AMC Pacer DL
The AMC Pacer was one of the most unconventional cars of the 1970s. Designed from the outset as a small car that felt spacious, the Pacer was as wide as a full-size American car but shorter than most compacts. Its enormous glass area — more glass than any other American car — gave it a greenhouse-like interior brightness that was unique in the market.
The DL (Deluxe) version added luxury touches to the Pacer's distinctive package. Full carpeting, upgraded cloth seats, woodgrain trim on the dashboard, and additional sound insulation elevated the interior from basic econobox to surprisingly comfortable small luxury car. The DL also received better exterior trim and wheel covers.
The standard engine was AMC's reliable 258 cubic-inch (4,228cc) inline-six, producing 120 net horsepower at 3,400 rpm. This was a torquey, understressed engine that provided adequate performance for the Pacer's 1,295 kg curb weight. A three-speed automatic transmission was standard on the DL; a three-speed manual was available but rarely ordered.
The Pacer's design was originally intended to accommodate a Wankel rotary engine, which would have been mounted transversely. When GM cancelled its rotary engine program (which was to supply AMC), the conventional inline-six was substituted, requiring significant engineering compromises. The result was a car with an unusually wide body — wider than a Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow — on a compact platform.
The enormous glass area was the Pacer's most distinctive feature. The windshield was the largest ever fitted to an American car, and the rear glass was equally expansive. Unique to the Pacer was an asymmetric design: the passenger-side door was 4 inches longer than the driver's door to improve rear-seat access.
The Pacer was a commercial failure, selling far fewer units than AMC had projected. Critical reception was mixed — some praised its innovative packaging and space utilization, while others mocked its unusual proportions. Production ran from 1975 to 1979.
Today, the Pacer has become a cult classic. Its quirky design, association with 1970s pop culture (notably Wayne's World), and increasing rarity have given it a devoted following. Clean, original Pacer DLs are genuinely difficult to find, and values are rising from their historical lows.
Rust is the Pacer's worst enemy — check floor pans, rocker panels, and the area around the massive windshield seal. The enormous glass panels are expensive to replace if cracked. The inline-six is extremely reliable. Check for weatherstripping deterioration around all glass. The asymmetric doors (passenger side is longer) should both operate properly. Original DL interior trim is difficult to source.
The Pacer was produced at AMC's Kenosha, Wisconsin factory from 1975 to 1979. Note: the slug indicates 1974 but the Pacer launched as a 1975 model. Total Pacer production across all years was approximately 280,000 units. The DL was the upscale trim level.