Remember The Pacer?

Unless you are over 40, you probably don’t remember the Pacer, the American Motors car that turned heads in the 70’s.

AMC formed on this date in 1954 as a result of the merger of Nash-Kelvinator (the latter name I believe made my garbage disposal-how appropriate) and Hudson Automobile Co.

Troubled from the start, this company definitely took chances with design, starting with the Gremlin (who WOULDN’T want to own a car with THAT name?) and then of course the Pacer. In 1975, the Pacer was unveiled to no lack of attention.

With a bubble-like shape and extra wide wheelbase, the Pacer did indeed turn heads, usually for the wrong reason (“THAT CAR IS UGLY!”) But, it had a certain utilitarian appeal, as it made a decent family car, the ugly embryo of the yet to be introduced minivan.

The Pacer sold well for a couple of years, until it became the butt of so many jokes that it was far too embarrassing to walk into a showroom and actually ask to test drive one. Of course, if you own one in good condition today, my guess is that you have the last laugh, as Pacers are now collector’s items, albeit ugly ones.

Below is a 1978 TV commercial for the Pacer:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHhExjF3iu8

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