that doesn't even have a drivetrain? I think this would have been a huge GRM hit back in the day.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/is-this-funky-am-van-the-greatest-amc-that-never-was/
that doesn't even have a drivetrain? I think this would have been a huge GRM hit back in the day.
https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/is-this-funky-am-van-the-greatest-amc-that-never-was/
I mean.....I think that's cool from the pics I see
What a great forward looking design. Too bad.
An even uglier Pacer.
dean1484 said:An even uglier Pacer.
Yes, A puffed up Pacer for sure.
Its rad and you know it.
It certainly would have had a good start on the GRM checklist... Quirky looks-check, Turbo-check, AWD-check, fender flares-check...
And just think, you could carry your autocross AND rallycross tires at the same time!
Ahead of its time.
I like it. My WAG is the original thought was to drop the body onto a CJ chassis, but then realized the front end design didn't leave much room for the engine. Maybe the thought was a transverse/FWD-AWD drivetrain, until the bean-counters dug into the pockets for funding and found lint, "yeah... how about a chassis made from 2x4s?"
I wonder if those BFG tires were a production size or just made for the concept? IIRC, the All-Terrain T/A was pretty new back then, so BFG may have created some one-off tires for the concept just to get the tire in front of eyeballs.
Cool concept, but it's hard to imagine how much money I'd need to have before I'd think about buying a dummy/prop car.
I'd daily that.
The 70's are increasingly convincing me that the "beauty is objective" guys are right.
I would pay a lot for that. Not enough, but a lot. Seems like a perfect candidate for an electric drivetrain. Not sure how to turbo that...
Yep, checks all the boxes for me. Wish it had gone into production and sold enough for me to afford one!
I'd WRX swap it so it drove.
That's some tall glass!!!
As it was, the Pacer had a weird quirk given its tall glass. You see, the glass was too tall to be concealed by the sheet metal of the door. As such, when a Pacer window was "rolled down all the way", it was still not down all the way in that the glass protruded above the window sill.
The answer for this from the inside was oversized interior sills added to the door card to force you to lift up over the glass.
Early style, just a hump
Later style with the incorporated pull handle:
Javelin said:I'd WRX swap it so it drove.
I thought about that, but I'm not sure there is enough room ahead of the front wheels to fit the Subie engine and trans.
I really doubt there was much thought put into a drivetrain other than buzzwords. I can't see how you'd install one - unless it was electric, which brings up some very cool ideas and which was actually being done to Pacers back in the day. Including, according to Wikipedia, a concept to use suspension movement to recharge batteries!
And there's this thing, which I kinda want to recreate...
Perfect Blend Of a Pacer D/L Wagon, The A Team GMC Van and 70's Groovy Street Van.
Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:Javelin said:I'd WRX swap it so it drove.
I thought about that, but I'm not sure there is enough room ahead of the front wheels to fit the Subie engine and trans.
Who said anything about the front? Didn't you see my concept Pacer model? 
Javelin said:Ian F (Forum Supporter) said:Javelin said:I'd WRX swap it so it drove.
I thought about that, but I'm not sure there is enough room ahead of the front wheels to fit the Subie engine and trans.
Who said anything about the front? Didn't you see my concept Pacer model?
No... I have not... I also thought about mid or rear engine using a Subie setup, but I don't know if that can be done while powering the front wheels. Bearing in mind, my thoughts would be to maintain AWD/4WD as the original designer intended.
That would probably be a trickiest thing about buying this - assuming there would be some way to actually title it for road use. But ignoring any potential paperwork concerns, I would not want to do anything to the shell that would drastically and/or irreversably change it.
All my monies.
You could certainly do a rear engined AWD setup using Subaru parts and a Subarugears reverse rotation R&P. It's being done in Manxes and their friends. 911s would also work. I'm not sure how you'd cool the thing without splattering vents all over the body though. I'm still thinking electric :)
Since this thing is basically just a body, it's effectively a kit car from a registration standpoint. It could be done. The Stratos Zero is road licensed.
Nothing was going to save AMC ,
but I wish they would have made these just so we could buy dead ones today and put interesting running gear in them....
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