AMC Gremlin VS VW Beetle

Things were getting a bit silly with the VS threads with bigger and faster and more powerful cars.. and more expensive too.. so lets go back to our (grass)roots to cheaper cars.

I give you the progenitor to the 911, designed back in the days of Nazi germany and one of the most popular cars ever built.. the VW beetle.

We will concentrate on the post 69 models, sporting a more powerful engine, a fully independent rear suspension (as opposed to the swing axle) and less dated styling.

Coming up against the original "people's car" is the "first american built import" the AMC Gremlin. Built on a shortened Hornet. While not as forward thinking as the VW was (when it was designed) the Gremlin was the most popular car AMC ever built. It was also twice as powerful as the German car with a 120hp from it's I6 engine.

FIGHT!

Beetle hands down.

The Gremlin could come straight from the factory with a V8. Gremlin wins, hands down.

Gremlin

I would go with the Beatle, the AMC fell down the fugly tree, then smack around by every fugly person around.

Your argument is invalid, here's Herbie.

Beetle for me. The simplicity is addictive. Everytime I'm working on my 944 turbo, and am cussing and spitting and driven to the drink because something is so berkeleying hard to get to...I go and give my simple AC VW a hug.

I do have to admit the green one Javalin posted above is awesome. I'd LOVE to have that car.

Volksrodden wrote: I would go with the Beatle, the AMC fell down the fugly tree, then smack around by every fugly person around.

I say the exact same thing about the Beetle. I think it's the ugliest car ever made.

Can we call a tie? It does seem like owning a VW Type 1 at this point would be more of a 'science project' for lack of a better term, where as Gremlin ownership is the perfect excuse for keeping an XJ Cherokee parts car around for improvements on the Gremlin.

my father in lawsa 71 he swears he is giving to me. 0 rust , barn fresh , original owner. He also has a 4.2l X and a X with the levi interior.. both in a field

Lohan herbie trumps Gremlin

Javelin wrote: I say the *exact* same thing about the Beetle. I think it's the motherberkeleying ugliest car ever made.

+1 and FTFY

Beetle for me.

Beetle is my daily.

I suspect the Gremlin is a better car in almost every functional capacity.

That being said, I'd have the beetle.

There's something compelling about their simplicity. I also prefer them aesthetically.

All y'all that think a Beetle is simple need to work on a Gremlin!

Oh, now I see. These threads are mainly to post wheelie photos. I hadn't realized that.

Ok...just kidding.

ClemSparks wrote: Oh, now I see. These threads are mainly to post wheelie photos. I hadn't realized that. Ok...just kidding.

This just makes me want to dig out all of the other threads and try and find wheelie photos of them, too!

Gremlin, although I'd take a Pacer over a Gremlin.

I like them both. The one thing the Bug has is a huge aftermarket, but a gremlin with either a 6 or 8 cylinder would be a blast. I just saw and early 60s maybe late 50s bug and the early ones are great. I'd like either and oval or split window.

I say Beetle due to the volume of parts available through Warshawsky's. You used to be able to build almost a whole car from the catalog.

http://www.jcwhitney.com/classic-vw-parts-classic-vw-accessories/j6s2.jcwx

The Gremlin wins, because you could leave the dealer listening to the rich sound of V8 pleasure in the smallest car AMC made at the time.

They are both ugly.

Gremlin