1975 AMC Pacer

The Pacer is automotive proof that courage and good intentions don't guarantee success. AMC designed it for a rotary engine GM never delivered. They built it anyway with their inline-6. The styling was genuinely innovative — the fishbowl glass, the width, the rounded shape were all intentional aerodynamic choices. Critics destroyed it. Sales collapsed after 1975. But the Pacer was trying something. In an era of Detroit conformity, AMC swung for the fences. They missed, but at least they swung.

Pacers are survivors by definition — anyone who kept one running this long cares about it. The massive glass area creates greenhouse effects that crack dashboards and fade interiors. The body seams rust predictably. But a Pacer in good condition is a conversation starter. They're distinctive in ways modern cars could never be. Let it look its age; over-restoration makes them look even stranger.

The AMC inline-6 is reliable and easy to work on. The unique body means unique body parts, which are scarce. The Pacer community exists and is helpful. Daily driving is possible but attention-getting — you will be stopped at every gas station for conversations. These are surprisingly practical as actual cars once you get past the looks.