All sales are final. You are buying as is and as seen. Know and understand what you are buying before you bid.

16. All non-paying high bidders will be reported to eBay. and negative feedback will be posted.

17. Non-paying bidders. unqualified bidding. bid shielding. auction interference. or any type of harassment will be dealt with according to eBay Rules. local law. and may include. but not limited to legal action and applicable fees. loss of deposit. or any other necessary expenses.

18. Placing a bid or offer on this vehicle constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions and acknowledgement that the bidder has read and understands all the information presented. If needed get your better half or the decision maker to read along too so it is alright with them.



Payment Terms



1. The winning bidder must contact me within 24 hours after the auction end and make arrangements for payment at that time. If no contact is made within 24 hours. I reserve the right to re-list the vehicle. sell it to the next high bidder. or sell it otherwise.  

2 $1000 is the deposit and must be received within 24 hours of auction end and will be non refundable. We do accept pay pall however not on vehicle sales.   So please do not make travel plans if the deposit has not been recieved. It doesn't matter if you are located 5 miles away or 5000 miles. The deposit must be made no exceptions. This is a serious auction and the terms are to identify deadbeats early on in the process.

3. Final payment must be received within 5 business days after close of auction.

4. Payment can be made by cashier's check. money order. or by bank wire transfer. I will not accept credit cards or Pay pal.



Shipping Terms



1. Purchaser to arrange for and pay any shipping costs.

2. Buyer is responsible for pick up or shipping of this vehicle within 3 weeks firm of auction end. If you wish to contract with a shipper. I will gladly cooperate

Also published at eBay.com

Want to buy this car?